After the encounter with Shinnō and Amaru, Hinata decided it was time to abandon her "sickly patient" disguise.
Her new identity: a Samurai.
Samurai in this era were generally divided into two categories.
The first were the traditional ones — warriors who relied purely on swordsmanship and physical training.
The second were those who, like shinobi, refined chakra and infused it into their blades.
The difference in power between the two was immeasurable. A child who could manipulate chakra could shatter a wall with a single punch — a feat that a traditional swordsman could never match, no matter how many years he trained.
Yet some samurai endured. Those who adapted to chakra survived.
…
Hinata's disguise was that of a non-chakra samurai — a wandering ronin.
She used katanas taken from the rogue ninjas she had slain, tied her long black wig into a single ponytail, and wore homemade colored contact lenses to hide the Byakugan's pale glow.
A faint, fake scar ran across her right cheek, while her left was covered by a half-mask. She dressed in a loose, light pink kimono and wooden sandals — looking every bit like the daughter of a traditional samurai dojo, traveling the world alone.
The disguise was perfect.
…
The Land of Rain held a unique position, situated between three of the Five Great Nations — the Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth.
Hinata had chosen to come here originally to avoid Akatsuki's pursuit. But as time passed, she discovered something intriguing — the country was filled with rogue ninjas, many of them with bounties listed on her Anbu-issued assassination scroll.
That was strange.
When Hinata was still in Amegakure, she had overheard Hidan mention that Kakuzu was obsessed with money and frequently completed bounty missions for extra profit.
So why hadn't Kakuzu dealt with these rogues right under his nose? Was he avoiding conflict with them? Or was there another, deeper reason?
Hinata didn't dwell on it. Instead, she quietly began taking on assassination missions herself.
Her targets were mostly Chunin-level missing-nin, though occasionally she encountered special Jonin.
…
Once, she crossed paths with a small group of rogue ninjas.
After eliminating one, a Chunin, his three companions found her — two more Chunin and one nearing the level of a special Jonin.
Hinata fought them without using chakra, relying only on skill, agility, and her environment. The battle was grueling.
But in the end, she won.
She drew inspiration from an unlikely source — Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was known for wielding his sword from his mouth, using his serpentine body as a weapon.
Hinata, lacking that unnatural flexibility, couldn't replicate it exactly. But she could adapt. She began experimenting — biting the hilt of a short blade, fighting while using her teeth to strike at close range.
The idea sparked something in her mind.
If I can use my teeth, she thought, then where else can a blade be used?
Her first thought was her toes. But after several painful attempts, she gave up on the idea. No matter how thin the handle, it simply wasn't something one could grip with their feet.
…
After ruling out the feet, Hinata turned her attention to other parts of her body, testing each one methodically. Through relentless experimentation, she eventually developed what she called the Nine-Sword Style.
One sword in each hand, two more balanced at her elbows, one clenched between her teeth, another gripped against her neck, two tucked under her armpits, and one held between her knees.
The formation looked absurd at first glance — a human hedgehog bristling with steel — but the sheer creativity of the stance revealed her fierce determination to adapt and innovate.
Of course, maintaining such a form made movement nearly impossible. Gradually, Hinata reduced the number of weapons, finding a balance between practicality and lethality.
In the end, she settled on five swords — one in each hand, one in her teeth, one resting across her neck, and one held between her knees.
It was a strange, almost theatrical stance, but it worked.
With her exceptional flexibility and precision control over her body, Hinata could move fluidly even with five blades in motion. Her Byakugan granted her near-perfect vision of her surroundings, allowing her to anticipate attacks and strike from unexpected angles.
Even when she faltered or appeared stiff, it wasn't from lack of control — only unfamiliarity with her new technique.
What made the style truly fearsome was its adaptability. The five blades could be shifted to different positions mid-battle, turning every strike, parry, and rotation into a lethal dance.
If mastered, the Five-Sword Style was a weapon of pure destruction. If not… it was nothing but a suicidal performance.
But Hinata had been through countless battles. She was confident she could handle it.
…
Pfft! Pfft!
The sound of steel slicing through flesh echoed on a lonely mountain path, followed by agonized screams.
Moments later, the forest fell silent.
Hinata flicked the blood from her blade, sheathed it smoothly, and crouched beside the fallen rogues. Her sharp eyes scanned the bodies, identifying those with confirmed bounties on the black market.
She cut away proof of their identities, packed the evidence neatly, and began her descent toward the nearest collection point.
Encounters like these had become routine.
Recently, Hinata had discovered that a bounty had been placed on her own head in the black market — though she had no idea who was responsible. It was a dirty, underhanded move.
Ironically, that bounty gave rise to a new legend: the Five-Sword Style Girl — a mysterious female samurai with no chakra who slaughtered rogue ninjas using only her physical prowess.
The rumor spread like wildfire throughout the Land of Rain.
It drew both bounty hunters and thrill-seekers to her, but for Hinata, it was the perfect opportunity to gain more combat experience. Each fight sharpened her technique and refined her swordsmanship at an astonishing pace.
To her, swordsmanship was not about elegance — it was about power, speed, and precision.
As long as those three elements existed in harmony, every strike was deadly.
And Hinata possessed all of them — extraordinary physical ability, battle-hardened instincts, and an unwavering will.
…
She was just about to leave when the air shifted.
A flurry of paper filled her vision.
The countless fluttering sheets — familiar in texture and movement — made Hinata's expression tighten. She instinctively stepped back, her fingers brushing the seal at her waist, ready to strike.
"Please wait," came a calm, feminine voice. "I only wish to speak."
The tone was composed — not hostile.
Hinata hesitated, her killing intent fading slightly. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The papers gathered and reshaped into the figure of Konan, her blue hair fluttering lightly in the breeze. Her amber eyes regarded Hinata intently.
"I've been observing you for several days," Konan said softly. "You have no chakra, yet you've killed trained shinobi through raw strength and technique alone. That takes talent."
Hinata stayed silent, her gaze sharp.
"I've heard you're a wandering samurai without a home," Konan continued. "You could join us. I am Konan — leader of Amegakure. My words are not lies."
The offer hung in the air, heavy and deliberate.
"Your answer?" Konan asked, her voice as calm as the rain around them.
Hinata was quiet for a long time. "Me — an ordinary samurai with no chakra — joining a ninja village? What could I possibly gain from that?"
Konan considered her words before replying, "Strength knows no boundaries. Whether you are a monk, a witch, a mage, or a beggar — power transcends title. You already possess strength that rivals many ninja."
"As for benefits," she added with a faint smile, "you must earn them yourself. Nothing in this world is free."
Hinata brushed a finger across the false scar on her cheek, deep in thought. Then, with a small nod, she agreed.
"..."
Konan's expression softened slightly. She led Hinata to the nearest black market outpost.
There, in front of everyone, Konan personally ordered the bounty on Hinata's head to be removed.
When Hinata looked at her questioningly, Konan met her gaze and said simply, "Consider this your test."
To avoid resentment, she even gave Hinata the bounty reward — more than ninety thousand ryō after fees.
Hinata accepted it quietly, her expression unreadable.
…
Back in Amegakure, Hinata completed the formalities of joining the village. She received a Rain Village headband and was assigned a small single-room apartment.
Konan returned to her duties, while the other Akatsuki members continued their fruitless search for "Hinata Hyuga" across the world.
Standing under the ceaseless drizzle, Konan sighed.
"I wonder when we'll find where Hinata Hyuga is hiding," she murmured. "Even Zetsu can't even locate her…"