Two days later, a sealed letter arrived at Orochimaru's hands.
He unfolded it slowly, his serpent-like eyes narrowing in amusement.
"A challenge?" he muttered. "She wants to duel Sasuke? What could she be scheming?"
Kabuto, who had retrieved the letter, adjusted his glasses. "I've read it as well. Logically, she's more than capable of forcing even you to take her seriously if she goes all out. But against Sasuke? Isn't that... a bit excessive?"
Orochimaru chuckled, the corners of his lips curling into a sinister grin. "No matter what her motives are, this is an opportunity. If we play this right... we might even capture her. I'm very interested in that Byakugan of hers— and the chakra-based cloak she wields."
Even during his days with Akatsuki, Orochimaru had dared to attack Itachi Uchiha. Though he failed miserably, his thirst for powerful eyes had never faded.
Now, he was ready to risk offending the Hyuga clan itself to study their prodigious heiress.
He clapped his hands together decisively. "Prepare. Once the duel begins, we'll be ready to move."
Not long after, the letter reached Sasuke.
He read it silently, expression unreadable. Then, in a low voice, he muttered, "Don't underestimate the Uchiha."
Turning to Kabuto, he asked flatly, "When do we move?"
Kabuto smiled faintly. "When Lord Orochimaru gives the signal."
…
While Orochimaru schemed and Sasuke trained in preparation for the upcoming duel, Hinata, the third party to this looming confrontation, had already returned to Konoha.
She submitted her mission report to Tsunade, who flipped through the attached scrolls, notes, and documents Hinata had recovered from Orochimaru's base.
"You did excellent work," Tsunade said, clearly impressed. "Also—about the duel with Sasuke—notify me as soon as you set a date. If Orochimaru intends to appear, we'll use the opportunity to corner him. He won't escape this time."
Hinata bowed slightly. "Understood."
Tsunade then hesitated for a moment before retrieving another file from her drawer. "There's something else," she said, handing it to Hinata. "Take a look at this mission."
Hinata opened it and began reading carefully.
"The rogue ninja you captured last time was suspected of being a spy from Iwagakure," Tsunade explained. "However, after interrogation and mind analysis, the results pointed elsewhere. He's linked to an organization operating from the shadows—Akatsuki."
…
Tsunade went on to summarize what was known about the group: a mysterious organization composed of powerful rogue ninjas from various lands. Their motives were unclear, their members few—but every one of them was an S-rank criminal.
Hinata listened in silence. The mission details were straightforward: gather intelligence about Akatsuki—its members, movements, and objectives.
"Because of its difficulty and the potential danger," Tsunade concluded, "this mission is classified as S-rank. You're to collect as much information as possible. Do you have any questions?"
Hinata thought for a moment. "Are there other S-rank missions available right now?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "A few," she said after a pause. "Assassinating a Kage. Eliminating a Daimyō. Infiltrating another village to steal their forbidden techniques."
Her eyes softened slightly. "None of them are as suitable as this one. This is reconnaissance, not confrontation. You're the best choice for it."
Hinata nodded firmly. "Then I accept."
Tsunade smiled faintly, handing over the final set of details. "Good. Stay cautious. And remember—don't engage unless absolutely necessary."
…
Soon after, Jiraiya would depart with Naruto for long-term training. Hinata knew Tsunade's decision to entrust her with an S-rank mission meant she truly believed in her abilities.
Even if Hinata couldn't complete it, Tsunade trusted she would at least return safely.
…
That night, Hinata returned home. She greeted her parents warmly, played with her younger sister Hanabi for a while, then took a long bath before lying down on her bed.
Just as she began to relax, a twitch in her right foot made her open her eyes slightly. Then her left foot twitched, too.
"...Hanabi," Hinata muttered softly, realizing what was happening.
Sure enough, her mischievous little sister was crouched nearby, tracing a feather along her soles, stifling a giggle.
Hinata's brow twitched. She bolted upright like a startled cat, grabbed Hanabi, and easily pinned her down, plucking the feather from her hands.
In retaliation, she began tickling Hanabi's feet with expert precision. The room filled with squeals and laughter as the two sisters wrestled and played.
In the front hall, Hiashi, who was playing chess with Neji, paused mid-move and sighed helplessly.
Neji merely smiled. "It's nice to hear laughter in the Hyuga household again," he said quietly.
…
After spending two peaceful days at home, Hinata departed once more.
The Akatsuki had appeared in several places, but their main base remained a mystery. Finding them would be difficult.
Her plan was simple: start from locations where Akatsuki members had been sighted, then expand her search outward.
These individuals, confident in their power, rarely hid their identities. Their black cloaks adorned with red clouds were notorious across the nations.
Ask around long enough, and someone would always whisper:
"They were here."
…
Throughout her travels, countless false rumors about Akatsuki circulated. More than once, Hinata was lured by local thugs into deserted alleys, only for them to attempt a robbery.
Her response to such people was always the same—swift and absolute: kill.
Can't they see the Konoha headband around my neck? she thought grimly each time. Do they really think I'm an easy target just because I look young and travel alone?
Ah, right. She wasn't wearing her headband. It was hidden away.
Hinata could honestly vouch for herself—she never removed it with ill intent, nor to deceive anyone.
Still, perhaps she should have realized how such appearances could lead to trouble.
…
Whenever Hinata arrived in a town, she stayed at local inns. When she traveled through the wilderness, she often stopped by Doma Umaru's place—her usual refuge on long missions.
As weeks passed, more eyewitness accounts about Akatsuki began to surface. Each new report was slightly clearer, and Hinata knew she was getting close.
"Judging by this pace," she murmured, standing atop the watchtower within her Homeland Space, surveying the virtual landscape below, "I should be able to complete this in about a month."
A month in the real world equaled nearly ten months inside the Homeland Space—more than enough time to prepare.
Because of that, Hinata didn't rush to engage. She chose to follow from a distance, tracking Akatsuki movements carefully.
Patience was a virtue. A little over two months remained before the year's end—plenty of time to strike when the odds favored her.
She remembered the previous encounters with Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, both Akatsuki members. They were undeniably powerful—S-rank rogues whose casual confidence alone revealed the scale of their strength.
Hinata herself had many trump cards. She knew firsthand how critical such hidden weapons were in battle.
Which meant every member of Akatsuki likely possessed their own secret techniques—ones even deadlier than they appeared. Facing them blindly would be reckless.
So she waited.
To improve her odds, Hinata spent the time refining herself—continuing her daily self-destructive training, studying and upgrading her sealing techniques, and perfecting Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist and the Tailed Beast Ball.
But the constant strain consumed tremendous physical energy. Her appetite grew monstrous, and even her numerous supplements couldn't keep up.
The excess of medicinal tonics had given her skin a faint herbal scent—one that even lingered in her sweat.
Hinata sniffed lightly and chuckled to herself. "At this rate, I'll turn into a walking ginseng root."