In a quiet grove, the last rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves as Ye Wudi sat beside Hinata, whose cheeks were flushed a soft pink. The two of them had spent the entire afternoon poring over The Hero's Rebooted Life: Grasping the Future in a Flash! until darkness crept in.
Ye Wudi wore a satisfied smile.
"Wudi-niisan... it's already dark... should we... go back?" Hinata asked timidly.
"Sure. Let's go continue chasing the future."
"Mm! I'll do whatever you say, Wudi-niisan!"
As Hinata breathed warm air into her sore little hands, Ye Wudi's gaze suddenly sharpened.
Someone's here.
The thought had barely formed in his mind when three masked figures stepped out from the shadows.
They positioned themselves directly in the path back toward the Hyūga compound.
"Ye Wudi. Our superior wants a word. Come with us."
The moment they appeared, each drew a ninja blade, their eyes cold and unflinching as they stared down Wudi and Hinata.
Their message was clear: resist, and they'd strike without hesitation.
"Wudi-niisan, w-what do we do?" Hinata whispered, clinging to his sleeve.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Wudi gently ruffled her hair in reassurance.
Surprisingly, Hinata didn't faint at the affectionate gesture this time. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks in a show of stubborn determination, steeling herself.
She made up her mind right then.
If their target is Wudi-niisan, then if I get the chance... I'll push him away!
Wudi-niisan is always so kind to me. I can't let him be taken by these weird, scary people!
Come on, Hinata! You've got this! You... uuugh, Wudi-niisan is standing so close... I feel faint...
No! I can't pass out! But still... I'm really dizzy...
Ye Wudi had no idea what was going on inside Hinata's head.
His full attention was locked on the three masked figures ahead.
So... they're here for me?
It must be for the Shisui-style Body Flicker Technique I've been practicing.
As for their identities given their masks and the way they deliberately avoided Kakashi's surveillance, it had to be...
Root. Konoha's shadowy ops under the First Pot-kage Shimura Danzō.
Still, it wouldn't hurt to politely confirm.
Wudi's lips curled into a subtle smile. He stepped forward.
"Someone important wants to see me? Could it be... the great Pot-kage himself? Gosh, I'm trembling."
Pot-kage?
As in... the Kage who takes the blame?
What kind of dumb name is that?!
Ding!
Congratulations, Host. You've received 666 negative emotion points from Root Special Jōnin XXX!
Ding!
666 points from Root Chūnin XXX!
Ding!
666 points from Root Chūnin XXX!
Wudi's smile deepened.
Heh. So it really is the infamous First Pot-kage, Danzō's men.
With their identities confirmed, he was ready to begin his performance.
The two Root chūnin stepped forward, gripping their still-bloodstained blades. The air around them turned sharp with killing intent.
Hinata shrank back behind Wudi, peeking out with wide, blinking eyes.
So scary...
I have to be ready. If they attack, I'll throw myself at them and protect Wudi-niisan!
You can do this, Hinata!
Step. Step. Step.
"Captain, I said from the beginning it's better to deal with brats like this the direct way."
"Exactly. The orders were 'alive and intact,' but no one said anything about not injuring him."
The Special Jōnin nodded. "Fine. You two handle it. Make it quick."
Just as he finished speaking, Wudi spoke up with a perfectly timed jab.
"By the way... are you guys really Jōnin? 'Cause compared to Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei, you seem way weaker."
"..."
Kakashi the Copy Ninja, White Fang's son?
Might Guy the Blue Beast of Konoha?
Even those two were only Special Jōnin, technically. But if these masked Root agents had any sense, they'd never provoke monsters like them without overwhelming numbers.
"We..."
The Special Jōnin started to retort, but before he could finish
Hinata timidly raised her hand and mumbled in a tiny voice.
"Um... Wudi-niisan, I just checked with my Byakugan and... they haven't reached Jōnin level yet..."
Ding!
999 negative emotion points from Root Special Jōnin XXX!
999 from Root Chūnin XXX!
999 from Root Chūnin XXX!
Being mocked repeatedly by children literal children was too much.
The two Root chūnin lost it and lunged forward with a shout.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Just a couple bratty kids. Let's show them what happens when you disrespect Root!"
"Back off! My blade's been thirsting for action all day! I call dibs on the first cut!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
No! Wudi-niisan's in danger!
Seeing the two assassins charge at once, Hinata mustered all her courage and flung herself forward like a missile.
"Don't you dare hurt Wudi-niisan! Haaah!"
Unfortunately, her momentum was too strong. She missed the tackle completely and slammed headfirst into the dirt.
"Aaah-owwww!"
Wudi sighed and caught her by the ankle mid-fall.
That flying pounce of hers... adorable.
"I appreciate the spirit, Hinata, but... what exactly were you trying to do?"
"I-I just wanted to... protect Wudi-niisan..."
Her voice got softer with each word, until the last six were barely a whisper.
Still, he heard them all.
A warm, indulgent smile spread across his face as he reached out and gently stroked her hair.
"Don't worry. I've got this. We'll both make it home safe tonight."
"Mmhm! I believe in you, Wudi-niisan!"
"Good."
Step. Step.
Reassured that Hinata was okay, Ye Wudi finally turned to face the two Root chūnin who were now only a few steps away.
"You guys heard her, right? My girl doesn't want me to go with you."
"So this whole tea invitation from the Pot-kage today..."
His smile vanished. What remained was a calm, bone-deep gentleness.
"I'll have to decline."
"You get the message?"