In the dead of night, a thunderous explosion ripped through the heart of Konoha, jolting countless villagers awake.
Inside the Hokage's residence, Namikaze Minato snapped upright in bed, instincts honed by years on the battlefield kicking in before thought could follow. In one motion, he was at the window, pulling back the curtain to peer toward the direction where a blinding white light had flared.
Even as Hokage, his reflexes as a shinobi had never dulled. The instant danger stirred, his body moved before his mind did.
On the small extension cot beside the bed, young Naruto slept soundly, undisturbed by the explosion—he only rolled over once, mumbling softly in his sleep.
Across the room, Kushina had already sensed something was wrong. Sitting up against the headboard, she frowned.
"It's Satoru's chakra," she said grimly. "Something's happened at the Hyuga compound."
As a member of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina's chakra was vast, and her sensory abilities were exceptional. In just a few seconds, she had locked onto the turbulent surge of chakra and identified its source.
Her relationship with Hyuga Satoru wasn't merely one of acquaintance—it bordered on that of teacher and student. Though she had only taught him the Flying Thunder God Technique and a few sealing arts, the Hyuga had formally presented her with a gift of apprenticeship in return.
The families had grown close. During Naruto's early years, the Hyuga had extended considerable help, and even after the Nine-Tails' incident, Kushina and Lady Hanako maintained a warm friendship. As two mothers, they often met for tea, shopping, and long talks.
So when she sensed something wrong at the Hyuga estate, worry instantly creased her features.
Hiashi was away with the clan's elite forces at the frontlines—if the Hyuga were attacked now, it would be a disaster for everyone, not least of all for Minato.
If someone struck against one of Konoha's great clans while its patriarch was absent, and the Hokage failed to act, it would reflect disastrously on his leadership. Worse still, it might fracture the alliance between the Namikaze and the Hyuga families.
Kushina's concern was both personal and political.
While she spoke, Minato crouched near the window, pressing one hand against the wooden floor, closing his eyes to sense the chakra fluctuations himself.
Moments later, his expression softened slightly.
"It's Satoru's chakra, yes," he said quietly, "but he's unharmed."
"Kushina, stay home and watch over Naruto. I'll go see what's happening."
He rose and moved to her side, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Be careful," she reminded him, "the Hyuga might not be the real target."
He smiled faintly at her caution—he was thinking the same thing. The memory of that night—of the masked man who had stolen the Nine-Tails—was still raw. He wouldn't fall for another diversionary tactic.
"Don't worry," Kushina said with a smirk, flexing one arm playfully, "I'm not the delicate housewife you married years ago."
Her fiery confidence drew a small laugh from Minato. With a flash of golden light, he vanished from the room.
Kushina stared at the empty space for a moment, her expression hardening. Though she smiled for his sake, her senses remained wide open, every instinct alert.
Even without the Nine-Tails' power, she was far from helpless—and Minato knew it. Few in the entire shinobi world could threaten a fully recovered Uzumaki Kushina.
But Minato wasn't the only one who had felt it.
The explosion in the village center had roused nearly every major figure in Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Uchiha compound.
Veteran jonin from every noble family.
Each had sensed the flare of Hyuga chakra and the violent clash that followed.
The ANBU mobilized instantly—dark silhouettes streaked across rooftops, converging on the Hyuga district from all directions.
The entire village was awake.
But as they neared the Hyuga compound, they were met by something few had expected—resistance.
At the great corridor before the Hyuga training hall, Satoru stood leaning against a wooden pillar, his eyes closed, chakra senses spread wide. He could feel the approach of dozens of unfamiliar presences.
Beside him stood Elder Hyuga Shin, long since roused from sleep. His expression was grim but steady as he issued rapid orders.
Lines of Branch Family shinobi moved out with precision, forming a cordon around the compound.
Satoru had already given the elder a brief account of the attack. Hearing that the assailants were Kirigakure ninja, the old man had immediately declared the incident a hostile incursion by an enemy village—an assassination attempt against the Main Family.
To prevent spies or infiltrators from taking advantage of the chaos, the Hyuga would allow no one to approach the clan grounds.
Within minutes, the order was law.
The Hyuga—calm, formal, and proper under normal circumstances—had drawn their line in the sand.
When the Byakugan was threatened, even the most composed family in Konoha could turn into an iron wall.
Soon, raised voices echoed from outside the barrier.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this? We're ANBU—on direct orders from the Hokage! Why are you blocking us?"
"You dare obstruct the ANBU?!"
In a narrow street at the edge of the Hyuga district, five Branch Family elites stood shoulder-to-shoulder, white eyes gleaming as they barred a three-man ANBU squad from advancing.
The masked operatives were clearly stunned.
They were Konoha's covert arm—no one refused them entry.
And yet, here, at the gates of the Hyuga compound, they had been stopped cold.
"No one is permitted beyond this point," the lead Hyuga said evenly. "That is the order of the Main Family."
The ANBU bristled. "We're here to assist! You expect us to just stand here and do nothing?"
But the Hyuga didn't budge. Their veins bulged faintly around their eyes as they activated their dojutsu, a silent warning radiating from all five.
The tension was suffocating.
For a moment, the ANBU weren't sure whether to press forward or back down.
Then a new presence flickered between them—a silver-haired man wearing a cat-faced mask.
"Enough," he said calmly. "Everyone, stand down."
The ANBU turned at once. "Captain Kakashi!"
Kakashi stepped forward, glancing from his subordinates to the Hyuga line. His tone was measured but firm.
"Hyuga-san, the entire village is on alert after that explosion," he said. "If something happened here, the Hokage needs to know. Blocking ANBU investigation… is difficult to justify."
He wasn't trying to threaten them. Kakashi had dealt with every clan in Konoha—he knew that bloodline families didn't respond to authority, only respect.
If they had drawn weapons, forcing the issue would only end badly.
One of the Hyuga stepped forward, bowing slightly.
"The Main Family was targeted by assassins," he stated flatly. "The enemies have already been eliminated. The situation is under control."
"Details will be conveyed to the Hokage tomorrow morning."
"For now—no outsiders beyond this point."
His tone was unyielding, and the five Byakugan remained active as silent punctuation.
Kakashi's brow creased behind his mask. He could feel the tension, the edge of something dangerous lurking beneath the Hyuga's calm exterior.
They wouldn't bend—not tonight.
"…Understood," he said finally, signaling for his men to withdraw. "We'll report to the Hokage."
As he and his team vanished into the rooftops, the pale-eyed guards did not relax.
Because they all knew—the Root division wouldn't take no for an answer.
And those who served under Danzo Shimura… were not known for diplomacy.
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