Unless enough ninjas are deployed for encirclement, it's difficult to eliminate an enemy possessing the Byakugan.
In the past Ninja Realm wars, the death rate of the Hyuga Clan ninjas was far lower than other ninja races.
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"Lady Ayane, you've almost had your fill of fun. It's better to return to the Land of Demons early. It's too unsafe here."
In the forest, the person secretly meeting with Ayane was Insect Man.
Like Ayane, he was currently hired by the Hidden Rock, helping them with tasks.
Because the Hidden Rock has to face war with both Konoha and the Hidden Cloud, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki himself, seems to have a back injury with aftereffects, forcing an increase in funding to search the Underground Black Market for powerful bounty hunters to battle the Hidden Cloud and Konoha.
The mission range of Insect Squad is also here in the Land of Grass, fighting against Konoha.
If there's a need, they occasionally head to the northern border of the Land of Earth to fight the Hidden Cloud.
This depends on the mood and thoughts of the Third Tsuchikage. Anyway, as long as the money is right, Insect Man doesn't care who he fights.
But Ayane is different from him.
As an unnamed renegade ninja of Konoha, during the previous defection incident, her name wasn't even mentioned. Now standing publicly on the opposite side of Konoha, a series of bad consequences have emerged.
She's practically slapped Konoha and the Hyuga Clan in the face.
The Konoha higher-ups and the Hyuga side probably wish to eliminate Ayane as soon as possible.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Precisely because you don't, we need you back quickly. Insect Man sighed inwardly.
Of course, such words could never be spoken outright.
At this moment, a shadow darted from the bushes, moving like lightning across the ground, disappearing into Ayane's shadow.
Ayane was slightly startled, then understood what was happening, and smiled at Insect Man: "See, I told you it was fine. Now, you don't have to worry about my safety. The Shadow Dancer's Immortal Technique mode is extremely powerful."
"..."
Insect Man sighed softly again.
Shouldn't someone be sent to forcibly bring Lady Ayane back?
Why instead are more people sent to assist her?
Is it really okay to spoil her like this?
"Even with the Shadow Dancer around, Lady Ayane, you should still be cautious. After all, your Byakugan is a troublesome asset."
Knowing it was futile to persuade Ayane to return, Insect Man left behind these words.
The Hidden Rock is still somewhat trustworthy, given the current collaboration.
Unless the Hidden Rock doesn't want to engage with the underground black market, absolutely no one would rashly sever ties, as that would mean breaking the black market agreement.
A Hidden Rock that loses its credibility won't have black market bounty hunters supporting its ventures.
Many bounty hunters joining the Hidden Rock in the war now is due to the reputation the Third Tsuchikage has built over the years.
If that reputation is lost, then all those years of effort will have been in vain.
But other villages may not be so reliable.
Especially the Hidden Cloud.
Ayane, assisting the Hidden Rock while having deep animosity with the Hidden Cloud, might face secretive schemes from them.
Not only the Hidden Cloud, but the Hidden Sand and Hidden Mist might also act in secret.
For them, the Byakugan, a strategic-tier Kekkeigenkai, surpasses most Kekkeigenkai in importance.
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"Hyuga... Hyuga..."
The recently quelled defection incident nearly ignites into a hot topic again.
As the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi feels that he's had more headaches this year than all the previous years combined.
Regarding Hyuga Ayane's issue, Hiruzen knows only what is openly available.
However, with the defection incident happening, the apparent information needs a thorough reevaluation.
Of course, some things, even with the defection, should not be false.
For instance, the talent for being a ninja.
A genius girl who became a Jonin at sixteen cannot be viewed through the lens of ordinary ninjas. Moreover, she possesses immensely powerful Kekkeigenkai.
In Konoha, becoming a Jonin in their teens marks one as a future pillar of the village.
Examples include his three disciples, the Sannin: Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya, who also became Jonin before the age of twenty.
Unfortunately, regarding Ayane's situation, Hiruzen only knows this much.
Much of the information is questionable.
Loyalty to the Will of Fire now merits a big question mark, coupled with, like Hakushi, a trait of 'adept at disguise.'
The Third Hokage doesn't fear Ayane's appearance causing turmoil within Konoha, for concealing Ayane's renegade ninja status was not his intention alone. The Hyuga Clan also seeks to hush up Ayane's renegade status.
Meaning, even if Ayane's renegade status were revealed, the problem would merely be attributed to the Hyuga Clan.
Given the Hyuga Clan's current circumstances, things couldn't get much worse.
Recently, through Anbu's investigation, it was found that relations between the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family have become even more tense.
This was within Hiruzen's expectations.
In no time, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo entered the chamber.
They, too, had heard of this issue and wished to explore how to resolve it.
Naturally, their concern wasn't how to handle the fallout but considering how to strategically maneuver on the front lines.