In less than a moment, Hinae opened her eyes.
"I've found their locations."
There was a hint of anticipation in her voice.
Though she was quite happy nowadays, faced with enemies, she still couldn't be completely calm.
Natsume smiled and patted her head in praise.
Hinae always felt like he treated her as a kid.
Even though he was the kid here.
But the feeling was nice, filling a safety gap she once lacked.
Natsume put on a mask. "Let's go."
He was Konoha's Hokage now.
If word got out carelessly, it would be a hassle.
Especially since he'd have to explain to Tsunade.
Couldn't say it was for his little sweetheart.
Hinae nodded, then with a few quick leaps, headed for Grass Village.
Natsume followed.
They easily avoided the gate guards and slipped inside.
Long ago, Natsume had hired Sasori of the Red Sand and Kakuzu to rescue Hinae and Karin here.
Back then, many Grass ninja died.
Now, the place showed no traces—the village had recovered well.
Natsume rubbed his chin, hoping the elders weren't dead.
But since no Fate Points popped, they were probably alive.
Lucky them.
Hinae stopped in front of a two-story wooden house.
She glanced at Natsume, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.
The noise startled the ninja inside.
In a flash, a middle-aged man appeared before them.
He frowned slightly.
The man in a mask hid his face, but the woman looked familiar—where had he seen her?
He thought for a moment, then jolted. "It's you—Hinae!"
"Didn't expect Elder Saru to remember me."
Hinae's lips curled into a smile.
She didn't lose composure just because her enemy was in front of her.
These years, as the head of Sunny Miles Trading handling multiple countries, she'd become very steady.
Except around Natsume.
For him, she was happy to wave the flag and cheer.
Hearing her admit it, Saru's face changed.
He remembered that Hinae and her daughter had been saved by three mysterious powerhouses.
Grass had suffered heavy casualties.
Seeing Hinae again, now with a masked mystery man at her side—
Was history about to repeat?
Saru's body tensed, ready to flee.
If Hinae wasn't absolutely confident, why would she return to Grass?
"What do you want? If it's something I can help with, I'll try."
Saru forced a smile. "Back then, my Grass Village took you in. Otherwise, you'd be dead."
A chill flashed in Hinae's red eyes—she punched.
Monstrous Strength!
Wind roared.
Saru's smile froze. Just as he prepared to body flicker away, the fist smashed into his chest.
"Argh!"
After the crack of bones came a scream.
Pain flooded Saru; blood surged up and he spat it out.
He flew back, slammed into the wooden house, and kicked up dust.
But he didn't die.
Hinae held back.
"How is this possible?!"
Saru lifted his head with difficulty, eyes bloodshot, staring at Hinae's billowing hair in disbelief.
She'd only been gone a few years—and her power had skyrocketed like this?
Unbelievable.
What had she gone through?
"Enemy attack!"
The commotion drew nearby Grass ninja.
Seeing Saru's condition, they cried out in fear.
Quickly, many ninja gathered and surrounded the three.
"Hinae?"
The captain recognized the red-haired woman.
Hard not to—distinctive looks, and she'd lived in Grass for many years.
He froze, then his face changed, shouting, "Everyone be careful!"
Clearly, Sasori and Kakuzu had left a deep impression.
Hinae glanced at Saru and ignored him, turning to the crowd.
Though many years had passed, she instantly recognized the ninja who'd once treated her as a walking medicine vial.
She said nothing and rapidly formed hand seals.
Golden chains surged from her body and shot at the Grass ninja under her control.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
The captain hastily used a defensive jutsu.
As a wall of earth rose just before the chains reached him, he breathed a sigh of relief.
But the next second, the chains pierced the wall like blades—and skewered him.
Blood splattered.
Everyone was horrified.
Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
Another defensive jutsu.
Still useless.
In an instant, the golden chains became the reaper's noose—no one escaped.
Adamantine Sealing Chains that could restrain Kurama were massive overkill for killing people.
Which is why it was a massacre.
Even tailed beasts couldn't withstand them.
Bodies fell one after another.
But since they were in the village center, more Grass ninja kept arriving.
As she fought, Hinae lost her gentle demeanor.
Which, in its own way, had its charm.
Saru, sprawled on the ground, took a couple of looks and crawled to escape without hesitation.
Even half-paralyzed, he exploded with a medical miracle.
"Trying to run?"
Natsume flickered in front of him and grabbed him.
"Die!"
Saru roared and stabbed a kunai at Natsume's neck.
Clang.
The kunai snapped.
Saru froze, eyes wide. "W-what kind of monster are you?!"
Natsume glanced at the broken kunai.
Natsume seized Saru's shoulder—Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan opened.
He quickly extracted the Box-opening ritual and Ryūzetsu's whereabouts.
Ryūzetsu was one of the rare movie heroines who didn't fall for Naruto.
Because she and Muku were inseparable childhood friends.
Though she ultimately sacrificed herself to save Naruto, that was just to repay a debt.
After joining Grass ANBU and learning of Muku, Ryūzetsu had already gone to Hozuki Castle.
Natsume tossed Saru aside.
More and more Grass ninja crowded in.
Useless.
Anyone within three meters of Hinae was greeted by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
But her efficiency was relatively low.
Uzumaki seals excel at single-target control, not crowd control.
Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
Natsume formed hand seals, took a deep breath, then opened his mouth.
His surging chakra became an endless flood.
Centering on him, water rushed in all directions, engulfing the nearby Grass ninja.
Under immense water pressure, many died in an instant.
More were trapped and immobilized in the torrent.
Buildings along the way were crushed.
Hinae blinked, then withdrew her chains and used chakra to stand atop the water.
Natsume formed more seals—the waters receded, leaving a field of unconscious Grass ninja.
"Hinae, find the other elders."
"Okay."
Hinae quickly moved and soon pointed out the three unconscious elders.
Natsume opened his Eternal Mangekyō again and searched their memories.
After confirming the Box ritual, he nodded. "They're yours."
Hinae picked up a fallen katana and killed them without hesitation.
Natsume gained 120 Fate Points.
"What about the others?"
"No need."
She dropped the blade and exhaled. "The ones who had to die are dead."
Then she stood dazed for a moment.
Complex emotions flickered across her face.
The joy of revenge—and the fear of a first kill.
She instinctively ran to Natsume and hugged him.
Her inner turmoil calmed.
Soon, she hurriedly pushed him away, embarrassed. "Sorry, I'm covered in blood."
"Then let's bathe together."
Natsume scooped her up. "Mhm, conserve water."
Hinae's face turned crimson, but she didn't refuse—she nodded.
…
At this moment, Hozuki Castle received two special prisoners.
Mui inspected Naruto and Sasuke.
They'd had their appearances altered, so he didn't recognize them.
The Fourth's son and the Uchiha were too famous across the shinobi world.
Delivering them intact to prison?
That screamed conspiracy.
Mui expressionlessly skimmed Konoha's paperwork.
Sasuke's alias was Kojiro; Naruto's was Musashi.
Their crime: attempted assassination of the Hokage.
A flicker passed through Mui's eyes.
Bold kids.
Konoha's new Hokage, Natsume, had recently subdued the Kazekage Rasa and Shukaku alone—his name shook the ninja world.
Even Mui wouldn't try something that dumb.
It's certain death.
Mui raised his hand; red flames appeared on his white glove.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Naruto sensed danger and struggled uneasily.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Mui ignored them and slapped his palm onto Naruto.
Naruto's clothes tore, and red flames like chains sank into his body.
"What the heck?"
Naruto reflexively covered his buddy below—drafty.
Sasuke stiffened, now weighing whether to abandon the mission.
But their teacher was the Hokage; quitting would reflect badly on the Uchiha.
"This is our warden's ninjutsu—Fire Style: Heavenly Prison."
A guard helpfully explained, "If you try to escape, the Heavenly Prison formula becomes flaming chains that burn your body. Also, if you get too far from the caster, you'll be burned to death."
Mui slapped Sasuke next.
Naruto eyed his teammate curiously.
Involuntary comparison ensued.
"I will kill you."
Sasuke growled through clenched teeth.
Mui had heard that line countless times and didn't react.
The two were sent to their cells.