"Bring him back, huh..." the Sandaime repeated Itachi's promise in a low voice. The worry on his aged face remained, but it was now tinged with an unspeakable heaviness.
Sasuke had killed two of Konoha's high-level officials; even if he were brought back, the villagers and the leadership would no longer accept him... Hinata passed by her Family's training ground and saw Hyuga Neji practicing alone.
It seemed Team Guy had been recalled on an emergency basis.
Sweat soaked through his training clothes. His Gentle Fist Moves were sharp and precise, each strike carrying the sound of breaking air, shredding the falling leaves into pieces.
Neji finished his stance and turned, bowing to Hinata. "Lady Hinata."
"Brother Neji," Hinata nodded. "You're training very hard."
"In extraordinary times, I dare not be slack." Neji's tone was calm, but the fine sweat on his forehead and his slightly rapid breathing betrayed the intensity of his training.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Neji looked up at Hinata for a moment, then lowered his gaze.
"Yes." He paused, then asked in a low voice, "Hinata-sama, what are your thoughts on the current situation?"
"What do you think?" Hinata countered.
Neji was silent for a moment.
"Uchiha Sasuke poses a massive threat, but such high-pressure alertness isn't a long-term solution. Advisor Utatane Koharu has been murdered, and Advisor Homura Mitokado is left struggling alone. While the clans are cooperating now, there's no guarantee that some don't harbor ulterior motives. If this continues, I fear internal strife."
"You see things clearly." Hinata didn't say much more, nodding as she left.
Neji watched her back, his brow furrowing slightly. This eldest daughter of the Main House was becoming increasingly inscrutable.
Leaving the clan grounds, Hinata walked toward the commercial district. There were more pedestrians on the streets than in previous days, and patrolling Ninja squads were everywhere, but order was well-maintained.
A new notice was posted on the bulletin board regarding the distribution of relief supplies in certain areas and tax reductions for merchants. At the bottom, it read: "Per the recommendation of War-time Special Advisor Tsunade-hime."
"Hinata!" Tenten ran out of an alley clutching a large cloth bag. "What a coincidence!"
"Yeah. When did you arrive?"
"Last night, in the middle of the night!" Tenten lowered her voice, her expression exaggerated.
"We were still dealing with Sand Bandits in the gravel lands when we suddenly got word to return at full speed! Guy-sensei's face completely changed. We didn't even clean up the battlefield before rushing back! We even ran into other recalled squads on the way!"
She sighed.
"Only after getting back did I realize such a huge thing had happened. The Village changed so suddenly."
Might Guy's return was a significant supplement to Konoha's high-end combat power.
Tenten wore a look of helplessness mixed with amusement.
"As soon as Guy-sensei got back, he was fired up, saying he wanted to burn for the sake of protecting Konoha's youth. He dragged Lee along to apply for the front-line patrol, but Kakashi-senpai managed to talk him down. Still, they could be deployed to key areas at any moment."
She looked left and right, lowering her voice even further.
"Hinata, what do you think is going on? It feels like the world changed overnight. A Rogue Ninja infiltrated the Village and killed a high-level official, and now the whole Village is on high alert... It's like a storm is really coming. Sometimes I can't even sleep well at night."
"Times are changing," Hinata replied.
This was just the beginning; Pain hadn't even arrived yet, and in another ten-plus years, there would even be Aliens.
Tenten tilted her head, not quite understanding what Hinata meant by "times are changing." She walked beside her, observing Konoha.
Hinata spotted a figure—Naruto.
It seemed that ever since he learned he was the son of the Fourth Hokage, he had suddenly become much more cheerful. It wasn't the boisterous clamor of before, but a genuine steadiness and confidence.
His training was more desperate than before, but no longer just to prove himself or attract attention.
He would greet people earnestly, help elderly women carry things, and take the initiative to comfort scared children.
He even went to ask Kakashi about the Fourth, making Kakashi suspect for a while whether Naruto had found something out.
His cultivation was also exceptionally fast. She wondered if it was because the Nine-Tails had behaved after she gave it a scare.
It felt like he had finally found his roots, knowing where he came from and what he was fighting for.
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