Hinata Yota was escorted away by two Hyuga branch family members. One reason for letting them leave was that I didn't want him to die too quickly.
Another reason was that Kawaki Aoba had planted a metaphorical time bomb within the Hyuga clan—one he could detonate at will.
Kawaki Aoba was particularly satisfied with Hinata Yota's cooperation. He had already tested the Caged Bird Seal on the two branch members, and the results were promising.
The Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal has three activation methods. The first is localized torture, causing excruciating pain through the seal. Once activated, the affected branch member experiences agony worse than death.
The second is remote execution. By targeting the seal engraved on the forehead, it destroys the brain regardless of the victim's distance. Even if the person dies, as long as their body remains intact, their brain will be obliterated by the seal's activation.
The third, and most terrifying, is mass execution. Take the Third Elder's lineage as an example—should he choose to activate the group seal, all branch family members bearing the mark within his faction would simultaneously suffer neural destruction.
Such a sinister control mechanism is unique in the shinobi world.
It's clear that the Hyuga clan has historically been merciless toward their own blood.
Well—maybe that's inaccurate. The main family has never really seen the branch family as equals to begin with.
After sending the three away, Kawaki Aoba turned his attention back to Uchiha Fugaku. The report was favorable: Fugaku had returned to the Konoha camp and briefed both the Uchiha clan and other shinobi about what they had encountered.
He left out one detail: that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, he did report the appearance of a mysterious figure named Smoker.
Though he behaved normally on the surface, those familiar with him could tell—Fugaku was not mentally stable.
Afterward, Kawaki Aoba wandered the battlefield a few more times, eliminating several Kirigakure ninjas, and then used Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Konoha.
The following days were unusually peaceful. Kawaki Aoba neither trained nor assumed his "Smoker" persona to stir up trouble.
But despite his inactivity, the fallout from the battlefield encounter rippled far.
Fugaku's mention of Smoker during his debrief caught the immediate attention of Konoha's ruling council—the Konoha Elders, also nicknamed the "Konoha F4."
In the meantime, Konoha's spies returned from the Land of Earth with valuable intel. In addition to confirming the resurrection and control of the Third Raikage, they also brought back troubling details about "Smoker."
Name: Bai Yun (questionable alias)
Abilities: Smoke-type Kekkei Genkai, forbidden techniques capable of resurrecting and controlling the dead, aerial mobility, and ninjutsu that can manipulate gravity—possibly linked to Iwagakure's Super Lightweight Boulder Technique.
Evaluation: Extremely dangerous. Affiliation unknown. Intentions unclear.
Bounty (underground): 70 million ryō, and rising—nearing the level of the Five Kage.
A man capable of casually lifting mountains and obliterating battlefields is enough to keep Hiruzen Sarutobi—and the other Kage—awake at night.
But the greatest unknown remained: Where did he come from? What was his goal? Where is he now?
It was deeply unsettling.
Meanwhile, Kawaki Aoba, unaware of how many strands of hair the Konoha leadership had lost from stress, was once again on his way to the Yūhi residence.
"Eh? Kurenai, what are you looking at so intently? You didn't even notice I came in."
The moment he entered, Kawaki Aoba saw Yūhi Kurenai sitting by a low table, focused on a few pieces of paper.
"Aoba, perfect timing. Come take a look. This is our bounty."
Kurenai looked up and waved him over.
"Bounty?"
Aoba blinked. Since when did bounty posters—something associated with pirates—exist in the ninja world?
Curious, Kawaki Aoba approached and used Observation Haki to glance at the documents. He immediately understood. These were underground bounty posters—the kind issued by secret black market exchanges, not the official village systems.
This wasn't unheard of. In the original records, even Sarutobi Asuma had a bounty of 35 million ryō.
Don't underestimate 35 million. That sum could finance dozens of S-rank missions.
In Asuma's case, the bounty wasn't just for his combat skills—it was boosted by his status as the Hokage's son. A regular Jōnin without such clout might only attract 10 million ryō, or none at all during peacetime.
But the poster Kurenai held was on another level entirely.
Name: Kawaki Aoba (Konohagakure Jōnin)
Bounty: 50 million ryō
Remarks: Highly dangerous. Possesses flying summon beast.
Kawaki Aoba: "…"
Based on his exposed strength alone, this bounty might seem exaggerated. But the real reason was far more complicated.
Ever since rumors spread that Kawaki Aoba was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a bold move. Rather than deny it, he confirmed it publicly.
It was a deliberate smokescreen, unanimously approved by the Konoha Council. They hoped to protect Uzumaki Kushina, the real Jinchūriki, by allowing Aoba to become a decoy.
Given Aoba's feats—like capturing two Tailed Beasts from Iwagakure alive—the 50 million bounty was no longer surprising.
As for his recent Jōnin promotion? That had just happened two days earlier—the very same day Konoha declared him the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to the world.
However, compared to his prominent bounty, the bounties of the other three members of the team were a bit shabby.
Name: Yuhi Shinkurenai (Konoha Jonin)
Bounty: 10 million ryō
Remarks: A Genjutsu specialist with surprising Taijutsu skills.
---
Name: Sarutobi Asuma (Konoha Jonin)
Bounty: 15 million ryō
Remarks: The son of the Third Hokage, wielder of Chakra Blades and Fire Release techniques.
---
Name: Yuhi Kurenai (Konoha Tokubetsu Jonin)
Bounty: 3 million ryō
Remarks: Genjutsu user and member of a renowned Konoha team.
Looking at it this way, Kurenai seemed like the most underappreciated, virtually blacked out as a marginal figure.
But this wasn't without reason. On the battlefield, most who fell to Kurenai's Genjutsu died without ever seeing their assailant's face. Survivors only assumed the attacker was the elite Jonin Yuhi Kurenai, further cloaking her identity in mystery.
---
Minato's Hardcore Battle Plan
"Hey, did you hear? Our village is preparing for a final decisive battle with Sunagakure."
"Yeah, I heard the Hokage already recalled the Yellow Flash from the Kumogakure front lines."
"They say the Yellow Flash is terrifying. On the battlefield, enemies flee at the mere mention of his name. I heard the Cloud-nin even allow mission abandonment if someone encounters him."
"The last person who inspired that kind of fear was the White Fang of Konoha."
"Bah! Don't bring that coward up—how can you compare him to the Yellow Flash?"
"Wait, what about Lord Orochimaru? Wasn't he active at the start of the war? Why haven't we heard anything lately?"
"...Orochimaru's currently commanding the Wind Country front. He's holding the line until Minato arrives."
"I also heard that some members of the old 'Legendary Team' are there. Isn't there a Jonin named Kawaki Aoba who captured two high-level enemies in the Earth Country?"
Everywhere Kawaki Aoba went, he heard people discussing the war. Even at the market, the vegetable seller was talking about him—without realizing the person they were discussing was standing right beside them.
Despite being frustrating, Kawaki Aoba understood it was part of the village's strategy: raising morale and building momentum for Minato. The village's leadership wasn't just underestimating the Sand—they weren't even treating them like a real threat.
---
A few days later, Minato returned to Konoha, having finally wrapped up the Kumogakure front.
With Konoha's golden boy back, the response was swift—an elite force of 2,000 ninja was assembled almost overnight.
Unlike the original wartime desperation, when even academy students were rushed to the front lines, this time Konoha could afford to be choosy—thanks to Kawaki Aoba. His intervention had stabilized the Grass Country front, turning what should've been a costly meat grinder into the safest zone of the war. Resources were saved, and elite ninja were now available for redeployment.
---
At dawn the next day, Kawaki Aoba arrived at Konoha's western gate and reunited with Minato.
Gone was the sunny youth from before. Minato's face showed signs of exhaustion, haggard from prolonged combat and command. Despite Hiruzen Sarutobi's efforts to build him up as a legend, Minato's war record spoke for itself.
He barely had time to greet Aoba before being pulled aside by Nara Shikaku, also recalled from the front.
Although 2,000 ninja might seem few, even the lowest ranked among them were battlefield-promoted Chunin. It took only two days to reach the Gobi Desert in Wind Country.
There, they finally met Orochimaru.
---
"Minato-kun, you look tired," Orochimaru said, his voice as cold as ever.
Orochimaru was not known for warm greetings—especially toward a junior whose rising star now overshadowed his own.
Minato winced. He didn't know the details, but he could guess Orochimaru's resentment. While Minato had been given full support on the Kumogakure front, Orochimaru had been left to scrape by on limited supplies and irregular troops.
Even Jiraiya had been reassigned from his side, leaving Orochimaru to fend off Suna's forces nearly alone.
At one point, the Sand had almost pushed the front into the Land of Rivers. If not for Orochimaru's deal with Manda—promising 500 human sacrifices in exchange for aid—the losses would have been catastrophic.
After ordering the lower-ranked troops to expand the camp, Orochimaru invited the Jonin into his command tent. Kawaki Aoba joined them.
Inside, Orochimaru laid out the enemy's current strength:
Sunagakure had deployed its full might—Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Pakura of the Blaze Release, Chiyo, and Ebizo were all on the field.
Everyone was stunned. Holding the line against four Kage-level threats with an underpowered force was nothing short of a miracle.
Yet Orochimaru downplayed his role:
"Until you arrived," he said, "the main reason we held was that Suna hadn't seen any significant victories from other fronts. They know that even a small win here would be erased the moment Konoha's elite forces arrive."
As Orochimaru said this, his eyes swept over Minato's unit meaningfully.
Humble though he sounded, no one present underestimated him. The fact remained: he had held the line with fewer than 3,000 irregular troops—against an army of elites.
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