Click, click, click.
The tall and wide main gate slowly opened, and the hinges made a faint sound. The delegation led by three Kumogakure Ninja stepped onto Konoha Gate, and the moment they entered Konoha, bright sunlight fell across their faces.
The rising sun broke through the clouds and shone directly on them, making the three narrow their eyes slightly. From afar, they looked toward the welcoming ranks of Konoha and the scenery behind them.
Layers of dense tree canopies spread out like flowing jade, rolling with gold and green patterns in the early autumn breeze. The carved stone faces on Hokage Rock looked down from above, casting shadows as massive walls tens of meters high wrapped the whole of Konoha in their embrace.
The entire world felt loud and bright, with shouting voices carried by clean air and drifting flower petals. Warmth seemed to reach from the tops of their heads down to their toes.
The same thought rose in the minds of the three Kumogakure Ninja at once. Konoha was indeed just as prosperous and wealthy as the rumors claimed.
It was prosperous enough to stir greed and jealousy. The Land of Lightning where Kumogakure was located was built among towering mountains, vast in land but sparse in people, and aside from electrical resources, it was poor in nearly everything else.
Only the Land of Fire where Konoha stood occupied the richest region in the entire Ninja World. With rolling hills, mild weather, ample sunlight, fertile land, developed trade, and a large population, it also sat at the center of continental routes.
Konohagakure was called a village, but it was more like an administrative region than a settlement. Many residents lived their entire lives within Konoha without ever leaving its borders, relying solely on its resources for a comfortable life.
In contrast, hundreds died each year in Kumogakure due to lightning strikes alone. Every resource, including Ninjutsu, had to be seized at the cost of human lives.
Jealousy burned in their chests like heat, making their breathing grow tight. One of them spoke in a low voice.
"If Mabui and Raikage's plan succeeds, maybe this wealth of Konoha can belong to Kumogakure as well."
The three Kumogakure Ninja exchanged looks and saw the same greed reflected in each other's eyes. Members of the Hyuga Main Family rarely left the village, and when they did, Branch Family Jonin always followed as guards.
Because of this, other villages found it nearly impossible to capture a living member of the Hyuga Main Family. Even if a Branch Family was taken, the Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the Main Family using the Caged Bird Curse Seal.
However, things changed during the Third Shinobi World War. A Kirigakure Jonin named Ao somehow obtained a Byakugan and completed the transplant with ease, greatly improving his reconnaissance and overall strength.
From then on, all major villages understood the difference between Byakugan and Sharingan. Like the styles of Uchiha and Hyuga, Sharingan was more aggressive, while Byakugan was gentler and adapted better to the body.
On the underground black market, the bounty for a single Byakugan had reached thirty five million ryo. What Kumogakure lacked most now was not Ninjutsu, but powerful Kekkei Genkai like Byakugan and Sharingan.
Sharingan was impossible to seize, since the mad dogs of Uchiha were not worth provoking, even for Kumogakure. But if it was Hyuga, the situation was different.
The plan had only three possible outcomes. The best result was success, a clean escape, and Kumogakure gaining the bloodline of Hyuga Clan.
Taking hostages from within Hyuga Clan Compound was almost impossible. But that did not matter, because if the plan failed, they would deliberately die at the hands of the Hyuga Main Family and use that as an excuse to demand the culprits be handed over, or else declare war.
If Konoha surrendered the so called murderer from Hyuga Clan, it would spark conflict between conservative and aggressive factions and strain relations between Hyuga Clan and the Hokage camp. It would also drain Konoha's fighting strength.
Even if the Third Hokage agreed to war, according to Root's intelligence, Konoha's Fourth Hokage and the Nine Tails jinchuriki had died in the Nine Tails disaster. One of the Three Sannin, Orochimaru, had defected, and Jiraiya and Tsunade were both missing.
With Konoha weakened to this extent, Kumogakure had no reason to fear it. Success meant gaining the bloodline of Hyuga Clan, and failure meant a justified war.
Either outcome benefited Kumogakure. The price they paid would be small, at most their three lives.
While the three observed Konoha, the people of Konoha were also watching them. Someone spoke quietly from the welcoming ranks.
"Three Jonin?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his narrowed eyes, recognizing the standard envoy formation. The last trace of caution faded as he nodded slightly. "Go ahead, Rena."
"Yes, Third Hokage."
The young girl Rena held a fresh bouquet still dotted with dew and jogged toward the Kumogakure delegation. Her long golden ponytail swayed under the sunlight with each step.
"Welcome to Konoha."
She handed the flowers to the leading Kumogakure Ninja, and after a brief ceremonial handshake, she smiled. "You may call me Rena. I will accompany you throughout your stay to arrange your schedule."
She bore no visible clan crest and looked like an ordinary young female ninja. From appearances alone, she barely seemed like a shinobi at all.
"Thank you." The leader, a Kumogakure Jonin named Yurui, returned her smile with a gentle tone. "Please take care of us, Miss Rena."
She wore high heeled shoes yet ran steadily, which suggested strong balance. The calluses on her hands had clearly been trimmed, marking her as skilled with blades.
And there was more. Yurui thought to himself, "ANBU? It seems shaking surveillance will not be easy."
As they spoke, they reached the front where Hiruzen Sarutobi stood. Hiruzen Sarutobi took the initiative to extend his hand, and Yurui grasped it firmly.
The first thing Yurui felt was strength. It did not match the image of a frail old man ruling by age alone.
It was as if a fire still burned inside that aging body, able to unleash power that demanded respect. So this was Konoha's Third Hokage.
Yurui felt his mood grow heavier, yet he had no hesitation about what came next. He kept his expression calm.
"May this alliance ease the souls lost in war."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took out the agreement that had already been negotiated and smiled gently. He spread the one meter long scroll across the table.
"Raikage also looks forward to lasting peace between our two nations."
Yurui removed the seal of the Fourth Raikage from his robe and stamped it onto both scrolls at the same time. The seals landed with a firm sound.
Seeing the imprint set clearly, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly let out a breath. The crowd erupted into louder cheers as more petals were thrown from both sides of the street.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yurui met each other's gaze and shook hands again, both wearing the same practiced smile. Their grip was steady and formal.
"Please follow me." Hiruzen Sarutobi rolled up the scrolls and gestured ahead with a smile. "I hope you enjoy your time in Konoha."
What followed would be private discussions. As the teams from Konoha and Kumogakure departed, Ryuji Hyuga's eyes flickered within the crowd.
He glanced toward Might Guy, who had already been swept away by the people and was enthusiastically chatting with others. Ryuji Hyuga quietly vanished into the crowd.
After watching this farce of a weasel paying respects to a chicken, it was time to prepare for tonight's actions. At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked toward Hokage Building surrounded by several clan heads, introducing them to the three Kumogakure Ninja along the way.
However, Yurui noticed that no surname from Hyuga Clan was mentioned. A trace of confusion appeared on his face as he asked, "I have long heard of the fame of Hyuga Clan. Why is their clan head not present?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected such a direct question and paused briefly before smiling. "My apologies. The head of the Hyuga wished to attend, but today is his daughter's third birthday. As the legitimate child of the Hyuga Main Family, it is very important to Hyuga Clan."
"I understand." Yurui smiled as if unconcerned. "It seems today truly is a good day."
Behind him, however, the other two Kumogakure Ninja lacked his composure. They exchanged looks without thinking, their eyes burning with excitement.
So it really was today.