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Because the design of the Hokage's office is both elegant and strategic—facing the village of Konoha and backed by the Hokage Rock—it not only projects authority, but also provides a commanding view of the entire village.
After some time, the mongoose reached its destination and began its search.
"Where is it hiding? No, this thing's just lying out in the open... it's really not afraid of being stolen," it muttered.
The mongoose leapt onto the desk, scanning the room with its large eyes, and quickly spotted the Scroll of Seals.
While grumbling about Konoha's "thick fat bottom" and carelessness, it swiftly bounded toward the scroll shelf and stuffed the ancient scroll into its own pants pocket.
In truth, the Scroll of Seals isn't so easily taken. It's protected by multiple layers of traps and complex barrier seals—designed so that any intruder who touches it without proper clearance would be instantly restrained or rendered unconscious.
But this mongoose was different. As an evil energy construct, it could bypass physical and chakra-based barriers with ease, allowing it to snatch the scroll unimpeded.
Only two minutes had passed. By the time Ye Dou finished off the last remaining ANBU operative in pursuit, the mongoose returned at a leisurely pace.
"I got the stuff."
"Of course I did. When this great uncle makes a move, it's a guaranteed success! You better keep your promise—chicken drumsticks at every meal from now on!"
Ye Dou didn't bother responding. Without a word, he jumped out the window and quickly began evacuating the area.
Konoha, at this moment, was still in the throes of chaos.
The streets and alleys were strewn with severed limbs and cold corpses. It looked like a field of carnage straight out of the underworld—an extreme Shura battlefield.
At the Chūnin Exam venue, atop the Four Violet Flames Formation, enormous trees towered above the rooftops. The battle between the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru had just come to a bitter conclusion.
"Ye Dou!"
Suddenly, the mongoose's tail stood stiff, alert, as if it had sensed something.
"What is it?"
Ye Dou turned to look in the direction indicated and frowned deeply.
"That idiot didn't take cover… What the hell is she doing here?"
> There is no right or wrong in war.
Konoha had descended into utter bedlam.
Waves of allied Sunagakure and Otogakure forces continued pouring into the village, unleashing a brutal massacre.
Adding to the chaos was a massive explosion—whose perpetrator remained unknown—which had caused catastrophic damage to both sides but especially to Konoha.
This was a calamity unprecedented in the village's history. In over half a century, even the Nine-Tails' attack hadn't inflicted such widespread destruction.
Aside from a few recently constructed buildings, nearly all historic structures were obliterated by the bombings. More than 80% of the village lay in ruins.
The remaining Konoha shinobi, seething with rage, had no time to grieve. They gripped their weapons, ignored the cries of fallen comrades, and fought through tears.
"Whether you're from Suna or Oto, you'll all pay for this. I'll be waiting for you in hell!"
With those final words, a Konoha ninja, already gravely wounded, grappled tightly with an enemy and detonated the explosive tag on his vest—choosing to die with his foe.
"You won't live to see another Konoha soul fall. Today, Konoha will vanish from the shinobi world—and the Sand will rise!"
A Suna shinobi who couldn't dodge in time faced death unflinchingly. His eyes were filled with unshakable resolve, not fear.
Still, a trace of regret lingered in his heart—he would not live to witness the rebirth of Sunagakure.
Meanwhile…
After leaving the Chūnin Exam venue, Hyūga Hanabi activated her Byakugan and walked cautiously through the village.
The more she saw, the more unsettled she became.
Scenes of mutual destruction, of Konoha and Suna shinobi dying side by side, were everywhere.
From Konoha's point of view, the invaders were unquestionably villains.
But as Hanabi witnessed Sand shinobi sacrificing themselves without hesitation, she began to question: were they truly wrong?
No one enjoys war. No one wishes for death. All of it—this horror—is for survival.
But this is war. There is no absolute right or wrong, only differing allegiances.
Though Hanabi was far stronger than her peers, today's events shook her deeply.
Too many had died. Smiling faces from just hours ago now lay lifeless in pools of blood.
She feared seeing someone she knew among the dead, but even so, she did not turn back.
She kept walking, alone, down the broken streets of Konoha.
"That one—she's from Konoha."
"And she's got the Byakugan."
Two Sunagakure shinobi spotted her.
Despite her caution, despite using her Byakugan to avoid detection, it was nearly impossible to remain hidden in a village now crawling with enemies.
"What a gutsy little brat, wandering around alone!"
"No time for chatter. Kill her! That's a Byakugan from the Hyūga clan—if we bring her back, Lord Kazekage will be very pleased!"
They charged in, killing intent clear.
But Hyūga Hanabi had already seen them.
The Byakugan has no blind spot. It sees everything—chakra flow, enemy positions, even sneak attacks.
"Eight Trigrams Technique: Rotation!"
Bang! Bang!
Hanabi's Kaiten blasted the two Suna-nin back.
However, the Sunagakure forces followed the elite ninja doctrine due to reduced military funding from the Wind Daimyō. Those who fought were all highly trained—at minimum, chūnin-level.
Even with Hanabi's natural talent and her ability to use advanced Hyūga techniques at her young age, she couldn't take on two elite opponents at once.
Within moments, she found herself on the defensive again, launching another Eight Trigrams Formation.
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