"You need time to grow up, and this is also the time for you to accumulate strength."
"You need to know your goals, but you also need to learn to distinguish right from wrong."
Neji's haggard eyes slowly calmed down; with Aoran's guidance, his mindset had matured significantly.
He hadn't been close to Aoran before, but Hizashi's dying wish, combined with Aoran knocking sense into him earlier and now counseling him...
...made Neji realize that Aoran was someone who genuinely cared about him.
Seeing the change in Neji's expression, Aoran knew he had taken the words to heart, and continued to guide him by asking:
"Do you think this incident has anything to do with Hinata?"
Although the question was a bit abrupt, Hinata was the key figure in the incident.
Neji lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head:
"Even if it wasn't her who was targeted for theft, but another member of the Main Family, the situation wouldn't have changed."
Aoran patted Neji's shoulder in satisfaction. This child was indeed intelligent, worthy of being the first among the Twelve Rookies to become a Jonin:
"I just saw her. Because your uncle died in place of her father, some people nearby were gossiping, and now she's taking it hard."
Neji immediately stood up. Only those who have been drenched in the rain know how painful that suffering is.
"Where is she?"
Aoran tapped Neji's Byakugan: "What do you use this for?"
Neji paused: "We can't use the Byakugan casually within the clan."
Aoran immediately activated his Byakugan and glanced outside:
"I used it. So what? Are you going to report me?"
Neji's face flushed, realizing his thinking was too rigid.
However, he didn't forget the main task. He immediately activated his Byakugan and began searching for Hinata's whereabouts.
Then he frowned and immediately ran outside: "Brother Aoran, I'm heading out."
"Heh..."
Aoran watched Neji's retreating figure and chuckled softly... "Sigh, it was because Kumogakure wanted to kidnap Hinata that Lord Hizashi..."
"Those Kumogakure ninja are truly despicable..."
Little Hinata went to bed early on her birthday, and she never woke up during the entire time she was kidnapped.
Many things she only learned about afterward.
Today, accompanying Hiashi to Hizashi's funeral, she finally learned that Neji's father had died because of her.
Her mind was a mess, and feeling stifled inside the room, she walked outside alone.
Hinata was a very sensitive person. Seeing Neji crying, she blamed herself.
Beneath the swirling snowflakes, many people who came to mourn Hizashi brushed past Hinata.
She wiped away the tears that had just fallen. The grievance and guilt in her heart made her want only to escape.
Running towards the main gate, Hinata stumbled several times in succession. Although her body hurt, Hinata had no intention of turning back, instead running outside step by step.
Hyūga Shūto, standing on the eaves, looked at the direction Hinata had run off to.
[That's right. The Anbu said the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is coming in this direction.]
[Huh, isn't that Neji? Why is he out too?]
Shuto saw Neji running purposefully toward Hinata and suddenly realized:
[Neji is going after Hinata?! Oh no!]
Hinata cried as she ran, finally collapsing onto the ground from exhaustion.
She was sad and cold, feeling utterly lost and helpless.
"Lord Hinata, what are you doing?"
Suddenly a familiar voice sounded, and a warm small hand pulled her up.
Hinata looked up, saw Neji, and her eyes reddened as tears immediately fell.
"I... I..."
Hinata didn't know what to say; after all, Neji's father had died because of her.
Neji pressed his lips together, and knowing Hinata was distressed, he didn't say much, gently leading her toward the Main Family Compound.
Feeling the warmth transmitted from his palm, Hinata whispered: "Brother Neji, I'm sorry..."
Neji paused his steps for a moment but didn't stop.
He gently shook his head: "This matter has nothing to do with Lord Hinata."
Hinata stopped in place and lowered her head.
She sniffled softly. The guilt welling up in her chest made her eyes turn red.
"Brother Neji..."
Hinata opened her mouth but failed to say anything.
Neji turned back and smiled: "I told you, I will protect you!"
"Mhm..."
The two small figures moved toward the Main Family direction... Meanwhile, a yellow-haired child with whiskers on his face walked, hands clasped behind his head, to the spot where Neji had met Hinata.
"Huh? No lost little girl here."
"I was tricked again! How annoying!"
The enthusiasm that had just surged up was extinguished, and he muttered discontentedly.
He kicked the snow beneath his feet and slowly walked away... Kumogakure.
Raikage's Office.
The Raikage, who was processing documents, suddenly heard a soft sound as the door was abruptly pushed open by Dodai.
"Something has happened, Lord Raikage."
"What is it?" Seeing Dodai's grave expression, the Raikage's heart sank.
"We haven't heard anything from Tokijin and the others since they sent us a message before leaving Konoha."
"No news!?" The Raikage immediately frowned.
The distance between Kumogakure and Konoha is very long; using a Message Bird would take about two days of flight.
This made it extremely difficult for the Raikage to keep track of the situation there.
That is why they brought Tokijin, who could use Summoning Jutsu, for communication.
He had signed a contract with Grey Hawks near the Hidden Cloud Village. By using Summoning Jutsu, the Grey Hawk could quickly return to the Hidden Cloud Village, making communication extremely fast.
"Has Tokijin not summoned anything at all?"
Dodai's expression was solemn: "Tokijin is very punctual. According to the agreed schedule..."
"...he should have sent a message back yesterday."
"Even if they were celebrating and got drunk, we definitely should have received a message today."
The Raikage's expression changed: "Something happened to them!?"
Dodai confirmed: "At the very least, we can be certain that Tokijin is dead."
"As for any other danger, that remains unknown."
The Raikage tapped his thick fingers on the desk, making a steady tap-tap-tap sound.
"Then we must immediately send people to support them!"
Dodai affirmed: "I have already sent Kōrinshi out with the two squads led by Cee and Yato."
The Raikage didn't mind Dodai issuing orders over him; after all, urgent matters require swift action, and Dodai had that authority.
What concerned him was what had happened to Tokijin and the others.
The Ninja World is extremely cruel; generally, no news is the worst news.
"Who would interfere with this matter?"
Dodai was grave: "Iwagakure and Hidden Mist are both possibilities. We must make plans early."
The Raikage slammed the desk angrily, making a dong sound: "I want to see who dares to provoke us."
...