Escape from Konoha.

Ayane didn't answer, but just looked up at him and gave him a gentle smile, showing no dissatisfaction with Fuyuma's stiff attitude.

Rather, she always demanded perfection of herself in terms of hospitality etiquette.

"After all, you and I are both guards of Lord Hiashi, so we should try to avoid such dereliction of duty."

"However, I have already asked Lord Hiashi for leave, and Lord Hiashi has agreed."

"That's not the problem."

"This is a permission order from the future clan leader. Isn't it the highest priority in the clan?"

Ayane smiled and asked in return.

Silence fell during the winter.

"Fuyuu-senpai, you should know that from now on, it will be Lord Hiashi who will lead the Hyuga clan, not those elders. To be honest, they should retire and live a peaceful life. After all, they have worked hard for the clan their whole lives, and it is time for them to enjoy their retirement."

Ayane walked to Fuyuma's side, then stopped, and after saying that, added:

"I think I've caught a bit of a cold recently. Going out to buy some cold medicine shouldn't be a problem, right? This is also so that I can better protect Lord Hiashi."

Ayane specifically took out the cold medicine she had bought.

Dongjian lowered his head slightly and said, "I'm sorry, I was rude."

"No, Fuyuma-senpai, who is loyal to his duty, has always been the goal I want to surpass. Please don't take my words to heart, senpai is a qualified Hyuga ninja."

Despite Ayane's praise, Fuyuma felt that there was something more to Ayane's words, but he couldn't figure out what she was trying to say.

Because he knew that this woman's personality was completely out of step with the entire Hyuga clan.

Why does Lord Hiashi treat her so specially?

He knew that Ayane had followed Hiashi earlier than him, but their relationship was not ambiguous at all; it was merely a superior-subordinate relationship.

I don't understand.

As the sun began to set, it was evening.

Ayane left work on time.

While ostensibly Hiashi's bodyguard, his job was incredibly boring, and within the Hyuga clan, there was virtually no chance of him encountering any assassination attempts. Rather, it was more about bolstering the prestige of Hiashi, the future clan leader.

It would be more accurate to call them tools and weapons.

Dong Jian stayed behind because it was his night shift today.

Shortly after Ayane left, he came to Hiashi's side and advised the future head of the Hyuga clan, "Lord Hiashi, if I may be so bold, you have been too lenient with Ayane."

"Is this what the elders want?"

Hiashi asked, his expression unchanged.

"That's not the case. It's just that I personally feel that Ayane... is very dangerous."

During the winter, they were indeed considering the needs of the Japanese.

Because this is the future head of the Hyuga clan, as a member of a branch family, he should naturally consider the safety of his master.

"You're overthinking it. Even if something unexpected happens, you're still here, aren't you?"

This is what Japan said.

Dongjian could only sigh.

No matter how much persuasion I give, I can't change anything.

Regardless, it's a good thing that the clan leader has his own considerations.

Fuyuma also agrees with what Hiashi said.

He had indeed been too cautious. In terms of strength, Fuyuma was absolutely confident that he could suppress Ayane, who had only recently become a Jonin.

Since I have absolute military power, I can just restrict her when she makes any mistakes.

"Now that's the case, Lord Hiashi will have nothing to say," Fuyuma thought to himself.

◎

"You're back, Ayane. How was work today?"

Her mother had already prepared dinner, having timed it precisely for Ayane's return.

"It's alright, nothing different from usual."

Ayane replied with a smile.

Go to the kitchen to wash your hands and sit down to eat with your mother.

"Lord Hiashi is an outstanding person. You must protect Lord Hiashi's safety. He is the hope of our Hyuga clan."

Ayane simply smiled and nodded in response to her mother's earnest words, indicating that she understood.

Anyway, the hope of the family... every patriarch is like that, right?

That's a bit too much hope.

However, Ayane didn't expect her mother to give her any decent advice.

I guess she has long forgotten what freedom felt like before she was carved into the image of a caged bird.

But Ayane will not forget.

And as time went on, this longing grew deeper and deeper, becoming an inescapable addiction.

After dinner, Ayane took the initiative to do the housework, helping to wash the dishes. Whether as a guard or a mother's daughter, she was an impeccable person in the eyes of outsiders.

After finishing her chores, Ayane returned to her room alone.

The room contained only a sleeping mat, a lamp, and an alarm clock; there was no other furniture.

Only enough emptiness could give her a sliver of freedom.

She sat cross-legged on the floor and took out the cold medicine she had 'bought' in the afternoon.

It was the medicine that Shiraishi gave her.

It is no different from ordinary cold medicine, but its effects are completely different.

This drug was developed to suppress the activation of the Caged Bird Seal.

There are a total of twelve blue capsules.

Each capsule can suppress the Caged Bird Seal for four hours.

It can remain unrestricted by caged birds for forty-eight hours.

The medicine box also included an instruction manual, which was a standard instruction manual for cold medicine.

Ayane formed hand seals, using chakra to unlock the true contents of the paper, and finally touched the paper with one finger to input natural energy.

The text in the instruction manual began to change, and the order was shuffled and then rearranged.

"A technique for temporary prevention of caged birds?"

This describes a technique for temporarily confining caged birds.

This technique can be set in your own brain. When the caged bird is activated, this technique will be triggered. During the duration of the technique, a protective layer will automatically form in the brain, greatly reducing the pain and destructive power caused by the caged bird's activation.

"You're still as meticulous as ever, Shiraishi-kun."

Ayane smiled slightly.

Given the possibility of an accident, she may have died in agony before she could take the blue capsule, as the Bird in the Cage curse would have restricted her brain nerves.

This technique is generated in the brain's nerves, and while it cannot fundamentally resolve the Caged Bird Seal, it can significantly reduce the power of the Caged Bird.

At that time, taking the blue capsule would allow one to remain unaffected by the Caged Bird Seal for forty-eight hours.

At that time, all that's needed is to find Shiraishi to perform the surgery to remove the caged bird.

The method of safely evacuating from Konoha was not difficult for them; they had already secretly practiced it many times before.

But Ayane felt that such an accident was unlikely to happen.

Because the main family had no reason to harm her, a loyal branch family ninja.

We use this thing just in case.

"Do we really have to wait any longer? I wish it would come soon, the Third Shinobi World War..."

Ayane, who originally had no interest in war, began to look forward to it coming sooner.

Hopefully, the Third Kazekage won't disappoint them.

Let's drag Konoha into the quagmire of war.

Chapter 84 The Handling of Hyuga

Hyuga Kajin has disappeared.

Two guards accompanying the family have gone missing.

In the eyes of the Hyuga clan, this was definitely not something that could be easily dismissed.

This incident eventually aroused suspicion among the elders of the Hyuga main family.

Unfortunately, no matter how they investigated and searched for surviving witnesses from the cruise ship that day, they only got one answer—

Three suspected Hyuga clan ninjas were traveling on a cruise ship from the Land of Rainbows to the port of the Land of Fire when they were attacked by ninjas using Water Release techniques.

Their whereabouts are currently unknown, and there has been no news of them.

They don't even know if they're alive or dead.

That's the worst thing.

The death of the two branch family guards was not a particularly important matter. Just like Hyuga Shingo before, even if they were missing, the enemy would not be able to obtain the Byakugan.

There is only one way to free a caged bird—death.

However, after death, the Caged Bird will destroy the brain nerves and eyes of the branch family ninja, leaving the enemy with nothing of value.

Their disappearance is at most regrettable, but it doesn't make one feel that things have reached an irreversible point.

However, the disappearance of a ninja from the main clan is no small matter.