Originally, Hinata had only intervened in the Sand Village's operation to raise the mission's rank so her trip wouldn't be in vain. She hadn't expected to stumble upon something far more important—something that could shift the balance of power itself: the Gelel Stone.
Legends spoke of it as a power once used by ancient civilizations to create an age of prosperity. Though that civilization was ultimately destroyed by the same force, its downfall did nothing to diminish the stone's immense potential.
From Hinata's perspective, a source of chakra independent from shinobi training—one that could enhance strength externally—was worth investigating. Even if it was dangerous, having such a resource was better than leaving it in others' hands.
While Temari continued her interrogation, Hinata quietly gathered Naruto and Sakura. "We're leaving," she said softly. "Now."
"The others?" Sakura asked.
"They'll only slow us down," Hinata replied, her tone calm but firm. "The organization searching for the Gelel Stone is led by someone named Haido. If we wait, Temari will send word to Sunagakure's superiors, and we'll lose any advantage. We have to act first."
Hinata understood perfectly well that if she stayed with Temari's group, she'd be left behind—and gain nothing. At the very least, she wanted to see what the Gelel Stone truly was. If it proved useful… she wouldn't mind keeping it for herself.
Kankuro and Gaara noticed her abrupt departure but didn't stop her. Gaara only nodded slightly, as though acknowledging her resolve. "Until next time," he said.
…
By the time Temari emerged from her interrogation, her back sore and her patience spent, she was told that Hinata and her team had vanished.
"Where did they go?" she demanded.
"Not toward Konoha," one of the Sand ninja replied. "They headed west—toward the coordinates you extracted earlier."
Temari froze. Her head throbbed.
"WHAT?!" she shouted, startling Kankuro and Gaara. "That—That girl intercepted my intelligence!"
She clenched her teeth so hard it hurt. "I've been tricked! All that 'timid and cowardly' act—it was a lie! She played me!"
Her frustration boiled over, and she nearly stomped her fan into the sand. "That Hyuga girl—she used me to get ahead!"
Cursing under her breath, Temari gathered Kankuro, Gaara, and every capable Sand ninja left. "We're going after them! Now!"
…
But Hinata's team was already too far ahead.
Using her origami flight technique, Hinata created a paper aircraft and took to the skies. The three of them flew swiftly across the desert, the wind howling around them. By the time Temari's group arrived at the same destination hours later, all they found were ruins—crushed walls, collapsed towers, and scorch marks scattered across the sand.
From one of the few survivors, they managed to extract fragments of the truth.
"Not long ago," the man stammered, trembling, "a short-haired girl with white eyes appeared out of nowhere. She attacked without warning—her power was monstrous! Even Lord Haido couldn't stop her… She nearly killed him!"
Temari followed the survivor's gaze and found Haido half-buried under the rubble, battered beyond recognition.
"Hey! Wake up!" she shouted, shaking him. "What did that white-eyed girl take from you? What did she steal?!"
But Haido's mind had shattered. His blank eyes stared into nothing as he mumbled incoherently. His faith in the Gelel Stone's power—the very foundation of his ambition—had crumbled.
Temari gritted her teeth so hard her jaw ached. "Damn it! That Hyuga girl fooled me completely!"
Now, the trail was gone. She had no idea what Hinata had taken, nor did she know where the Gelel Mine truly lay.
…
Meanwhile, far away, Hinata stood on the ground while her paper aircraft glided smoothly above, carrying Naruto and Sakura.
From a distance, it looked like a child flying a kite—though the "kite" was, in fact, an enormous origami plane powered by chakra.
Naruto and Sakura, each holding binoculars, scanned the land below.
According to the notes Hinata had taken from Haido, the Gelel Mine was somewhere in this region, though the exact location was unclear. It didn't matter; they had time. They would search every inch if they had to.
Hinata herself moved below, her Byakugan active, sweeping through the earth and terrain for any sign of energy fluctuation.
Then, a flash of light above caught her attention—an explosion near Naruto's position. The detonation tags had gone off. A signal.
Hinata guided the origami aircraft to descend.
"What did you find?" she asked.
Naruto grinned and pointed. "There! On the left—hidden in the trees. It looks like a collapsed building or something!"
…
Indeed, half-buried under layers of thickets was a structure—so overgrown and ruined it was nearly invisible from the ground. Only from above could it be seen.
Hinata led them closer, slipping through a narrow gap in the stone wall. Her Byakugan pierced through every layer of obstruction, revealing the truth inside.
At the center stood a massive hollow pillar descending deep underground.
Without hesitation, Hinata pressed her palm to the stone floor. "Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist—Burst."
The entire section of the wall shattered, revealing a dark, yawning pit.
She peered into it cautiously. "We can't rush in blindly. There might be traps."
"Shadow Clones, go!" Naruto said, summoning dozens of duplicates that dove into the pit ahead.
One by one, their sensations fed back into the original. "No traps," he reported. "It's safe."
Hinata nodded. "Then we proceed."
She jumped down first, followed closely by Sakura and Naruto.
To be safe, Hinata deployed three chakra puppets from her scroll—one to lead the front, one to shield Sakura, and one to guard Naruto's rear. As she landed, she activated Ten-Tails Chakra Mode, her aura faintly illuminating the underground chamber.
The space was confined, the air heavy. A real battle here would be dangerous—if the ceiling collapsed, they could be buried alive.
Hinata's Byakugan flickered to life again. The instant her feet touched the ground, she felt it—an overwhelming energy pulsing beneath the surface.
Almost instinctively, she extended her hands. "Chakra Extraction."
A technique she hadn't used in a long time.
The stagnant energy that had lain dormant for centuries began to stir, resonating with her chakra.
The so-called "Gelel Mine," as named by the ancients, wasn't a mineral deposit at all—it was solidified chakra, remnants of the primordial power that once belonged to the Ten-Tails.
As though recognizing its origin, the energy surged toward Hinata, drawn to her.
The chakra flowed into the Ten-Tails' essence within her, which acted as a natural filter—refining it, stripping away the volatile impurities, and channeling the purified energy into her body.
Hinata gasped softly.
A tremendous vitality flooded through her veins, revitalizing every cell. Her muscles tightened, her bones grew denser, and even her organs underwent subtle transformation.
Externally, she looked unchanged—but within, her body had evolved. Her chakra pathways expanded, and her inner power stabilized with astonishing balance.
Her eyes glowed faintly.
…
The Ten-Tails' chakra had always suppressed its own power, yielding to Hinata's body so it wouldn't overwhelm her. But now that her physical condition had evolved—strengthened by the Gelel Stone's energy—that restraint was no longer necessary.
As the Ten-Tails' chakra surged through her, the transformation began.
The chakra-made garments she wore shifted in color and form—the once pure white collar deepened to jet black, and six black tomoe appeared along its surface. From her head, two small chakra-formed horns emerged, swaying faintly with her movement. The plain white pants morphed into elegant culottes, flowing lightly yet firm in structure.
The chakra drawn from the Gelel Mine was completely consumed by the Ten-Tails' energy—devoured like a whale swallowing the sea.
And then, as if born from the depths of that power, a small, perfectly black sphere manifested. Devoid of light, it hovered silently in the air, following the curve of Hinata's waist like an obedient shadow.
Everything happened so fast.
While Naruto and Sakura were still scouring the cavern for traces of the Gelel Stone vein, Hinata had already absorbed it all. The two froze, blinking blankly in disbelief.
Hinata gave a dry cough. "Naruto," she said quickly, "I'll treat you to Ichiraku Ramen for the rest of your life. And… I'll even buy you a house."
Then she leaned toward Sakura and whispered, "And I'll personally make sure you and Sasuke get together, no matter what it takes."
Her tone was serious enough to make both of them swallow hard.
"In exchange," Hinata added, smiling faintly, "you'll both keep what happened here a secret. Don't tell anyone. Agreed?"
Sakura gripped Hinata's hands earnestly. "What are you talking about? Of course! We're friends, Hinata!"
Naruto looked away, whistling innocently. "Didn't see a thing," he said, pretending to focus on a random rock.
Hinata chuckled softly.
Even if her secret were exposed, she wasn't afraid of trouble—her position within the Hyuga clan protected her from most consequences. But involving the clan would create unnecessary complications. Better to keep this between them.
And so, the three left the ruins quietly, returning toward the Land of Fire.