Chapter 13: The Root of Treachery or How To Steal Children (and Other Bad Habits)
The Hyūga compound stood quiet and still under the moonlight, its tall stone walls casting long shadows across the ground. It was an impressive sight, a fortress of tradition and strength guarded by the legendary Byakugan. Everyone knew breaking into it was nearly impossible—at least for most people.
But Raiden Tenkai wasn't like most people.
Moving like a shadow, he crept closer, his steps silent and deliberate, each placement of his foot carefully chosen to avoid dry leaves or loose stones. The cool night air carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth, masking his presence further. He'd been waiting for this moment for weeks, meticulously studying the patrol patterns of the guards, the blind spots in their routes, and the intricacies of the compound's layout.
Tonight, all his preparation would pay off. The stars above glittered faintly, as though they were spectators to his mission, their distant light casting a dim, silvery glow on the forest around him. Raiden couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement—a dangerous, intoxicating thrill coursing through his veins. Every fiber of his being was tuned to the rhythm of the night, his breathing steady, his heartbeat controlled.
This was it. This was the night he would claim one of the Leaf's greatest secrets: the forbidden scroll hidden deep within the Hokage's archives. The promise of power, knowledge, and renown whispered to him like an alluring phantom, fueling his resolve.
His gloved hand tightened around the hilt of his kunai, its cold steel a grounding reminder of the risks involved. One misstep, one sound too loud, and the silent forest could erupt into chaos. The shadows seemed to part before him as he moved, his dark cloak blending seamlessly into the night.
Pausing just outside the compound's outer wall, Raiden pressed his ear to the rough stone, listening for signs of movement. The soft murmur of guards exchanging idle conversation reached him, their voices muffled by distance. He smirked to himself. Amateurs. Adjusting his stance, he crouched low, scanning the wall for the exact spot he'd identified earlier—where the moss-covered stones offered the best footholds.
He took one last glance around, ensuring the coast was clear. With a measured leap, he began his ascent, his fingers finding purchase with practiced ease. The night was his ally, and Raiden felt invincible. Nothing would stop him now.
Nothing about the compound's defenses scared him. Wrapped in his Raikiri Cloak, he was more than prepared. To any sensors, he was invisible; to anyone watching, he was just another wisp of shadow in the dark. A slight grin tugged at his lips. The Hyūga might think their walls were impenetrable, but by the time the sun rose, they'd learn otherwise.
As he crouched in the shadows, his eyes locked on the compound's inner sanctum, a rare smirk tugged at his lips. The air was thick with the promise of success, and the thought was intoxicating: tonight, Konoha's pride wouldn't just falter--it would fall directly into his hands. This was no ordinary mission; this was history in the making, and he intended to be the one to write it.
The plan had been months in the making, every detail crafted with meticulous care. Kumo's overtures for a peace treaty with Konoha were nothing more than an elaborate facade, a diplomatic performance designed to distract and deceive. Beneath the surface of polite words and formalities, the Elder Council of Kumo had devised a strategy with one goal in mind: to exploit Konoha's misplaced trust.
The treaty itself was a hollow gesture, a carefully designed illusion meant to occupy Konoha's attention. Peace and cooperation? They were nothing but tools in a larger scheme. While Konoha's leaders were consumed by negotiations, arguing over terms that ultimately meant nothing, the real operation was unfolding far from their watchful eyes.
Now, cloaked in darkness and silence, the true mission was underway. Kumo's agents moved with precision and purpose, taking advantage of Konoha's misplaced focus. The Leaf's so-called vigilance had been lulled into complacency, leaving its most closely guarded secrets vulnerable. This was no mere theft; it was a calculated strike, designed to expose the cracks in Konoha's armor and shift the balance of power. If successful, the consequences would ripple far beyond this single night.
Raiden was no stranger to these games of misdirection. He thrived in them. And as the shadows wrapped around him, he could almost hear the Elder Council's words ringing in his ears: failure is not an option.
This mission, a bold and calculated strike, was too critical to risk failure. The Elders had demanded its success at any cost. They had chosen Raiden for this task—not merely for his unmatched skill in stealth and subterfuge, but for his mastery of a forbidden Lightning Release technique that set him apart as a legend among shinobi. His technique, the Raikiri no Gaitō, allowed him to become an untraceable wraith, immune to even the most advanced chakra-sensing methods.
Tonight, Raiden moved with lethal precision, every step calculated, every breath controlled. His mission wasn't some run-of-the-mill reconnaissance or petty act of sabotage. No, this was bigger--far bigger. Kumo had placed its trust in him to carry out an operation that could change the balance of power between the great nations. His objective was clear: breach the Hyūga compound and claim the secret of the Byakugan, the prized kekkei genkai that had made the Hyūga clan one of Konoha's greatest assets.
But this wasn't just about Kumo gaining an edge; it was about Konoha losing one. Raiden knew the weight of what he carried on his shoulders. If he succeeded, one of the Hyūga's secrets would belong to Kumo, and Konoha would be dealt a humiliating blow from which they might never recover. The ripple effects could shape the future of the shinobi world, and Raiden intended to ensure that the future belonged to Kumo.
The stakes were high, but Raiden thrived under pressure. His movements were fluid, silent as the breeze, and his Raiton: Raikiri no Gaitō hummed faintly around him, masking his presence even from the Hyūga's vaunted Byakugan. He could almost feel the weight of history on his shoulders, the knowledge that tonight wasn't just a mission—it was a turning point.
As the crescent moon hung high in the ink-black sky, Raiden crouched on the edge of the village's outer wall, his form shrouded in crackling, invisible energy. The silence of the night belied the storm brewing within him. Konoha's pride—its strength, its vigilance, its untouchable status—would become its greatest weakness. And tonight, Raiden would see to it that the mighty Hidden Leaf fell to its knees.
As the Kumo-nin perched on the edge of the compound's walls, his sharp eyes glimmered behind the mask, narrowing as he focused on his target. Every muscle in his body was poised, ready for the next move.
With a deliberate inhale, he activated his signature jutsu, *Raiton: Raikiri no Gaitō (Lightning Release: Raikiri Cloak).* A faint, almost imperceptible hum of electricity crackled to life around him, its energy rippling in the air. It blended seamlessly with the natural symphony of cicadas, filling the warm night air with an eerie calm.
A shimmering haze of lightning enveloped his body, subtle yet alive with power. Its flickering edges danced and wove into the surrounding shadows, making him one with the darkness. The Raikiri Cloak was not merely a tool for concealment; it was a masterpiece of precision and dominance.
This technique didn't just suppress chakra signatures--it obliterated them entirely. For any sensor-nin attempting to locate him, Raiden would register as nothing more than a void, a complete absence of life amidst the bustling and intricate web of chakra surrounding the area. It was as though he had vanished from existence, leaving no trace for his enemies to follow.
Even the Hyūga's vaunted Byakugan, a dojutsu revered for its unparalleled insight into chakra networks, was rendered impotent against this cloak. The fluctuating lightning currents distorted electromagnetic fields, warping visual clarity and scattering chakra perception like ripples on a disturbed pond.
The very air around him seemed to betray those who sought him, bending their senses away from his presence. Raiden smirked behind his mask, knowing he had become an untraceable ghost.
He moved like a wraith across the compound's rooftops, the static field around him causing slight distortions in the light. To an untrained eye, he would appear as a flicker in the shadows, a brief ripple in the air. To the Hyūga patrolling the compound, he was nothing but a ghost, slipping through their field of vision unnoticed.
As Raiden approached the inner sanctum of the compound, where the sealed documents he sought were kept, his Raikiri Cloak continued to serve as the ultimate shield. The lightning mist not only muffled his footsteps but also absorbed any sound within a few meters of his body, rendering him eerily silent as he moved. Even the soft rustle of his clothing was swallowed by the jutsu's field.
The wind shifted slightly, brushing a few leaves past one of the patrolling guards. The Hyūga looked up, scanning the area with his Byakugan, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. But Raiden stood just a few feet away, leaning against the stone wall, completely obscured. The guard's eyes passed over him as if he were no more than a shadow.
Raiden smirked beneath his mask. Even the sharpest eyes in Konoha were no match for the Raikiri no Gaitō. The jutsu distorted not just the chakra but the very air around him. The guard moved on, oblivious to the predator lying in wait.
Slipping through the final barrier with practiced ease, Raiden found himself in front of the chamber that held the Hyūga clan's most coveted treasure. This was no ordinary scroll--its contents detailed the intricate workings of the Byakugan and the secrets of the clan's ancient techniques. Most notably, it contained the formula for the Caged Bird Seal, a controversial jutsu that had long been both a tool of power and a source of quiet rebellion within the clan.
The chamber itself was small but imposing. The walls were adorned with faintly glowing seals, layered protections meant to keep intruders at bay. Raiden's sharp gaze swept over the markings as he knelt to examine the locking mechanism. His fingers moved with precision, channeling the faintest sliver of chakra to unravel the protective jutsu without triggering alarms. It was delicate work, the kind that could go wrong with a single misstep, but Raiden's hands never faltered.
With a soft click, the seal on the door disarmed, and the heavy oak panels slid open to reveal a simple wooden pedestal. Atop it sat the scroll, innocuous in appearance but radiating a weight of importance that only someone like Raiden could genuinely appreciate. The room was eerily silent save for the faint hum of his Raikiri Cloak, its flickering energy casting sharp shadows on the stone walls.
He stepped inside, his boots making no sound on the polished floor. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and ink, tinged with the faint metallic tang of chakra residue. Reaching out, his gloved hand hovered above the scroll for a moment as though savoring the significance of the moment. This was it—years of planning and weeks of preparation, all leading to this single act.
But before he could grasp the prize, Raiden felt a shift in the atmosphere. His lightning mist shivered as a presence made itself known behind him.
Someone was there, watching—yet there had been no sound, no warning. Slowly, Raiden turned, his Raikiri Cloak crackling faintly around him, distorting his silhouette even as he prepared for confrontation.
In the doorway stood a Hyūga—no, the Hyūga—Hiashi Hyūga, head of the clan. His Byakugan flared, pale eyes glowing with an intensity that sent a jolt of adrenaline through Raiden's veins.
For a split second, panic clawed at his chest, but he crushed it ruthlessly. I'm fine. He shouldn't be able to see me. He can't. My Raikiri Cloak is perfect.
Yet there Hiashi stood, his pale eyes locked on Raiden with unsettling accuracy. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty—just a quiet confidence that sent a chill down Raiden's spine. It was clear as day: he'd been found.
Hiashi smiled, a dangerous gleam in his eye. "You thought you could sneak into my home, Kumo dog?" His voice was cold, each word dripping with controlled menace. "You're not the first to underestimate the Hyūga."
Raiden's pulse quickened, but he kept his expression neutral and forced himself to remain calm. He edged closer to the locked chamber at the compound's heart, his Raikiri Cloak humming faintly like a protective shroud. Yet, the storm brewing inside him was impossible to ignore. How did he see through my jutsu? The question clawed at him. How did he know I was here? And worse… how did he know I was from Kumo?
For the first time, doubt crept in, wrapping around his resolve like a vice. Hiashi's confident stance and unyielding gaze made one thing painfully clear: this mission had officially gone to shit.
Each question tightened the knot in his chest. The Raikiri Cloak--his pride, his guarantee of success--was supposed to make him untouchable, invisible to even the sharpest sensors. How did he see me? he wondered again, his mind racing frantically for the answer. No one's ever pierced my cloak before.
But that was no longer true. Tonight, the worst possible person had seen through it. Hiashi Hyūga, the head of one of Konoha's oldest and most powerful clans, had noticed him. The very idea made his stomach churn. Had the bastard known I'd be here?
His breath quickened as doubt gnawed at him. But that's impossible… right?
Before he could process the thought, Hiashi's voice cut through the tension, smooth yet biting. "You really thought you could sneak past the Hyūga, Kumo dog?"
Raiden's muscles tensed, but he forced himself to remain calm, not allowing his voice to betray the rising panic. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Hiashi's smile was cold and dangerous. "Don't play games with me. I can see through your cloak, and I know exactly who you are. So tell me," he leaned in slightly, his Byakugan glowing in the dim light, "what is Kumo's true mission here tonight?"
Raiden kept his voice level though every fiber of his being screamed to flee. "The mission is mine alone," he said, the words coming out sharper than he intended. "I'm not here on anyone's orders. But that doesn't mean I'll let you stop me."
Hiashi's gaze remained unwavering, fixed on Raiden like a predator sizing up its prey. "You Kumo shinobi are all the same," he remarked, his voice dripping with contempt. "You believe you can slip in and out of wherever you wish, unnoticed. Take whatever you desire without consequence. But you're forgetting one thing—" his tone sharpened, a dangerous edge cutting through the silence— "the Byakugan sees all."
Raiden clenched his fists, frustration, and disbelief swirling in his chest. How did he see through my jutsu? It had never failed him before. Not once. And yet, here he was, cornered and exposed by the very technique he had relied on for years.
"You shouldn't have come here," Hiashi added, his words laced with finality. "Now, you'll answer for your actions."
The masked-nin tensed, his hand twitching toward his blade. The Raikiri Cloak could hide him from detection, but it couldn't shield him from a direct attack. And Hiashi was already advancing, his movements slow but deliberate.
"Let's see if your little trick can save you from the Eight Trigrams," Hiashi murmured, his hands rising into position.
Raiden clenched his jaw, electricity sparking at his fingertips, the raw energy thrumming through his veins. This was going to be more difficult than he'd anticipated. The air around him seemed to crackle with the tension of the moment, his nerves taut as a bowstring.
His breath remained steady, but his mind raced, analyzing every angle, every move. Hiashi Hyūga wasn't just any shinobi. He was the leader of the Hyūga clan, a master of the Gentle Fist technique, and a fighter whose Byakugan could dismantle an opponent's chakra network with pinpoint precision. Every breath Raiden took felt measured like he was on the cusp of something far beyond his control. The stakes had just been raised.
Despite the Raikiri Cloak that had shielded Raiden thus far, Hiashi had not only sensed him but pinpointed his exact location with unnerving precision. The cloak, his most reliable tool, was supposed to render him untouchable—an unseen ghost slipping through the cracks of even the most fortified defenses. Yet here he was, fully exposed, under the pale, glowing scrutiny of the Hyūga clan head.
Raiden's muscles tensed, every fiber of his being screaming at him to move, to act swiftly. One wrong move could mean instant death; a single misstep would leave him vulnerable to the Gentle Fist--a technique that could obliterate his chakra network and leave him powerless in seconds.
He analyzed the scene rapidly, his mind working overtime to calculate his options. Hiashi's stance was casual, almost deceptively so, but Raiden knew better. That relaxed posture masked a fighter's deadly precision. His hands, open and steady at his sides, could lash out with enough speed and force to end this before Raiden even had a chance to counter.
I have seconds, maybe less. If I wait too long, it's over. But if I rush, I play into his hands.
The air felt charged, every second dragging out in agonizing clarity. The faint hum of his Raikiri Cloak reverberated in his ears as he readied himself for what would inevitably come next. This wasn't just a battle—it was a deadly game of precision and survival, one Raiden knew he could not afford to lose.
As Hiashi advanced, his pale eyes locked onto the masked-nin, his footsteps deliberate and measured. With each step, the air between them grew heavier, thickening with an almost palpable tension. Hiashi's hands were poised at his sides, ready to strike at any moment, his gaze never wavering from Raiden.
"Your very presence dishonors my home, and your poor attempt at thievery dishonors my clan," Hiashi murmured, his voice low and cold, the words cutting through the silence like a blade.
He took another deliberate step forward, his Byakugan flaring with an intensity that made the veins around his eyes more pronounced. "Did you think the Hyūga would be so easily deceived by such a simple subterfuge? Did you believe that we would not see through such pitiful attempts at deception? You insult not only our strength but centuries of tradition and pride. These are insults I will not tolerate."
Hiashi's tone hardened, each word laced with barely restrained fury. "You dare to creep into my home like a rat, thinking you can take what is ours? Thinking you can defile this sacred place without consequence? I will show you what it means to cross the Hyūga." His stance shifted slightly, the fluid grace of a master preparing to strike, as his pale eyes burned with righteous fury. "What it means… to cross me."
The clan elder took another step. "You will soon learn a lesson the rest of the shinobi world already knows." The veins on the Hyūga's temples bulged suddenly. "Before my Doujutsu, your petty tricks are meaningless. No deception, no shadow, no cloak will protect you from my wrath."
As expected, the Hyūga was full of confidence. Good, I'll make you eat those words, Raiden thought, smirking beneath his mask, though a bead of sweat formed at his temple. He would have to exploit Hiashi's overconfidence.
With a swift flick of his wrist, Raiden sent a surge of electricity through his Raikiri Cloak. The faint mist of lightning rippled outward, momentarily intensifying and distorting the air around them, like a heat mirage blurring his form.
Hiashi paused for only a fraction of a second but wins, and losses were determined in those fleeting moments of hesitation—a truth Raiden was determined to exploit.
The Masked-nin lunged his form a blur of static and speed. Hiashi's Byakugan followed his every move, and in response, the Hyūga leader shifted into a variation of the Gentle Fist stance, his palms glowing with chakra. With blinding speed, Hiashi unleashed a flurry of strikes aimed at Raiden's chakra points.
Raiden dodged the first strike, barely sidestepping the second, but the third caught him—a swift jab to his right shoulder. Pain shot through Raiden as his chakra flow was disrupted momentarily. Hiashi was aiming to shut down his entire chakra network. If he landed a few more strikes, it would be over. But Raiden had prepared for this.
With a sharp exhale, Raiden released a pulse of electricity from his body. The Raikiri Cloak flared violently, crackling as it made contact with Hiashi's outstretched hand. Hiashi's eyes widened as the electric charge jolted through his arm, forcing him to withdraw. The electricity wasn't enough to injure Hiashi severely, but it created the opening Raiden needed.
Without wasting a moment, Raiden channeled lightning into his fingertips, the chakra surging and crackling as it coalesced into a thin, lethal point. Raiton: Kaminari no Yari (Lightning Release: Thunder Spear), he murmured under his breath.
The modified version of the Chidori hummed with energy, a spear of concentrated lightning that distorted the air around it. Its razor-sharp edge gleamed faintly in the dim light, and Raiden's focus narrowed, locking onto his target. With precision born of countless hours of training, he thrust the lightning spear at Hiashi's lower ribs, aiming just beneath his guard.
The attack was swift, a blur of motion that cut through the tension-filled air with deadly intent. It wasn't meant to kill but to destabilize, to exploit even a momentary lapse in Hiashi's defenses. But as the spear closed in, the Hyūga's Byakugan flared, and his body shifted with an elegance that belied the speed of his movements.
In response, the Clan head murmured in a steady, controlled voice, "Hakke Shō Kaiten (Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation)."
In response, a chakra barrier manifested around him, spinning in a rapid defensive whirl, its force aimed at deflecting the incoming strike.
But Raiden's jutsu, amplified by the sheer intensity of the Raikiri Cloak, tore through the barrier with unrelenting precision, cutting through the swirling chakra as effortlessly as a blade through silk. The force of the collision left the air crackling, the sharp sound of electricity snapping like thunder in the silence.
Hiashi staggered as the lightning spear struck true, grazing his ribs and sending a shockwave through his body. His defensive technique collapsed, and he fell to one knee, gasping for breath. The direct lightning attack rattled his chakra system, disrupting it. Though not fatal, the jutsu incapacitated him.
Hiashi attempted to rise, but his limbs were slow to respond. Raiden stood over him, his hand still crackling with residual electricity. "You're strong, Hiashi. But even the strongest can fall in silence."
Without giving Hiashi a chance to recover, Raiden clenched his fist, sending a precise jolt of electricity through Hiashi's nervous system, targeting key pressure points. The Hyūga leader's eyes rolled back as his body collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
The room fell into silence, the only sound the faint hum of Raiden's Raikiri Cloak. He glanced down at Hiashi's prone form for a moment, his expression unreadable. For all his strength, Hiashi hadn't been prepared for a battle like this. He had underestimated Kumo's resolve and Raiden's power.
For a moment, Raiden debated whether he should take the Hyūga's vaunted eyes. The thought was tempting—the legendary Byakugan, a tool of unmatched power, was within his reach. But as quickly as the idea surfaced, he dismissed it. The loss of such a valuable dōjutsu would infuriate Konoha beyond reason, turning the entire village into a relentless swarm. His retreat would become not just difficult but impossible.
No* he decided, his jaw tightening. The mission is already risky enough. I don't need to paint a bigger target on my back.
Still, the thought lingered, a tantalizing reminder of what could have been. Shaking it off, Raiden focused on the task at hand. Survival came first.
With Hiashi defeated, Raiden wasted no time.
He moved to the sealed scrolls, quickly retrieving the one containing the information he had been sent to steal—the secrets of the Torikago no Fūin (Caged Bird Seal).
Rolling it up and tucking it into his belt, he cast one last glance at the unconscious Hyūga leader before he kneeled down and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on his forehead.
Then, with a precise pulse of chakra, Raiden enveloped Hiashi in a variation of his Raikiri Cloak, modified to mask the unconscious Hyūga entirely. The lightning-infused barrier would suppress Hiashi's chakra signature, rendering him undetectable to even the sharpest sensory ninja for several hours.
Raiden allowed himself a small, satisfied breath. It was more than enough time to ensure his escape.
Satisfied with his work, he stood, his movements fluid and silent. Without a backward glance, he melted into the shadows, the faint hum of his Raikiri Cloak blending seamlessly with the stillness of the night as if he had never been there.
Keeping his cloak active, Raiden moved swiftly through the compound, each step calculated and precise. The guards patrolled with vigilance, their Byakugan scanning the area, but they remained oblivious to the faint distortion of moonlight that signaled his passage. His form slipped between their gaze like water through fingers, undetected and unchallenged.
Reaching the outer walls, he scaled them with practiced ease, his body a blur against the night sky. As soon as his feet touched the forest floor beyond, he disappeared into the dense canopy of trees, the shadows swallowing him whole.
Once he was safely outside the Hyūga perimeter, Raiden deactivated the Cloak, the lightning mist dispersing into the night. The mission had been a success. Kumo would soon hold the key to the Hyūga clan's darkest secret, a powerful tool in the game of villages.
Ten minutes later, Raiden leaned against a tree just outside the Hyūga compound, taking a moment to steady his breath. The cool night air stung his skin, but it didn't do much to calm the adrenaline still coursing through him. Hiashi would wake up eventually, but by then, it'd be too late. The damage was already done.
The sealed scroll, packed with the secrets of the Caged Bird Seal, was snug against his side, hidden beneath his cloak. It was a win, sure, but not one he could celebrate. That scroll was more than just paper--it was a fuse waiting to be lit, and Raiden knew exactly how explosive it could be.
Raiden glanced back toward the compound, its towering walls just visible through the tangled canopy. Oh, to be a fly on the wall when they finally figure out what's going on, he thought dryly. The theft wouldn't stay a secret for long, and when the Hyūga realized what was missing, the blame would land squarely on Kumo. Subtlety wasn't exactly their strong suit.
Good thing he'd already sent the retreat signal to the rest of the delegation. By the time Konoha pieced things together, the others would be far enough away to enjoy the fireworks from a safe distance. That left just one loose end: him.
Still crouched in the shadows at the forest's edge, Raiden smirked to himself. *A missing scroll? Sure, that'll sting. But what if I made it personal?* What he needed now was a distraction, something big enough to blind Konoha with righteous anger while he slipped away into the night. His fingers twitched, the faint hum of his lightning chakra flickering in the air as he plotted his next move.
Raiden's gaze shifted toward the inner chambers of the compound, where the Hyūga heiress slept, unaware of the danger lurking beyond her walls. Hinata Hyūga—daughter of Hiashi, the clan's pride and future. She was young, barely more than a child, but her bloodline made her a prize Kumo couldn't resist.
His lips curled into a humorless smirk. Stealing their precious heiress? Oh, that would really send them into a frenzy. The sheer audacity of such a move would dominate Konoha's attention.
Outrage, chaos, and frantic efforts to recover her would ripple through the village like a storm. And amidst that storm, the scroll would slip through unnoticed, its significance buried beneath the far more personal affront of a child's abduction.
They'll think it's all about the Byakugan, Raiden thought, his mind racing through the logistics. They'll assume Kumo's only goal was to obtain her bloodline trait. No one will even question the missing scroll until it's too late. The plan was almost cruel in its simplicity—and its brilliance.
Raiden took a steadying breath, bracing himself for the next step of his plan. After Hiashi's defeat, the compound had fallen into an uneasy quiet. The only sounds were the rhythmic crunch of gravel beneath the guards' boots as they followed their patrol routes.
But even with their Byakugan scanning the grounds, they overlooked the invisible threat slipping through the shadows. The Raikiri Cloak cloaked Raiden like a shimmering mirage, distorting the air just enough to keep him hidden. For all their vigilance, they were completely unaware of the storm lurking right under their noses.
He crouched low, his sharp eyes tracing the patterns of the guards' routes. Every few minutes, they passed the entrance to the compound's central courtyard, their gazes sweeping the area in practiced synchronization. He calculated his opening--a narrow window of three seconds between their shifts. Good enough, he thought, his fingers flexing as arcs of lightning briefly danced over them.
The courtyard itself presented a challenge. It was wide and open, illuminated by softly glowing paper lanterns hanging from wooden posts. An ornamental koi pond glimmered at the center, its surface disturbed only by the occasional ripple of fish beneath the water. Beyond it lay his intended target—a storage building marked with the Hyūga clan's insignia. If he could plant a suitable diversion there, it would draw attention away from his primary goal.
Raiden moved with precision, his steps soundless as he approached the edge of the courtyard. He reached into a pouch at his hip and retrieved a small, spherical device—a smoke bomb infused with concentrated fire chakra.
When detonated, it released a burst of flame and dense smoke, creating a blinding flash that mimicked the effects of a sudden blaze. The intense heat disoriented anyone nearby, disrupting their focus and scattering any hastily organized formations.
Raiden knew the timing had to be perfect. He stayed still, his breath steady, as he waited for the guards to finish their patrol. His pulse thrummed in sync with the faint crackle of chakra coursing through him, and every sense was sharp and ready.
With a quick flick of his wrist, he launched the device. It hit the shed's wall with a dull thud before rolling into the koi pond, where it vanished beneath the water with a soft plop.
For a second, nothing happened. Then, a fiery flash erupted from beneath the surface, sending shimmering ripples across the pond and lighting up the courtyard in bursts of orange and gold. The flash was loud enough to catch attention but short-lived enough to leave confusion in its wake. Perfect.
The water erupted in a brilliant flash of smoke and electricity, sending ripples of light and sound cascading across the courtyard. Startled cries echoed as the guards rushed toward the disturbance, their Byakugan flaring as they scanned the area with urgency. From their frantic movements, one might have thought they were unraveling a dire threat. In truth, they were chasing a phantom.
Raiden didn't waste any time. While the guards were busy rushing toward the shed, caught up in the distraction, he slipped through the chaos without a sound. He moved with the ease of someone who'd done this a thousand times before, his steps calculated and careful.
In a few smooth motions, he scaled the tree next to the koi pond, disappearing into the thick branches above. From there, he could watch the guards below, their confusion practically radiating off them. The leaves rustled softly in the breeze as Raiden settled in, hidden and ready for whatever came next.
If he were being charitable, he might have cut the bewildered Hyūgas some slack. But he wasn't feeling particularly generous tonight. Really? With all their vaunted Byakugan prowess, this is the best they can do? he mused, his smirk widening as yet another guard barked orders to search the shed, voice taut with urgency.
From their vantage point, it seemed obvious that the device had been hurled from within the shed. Predictably, the guards latched onto this assumption with single-minded fervor, swarming toward the structure like moths to a flame. He watched their frantic movements with quiet amusement. How predictable. For shinobi trained in the art of perception, they certainly lack imagination.
Within seconds, the guards were at the shed, weapons drawn, shouts echoing through the compound. One of them barked out orders with authority, bravado, and little else like he was on the verge of uncovering the mastermind behind the entire operation.
"Secure the perimeter! There might be more hiding!" the leader barked, gesturing wildly as the others scrambled to obey.
Raiden smirked from his perch in the treetops, watching the chaos unfold. Really? So this is all the vaunted Hyūga are suitable for? It's like they're not even trying.
The first guard kicked the door open, kunai raised like he was about to face down an army. Instead, he was met with nothing but dust and a couple of unimpressed spiders.
"Nothing here," the guard muttered, clearly annoyed.
"Search harder!" the leader snapped, his voice cracking slightly as if trying to cover for his embarrassment. "Check the walls, the roof, everywhere! They can't have gone far!"
Raiden stifled a laugh as another guard crouched down to peer under a shelf, grumbling under his breath, "What, do they think a whole ass shinobi's hiding under here?"
The guards continued their futile search, knocking over crates and scattering tools in their haste. Raiden shook his head, thoroughly entertained. Too easy, he thought, leaning back against the tree trunk. If this is the best they've got, maybe I should've stolen a few more scrolls and a couple of eyeballs while I was at it.
As one of the guards angrily kicked at a broom that dared to block his path, Raiden sighed mockingly to himself. "The pride of Konoha," he murmured, disgusted by the haphazard investigation. "I almost feel bad for them. Almost."
The main building was within reach now, its wooden doors fastened with intricate chakra seals. Raiden smirked beneath his mask, already preparing to breach them. The guards would be preoccupied for at least a few minutes, and that was all the time he needed.
With his distraction in full effect, the Masked-nin lept from his perch re-entered the main house, and moved through the hallways like a ghost. His lightning mist warped the air around him as he approached Hinata's room.
The wooden sliding door before him was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, intricately carved to flaunt the Hyūga's nobility and wealth. It also did jack shit when it came to protecting the person on the other side of it.
Then, as if to prove just how above everyone else they were, the door opened without a sound the moment Raiden pressed his fingertips against it--because, of course, nothing, not even a squeaky door, should disturb the tremendous and mighty Hyūga's precious beauty sleep.
Koi ponds, fancy doors, what's next? A gold-plated floor mat? Raiden thought, suppressing a scoff as he slipped through the opening.
Honestly, the amount of time they must spend on this nonsense… His eyes darted around, already focused on the task ahead. If they spent half as much time on actual defense as they do showing off, I might be impressed.
Inside, a soft glow from a candle flickered on a small table beside Hinata's bed, casting delicate shadows across her peaceful face.
Hinata lay curled beneath the blankets, her long dark hair spilling across her pillow, oblivious to the danger creeping closer. She was just a child—no older than seven—but her capture would set the entire Leaf village on fire.
Raiden moved with precision, his senses heightened as he knelt beside her. The soft rustle of fabric and the steady rhythm of her breathing were the only sounds in the room. His fingers hovered for a moment, a brief hesitation tugging at him as a pang of guilt struck. She was innocent, caught in the cruel politics between villages—a pawn in a game too big for her to understand.
But he shut the thought down before it could take root. This is politics, he reminded himself, not a charity event. Mercy has no place here. Failure wasn't an option, not when everything he was sworn to protect was on the line. His resolve solidified like stone, and he reached into his pouch, pulling out a piece of cloth soaked in a mild anesthetic.
With a swift, calculated motion, he pressed it over her mouth. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding her gaze as she tried to focus on his shadowy figure. For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked, and something unspoken passed between them--maybe a question, perhaps a plea, or maybe just the silent acknowledgment that, in this game, there were no winners.
But the sleeping agent worked swiftly. Her lids grew heavy, her body relaxing as unconsciousness claimed her. Raiden waited a moment longer, ensuring she was fully under, before carefully pulling the cloth away and tucking it back into his pouch. Then, with a quiet exhale, he rose, ready to complete his mission.
Satisfied she was unconscious, Raiden carefully lifted her small frame into his arms. She was light, fragile even, as he wrapped her in his cloak to shield her from the cool night air. He glanced around the room once more, ensuring no trace of his presence remained. The guards had no reason to check inside; they assumed their Byakugan would detect any intruder long before he could reach this far.
Raiden stepped out of the room, the door sliding shut behind him with the same unnatural silence. He moved swiftly through the compound, carrying Hinata with a practiced ease that screamed louder than words that this wasn't the first time he'd found himself in a situation like this. The Raikiri Cloak hummed faintly around him and his unconscious passenger, erasing their chakra signatures and distorting their images as he slipped past patrolling guards, none the wiser to the disappearance of their heiress.
As he approached the outer walls of the compound, Raiden spotted a pair of Hyūga guards stationed near the gates, their Byakugan activated and scanning the perimeter. He paused, calculating his options. Even with the Raikiri Cloak, he couldn't afford any mistakes this close to his escape. His hands flicked through a quick series of hand seals, forming a secondary jutsu to cover his retreat.
"Raiton: Kaminari Shuriken (Lightning Release: Thunder Shuriken)," Raiden muttered under his breath. A thin arc of lightning shot from his fingertips, striking the base of a nearby tree. The explosion of sound and splintering wood echoed through the compound like a thunderclap. Both guards snapped their attention toward the source of the noise, their Byakugan focusing on the now smoldering remains of the tree.
Raiden used the distraction to slip past them, his body flickering in and out of the shadows as he moved with blinding speed. He scaled the compound's outer walls, his hand securely gripping Hinata as he descended into the dark forest beyond the Hyūga estate.
Once he was far enough from the compound to avoid immediate detection, Raiden stopped near a small park to assess his surroundings and check on the girl. The air was still, the night undisturbed except for the distant cries of the Hyūga guards reacting to the explosion.
They would soon discover Hiashi unconscious and wounded, and Hinata's absence would become apparent. By then, Raiden would be long gone, and Konoha would focus all its attention on the kidnapping of their heiress.
Raiden gently set Hinata down on the forest floor for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning the area. He knew that leaving the heiress here would only delay her recovery, not prevent it. Konoha would send out teams of ANBU and Hyūga trackers as soon as dawn broke. But that was the point. Konoha needed to be distracted long enough for him to escape with the scroll.
He glanced down at Hinata one last time, her soft breathing barely audible in the quiet forest. With a flick of his wrist, he left a faint residue of water chakra on her form, a final piece of deception. To the first patrol that found her, it would seem like she had been caught in a skirmish of jutsu, leaving no obvious connection to the theft of the Caged Bird Seal.
The wind rustled through the leaves above as Raiden vanished into the trees, his mission complete. The Hyūga clan—and all of Konoha—would soon discover that Hinata had been taken. They would never suspect the true aim of his mission.
By the time the sun rose and the alarm spread through the village, Raiden would already be crossing the borders back into Kumo, carrying with him the Hyūga clan's most dangerous secret. His mission was unfolding flawlessly, cloaked in the cover of night, and with each silent step, he drew closer to success.
And then, there below him was a child. She stood frozen in place, her large, innocent eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and fear.