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moshi moshi
To break it without dying, he would need more than power.He would need knowledge, precision, and control at a level even the Hokage might not possess.
But tonight, that wasn't the most important thing.
Tonight, he thought of Hinata.Her shy smile.Her clumsy but determined strikes.
Her quiet strength—still embryonic but unmistakable.
If she finds herself, Neji thought, she could become one of the strongest shinobi the Hyuga have ever seen.
And maybe... maybe he wouldn't have to wear the mask forever.
Maybe one day, someone like Hinata could reach him even where the True Eyes could not.
With that thought, Neji closed his eyes.
Far in the back of his mind, behind the intricate defenses of memory and willpower, the Entity's voice flickered once more:
"Find the craftsman, not the key."
A smile tugged at Neji's lips in the darkness.
If he came once... he can come again.
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The sun shone brightly on Konoha as the group from Kumogakure crossed the main street leading to the Hokage Tower. Their official procession was small: only seven members.Leading them was a man radiating dangerous calm — an elite jonin named Raikou Abashiri. Beside him walked a leaner, sharper-eyed shinobi, the tokubetsu jonin Hoshino Kari, flanked by five standard-looking chunin, each bearing the crest of the Cloud on their grey cloaks.
Hidden in the dense shadows of the tiled roofs, masked ANBU agents observed their every move.
One of the ANBU, codenamed Tora, whispered through the communicator,
"Strange. Only one elite jonin, one special jonin, and five chunin? For official peace talks with Konoha?"
His tone was both suspicious and disdainful. It was a slap in the face — bringing such a weak escort to discussions with the Hidden Leaf.
Another ANBU, Kawa, muttered,
"They're either extremely confident… or planning something subtle."
Overseeing it all was the calmest presence among them — Captain Kakashi Hatake, the man known as the Copy Ninja. His single visible eye, cool and analytical, flicked briefly over the Cloud delegation.
Kakashi spoke through the earpiece in a low tone,
"Don't underestimate them. Small teams can move faster… more surgically. Stay sharp."
The team acknowledged silently.
The heavy wooden doors creaked open as the Cloud diplomats were ushered inside.
Waiting for them in the large chamber were:
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself, in full formal robes.
Shikaku Nara, the brilliant strategist and head of the Nara Clan, standing with arms crossed lazily.
Several Chunin and Jonin guards stationed discreetly around the room.
The Cloud representatives bowed stiffly. Hiruzen offered a polite nod in return — diplomatic but emotionally distant.
Raikou Abashiri, with a voice like grinding stones, said,
"We thank you, Lord Hokage, for welcoming the delegation from Kumogakure. We come… in the spirit of peace."
Hiruzen smiled mildly but said nothing.
It was Shikaku who stepped forward, casual but razor-sharp behind his drooping eyelids.
"Let's move on to the terms, shall we?"
The Talks Begin
Over the next few hours, the nature of the Cloud's intentions became clearer. Their "peace" demands were outrageous:
Access to trading routes running directly through Konoha's territory.
Permission to open a "permanent embassy" inside Konoha — effectively, a spy house.
Request for technological exchanges — specifically, Konoha's sealing techniques and advanced medical jutsu.
Each demand was more absurd than the last.
Shikaku yawned exaggeratedly after one long list of requests, scratching his chin.
"Quite a wishlist you've got there, Raikou-san. Next you'll be asking for the Hokage's hat too, eh?"
Hoshino Kari, the thinner Cloud jonin, smirked coldly.
Raikou's face remained stoic.
Hiruzen finally spoke, voice calm but iron underneath:
"Konoha does not submit its sovereignty, nor its secrets, as a matter of peace."
The tension thickened.
Roaming the Village
Later that day, the "roaming request" was granted. Only after heavy debate.
Konoha assigned Kakashi Hatake to guide them — a deliberate move. Sending a weak escort would insult the Cloud. Sending someone like Kakashi sent a subtle message:
"We are strong. We are watching."
Kakashi, now without his ANBU mask but still carrying himself like a shadow, led the group across the bustling village.
Raikou eyed him with subtle interest.
"We see a festival being prepared. What occasion does Konoha celebrate?" Raikou asked, feigning casualness.
Kakashi, bored-sounding but polite, said,
"It is the third birthday of the Hyuga clan's heiress."
Hoshino Kari and a few of the Cloud chunin exchanged quick glances.
"The Hyuga…" murmured Hoshino.
"A powerful bloodline," Raikou added thoughtfully. "How fortunate to be born into such strength."
Kakashi said nothing, simply leading them onward.
He showed them:
The Academy training grounds.
The outer market streets.
The public park near the Hokage Mountain.
He avoided anything sensitive: ANBU HQ, Research Labs, Intelligence Division, Uchiha District.
Still, Raikou and Hoshino took careful mental notes.
Behind Closed Doors
That night, Shikaku and Hiruzen met privately.
Shikaku exhaled heavily,
"They're not negotiating for peace, Lord Hokage. They're sizing us up. Seeing how weak we've gotten after the Fourth's death."
Hiruzen nodded grimly.
"I know. They're trying to find cracks."
Shikaku tapped a shogi piece against the table absently.
"And the timing. The Hyuga heiress's birthday… this isn't coincidence. They're planning something."
Hiruzen's eyes hardened.
"Increase surveillance. Double ANBU rotations."
Cloud Delegation Private Meeting
Meanwhile, in their guest quarters, the Cloud shinobi held their own private meeting.
Raikou Abashiri leaned over a crude map of Konoha.
"We will not be able to push them further without exposing our true intentions," he said.
Hoshino Kari nodded, voice low and sharp.
"But we have the information we need. They are leaderless… shaken… vulnerable."
A chunin named Yagura Kujo spoke up,
"The Hyuga girl's celebration will stretch their resources. Guard posts will be lighter."
Hoshino smiled thinly.
"Exactly. During the celebration, we make our move."
Raikou's eyes glinted with cold calculation.
"The main family heir… if we can capture her…"
"we can breed our own Hyuga in Kumo and our strength will increase significantly," Hoshino finished.
The room fell into tense, excited silence.
The next morning, the Cloud delegation was seen again, smiling, offering polite bows, pretending diplomacy.
Shikaku, watching them from the shadows, whispered to Kakashi nearby,
"They're playing it too smoothly. Kakashi… prepare your team. Something's going to break soon."
Kakashi's single eye narrowed under his silver hair.
"Already done."
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