Recently, the Land of Lightning arrived in Konoha to sign a peace treaty.
As a representative ninja from the Hidden Cloud Village, a team member was sent as an envoy.
However, the Hidden Cloud Ninjas had another motive for their visit to Konoha: to covet the special Kekkei Genkai of the Hyuga clan—the Byakugan.
So tonight, under the leadership of the envoy team's chief ninja, a group of Hidden Cloud Ninjas quietly approached the vicinity of the Hyuga clan, looking for an opportunity to abduct the main house's eldest daughter, Hinata Hyuga.
The reason for targeting Hinata instead of someone else from the Hyuga clan was the 'Caged Bird' curse mark known throughout the ninja world.
This mark is placed on all members of the Hyuga clan who are not part of the main house, ensuring that no special techniques, like the famed Byakugan, would fall into the hands of outsiders.
Dressed in black, the Hidden Cloud Ninjas cautiously made their way to the area around the Hyuga household under the cover of night, waiting for the perfect moment.
At that moment, Li Zhenwu was casually wandering past the Hyuga house...
This prompted the Hidden Cloud Ninjas to entertain different ideas.
Konoha is among the most powerful villages in the ninja world, with its intelligence thoroughly understood by other ninja villages.
The younger generation, such as Uchiha Itachi, jinchūriki Uzumaki Naruto, and the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, were all known figures.
Li Zhenwu, too, was on the radar of other villages, earning the nickname 'Konoha's Little Monster.' Born during the Nine-Tails disturbance, he was an unusually calm newborn—quiet and with a tail from birth.
He was known for being able to eat a lot and possessing extraordinary strength, and even after having his tail cut off, it would still grow back.
These traits made him well-known among other ninja villages.
Thus, when the Hidden Cloud Ninjas spotted him loitering nearby, they decisively decided to seize this little monster and take him back to the Hidden Cloud Village for study.
"Yunshui, go follow that kid and strike when he's in a secluded area. Knock him out and bring him back!" the leader of the Hidden Cloud Ninjas instructed one of his companions. Because they were still in Konoha and outside the Hyuga compound, the Hidden Cloud Ninjas proceeded with caution to avoid drawing attention.
"Don't worry," the young ninja named Yunshui replied, nodding. He wrapped himself in black fabric, leaving only his eyes visible, and then quietly followed Li Zhenwu.
...
Li Zhenwu began his stroll feeling relaxed, intending to find a civilian ninja to engage in a grand battle and complete a system mission for rewards.
However, as he walked through the Hyuga clan's territory, he suddenly sensed that someone was trailing him.
"A Hyuga clan ninja?"
This thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. He had no vendetta against the Hyuga clan, so there was no reason for them to follow him.
Nonetheless, it was indisputable that someone had started following him from the vicinity of the Hyuga compound.
Li Zhenwu remained calm but gradually adjusted his body, ready to spring into action at any time.
He veered off the main road and entered a narrow alley.
The Hidden Cloud Ninja Yunshui continued to follow Li Zhenwu, watching his unusual tail sway slightly and thinking to himself how easy this task was, dealing only with a three-year-old child.
Seeing Li Zhenwu suddenly turn into a small alley, Yunshui assumed he was heading home, so he hurried to close the gap.
However, just as he stepped onto the path, a sharp gust of wind suddenly rushed past him.
Yunshui was startled but immediately formed hand seals.
Boom!*
His figure instantly vanished, leaving only a piece of wood behind.
"Substitution Jutsu," Li Zhenwu recognized the technique and couldn't help but sigh; for someone like him, certain jutsus seemed almost like cheating.
Yunshui reappeared about five meters ahead of Li Zhenwu, astonished that a three-year-old child could pose such a pressing sense of danger.
"Was that you who just attacked me, you little brat?" Yunshui exclaimed, unable to comprehend how a mere child could threaten him.
"Who else could it be?" Li Zhenwu shot back, gazing at the ninja clad in black, his face covered.
"Who are you? Why are you following me?"
"Haha, I..." Yunshui smirked darkly, about to say, 'I'm not going to tell you,' but by the time he got out the word 'I,' Li Zhenwu had already moved.
Li Zhenwu's small frame lunged forward like a cannonball, and only then did he shout, "Forget it, I don't care who you are; let's fight first!"
Noticing that the cloaked ninja was hastily evading him and seemed somewhat unsteady when he used the substitution technique, Li Zhenwu concluded that this was likely only a low-level ninja.
Just right, Li Zhenwu's system mission required a low-level ninja.
Thus, he decided to keep things straightforward: he would defeat this opponent first to complete his mission!
"This little brat is fast! Faster than most ninjas!" Yunshui thought, surprised. However, facing Li Zhenwu, he wasn't about to hesitate anymore; his eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Good, capturing such a prodigious little demon would only increase his value!"
With a push from his feet, Yunshui prepared to engage using taijutsu, intending to take down Li Zhenwu.
The battle was about to begin!
