Sasuke was momentarily taken aback by Shigure's answer — and then he smiled.
His gaze fell on Hinata — the Hyūga Clan's eldest daughter, the heiress of one of the Leaf's noble lineages. Sasuke knew her personality well.
She was timid, too gentle for the role she was born into. For any ordinary girl, it might not matter… but for a clan heiress, that softness was a fatal flaw.
"…That's one way to save her," Sasuke murmured.
"But then there'll be no turning back."
Shigure replied calmly, "Do you really think there's still room for reconciliation?"
Even if Tsunade wouldn't openly take action against Kirigakure, the political rift was already clear. Taking Hinata merely gave Tsunade a convenient excuse not to escalate things further.
"Shigure, don't act recklessly! Whatever you want, we can discuss it," a Hyūga ninja shouted frantically.
"Konoha can allow you to leave — but you must not harm Lady Hinata!"
As the heiress, Hinata's safety was paramount. Any harm done to her would become a stain the Hyūga Clan could not erase.
The stance was declared — and Tsunade seized the opening.
"Everyone, stand down! Let them go!"
Konoha's shinobi exchanged uncertain looks. They hated the order — but the Hyūga were present in force, and defying the Hokage would be foolish.
As the crowd slowly parted, Kakashi couldn't help the wry smile behind his mask.
So… he planned all of this from the beginning.
With Hinata in his arms, Shigure marched forward. The Mist's shinobi surrounded him, along with Sasuke, Jūgo, and Guren — brazenly descending from the rooftop of the Hokage Building and walking straight down Konoha's main street.
Not a single ninja dared block their path.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
"So… was all of this part of your plan?"
Shigure tilted his head innocently. "Whatever are you talking about?"
"Stealing the Seven-Tails from Takigakure. Sending Taki shinobi here. Forcing Danzo's crimes into the open…"
"And then killing him."
Although Mist had acted publicly, everyone knew Konoha secretly benefited. Danzo — student of Tobirama, contemporary to Hiruzen — was a thorn the Fifth Hokage could not pluck out herself. His hands were soaked in the darkness of the village.
If a Konoha shinobi killed him, they'd be branded traitors forever.
If Konoha protected him, they'd be protecting his sins.
Letting an outsider do it was… convenient.
Shigure only smiled — refusing to confirm anything.
As they reached the gates, Shigure noticed a familiar emblem — the crescent moon of the Gekkō Clan. Several of them silently stepped behind him.
No hostility.
No hesitation.
They were leaving Konoha… with him.
Though small in number, they chose exile over remaining under corrupted leadership.
Shigure welcomed them with a nod — though he couldn't help scanning for two faces that never appeared: Gekkō Hayate and Masano-san.
After a moment of silence, Sasuke spoke softly:
"Who knows when we'll meet again."
But Shigure only smiled.
"Soon. Sooner than you think."
Sasuke frowned. "Why?"
"You still want revenge, don't you?"
Sasuke didn't answer — but he didn't need to.
"The one you want to kill isn't someone you can defeat alone," Shigure continued. "Maybe, when the time comes, we can help each other."
Sasuke glanced sideways.
"By then… won't you be Mizukage? Why would a Kage cooperate with a Missing-nin like me?"
"Identities are just tools, Sasuke. A Missing-nin can act where a Kage cannot. Each role has its uses."
Like killing Danzo — something only outsiders could do.
"…Fine," Sasuke said quietly. "We'll see."
"You'd better hurry," Shigure chuckled. "Time won't wait for you."
The Akatsuki had already lost a member and a Tailed Beast.
Their retaliation would come soon.
At last, they reached the village gates.
Shigure turned to face Tsunade — and Hyūga Hiashi, whose eyes were fixed stubbornly on his daughter.
They had escorted them far enough.
Now came the parting.
"This is where you stop," Shigure announced. "We'll walk from here."
Sasuke understood the cue. He signaled Jūgo and Guren, and the group stepped ahead.
Then Shigure delivered his final warning:
"Do not pursue us. Otherwise… I won't hesitate to kill the hostage."
His voice was icy steel — and with that, he turned away.
Hinata still in his arms, he disappeared into the forest beyond Konoha.
Shigure was gone.
Just like that — he vanished beyond the village gates with Hinata in his arms.
Hyūga Hiashi stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.
Wasn't this just supposed to be a staged situation?
Walking his daughter to the gate should have been enough — a show of force, not a true kidnapping.
Shouldn't the Konoha shinobi chase them?
Shouldn't someone stop them at the last second?
Why… why did that brat simply take Hinata and leave for real?!
"L–Lady Tsunade!"
Hiashi snapped around, disbelief twisting his expression. Everything about this felt wrong — like he had been tricked into compliance.
Tsunade met his stare, her voice calm but grave.
"Clan Head Hyūga… don't worry. We will get Hinata back. But if we pursue them now, we risk provoking Mist into harming her. We can't afford reckless action."
Beside her, Jiraiya nodded, arms crossed thoughtfully.
"They have leverage. If we give chase, they'll use it — and Hinata could be the one to pay the price. We'll have to negotiate… and wait for the right moment."
Hiashi's hands clenched, pale fists trembling.
Was that it?
Just like that… his eldest daughter was gone?
Taken away while everyone simply watched?
He felt his Byakugan burning behind his eyes — not from power, but from pure, helpless fury.
Hinata…
...
TN:
🔟 Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)