Hinata had not expected the Hidden Leaf to treat their rescue mission with such importance.
Not only had they dispatched Kakashi, one of the Leaf's most respected jonin, but they had also brought along that blond kid who had sent her flying with a single punch earlier. His strength was simply terrifying.
And the other two young shinobi standing beside Kakashi had not even drawn their weapons. She looked closer. One of them carried the pale eyes of the Byakugan, and the other possessed the crimson tomoe of the Sharingan.
Representatives from both major Leaf clans.
For the Leaf to send such a lineup, their village must truly value this alliance.
She realized her earlier assumptions had been entirely wrong.
Naruto looked down at the elderly puppet master, Chiyo, who was trying admirably to appear friendly despite her age. He decided not to argue with her attitude from before.
"What is your name?" Chiyo asked, her eyes drifting toward Naruto.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he answered proudly.
"You are the son of the Fourth Hokage?" a nearby Sand jonin exclaimed.
The words froze Chiyo and her brother Ebizo in place. For years they had withdrawn from worldly affairs, unaware of Naruto's true identity.
The Fourth Hokage's son?
The Leaf had even sent someone of that lineage to help them? Why would the Leaf extend such sincerity toward the Sand? The two siblings exchanged baffled looks, unable to discern the Hidden Leaf's motives.
Naruto nodded slightly.
Kakashi stepped forward, not wanting to waste time. "Has Kankuro regained consciousness yet? We need whatever information he has on the Akatsuki. Every moment counts."
Chiyo turned toward Kakashi, scrutinizing him. "And you are?"
She had stopped paying attention to the outside world decades ago, so she had never seen the man who would later become the Copy Ninja.
"My name is Hatake Kakashi," he said calmly. "The man you called White Fang was my father."
Chiyo's entire posture changed. Her shoulders tightened, her fingers quivered and curled unconsciously. "White Fang's son?"
Memories flashed before her eyes. Her son and daughter-in-law had fallen to the White Fang. If she took the White Fang's son today, would that count as repayment of an old debt?
In the shinobi world, grudges carved during war did not fade. They lingered through generations.
Ebizo leaned close to her ear and whispered urgently. "Sister, now is not the time. They are our allies."
Chiyo glanced at Naruto again. The blond boy was watching her with clear, unwavering eyes. She sucked in several slow breaths and forced down the storm in her chest.
No matter her hatred, the truth was simple. She had barely reacted to Naruto's sudden punch earlier, and his speed had left her spine cold. She doubted she could defeat him if she tried.
Ebizo stepped forward and answered for them. "Kankuro was poisoned by Sasori of the Red Sand. He has yet to wake up."
Kakashi's brows drew together. "That is troublesome."
He turned toward the shy girl at his side. "Hinata, check Kankuro's condition."
"Yes." Hinata nodded, stepping toward the unconscious puppet master.
Her Byakugan opened with a soft pulse. No one noticed the faint flicker of blue light that briefly shimmered across her pupils.
"The toxins have already reached his vital organs," Hinata reported. "If untreated, he has only a day left."
Kakashi's voice dropped. "Can you treat him?"
Hinata nodded gently. "It should not be difficult."
Her simple response left the Sand's medical team in stunned silence.
The poison that had left all of them helpless was considered "not difficult" by this girl? Was the Leaf's medical ability truly this far beyond theirs?
Chiyo stepped forward. "Girl, do you truly have confidence?"
Hinata did not hesitate. "With precise chakra control, I can force the poison out."
Chiyo's lips twitched. The method was correct, but the precision required was terrifyingly high. One mistake and Kankuro's organs could rupture.
"Then I leave him to you," Chiyo said finally.
The surrounding Sand medic-nin stepped back, eager to witness a technique they might never see again.
Hinata exhaled softly and tied her dark hair into a high ponytail. She pressed her index and middle fingers together, gathering chakra at her fingertips until it formed a gleaming emerald blade. With practiced ease, she cut open the fabric of Kankuro's clothing, exposing his chest.
The Sand medics held their breath.
Her Byakugan veins bulged around her temples as her gaze penetrated Kankuro's body, tracing every blocked channel, every pocket of toxin corroding his organs.
"The poison has spread through his heart and internal pathways," she said. "I will begin extraction now."
A low hum filled the room as dozens of thin blue chakra needles condensed from her finger.
"Chakra needles?" Chiyo whispered. But these were not ordinary ones. Each needle was impossibly thin, steady, and controlled so finely that even Chiyo, a puppet master of unmatched precision, could not fathom achieving it.
Hinata guided the needle swarm downward. They slipped into Kankuro's body like threads of light.
Under the Byakugan's vision, the needles formed a delicate web mapping every organ. Her fingers danced in swift, subtle motions, each movement rippling through the chakra network. The needles vibrated in unison, nudging the dark green poison streams out of his tissue.
Slowly, the color returned to Kankuro's face.
"She is reversing the poison flow using chakra alone," Chiyo said in disbelief. "This level of precision is beyond extraordinary."
Kankuro suddenly convulsed, coughing up a mouthful of blackened blood.
Hinata's expression did not waver. She rotated her fingers, directing seven final needles through the upper meridian and into his central nerve cluster. The remaining metal-based toxin dissolved instantly.
When the last needle flickered out of existence, the steady rhythm on the monitoring device chimed clearly.
The head Sand medic trembled as he checked Kankuro's pulse. "His heartbeat is normal. The poison has been completely removed."
Chiyo bowed deeply toward Kakashi. "Your assistance carries more weight than we imagined."
Then she turned to Hinata, admiration lighting her aged eyes. "This chakra needle technique is extraordinary. Even Tsunade herself might not match it."
The truth of her words was unmistakable. Even Tsunade lacked the Byakugan's anatomical insight. Hinata's method was unique to her alone.
Naruto grinned, clapping loudly. "Amazing work, Hinata! Even I can't do that."
The medics from the Sand followed his lead, applauding the young girl who had just performed a miracle.
Hinata flushed at the praise. She reached out one more time, placing a single chakra needle between Kankuro's brows and giving it a gentle twist.
Kankuro's eyes snapped open.
Hinata withdrew the needle, flicking it lightly. It vanished into the air as if absorbed by light.
Kankuro inhaled sharply, eyes wild with confusion. "Where… where am I?"
Naruto stepped forward with a warm smile. "Safe. Thanks to her."
Hinata ducked her head, embarrassed. But Naruto's gentle smile lingered on her, and for a moment, the battlefield felt strangely peaceful.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Already hooked by this cosmic shinobi journey? Share what drew you in your words and reviews keep the flames of youth burning bright. And every 300 Power Stones will unlock a bonus chapter, pushing Naruto's path to the stars even faster!
Naruto's dream has only just begun, and the Unbound Evolution of his destiny is far from over. Stay with Naruto: Set a Goal, Conquer the Universe and reach beyond the horizon together!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a