Chapter 27 — Intelligence Lies in the Details
In the forest.
The group gathered around Irujie. He lay on the ground, blood spilling from his mouth, lingering on the brink of death, his face filled with unwillingness.
The entire operation had taken twenty-three seconds.
A chūnin eliminated.
Perhaps he had many techniques he never had the chance to use—but that was the nature of the battlefield. Every second mattered.
At this moment—
It wasn't just Irujie who felt unwilling.
The others felt as though they were in a dream.
He was dead?
That was a chūnin.
And he had been killed without any chance to fight back?
Senju Nawaki and Akimichi Chōza looked helpless. Everyone else had played a role—only the two of them had practically just stood by.
"Hiashi!"
Kinoshita Hikaru called out, and the group immediately resumed their advance.
Everyone's faces were flushed red. If Kushina weren't still in danger, they might have erupted into excited cheers.
At this moment, they all felt—
A chūnin?
That's it?
Nothing impressive.
Hikaru had expected this outcome.
This team nearly encompassed all of Konoha's great clans, backed by precise tactics. Killing a single chūnin was nothing more than child's play.
"Don't let your guard down. There's still a jōnin waiting for us," Hikaru warned.
But his caution did little to dampen their rising excitement.
A jōnin?
Just one rank higher.
A chūnin in twenty-three seconds.
Would a jōnin take a whole minute?
...
Elsewhere.
"What? Irujie is dead? How many did Konoha dispatch? An elite jōnin?" Iruwa Yoshi exclaimed in shock as he questioned his summoned beast.
When Irujie stayed behind, he had released the white hawk to scout.
He hadn't expected such a shocking report.
Given the distance involved, for Irujie to be eliminated in such a short time was practically an instant kill.
Although the white hawk couldn't speak human language, Iruwa Yoshi had long since learned to understand hawk speech and could communicate with it.
"A few children?"
Iruwa Yoshi suspected the hawk had conveyed the information incorrectly.
Several children had instantly killed Irujie?
Was that some kind of joke?
If that were true, what was the point of fighting wars? They might as well bow their heads and surrender to Konoha.
After a moment, he finally understood.
When he learned that the kill had been executed through multiple secret techniques—and that a Byakugan had been involved—a strong glint of greed flashed in his eyes.
"That Byakugan brat… does he have a swastika seal on his forehead? Or perhaps a forehead protector tied around it?"
"No," the white hawk shook its head.
Iruwa Yoshi abruptly halted.
He no longer fled.
"What's wrong, Captain?" Iruzhen asked.
He didn't understand hawk language. He only saw his captain's face changing expressions rapidly like a painted mask.
Iruwa Yoshi relayed the information. In Iruzhen's stunned gaze, he made a decisive choice.
During the First Shinobi War, Kumogakure had suffered greatly against the Byakugan. Under those eyes, any ambush or concealment was useless. Like radar, nothing could escape detection.
It had made Kumo deeply covet the Byakugan.
But the Hyuga main family rarely participated in battle. Only branch family members marked with the Caged Bird Seal were sent to the front lines. Kumogakure had never had an opportunity.
Now—
That opportunity had arrived.
Iruwa Yoshi would not let it slip away.
"Set up traps. The village needs the Byakugan. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance—we absolutely cannot miss it."
"Yes!"
Iruzhen's face hardened with resolve.
The Byakugan.
The Byakugan of the Hyuga main family.
Its value was incomparable—no less than the girl they currently held.
In fact—
Far greater than Kushina.
The two quickly arranged simple traps and chose an open clearing, quietly waiting for Kinoshita Hikaru and his team.
Iruwa Yoshi knew that under the Byakugan, any attempt at concealment was meaningless. It would be seen through instantly.
But the stronger the Byakugan—
The more excited he became.
He could already imagine returning to the village with it. What a spectacle that would be. He would be welcomed as a hero.
The first to obtain the Byakugan.
His name would shake the ninja world.
"Heh heh heh…"
...
"They've stopped in an open area. They're waiting for us," Hiashi reported quickly, Byakugan activated.
"Stop!"
The group immediately tightened their formation.
Hikaru's gaze turned solemn.
"It seems the enemy has detected us through some unknown method… and plans to hunt us instead."
"What should we do?"
Nara Shikaku pondered for a moment before speaking. "We're inside the Land of Fire. The enemy should be pressed for time—every minute they delay increases their risk. Unless there's an even greater temptation, such as…"
He looked toward Hyuga Hiashi.
"The Byakugan?"
Kinoshita Hikaru quickly analyzed. "Let's think about it another way. That means the enemy not only detected us—they also personally witnessed the Byakugan."
"Exactly."
"I can guarantee that no ninja approached us at the time," Hiashi said.
"Not necessarily a person."
"You mean a summoned beast?" Nara Shikaku reacted instantly. "The enemy has a summoned beast. If we calculate based on distance and time, we can rule out ground-based ninja beasts."
"That's right. The enemy isn't just a jōnin—they also have a flying ninja beast."
Hyuga Hiashi suddenly recalled something. "I remember now. When we were fighting that chūnin earlier, a white hawk was circling in the sky. From a distance, it flew away quickly."
After speaking, Hiashi looked ashamed. He couldn't believe he had overlooked such crucial intelligence. After all, a hawk circling during battle was suspicious no matter how you looked at it.
"Hiashi, don't blame yourself. You've done very well. What we need to focus on now is how to rescue Kushina."
"Right." Namikaze Minato nodded repeatedly.
Kinoshita Hikaru glanced at him. This idiot had clearly been blinded by love. How old are you? Isn't it a bit early to be thinking like this?
"If that's the case, then aside from those who already made their move earlier, Nawaki and Chōza are our hidden trump cards."
Senju Nawaki instantly grew excited.
Me? A trump card? ～(￣▽￣～)~
"What should I do?"
"Defense."
"Huh? Isn't a trump card supposed to attack? Why am I defending?"
Kinoshita Hikaru explained the plan once and then ignored him, turning to Akimichi Chōza. "This time, you won't attack head-on. You'll launch a surprise strike."
"Hiashi, can you see Kushina's current condition?"
"Yes. She's physically unharmed, but her chakra flow is sluggish. It doesn't seem like a sealing technique—more like a genjutsu," Hyuga Hiashi replied quickly.
"Good. That's another piece of intelligence. The enemy specializes in genjutsu." Hikaru felt a sense of admiration. As expected of a main family heir—though still young and not very strong, his knowledge and insight were impressive.
"Alright. We'll execute Plan B. Minato and I will restrain the jōnin. The rest of you rescue Kushina, then counterattack."
"Got it!"
Everyone responded in unison, extending their arms. Nine hands stacked together, their hearts connecting as one.
Kinoshita Hikaru's gaze was sincere and burning with passion as he spoke.
"The trust and mutual support between us have been tied together with the people we cherish since the day we were born. And with the tempering of time, that bond only grows stronger. It's not some grand philosophy—anyone connected by that thread will feel it. Because they are the ones we treasure most. And you all are the people I treasure most. Kushina is too. So, my comrades… let us press forward and fight together. With these hands, we will rescue our companion."
"That's right. With these hands, we'll save our comrade!"
"Comrade…" Uchiha Shigeru murmured, deeply moved. At that moment, he felt as though he had found the meaning of his life.
Just then—
Hidden chakra surged into his eyes. His crimson gaze spun rapidly before settling into a single tomoe.
Everyone noticed at once and exclaimed, "Shigeru, you awakened it!"
Uchiha Shigeru touched his face, overwhelmed with excitement. "Thank you, Hikaru. You helped me understand love. I've awakened."
Kinoshita Hikaru: "..."
Love, my foot… One bowl of chicken soup and you awaken? The Sharingan really isn't worth much.
His smile remained bright as he said, "The Uchiha are the clan of love. With your resolve to protect your comrades, awakening was only natural."
"Since you've awakened, then it'll be up to you to find the enemy's weakness. Can you do it?"
"No problem. Leave it to me."