Even though the Box of Paradise had eluded them this time, Yugito believed that rescuing the mother and daughter alone made the mission worthwhile. To her, the value of the Box of Paradise paled in comparison to the significance of a Vortex Clan descendant.
Neji, standing nearby, spoke with quiet authority, "I found them, so it is my responsibility to decide what happens next."
Yugito arched an eyebrow, her gaze skeptical. "And what do you plan to do with them?"
Neji cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. "They agreed to join the Hyuga Clan. From now on, they are under my protection. As their clan leader, it is my duty to safeguard them."
Yugito's lips twitched into a subtle smile. "The combination of Hyuga and Vortex… this is indeed promising." She let her eyes linger on Neji, then a sly thought crossed her mind. Poking him lightly in the chest, she teased, "You… your tail is showing."
Neji froze, momentarily speechless. He hadn't done anything, yet somehow it felt like he had. Embarrassed, he muttered, "I… I'll go find them something to eat."
Without waiting for a response, he bolted from the room, as if fleeing from her mischievous gaze. Yugito's lips curved upward slightly, amused by the rare sight of Neji in such a flustered state.
---
Hidden Cloud Village had no powerful bloodline limit ninja clans at the time. The Fourth Raikage had spent twenty years planning to cultivate a group of elite bloodline families, intending to give the village the means to compete with Konoha.
The discovery of Vortex descendants could dramatically accelerate this strategy. The only regret Yugito felt was that the descendants Neji found were a mother and daughter. If they had been father and son, a powerful bloodline limit clan could be established in ten years. Nevertheless, she was willing to entrust Kana and her daughter to Neji's care, recognizing the strategic advantage they offered.
---
Elsewhere, Long Lin knelt beside a fallen Grass Ninja, his brows tightly knit. The body showed no visible wounds, and it was impossible to discern the cause of death with the naked eye.
Without the Byakugan or specialized medical training, Long Lin could not detect the subtle injuries caused by Gentle Fist techniques. Moments later, a Medical Ninja examined the body thoroughly and speculated, "These injuries—violent destruction of the chest pressure points while leaving the chest intact—appear to be the secret technique of Gentle Fist, unparalleled in the Ninja World."
Long Lin's expression darkened. "So, the infiltrator… could they be from the Hyuga Clan of Konoha?"
The Medical Ninja shook his head. "I am only stating that the technique used was Gentle Fist. Whether the attacker is genuinely from the Hyuga Clan is uncertain."
Despite his caution, Long Lin was nearly convinced. Only the Hyuga Clan of Konoha possessed mastery over Gentle Fist techniques. While Hidden Grass Village had collected some basic knowledge of Gentle Fist, none of their ninja had truly mastered it. Much like how Uchiha techniques required the precision of the Sharingan, Gentle Fist demanded innate skill and a Byakugan. Without it, even the most skilled Taijutsu practitioner could not replicate the technique.
Buzz!
Suddenly, a Grass Ninja appeared before Long Lin, using the Body Vibration Technique.
"Captain, your office building has been infiltrated. The scroll describing the Box of Paradise has been stolen," the ninja reported urgently.
"What?" Long Lin's expression turned grave. His mind raced, recalling the unknown Fire Release ninja who had unleashed the Great Fireball Destruction Jutsu. Clearly, at least two intruders were at work—one targeting the Grass Root base and another the Grass Flower base. Their objective: the Box of Paradise.
The Box of Paradise was a sacred relic, passed down by the ancestors of Hidden Grass Village. Unlocking it had required great sacrifices. In recent years, the Grass Root division had made groundbreaking progress in understanding its secrets. Had Konoha seized it at this moment, the consequences would have been catastrophic. Fortunately, a few years prior, Mui had transported the box to Hozuki Castle, preventing disaster.
---
A cheerful voice interrupted their discussion. "Captain, Katsushiro-sama has awakened!"
Long Lin hurried to the small wooden house where Katsushiro had been revived from near death by a skilled Medical Ninja. Kneeling beside him, Long Lin asked, "Katsushiro, how do you feel now?"
Coughing weakly twice, Katsushiro managed a faint smile. "I… I'm alright, Long Lin-kun. The infiltrator… is from the Hyuga Clan of Konoha."
Long Lin's suspicions were confirmed. Hearing it from Katsushiro—the only survivor who had encountered the intruder—left no room for doubt.
"Katsushiro, they came here to steal the Box of Paradise?" Long Lin asked.
Katsushiro's eyes widened in shock before he exhaled in relief. "Yes… fortunately, the Box of Paradise is safe at Hozuki Castle. Had Konoha obtained it, our ancestors' legacy would have been betrayed."
The ongoing conflict between Grass Root and Grass Flower revolved primarily around this very relic. Long Lin, setting that aside, pressed on. "The Vortex mother and daughter were taken by Hidden Leaf ninjas. But this could work to our advantage. We can use them to track and capture the intruders."
Katsushiro's eyes lit up. "Long Lin-kun, what exactly are you planning?"
"From what I've observed, there are at least two Hidden Leaf ninjas infiltrating our village. I encountered one earlier—they are skilled in Fire Release and other ninjutsu, incredibly powerful, and they operate entirely from the shadows. Since they rescued the mother and daughter, however, we now have a clear target to pursue."
"The entire Hidden Grass Village is under lockdown. With a defenseless mother and child, it will be impossible for the intruders to escape quietly."
"That makes sense," Katsushiro nodded. "I watched helplessly as the Hyuga ninja took the mother and daughter. This time, I want to join the search."
Long Lin's eyes shone with admiration. Despite ongoing internal conflicts between Grass Root and Grass Flower, Katsushiro remained dedicated to protecting the village.
He hesitated as he noticed Katsushiro's bloodied chest. "But your injuries…"
Katsushiro waved him off weakly. "Don't underestimate me, Long Lin. Right now… I just want to catch the intruders and avenge my fallen comrades. Can you understand this feeling?"
Seeing his resolve, Long Lin could not refuse. "Very well. You will guard the village entrance and monitor all exits. The intruders will not dare attempt an open escape."
Long Lin had a detailed plan: exploit weak points in the guards, lay traps, and wait for the Hidden Leaf ninjas to make their move.
Katsushiro's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. "It feels good to contribute to the village. I will follow your strategy carefully."
---