Chapter 1: The Choice on the Night of Destiny (Part 1)

Uchiha: A simple and sole wish, buried in a scarlet bloody night. …………

A dark and windy night, a time for killing and arson.

On the empty street, only a dim streetlight illuminated the path; gray mist spread across the street, and the oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

This was the only essential path leading to the outside world. In the woods beside the road, Uchiha Nanshu was hiding at the top of the tree canopy. He wore tight black clothing and a standard-issue tactical vest. His resolute face met the cold night wind, and his black eyes stared down at the end of the road from his vantage point.

This was the outer perimeter of the Hyuga Clan's residential area; a cold wind blew through the quiet street, and the surroundings were overgrown with bushes and trees.

"It should be here soon."

Uchiha Nanshu hid in the shadows, restraining his aura, and stared at the street with a somewhat nervous expression.

Outsiders were not allowed to approach the Hyuga Clan's grounds at will, but Uchiha Nanshu was a member of the Konoha Police Force, and the Uchiha Police Force had the responsibility of patrolling and monitoring the village.

Uchiha Nanshu kept his body as low as possible, remaining motionless. If everything went smoothly next, he should be able to reap a handsome reward, and incidentally, he could also make a connection with the Hyuga Clan, which would bring great convenience to his future actions.

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

A sound of dense leaves rubbing together arose, and a black figure suddenly flashed under the dim street lamp.

The person arriving looked flustered and completely distraught; he kept looking back while running, as if something terrifying was about to chase him down. At the same time, this person was carrying a young girl who looked quite small on his shoulder, though the girl seemed to have been placed under a genjutsu.

"It's here!"

Uchiha Nanshu's muscles tensed all over, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he stared at his prey like a cheetah waiting for an opportunity.

"—Whoosh!"

And just at this moment, another swift figure rushed out from the side. The man was wearing casual home clothes and had arrived in pursuit, having overtaken the other. His hair was slightly disheveled, his clothes were also somewhat messy, and a few leaves were hanging on top of his head.

The long-haired middle-aged man could not care about the image he usually valued so much; anxious to save his daughter, he was already burning with impatience.

Hyuga Hiashi was both shocked and furious. He could not understand how anyone dared to kidnap a member of his Hyuga Clan in Konoha Village, and it was his own daughter, the daughter of the clan head at that. How did he break through the Hyuga Clan's internal guards and layers of watch? Thinking of this, Hyuga Hiashi's face became increasingly gloomy and ugly. This must be someone who betrayed the Hyuga Clan's intelligence, and that person must be very familiar with the Hyuga Clan.

This matter would not end here; what Hyuga Hiashi thought in his heart was merely a fleeting thought!

The next second, he had already blocked the kidnapper alone.

"Stop! You dare to break into the Hyuga grounds at night and forcibly abduct my clansman; do you really think you can get away?"

As Hyuga Hiashi spoke, he was already observing everything in all directions. Before his Byakugan, which had almost 360° of no blind spots, any enemy or accomplice was unable to hide.

After confirming there were no other enemies around, Hyuga Hiashi focused all his spirit on the enemy.

"Hyuga Hiashi, if you dare to continue approaching, don't blame me for being ruthless. If you don't want anything to happen to your daughter, obediently step aside!"

The kidnapper held his daughter tightly with one hand, while his other hand lightly pinched her neck; it would only take a little force to snap it.

"Release my daughter! Otherwise, you will surely die here!"

Hiashi stared at the kidnapper with a calm face, locking all his energy and spirit onto the enemy before him. His aura climbed continuously, and there was a faint sound of thunder in the air.

The killing intent, which surged like wave after wave, made the Cloud Ninja envoy's body and mind tremble slightly. As a veteran who had survived death in wars several times, he realized the gap between himself and the opponent just by a single look, without needing to fight.

But wanting him to hand over the hostage he had obtained with such difficulty? Impossible. For tonight's operation, the village had used almost all available manpower and resources, and two "Deep Water" agents had even paid the price of swallowing poison to commit suicide for this.

"The moment I let her go is the moment I die. Since you won't let me go anyway, why bother saying such things?"

The Cloud Ninja envoy twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a ferocious smile that only appears when one reaches a dead end. He did not fear death, but he did not want to give up just like that. Therefore, not only did he have no intention of letting go, but he also erupted with a sense of madness, ready to break the pot since it was already cracked.

"I thought I could successfully complete the mission tonight, but unfortunately, it fell short at the last moment!"

"But don't even think about getting anything from me!"

In that instant, the Cloud Ninja envoy widened his eyes, a ruthless light flashing in his gaze, and his right hand suddenly tightened, looking as if he intended to perish together.

"You dare!!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes widened as he let out an angry shout, and his chakra erupted suddenly!

—Boom!

A sharp, explosive sound echoed in the air.

Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward, shattering the solid ground. His surroundings turned into the ultimate dark night, and an Eight Trigrams Killing Formation rose beneath his feet, while he himself moved through the formation like a ghost.

In the blink of an eye, he crossed the twenty-plus meters between them, and then his figure flashed, appearing before the Cloud Ninja leader.

"Eight Trigrams: Earth Shrinking!"

Following that was—

An Eight Trigrams Palm filled with killing intent, carrying the sound of wind and thunder, striking toward the Cloud Ninja leader's heart.

Die!

The killing intent suppressed in Hyuga Hiashi's chest and abdomen erupted completely! …………

Uchiha Nanshu, hiding in the shadows, realized the timing had come.

At this moment, Uchiha Nanshu tensed all his muscles, and firelight shone!

"Blazing Flame Body Incineration!"

As soon as Nanshu finished speaking, a blaze rose from beneath his feet, covering his entire body like armor.

With a "Boom!", he transformed into an infinitely elongated red streak in an instant; because his speed was too fast, he even left a shining afterimage in his original spot.

—!?

Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan had almost 360° of no blind spots. He saw a figure as scorching as fire in the dark night, transforming into a whistle that tore through the atmosphere. The figure, like a meteor, swept into the gap between the two with high heat.

In an instant, a scorching storm swept in all directions!

"Who is it!"

At the same time, Hyuga Hiashi's palm strike had turned its target toward Uchiha Nanshu's face. This palm was imposing, with thick chakra condensed into the shape of a lion's head, striking out with decisive killing intent.

A strike of Eight Trigrams: Lion Lion Might contained the power to split gold and crack stone. Before the killing move arrived, wind and thunder roared, and the air emitted a tearing sound.

Uchiha Nanshu could feel Hyuga Hiashi's fury from this killing move. He dared not take the Hyuga Clan's close-quarters Gentle Fist head-on, as he was not immune to Pointed Finger attacks, so he decisively avoided its edge the moment the attack arrived.

The fierce palm wind brushed past his face, leaving a deep, bleeding cut.