When they finally reached a small dirt path, the child turned and bowed deeply.
"My village is just ahead. Thank you for saving me! Please—let me repay you somehow!"
Hinata adjusted her sunglasses and smiled softly. "No need. It was just a coincidence. Take care of yourself."
"Wait—my name is Amaru! What's yours?"
Hinata didn't answer. She leapt lightly into the air, landing on a nearby treetop, and disappeared with a few silent bounds.
Amaru watched her go, shaking her head with a small, wistful smile. "Mysterious… but kind."
She looked at the herbs in her basket, her face brightening. "With these, I can make enough medicine to save everyone in the village."
…
Meanwhile, miles away, Hinata stood atop a ridge, scanning the horizon.
Her Byakugan swept across forests and valleys until she found familiar terrain.
She was still within the Land of Fire.
A faint smile curved her lips.
"Good. I can still make it back."
With renewed resolve, Hinata adjusted her cloak, steadied her breath, and set off toward Konoha— her pace was swift and silent.
…
During her journey back, Hinata took out paper and pen and began to write.
She carefully recorded every Akatsuki member she had encountered—their names, abilities, and unique techniques. Not a single detail escaped her memory.
So far, Hinata had only witnessed Hidan's forbidden technique firsthand. As for the others, she had gathered her information purely through observation and deduction.
At the time, amidst the chaos of that overwhelming battle, she had seemed at a disadvantage, surrounded by so many powerful enemies. But in truth, that situation had given her an unexpected edge.
Because the Akatsuki members were afraid of hurting each other, they restrained themselves, avoiding large-scale techniques. That hesitation gave Hinata the precious opening she needed to hold her own—using taijutsu, her Gentle Fist techniques, and chakra control to endure wave after wave of their combined ninjutsu.
Though she hadn't learned much about their forbidden jutsu, she had still gathered critical intelligence.
She noted:
Sasori's human puppets, crafted from shinobi corpses.
Kakuzu's five hearts and his ability to use all five elemental releases.
Konan's Paper Jutsu, capable of creating explosive tags from thousands of sheets.
Deidara's art of explosive clay.
Obito's space-time ninjutsu, and
Pain's Six Paths techniques.
As for Itachi, Hinata knew little. He had barely fought seriously, keeping to the sidelines, and Hinata dared not approach him too closely—his Sharingan and genjutsu were far too dangerous.
After documenting their profiles, Hinata spent several more pages drawing an incredibly detailed map of Amegakure—the hidden rain village she had seen through with her Byakugan. Every secret passage, every hidden chamber, every dead end—she recorded them all.
Unless a place was reinforced with specialized seals or chakra barriers, nothing could remain hidden from the Byakugan's sight.
…
Hinata traveled at full speed, resting neither day nor night. If not for the time spent writing her report, she could have moved even faster than when she used Yomotsu Hirasaka.
After a day and a night of relentless travel, she finally arrived at Konoha.
To her surprise, she didn't even need to seek out Tsunade—the Hokage came to meet her first.
Tsunade rushed forward, grabbing Hinata by the shoulders, checking her head to toe, ensuring she wasn't injured. Only after confirming her safety did Tsunade release a long sigh of relief. She immediately ordered the ANBU to notify all search teams that Hinata had safely returned.
…
In the Hokage's office, Hinata was briefed on the situation. News of her abduction by Akatsuki had already reached the village. Her father had been frantically searching for her across the lands, and her mother, unable to bear the stress, had fallen ill.
The guilt weighed heavily on Hinata's heart.
She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick stack of papers.
"Lord Hokage, these are the intelligence reports I compiled on the Akatsuki organization. Please review them."
Tsunade accepted the documents absentmindedly—but the moment she began reading, her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
Every detail—names, habits, abilities, techniques, formations, weaknesses—was recorded with incredible precision. It far surpassed even Jiraiya's findings.
"This… this is incredible," Tsunade murmured, scanning page after page. "How did you manage to gather all this?"
She looked up, astonished.
According to the report, the Akatsuki's power was staggering. Even if she and Jiraiya joined forces, there was no guarantee they could defeat them.
Tsunade clenched her jaw. "Jiraiya has Sage Techniques, and I have my own forbidden jutsu—but they have the same, don't they? Knowing this now will at least let us prepare in advance… If we hadn't—"
Hinata bowed her head slightly. "I used space-time ninjutsu during my escape, Hokage-sama. That's how I managed to observe them safely."
Tsunade's eyes flickered. "Space-time ninjutsu? You…?"
Hinata smiled faintly. "It's a Byakugan-derived ability. A hidden Hyuga secret technique."
That explanation effectively ended the discussion. The Byakugan was under the Hyuga clan's domain—no outsider could question its deeper secrets.
Tsunade exhaled, speechless. "I see… the Byakugan, huh?"
Hinata nodded, silent.
"Hokage-sama," she said after a pause, "does this mean my S-rank mission is officially complete?"
Tsunade nodded. "Yes, it is."
"Then," Hinata continued, "may I request a promotion to Jonin status? I can't stay in the village for long."
Tsunade frowned. "Why not?"
Hinata hesitated for a moment before replying calmly, "In the past two weeks, I've spent nearly a hundred million yen of Akatsuki's resources. They won't let that go. To protect the village and my family, I'd better leave for a while."
She hid the truth about the Ten-Tails within her, attributing her departure purely to the threat of Akatsuki's revenge.
Tsunade folded her arms, still frowning, but she said nothing more.
…
A few minutes later, Hinata left the Hokage building and returned home.
Her mother, who had been bedridden since hearing of her disappearance, was the first to rush to the door. Seeing her daughter safe and alive, she burst into tears, embracing her tightly.
No words were needed.
Moments later, Hanabi came running out as well. She leaped into her sister's arms, sobbing with joy.
Since Hinata's disappearance, Hanabi—now the only heiress to the main family—had been strictly forbidden to leave the house. Every member of the Hyuga clan had been on edge, awaiting news.
Now, at last, their family was whole again.
Their mother's eyes softened as she looked at Hinata, gently brushing her cheek. She noticed something peculiar—Hinata seemed a little rounder, as if she'd gained a bit of baby fat.
It puzzled her. Her daughter had always eaten well at home without ever gaining weight—how could she suddenly look healthier after being captured by Akatsuki of all people?
Hanabi, meanwhile, clung to Hinata's arm like a child unwilling to let go.
It wasn't until nightfall, when the lanterns were lit and the house filled with warmth, that Hiashi returned from his search.
He stopped at the doorway, watching quietly as his eldest daughter sat cross-legged on the threshold, eating her meal and smiling under the gentle light.
He had a thousand things to say—but when he saw her like that, all words failed him.
Hinata stood up, fetched him a bowl and chopsticks herself, and guided him to the head of the table.
The family sat together once more, laughter and soft conversation filling the air—a peace that felt long lost.
…
After dinner, Hinata played with Hanabi until the little girl drifted to sleep. Then, she quietly met her father alone.
She told him briefly about her time with Akatsuki and then explained her decision to leave Konoha for a while. It wasn't safe for her—or for them—if she stayed.
Hiashi listened in silence for a long time. Finally, he spoke.
"You've grown, Hinata. You have your own will now, and you make your own choices. I won't stop you."
Hinata bowed her head respectfully, kneeling before him.
Hiashi's gaze softened, but his voice was firm.
"Your life doesn't belong only to you. You cannot take risks lightly. No matter what happens, you must never give up on living. If you die before your mother and me… I will not forgive you."
Hinata's eyes widened slightly. Then she smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, Father. I understand."
Hiashi said nothing more. They talked quietly about other matters for a while—until finally, Hinata rose, bowed again, and left.
Outside, the ANBU were already waiting. They escorted her back to the Hokage's office, where Tsunade handed her the official decree.
From that moment on—
Hinata Hyuga was no longer a Konoha Chunin.
She was a Jonin—recognized not only for her strength, but for her courage, composure, and the intelligence she had brought back from the heart of Akatsuki itself.
…
Hinata was twelve years old that year.
She left Konoha under the cover of night. At first, she had planned to prepare meals for Isaribi along the way, but remembering that she was still hospitalized, she decided to postpone it.
In addition to being a newly promoted Jonin, Hinata had been directly assigned by Tsunade to the Anbu, the covert unit operating under the Hokage's command.
Every Anbu operative carried an assassination list—targets chosen according to their individual capabilities. After completing a mission, the operative received both a commission from Konoha and, if applicable, a bounty from the black market.
That list now rested in Hinata's hands.