Today, the Leaf Village was bustling with activity.
The streets and alleys were filled with people eager to watch the festivities.
Even the elderly, who usually stayed home, were out on the streets with the help of their children and grandchildren.
The whole village was filled with a joyous atmosphere.
The reason? Today was the day the peace agreement between Cloud Village and the Leaf Village was to be signed.
The current Third Hokage, Hiruzen, generously funded a celebratory ceremony to mark this grand occasion and the war’s end.
The top of the Hokage Tower was meticulously decorated.
Bright red ribbons wrapped around from both sides to the centre.
The villagers below, watching the scene, were filled with joy and admiration for the future.
Hiruzen, dressed in a new Hokage robe and wearing the Hokage hat, stood on the rooftop of the Hokage Tower, basking in the villagers’ cheers.
The last time the village had seen such a grand scene…
It was when Minato became the Fourth Hokage.
Now, it was finally his turn.
“Pfft!”
Standing below, Mirai couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
This disrespectful display immediately caught the attention of the surrounding villagers.
Several glares were cast in his direction.
But they quickly looked away, embarrassed when they saw who it was.
Are you kidding?!
This was…
The uncle of the hero’s child, the younger brother of the Fourth Hokage!
Offending someone like him would undoubtedly end badly!
“Uncle, why are you laughing?”
Naruto, who was being held by Mirai and watching the scene in the Hokage Tower, asked, confused.
He didn’t understand why his uncle was laughing.
Isn’t everything perfectly normal?
“Naruto, don’t you think it’s funny?”
Mirai laughed as he pinched Naruto’s cheek.
“The envoys from the other village haven’t even arrived yet, and our Hokage is standing there like a fool, just waiting.”
Hearing his uncle’s words, Naruto looked back at the Hokage Tower. The sight of Hiruzen standing alone, waving now and then, suddenly looked different to him.
Standing all alone on the rooftop, occasionally looking around and waving.
He didn’t look astute!
“Pfft!”
Naruto burst into laughter, too.
“Now that I look at it, Hokage-grandpa really does look silly!”
The surrounding villagers wished they could find a hole to crawl into.
Was this something they should be hearing?
The one on the rooftop was the Third Hokage of the Leaf Village!
Only these two could say such blasphemous things out loud.
Mirai’s smiling eyes carried a hint of contempt.
The Cloud Village envoys had yet to arrive, and Hiruzen’s eager welcome, even a bit ingratiating, was undoubtedly lowering his status.
This was a significant diplomatic blunder between the two villages.
The young hero wouldn’t have made such a mistake.
Time truly is the most ruthless weapon.
On the Hokage Tower.
“What’s going on? The Cloud Village envoy is almost here, why hasn’t Hiashi arrived yet?”
Dressed in his Hokage attire, Hiruzen frowned and scolded his subordinates.
This was a crucial moment in diplomacy between the two villages.
Once the peace agreement was signed, it would pull Leaf Village out of the dilemma of war and help reverse his declining reputation in the village.
On such an important day, why hadn’t Hiashi arrived?
What on earth is he doing?!
“Hi-Hiashi-sama’s eldest daughter Hinata has her birthday today. Hiashi-sama couldn’t leave her birthday party…”
The subordinate stammered in his report.
“Because of something like that…”
Hiruzen’s brows furrowed instantly.
Hiashi’s actions seemed to show a lack of respect.
Is Hinata’s birthday party more important than the village signing a peace agreement?
“Forget it.”
The Cloud Village envoy was about to arrive; there was no time to waste.
Hiashi’s matter could wait.
A few minutes later, the eagerly awaited Cloud Village envoy finally arrived.
The leading Cloud ninja had a bandage wrapped around his head, a Cloud Village headband covering his right eye, and a black beard on his chin.
“Third Hokage, apologies for my late arrival.”
“Although you’re a few minutes late, you bring peace!”
Hiruzen laughed as he stepped forward, grasping the Cloud envoy’s hand.
…
Night.
The day’s excitement had finally faded.
Tonight, the Leaf Village was quieter than usual.
The moon hung alone in the night sky, without stars.
“Move quietly, don’t let anyone find us.”
Near the Hyuga Clan grounds.
Several ninjas with black cloths covering their faces moved cautiously.
The leader was the same one who signed the peace agreement during the day!
At this moment, under his arm was an unconscious Hinata.
“Hahaha! Those fools really thought we came to sign a peace agreement. Little did they know this was all Lord Raikage’s plan. Once we take this girl back, we’ll unlock the secrets of the Byakugan!”
The leader’s eyes were filled with barely contained excitement.
It was going so smoothly!
Incredibly smoothly!
The Hyuga Clan was holding a birthday party today, and their defences were much more relaxed than usual. Some clan members were even drunk, sleeping soundly.
With such conditions, they quickly infiltrated the Hyuga grounds and knocked out Hinata, who had come out to relieve herself.
As long as they hadn’t been discovered yet,
They just needed to get the girl back.
Lord Raikage would greatly reward them!
Following their planned route, they leapt from rooftop to rooftop-like phantoms.
Meanwhile.
“So thirsty!”
Naruto, thirsty from overeating ramen during the day, groggily got up from bed to get some water.
After gulping down a few sips, he looked out the window, his eyes widening in shock as he froze.
Crash!
The cup slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor.
What did he just see?!
A group of ninjas, their faces covered, leapt like phantoms across the rooftops. One of them had a girl under his arm.
There are bad guys!
“Uncle!”
Naruto instinctively ran towards Mirai’s room.
Suddenly, a large hand reached out from the darkness, patting his head.
“Don’t worry, Uncle noticed them a long time ago!”
Mirai stepped out of the shadows with a smile.
He had sensed the unfamiliar biofields entering his perception.
Some seemed to be part of the Cloud Village envoy earlier.
Things were getting interesting.
“Uncle, let’s save that girl quickly!”
Naruto urgently tugged at his arm.
Although he didn’t know who they were, they were bad guys.
If that girl got taken away, her fate would indeed be terrible.
“Since Naruto says so…”
Mirai smiled.
These people were in a particular position. Killing them would anger Hiruzen.
But so what?
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