The next morning, Hinata arrived at the mission office early to receive her new assignments.
Her first task was cleaning debris from the river—a chore that accumulated daily.
She stepped into the shallow water, the hem of her clothes damp, and used a large sieve to scoop out slimy, floating refuse. Then, through her chakra threads, she controlled a small puppet to retrieve bottles, jars, lids, and plastic bags that had sunk to the riverbed. Once everything was piled on the bank, she packed it neatly into sacks and carried them to the landfill.
The second mission was to assist at the orphanage, accompanying the children on their spring outing and ensuring none got lost.
It was far more exhausting than she had expected.
Some of the children were shy and unresponsive, while others were too mischievous for their caretakers to handle. A few bold ones even tried to pinch Hinata's cheeks or tug at her long hair—but she easily evaded them with light, effortless movements. Their frustration only made them tease her more, calling her a white eye monster.
Normally, such behavior would've earned them a scolding—but Hinata merely smiled. Even Hanabi used to tease her like that when she was younger. These were just children.
As the outing ended, they waved goodbye one by one.
"Goodbye, miss!"
"Come again next time!"
"Bye, White-Eyed Monster!"
Hinata waved back with a serene smile. Her half-closed eyes softened as she whispered under her breath, "Just wait until you grow up. You'll get what's coming to you someday. A woman's revenge isn't too late… even after fifty years."
…
Her third mission was to locate a missing pet—a hamster.
It was a simple task, and one Hinata excelled at. Activating her Byakugan, she scanned the village with meticulous focus.
But as she searched every alley, rooftop, and street, her expression gradually turned serious. The hamster was nowhere to be found.
Strange…
She intensified the range and depth of her Byakugan, scanning underground, inside hollow trees, even behind walls and secret compartments.
That was when she noticed something unusual.
Beneath the wall of a small storage house, chakra traces glimmered faintly. She approached, pressed her palm against the stone, and released a controlled Gentle Fist strike.
Boom!
The wall collapsed, and from the rubble, several thin slips of paper fluttered to the ground—explosive tags.
Hinata's eyes widened. She crouched down and carefully picked them up. The chakra residue was unmistakable.
Real explosive tags… and not just one.
Her Byakugan swept through the surrounding area, revealing more buried within walls, floors, and rooftops across the sector—dozens of them.
If they were to detonate all at once…
Her heart froze. Without wasting a second, Hinata dashed toward the Hokage Building.
…
Bang!
Tsunade's desk cracked under her palm as she slammed it in shock. "What did you just say?!"
Hinata repeated her report, presenting the explosive tags she had retrieved. Tsunade's eyes darkened immediately.
"This isn't just sabotage," she muttered, her tone grave. "It's a coordinated trap."
Without hesitation, she barked her orders. "Hinata, go to your father at once. Tell him this mission requires the full cooperation of the Hyuga clan!"
Hinata nodded firmly and vanished in a blur.
Within minutes, the Hyuga compound mobilized. Under Hiashi's command, branch and main family members spread throughout the village, their Byakugan scanning every corner.
Tsunade had already dispatched Jonin and Chunin squads to work alongside them, methodically unearthing the explosive tags. Even Genin teams were called in to assist—speed was now the priority above all else.
Finding the mastermind wouldn't be difficult. The explosives had been buried with precise knowledge of Konoha's structure. Only those involved in its construction or repair could have placed them so perfectly.
The investigation was handed over to the Anbu; ordinary ninjas were to focus solely on clearing the threat.
Later that evening, Tsunade personally informed Hinata that the mission had been classified as A-rank, officially recognizing her contribution.
After deliberation, Tsunade and her advisors decided to reward the Hyuga clan with a portion of the confiscated explosive tags as compensation for their efforts.
…
No one could deny the Hyuga clan's critical role in the mission's success. Their swift response had prevented the village from being bombed and saved Konoha from chaos and panic.
The exact number of explosive tags seized remained unknown, but in the end, Hinata alone received one hundred thousand of them as part of the clan's reward. Just imagining the immense cost behind such a stockpile made her realize how wealthy and determined the mastermind must have been.
With the tags safely stored away, Hinata happily continued her assigned missions—and eventually, she found the missing hamster trapped inside a sewer drain.
Mission complete.
Holding the reward money in her hand, she headed toward a street vendor, intending to buy a few pieces of takoyaki. Just as she was about to pay, something caught her attention—a commotion farther down the street.
Out of curiosity, she activated her Byakugan, and her vision instantly shifted to shades of white and gray.
An argument… she noted. Wait, that person looks familiar… but where have I seen him before?
The scene appeared to be happening near a popular barbecue restaurant, where Team 10 was seated by the window. Hinata decided to head over, partly for lunch, partly to ask what was going on.
…
"You forgot about those Sound Ninja you ran into while chasing Sasuke?" Shikamaru explained between bites. "There were five of them in total. Three were killed—by you, Neji, and Lee respectively. The other two survived and were captured alive."
Hinata, who was calmly taking some meat from Choji's plate, blinked in realization. "Ah… so it's those two."
Jirobo and Tayuya—though their appearances had changed drastically after entering Cursed Seal Level Two—were still recognizable once she thought about it.
"But… why are they allowed to move freely in the village?" Hinata asked, tilting her head. "She's a prisoner, isn't she? Why can she walk around and argue with villagers?"
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Expecting help from Ino or Choji was futile; the two were already deep in their food and gossip.
"Anyway, they're prisoners of war," he said lazily. "We've already extracted all the intel we can from them. Rather than keeping them locked up, they're being used for free labor. Saves the village money. Think of it as… recycling resources."
Hinata couldn't help smiling faintly. That explanation fit. She had overheard her father mention once that Lady Tsunade's gambling habits had left her buried in debt. It made sense that the Hokage would try to save on costs wherever she could.
Shikamaru glanced out the window, sighing as he saw Tayuya in a heated argument with a group of middle-aged women. "She's something else. No sense of restraint whatsoever… arguing with anyone she pleases."
As if sensing his gaze, Tayuya suddenly turned and spotted him. Her eyes lit up in recognition. Without a moment's hesitation, she left the red-faced women behind and marched straight toward the restaurant.
"Oh no, not again!" Shikamaru panicked, immediately jumping out the window. "Choji! Ino! See you tomorrow—same place!"
Hinata activated her Byakugan once more, observing Tayuya closely. On her wrists, ankles, neck, and even around her torso were intricate seals and mechanisms—each connected to poison, cursed energy, or explosive tags. One wrong move, and any of them could end her life instantly.
Tsunade-sama's decision to let them roam the village freely… clearly wasn't made without precautions.
"Damn it! If you've got guts, stop running, you coward!" Tayuya shouted, chasing Shikamaru down the street despite her chakra being sealed. Her sharp reflexes and speed were still remarkable, even under heavy restriction.
Hinata watched their antics with mild amusement before returning to her food.
----
[Translator's Note:
Daily updates will be 2-3 chapters.
If the Power Stones goal is achieved, updates will be more!!
Power Stones ↔ Chapters Exchange:
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
Monthly Ranking Bonus:
1st place in the monthly ranking = 5 bonus chapters per day, in addition to regular extra chapters!]