Kurenai Yuhi followed her words, her eyes holding just the right amount of sympathy and curiosity. "A dark place? That must have been very scary, right? Did big brother... save you?"
She deliberately emphasized the word "save."
Her gaze subtly swept towards Di Yan, observing his reaction.
Di Yan merely sipped his soup unhurriedly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.
He seemed to be watching an interesting performance.
He didn't stop Hikari's "childish innocence."
"Mm-hmm! Super scary!"
Hikari nodded vigorously, a trace of lingering fear on her small face.
"I was locked up for so, so long, and it was cold and hungry, with nothing at all!"
"Big brother found me and brought me out! Big brother is the best!"
Her adoration for Di Yan was evident.
Kurenai Yuhi sneered internally: "As expected, she's been brainwashed!"
She continued to guide the conversation: "Then... Hikari, are you happy here? What do you usually do?"
She was trying to extract information about the palace guards, Di Yan's routine, and other details... 15 Konoha becomes a rogue ninja; no escape.
"Happy!"
Hikari answered without hesitation, but then pouted, "It's just a bit boring sometimes."
"Big brother, Mikoto-jie, and Izumi-jie always have things to do."
She tilted her head, thinking, "I usually... mm... train with Tekka-nii and the others!"
"They're so amazing, and there are so many people with red eyes just like me!"
She pointed to her own eyes, clearly referring to the Sharingan, which flashed in her gaze for a moment.
And Kurenai Yuhi just happened to see it.
Kurenai Yuhi's heart was already in turmoil.
Another Uchiha?
Could it be that they are all Uchiha orphans?
Tekka?
People with red eyes?
Training?
Kurenai Yuhi's heart was severely shaken.
This confirmed their previous suspicions.
Although it was unclear how these Uchiha had escaped the clan's destruction, Di Yan indeed controlled a secret force of Uchiha.
And they were training right inside the palace!
Hinata also perked up her ears.
Her Byakugan slightly activated, attempting to sense movements further away.
"Training? Hikari is so small, does she have to train too?"
Kurenai Yuhi showed a surprised and pained expression. "Is the training hard?"
"Not hard at all!"
Uchiha Hikari puffed out her small chest with a hint of pride. "Hikari is very strong! Big brother said Hikari's power needs to be practiced well, and in the future, I'll help big brother beat up bad guys!"
As she spoke, she even swung her tiny fist.
"Bad guys? What bad guys?"
Kurenai Yuhi's heart was in her throat.
Hikari's big eyes blinked, seemingly a little confused.
She instinctively looked at Di Yan, as if seeking an answer.
Di Yan finally put down his spoon and elegantly wiped his mouth with a napkin.
He looked at Kurenai Yuhi, his voice carrying a hint of lazy mockery:
"Bad guys, huh... naturally, they refer to those who don't know their place and foolishly try to obstruct the great unification of the Land of Fire... the Konoha Village rogue ninjas."
He deliberately emphasized the words "Konoha rogue ninjas."
His gaze, like a physical entity, pierced Kurenai Yuhi.
Kurenai Yuhi's heart instantly sank to rock bottom.
What?
Konoha became rogue ninjas?
And this Di Yan not only knew her intentions but also directly exposed them.
He even used "rogue ninjas" to define them!
Uchiha Hikari seemed to be enlightened by Di Yan's words.
She nodded vigorously, a kind of cruel excitement, completely at odds with her innocent appearance, showing on her small face:
"Yes! Beat up bad guys! Big brother said he's going to take me to fight a place called 'Konoha' in the future!"
"There are so many bad guys there! I'm going to..."
Her small hand made a forceful grasping motion in the air, a "crushing" gesture.
A hint of crimson light flashed in her eyes!
Although the light was fleeting.
Both Kurenai Yuhi and Hinata clearly caught it.
An icy, bone-chilling coldness instantly rose from their feet, rushing to their heads!
This seemingly harmless little girl... she's been brainwashed to this extent.
Kurenai Yuhi's previous escape plan seemed so small and ridiculous in the face of this casually revealed information from Uchiha Hikari.
She looked at Di Yan's all-controlling smile.
Looking at Hikari's innocent, tender small face.
Looking at Mikoto's gentleness and Izumi's coldness.
Then smelling the lingering scent of "dog meat" in the air... Despair, like a cold tide.
Completely engulfed her.
They had information, information so heavy it could crush a person.
But did they... still have a chance to get it out?
Di Yan watched them as if admiring struggling prey, his eyes seeming to say:
So what if you know?
You, with wings, cannot fly... Dinner ended in a strange, oppressive atmosphere.
Kurenai Yuhi suppressed the churning in her stomach and the indignation in her heart.
She tried to ask Di Yan again about the whereabouts of Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame.
"Your Majesty, may I ask about my subordinates Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame..."
She hadn't finished speaking.
Di Yan, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, elegantly wiping his mouth with a handkerchief.
Then he stood up,
One arm naturally wrapped around Mikoto's slender waist.
The other hand took Uchiha Hikari's small hand, who was just letting out a tiny yawn.
He didn't even glance at Kurenai Yuhi.
As if she were just a wisp of air, he directly embraced the two and walked.
Towards the brightly lit, more private hall next to the sleeping quarters.
Uchiha Izumi, like the most loyal shadow, silently followed behind.
As she passed Kurenai Yuhi and Hinata.
Uchiha Izumi's steps paused slightly.
Her cold gaze, like two poisoned daggers, swept across Kurenai Yuhi's and Hinata's faces.
Her voice was extremely low, carrying undisguised menace:
"Behave yourselves. Only if His Majesty is in a good mood will you live."
"If you try any tricks..."
Her finger lightly brushed the hilt of the kunai at her waist, making a faint metallic scraping sound. "Don't blame me for being impolite."
After speaking, she didn't linger.
She quickly caught up with Di Yan's party.
Disappearing behind the doors of the brightly lit hall.
The heavy hall doors slowly closed, cutting off the view inside.
And also cutting off Kurenai Yuhi's and Hinata's last glimmer of hope.
Dependent on others, trapped in captivity.
Unable to even ascertain the fate of their companions.
This feeling of powerlessness, like a cold tide, engulfed the two... 16 Hinata: What are they doing next door? Hikari is still a child.
Night deepened.
The clear, cold Gekko moonlight streamed through the delicate window lattice onto the floor.
As if a layer of frost had been laid.
Inside the room, Kurenai Yuhi had not given up.
She lowered her voice and said to Hinata: "Hinata, use your Byakugan and carefully examine the surroundings!"
"Look for weak points in the guard, or possible secret passages!"
This was their only advantage.
Hinata nodded, taking a deep breath.
Her pure Byakugan instantly activated, veins protruding around her temples.