"You... you stay back!"
"I'm warning you, I've got people behind me! If you're not careful, they'll make you wish you'd never been born!"
Pressed step by step against the barrier by that elite Root operative, Ye Wudi's back was to the wall.
He deliberately put on a panicked face, and spoke up in "desperate urgency."
"Eeeeh…"
Just then, the girl nestled in his arms Hinata reached out her small hands and rubbed her rosy, still-flushed cheeks, sleepily wiping at her eyes.
"Wudi-nii… don't fly anymore… let's go… home-home…"
Having thought they'd already escaped danger, Hinata's eyes now widened into a little 'O' as she looked around.
She froze on the spot.
What... what's going on?
Why was there a barrier behind Wudi-nii?
And what was with that guy on the ground, twitching and foaming at the mouth?
And the scary masked man in front of them…
Just as Hinata finally began taking in her surroundings, Ye Wudi, without hesitation, tightened his grip around her right in front of everyone watching.
A moment later, his expression turned solemn, grief-stricken even, and he shouted loudly at the elite Root ninja before him.
"Hinata! No matter what happens, I won't let them take you!"
"You bastards! If you want Hinata, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"
Wudi-nii... he's… willing to go that far for me…
Hinata's heart warmed at the sight of Ye Wudi holding her protectively like that.
Then, as if making a great decision, she suddenly balled up her tiny fists and, right in front of everyone, waved them with an exaggeratedly "fierce" expression at the elite Root operative.
"Stop right there! Or else I'll… I'll use my Byakugan and… and punch you!"
"…"
Hyuga Clan Princess… do you really think that face is going to scare anyone?
To someone who doesn't know better, you just look like you're trying to be cute.
You're talking about activating your Byakugan, and yet you're just standing there making big googly eyes at me.
You think I haven't seen a Byakugan before? You little house-doll, who are you trying to fool?
And as for you, brat
Who said anything about taking Hyuga's princess? We came here for you, for that Shunshin no Jutsu technique you're hiding!
Didn't we make that perfectly clear just now?
So what's with this sudden dramatic act, pretending like you don't know anything?
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 999 points of negative emotion from the Root elite jōnin!
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received…
Even though the Root ninja was deeply confused by Ye Wudi's current behavior, he knew the mission came first. Without another word, he stepped forward again.
In full view of everyone, he raised his ninja blade and swung aiming to strike Ye Wudi with the back of the blade.
"You're too slippery for your own good, kid. Just to be safe, let's knock you out for a bit!"
"Hinata!"
"Wudi-nii!"
"…"
But at the moment the Root operative launched his attack, he failed to notice the figures standing atop a nearby rooftop.
Hyuga Hiashi… and the upper-level jōnin of the Hyuga Clan!
"Clan Head, are we really going to make a move? Those men appear to be from the Root division, if we…"
One of the Hyuga elders asked nervously, his face tense.
Though he certainly desired Ye Wudi's Shunshin no Jutsu, they still hadn't confirmed whether he truly possessed it.
To offend Root over an unverified technique that was a terrible bargain no matter how you looked at it.
Even if Ye Wudi's willingness to protect Hinata in a life-or-death situation had greatly impressed them… as an elder of the Hyuga Clan, his duty was to prioritize the clan's interests.
But before he could finish rationalizing that thought, Hiashi spoke calmly.
"That boy's Shunshin no Jutsu does come from Uchiha Shisui. That much is already confirmed."
"Elder. Prepare the men. No one lays a hand on the Hyuga Clan's future son-in-law not without facing the consequences."
What!?
He really did inherit Uchiha Shisui's Shunshin no Jutsu?
The elder's eyes widened at once, and he suddenly stood straighter, looking as if he'd just been injected with pure adrenaline.
He had always appreciated Ye Wudi from the start, and today the boy hadn't let him down.
No matter what, they couldn't let anything happen to him!
"The Clan Head is right! The son-in-law of the Hyuga Clan won't be bullied by a few Root dogs!"
"You! You lot! Come with me! Let's chop those so-called 'Root' bastards into sashimi!"
To hell with it what's the big deal about killing a few Root ninja? At worst, they're just elite jōnin.
Once they're dead, we'll do as Hiashi said: frame it all on a rival hidden village and pin the blame.
Compared to the value of Uchiha Shisui's Shunshin no Jutsu, this little bit of risk is nothing. The Hyuga Clan will gladly take that gamble!
And once we take out all the witnesses who's left to say what really happened?
Besides, you came to our doorstep swinging weapons. So what if we chopped you up in return?
As for that earlier talk about "clan interests"… pfft.
Did I say that? I don't remember saying that!
"Wudi! Hinata! Don't be afraid, the elder's here!"
"We're here, son-in-law! Don't worry, princess!"
In front of everyone, the Hyuga jōnin, led by the elder, charged in like a tidal wave.
Meanwhile, a three-man squad from the Anbu, under Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, also arrived… though clearly only for show.
Seeing this, the four Root ninja maintaining the barrier shouted anxiously.
"Quick, knock that kid out and bring him back to the boss!"
"Only if you get him can we drop the barrier and cover your escape!"
"I know that already!"
Ye Wudi's attacker, still inches away, was growing more frantic by the second.
Luckily, his blade was now less than a centimeter from Ye Wudi's head. Just one more second and
"Wha- where'd he go!?"
Just as the Hyuga Clan charged in like thunder, the Anbu made their token appearance, and the Root thought their mission was almost complete…
Ye Wudi vanished from right in front of the elite operative.
Or more precisely just before he could be struck, Ye Wudi dropped his entire body backwards and plunged toward the street below!
Everyone every last ninja watching wore an expression of pure disbelief, like they'd seen a ghost.
The barrier… had vanished?
And the Root ninja… their faces were darker than coal.
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 999 points of negative emotion from the Root elite jōnin!
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received 999 points of negative emotion from the Root elite jōnin!
Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have received…
---------------------------------------
Want more chapters?
Help us reach 50 Power Stones and an extra chapter will be released as a thank you for your support.
If you're enjoying the story and want to see more, consider leaving a review or comment. Your feedback means a lot and helps the story grow.
Thank you for reading and supporting!