Note: Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto and all of the characters in this fic except my O/C's.
Chapter 4
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, removed his tobacco pipe from the hardwood table, placed it into his mouth and firmly pressed his thin lips around it. He dragged it, released large puffs of smoke, and sighed heavily. He was getting too old for this. The late nights, finding solutions, traumatic stories and dejected shinobi who passed through his office added weight to his overburdened shoulders. He glanced at a window to his left, and he could hardly make out the Hokage rock with the faces of the past Hokages. The sky was still dark; most of the residents in Konoha were sleeping, blissfully unaware of the trouble in the Hokage Tower. He focused his attention on Kurenai Yuhi: she was seated on the chair, silently ruminating on her thoughts.
Team eight's mission had been successful: the four thugs were now in Ibiki Morino's custody. After Kurenai handed over the remaining bandit (who was in a Genjutsu trance) to a Jonin official at the Konoha gates, she had a medical-nin take care of Hinata and Akane then the remaining members went to the Hokage tower to report their mission. When the Third Hokage heard their testimony, he dismissed the younger members by saying their mission was a success. So, he sent Shino and Kiba to their comrades in the hospital.
However, there was a puzzle that had yet to be solved.
"I'm worried about what Hinata said. Those four criminals got around the Byakugan without using any Jutsu and used high-level tactics to lead us away from Konoha. Are they linked to a Shinobi village? What were they using, and why do they want a Hyuuga?" Kurenai asked.
"You raise pertinent questions, but we will have to wait for Ibiki's report after he is done with them. I have a favour to ask of you: keep a close eye over Hinata. I believe this won't be the last attack." A hint of a frown crossed over Kurenai's facial features, "you think there is a large group out there?"
The Hokage dragged his smoking pipe and blew whilst nodding his head, "we can never rule out the possibility. It might be a separate incident or a collective effort to decimate an important part of Konoha's defences: destroying the Byakugan." He paused, "Don't worry, I will protect Hinata. Will you inform the head of the Hyuuga?" Kurenai chimed in, and Hiruzen took note of the iciness in her tone on her last sentence.
"I will meet with Hiashi and discuss the details with him so you can go home and rest. Thank you, and have a good night." She stood to her feet, bowed and walked out of the room. The Hokage waited for a minute or two and then said, "Nightjar did you get all of that."
A member of the Anbu black ops jumped into the room and stood before his commander. The person was wearing a porcelain nightjar mask with a standard uniform consisting of a grey flak jacket, metal arm guards and gloves, ninja sandals with spikes, and three ninja pouches on their back-waist and a signature spiral tattoo on their shoulder. He nodded in agreement.
"Good. Treat this matter as an S-ranked mission. Investigate the four prisoners and see if they are part of an organisation. If there is, terminate the group, capture the leaders and return to Konoha. If there isn't, return to base, and we will regroup." The Anbu official bowed his head and disappeared out the window. Hiruzen continued to smoke and contemplated how complicated his morning already was and now he had to schedule a meeting with Hiashi. He was getting too old for this.