The Hourglass of Konoha
The tension in the Hyūga District was an invisible cloak felt only by Hiashi and Akimitsu. Three days passed since the arrival of the Kumogakure delegation and the reception of the anonymous letter from "Cronos". The Village rejoiced at the idea of peace, but for the Hyūga Clan, each day was a countdown to the inevitable conflict.
Hiashi had immersed himself in his duties with a feverish intensity, using his role as leader to disguise his strategic movements. His typically stoic demeanor had become even colder, his white eyes constantly active in his mind to analyze every chakra flow, every shadow.
The Kumogakure emissary, the chief ninja of the main branch, engaged in "diplomatic tourism." Under Konoha's discreet surveillance, he visited seal shops, the food market, and even offered courteous greetings to merchants.
"Lies!" Akimitsu spat one afternoon, reviewing a surveillance report from his own agents about the Kumo ninja's movements. They were in the garden of the main house, far from any indiscreet ears.
"What bothers you, Father? The interest in our pottery?" Hiashi asked, his voice a sharp murmur.
"That man is not looking at shops, Hiashi. He is mapping stealth routes. Today, at the market, he stopped in front of the Haruno mansion. Yesterday, in the commercial district, he spent ten minutes observing the main sewer that runs beneath the Uchiha compound and ours. He is looking for the blind spot in the patrol network. He is confirming that the party time will be the best cover."
Hiashi clenched his fists. "Kumo's arrogance is incredible. They believe that with the Fourth Hokage dead, the Village is distracted enough not to notice a theft of our Kekkei Genkai. They believe our surveillance will be focused on the Summit."
"And that is Chronos's gift, son. Time and certainty. Had you not received the letter, we would be panicking and acting defensively. Now, we can be the trap."
The Branch Family Deployment
The most delicate aspect of the strategy was the deployment of the Branch Family. Placing the members of the branch, who were under the Caged Bird Seal, in key positions was a risk Hiashi did not take lightly, but they were the only ones he could trust to execute lethal movements without questioning orders.
Hiashi summoned Hizashi, his twin brother and leader of the Branch Family. He did not show him the letter, but appealed directly to clan duty.
"Hizashi. Hinata's third birthday celebration is in three days. It is a high-profile event, with diplomatic visitors from Kumo. The risk of a compound breach is greater than the Hokage admits. I need your team and the strongest Jūken users you have in the Branch Family."
Hizashi, disciplined and stoic, nodded. "We will provide the honor guard, Clan Leader. What locations do you require?"
"Konoha's official security will cover the periphery. I need your people inside the main house, Hizashi. They will act as celebration guards. Their chakra must be suppressed. They must not be detected, but their formation must be lethal. I need two teams positioned in the main hallway leading to the dormitory wing. And a single shinobi must be hidden inside Hinata's bedroom."
The request was unusual. Placing a member of the Branch Family inside the heiress's room was a strange honor, but Hizashi did not question the order, only the efficiency.
"Who will be in the room, Clan Leader?"
"It will be me. I will be the main bait. But I need you and a team to be in the hallway ambush. Your Byakugan and your Jūken are perfect for a silent assault."
"Understood. We will be ready."
The Branch Family deployment was disguised under the pretext of "enhancing the clan's presence for the Kumo delegation." In the eyes of the Village, it was simple Hyūga protocol, but for Kumo, it would be a dense network of latent chakra, ready to activate.
Reinforcing the Bait
Hiashi spent the rest of the days reinforcing the bait: Hinata's room.
On the night of the birthday, most clan members would assume security would focus on the main hallway or the Ceremony Hall. Kumo would undoubtedly assume little Hinata would be sleeping in her room in the main wing.
Hiashi ordered subtle modifications to the seals in Hinata's room. Sound distortion seals and weak chakra barriers were installed, designed not to stop, but to alert Hiashi a microsecond in advance if they were breached.
The trap was perfect:
The attacker, thinking of stealth, would head to the child's room.
By breaching the low-level seals, Hiashi would be notified before the patrol's Byakugan could react.
The attacker's retreat path would be directly through the two Branch Family teams, led by Hizashi.
The final bait: Hiashi would not sleep in his own bedroom. He would hide inside Hinata's bedroom, near the futon, ready for the frontal attack.
This risky and violent tactic was the only way to ensure the kidnapper was captured or eliminated without possibility of escape or diplomatic lies. He needed the attacker, alive or dead, as irrefutable proof for the Hokage.
"Cronos. If peace is a lie, I will not allow our ignorance to be the price of that lie," Hiashi swore to himself.
As the sun set, marking the beginning of the last day before the birthday, Hiashi felt a tremor in the air: the imminent arrival of the crucial night.
UNOFFICIAL COUNTDOWN: HINATA'S BIRTHDAY2 Days.