With his vision fully restored, the Hidden Grass ninja quickly approached Long Lin's figure. Long Lin scanned the area with a sharp, focused gaze, searching for any sign of enemies. Finding nothing, he guided his subordinate back to the Dango Shop, hoping to locate the missing Grass ninja.
They tore through the shop, digging three feet deep and turning it upside down, but their search yielded nothing.
"Damn it!" Long Lin muttered, frustrated by the ninja's sudden disappearance.
"Teams Three and Four, secure all entrances and exits! The rest of you, follow me!" he ordered. Without hesitation, he led one team back to the Grass Root base, while the other two teams raced to cover all strategic points around the Hidden Grass Village.
Unnoticed by the others, one Grass ninja silently broke away. Using a Transformation Jutsu, he shifted into the form of a black cat and vanished into the shadows. Of course, this ninja was Yugito, cleverly disguised.
Having used a Fire Release jutsu to create chaos earlier, Yugito had blended seamlessly with the Grass ninja teams, planning to infiltrate the Dango Shop and retrieve Neji. Yet, after searching the building extensively, she could not locate him. From the safety of the shadows, Yugito observed as the Hidden Grass Village slowly regained order.
Miyav.
She pondered her options, then nodded to herself. With nimble grace, she leapt onto the eaves and silently made her way toward the inn.
---
At the inn, Karin and Madam, still visibly shaken, finally allowed themselves a moment of relief. Neji carefully settled Karin into bed, ensuring she was comfortable, and then poured a glass of hot water for Madam.
"Madam, stay the night here. We will leave Hidden Grass Village tomorrow," he said gently.
"Thank you," Madam whispered, holding the teacup with both hands and sipping slowly. Her delicate, fragile form seemed even more vulnerable after the recent ordeal.
"Madam, may I ask your name?" Neji inquired.
"Uzumaki Kana," she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of unease. She then asked hesitantly, "Sir… what arrangements do you intend for my daughter and me?"
Neji smiled faintly. "Do not worry. I am not like the people in Hidden Grass Village. Madam, both you and your daughter should join the Hyuga Clan."
Uzumaki Kana's eyes widened in surprise. The Hyuga Clan was renowned throughout the Ninja World and held a prestigious position within Konoha. Realization dawned on her—this young man must indeed be a member of the Hyuga Clan. No wonder she had felt something familiar about his eyes earlier.
Despite her eagerness to join the Hyuga Clan, she struggled with lingering feelings toward Konoha Village.
"Sir," she asked cautiously, "could you conceal our identities and prevent the higher-ups in Konoha from knowing of our existence?"
Her hesitation stemmed from the traumatic events of her past. When Whirlpool Country was destroyed by the Land of Water, she had been just ten years old. She had witnessed the massacre of thousands of Vortex clansmen, with only a handful of children surviving. During this crisis, Konoha—the most powerful village in the Ninja World—offered no assistance.
Even as a child, she suspected hidden reasons for their inaction, but it was clear: Konoha was not a reliable ally. Her years wandering the Ninja World, seeking refuge wherever she could, had reinforced this belief. Now, however, she had no choice but to compromise. As a mother, she had to consider Karin's future above all else.
Neji reassured her, "You are mistaken. I am joining Hidden Cloud Village, not Konoha. That is where you and your daughter should go."
Uzumaki Kana blinked in confusion. "You… want us to join Hidden Cloud Village?"
Neji nodded, naturally donning his forehead protector. "I am a ninja of Hidden Cloud Village. Naturally, you should become part of it as well."
She gazed at the twin cloud symbols on his forehead protector. They were unmistakably the insignia of Hidden Cloud Village. A wave of disbelief washed over her.
Hyuga Clan in Hidden Cloud Village? she thought. During her years in the Ninja World, she must have missed countless important events.
"Sir, how many members does the Hyuga Clan have?" she asked cautiously.
"Not many," Neji replied, his eyes meeting hers with a faintly odd expression. "Including you and your daughter, only three."
Uzumaki Kana froze. Three members… it was almost laughable. A clan consisting of only three people. Yet, for her, it was enough. They didn't seek power or fame—only a chance to live peacefully.
---
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the room. Uzumaki Kana flinched, her delicate frame trembling as fear crossed her elegant features. Instinctively, she thought it might be one of the Hidden Grass ninjas who had pursued them.
Neji raised a calming hand, signaling her to remain still.
"Neji! Over here!"
A familiar female voice called out. Neji exhaled and ran to open the door. Standing there, as expected, was Yugito.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Of course," Neji replied casually. Yugito entered the room, her eyes scanning the scene. She noticed Karin asleep on the bed and Madam sitting nervously nearby.
Raising a brow, Yugito asked, "What is happening here?"
"I couldn't find him, and I didn't want to return empty-handed, so I brought both of them," Neji explained as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Yugito sighed. This is typical of Hidden Cloud Village procedures—kidnapping people—but not everyone is suitable for this treatment. She sensed a faint chakra signature from Kana, barely at the Chunin level. In the vast Ninja World, ordinary women like this were common.
She guided Neji toward the bathroom, closing the door firmly.
"Sit," Yugito instructed, placing her hands on his shoulders. "If you insist on bringing them to Hidden Cloud Village, I will not stop you—but I hope next time you are not so stubborn."
"Captain, you misunderstand," Neji replied, raising his hands. "I am acting with the Raikage-sama's approval, not recklessly."
"Oh? Is that so?" Yugito said, eyeing him skeptically. After a pause, she asked, "Is there something special about Madam and her daughter?"
"Do you remember the Vortex Clan of Whirlpool Country?" Neji asked.
"The Vortex Clan?" Yugito raised an eyebrow, surprised. The clan had been annihilated by the Land of Water even before she was born. Yet she knew of them—just enough to recognize their significance.
The Vortex Clan had a unique sealing jutsu in the Ninja World. Hidden Cloud Village had stolen a portion of this jutsu decades ago. The Iron Armor Seal used to seal the Eight-Tails had been developed based on the Vortex Clan's techniques.
Moreover, the Vortex clansmen were stubborn and possessed strong chakra, making them ideal vessels for tailed beasts. In fact, all previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki were descendants of the Vortex Clan. The first Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito, had wielded the Nine-Tails' power with unmatched strength. The second, Uzumaki Kushina, though not as powerful as Mito, still retained notable abilities. There were rumors that the third Jinchuriki might also be Vortex-born, though Hidden Cloud Village lacked concrete information.
Yugito recalled the red hair of both Kana and Madam. She inhaled deeply, understanding the connection.
"Neji, well done," Yugito said softly.
"I admit I raised my voice earlier," Neji replied with a faint smile, feeling the tension of the past hours slowly dissipate.
---