The Seal

The previous afternoon…

At the gates of a small village near the border of the Hidden Grass and the land of fire…

Kurenai and her team stood in front of an old man opposite to the gates of the village.

"Thank you for escorting me," The old man said with a smile.

"With this, our mission concludes here," Kurenai smiled.

"Take care of yourself old man," Kiba said.

*Bark*

Akamaru barked in a friendly tone towards the man from the top of Kiba's head.

Following which, Hinata, Kiba, and Shino bowed.

"We'll be taking our leave," Kurenai said as she turned back along with her team to go back.

(Whoosh!)

Five ninjas wholly covered in black clothes appeared.

"What?" The entire team was surprised as they faced the ninjas in front of them.

(Whoosh!)

*sh!*

Another ninja appeared and swiftly grabbed Hinata, as he covered her mouth with a white cloth.

("What's going on…?") Shino and Kiba were shocked especially Hinata who was caught by surprise since she could not react immediately even after sensing his arrival within her range of vision.

This was also due to the fact that she was yet to experience the difference between herself and experienced ninjas like the ones that had appeared.

Kiba's and Akamaru's noses couldn't pick up their arrival, nor could Shino's bugs.

"Hinata!" Kurenai called out.

"MMmmmmm!!!!!" Hinata tried to scream; however, her eyes rolled up upon losing consciousness completely.

Hinata collapsed in the arms of the ninja who was holding onto her.

"Leave Hinata alone," Kiba growled at the man as he reached into his pocket.

"Kiba, wait!" Kurenai called out.

Kiba looked at Kurenai only to see her was staring in the direction of the old man whom they had escorted.

"Hehe," The old man grinned.

"Old Man!"

"You…" Kiba was about to charge only to see Shino place his hand in front of Kiba.

"What are you doing?" Kiba asked.

"Look at his hand," Shino said.

"Huh?" Kiba looked at the old man's hand to see an olive green colored incense stick in his hand which was slowly letting out a tiny stream of smoke.

("I see…")

("That's why we couldn't get a whiff out of them…") Kiba understood.

Kurenai looked at the old man,

"What's your purpose for doing this?" Kurenai asked in anger as she brought out a kunai.

"I'm sorry Yūhi-san,"

"It's nothing personal really,"

"I'm only doing this for a reward," The old man stated calmly.

"Reward?" Kurenai asked.

"From the Grass village," The man said.

"The grass?" Kurenai had a question mark.

(Whoosh!) The man with Hinata in tow landed next to the old man, following which the remaining five ninjas closed in a bit on the group.

"Yes,"

"Apparently, your village has been inhabiting a girl from their village without permission,"

"This girl also happens to be someone very important to them," The old man explained.

"Why take Hinata?" Kurenai asked.

"The Grass knows that the Leaf is too strong a force to negotiate terms with,"

"So they wanna go for a hostage exchange," The old man explained.

Kurenai frowned.

"I understand your intentions,"

"However, as a jōnin of their team,"

"It is my responsibility to bring her back safely," Kurenai said as her gaze became firm accompanied by a silently rising battle intent.

"Why make this hard?" The old man asked.

Kurenai looked at Kiba and Shino.

"Both of you,"

"Go to the village and request for backup,"

"I'll hold them off," Kurenai said as she held up a hand seal.

"Resistance is futile!" The ninja who stood in front of the other four announced.

"Sensei!" Kiba called out.

"Kiba!"

"Don't question my orders!" Kurenai argued.

"Go!" The ninja in the front of the four ordered.

(Whoosh!) The four ninjas behind him charge to the front.

Kurenai brought her hands together…

Tiger → Boar → Tiger → Horse → Ox

< Genjutsu - Flower Petal Escape! >

Kurenai's body dissolved into flower petals which rushed towards the four.

"Let's go!" Kiba gritted his teeth in anger.

*Bark* Akamaru nodded.

"Mm!" Shino also nodded following which the three made their way out.

"You're not getting…" "STOP!"

Just as the fifth ninja was about to chase after the duo, a voice stopped him.

The ninja looked towards the old man in the back.

"It's just a couple of brats,"

"We need them to deliver our message after all…" The old man smiled.

"You'll pay for this!" Kurenai growled.

(Whoosh!) The ninja ran towards the other four.

"No," Kurenai let out a whelp, but it was too late.

*Sh!* The man injected some chakra into one of the four to wake him up.

"THIS BITCH!" The man shouted.

Kurenai immediately escaped in the opposite direction.

"Chase after her,"

"I'll wake the others," The ninja in the lead said.

"Got it," The other ninja nodded and chased in the direction of Kurenai.

The Old Man and the ninja who was holding on to Hinata proceeded to the Hidden Grass Village.

…

That Evening…

The duo along with Hinata and arrived at a meeting spot within a building situated in the Hidden Grass Village.

Two people were in the room waiting patiently as they stared at the old man and the ninja appear with Hinata in his hands.

"Have you drugged the girl with that poison?" One of the two asked.

"Motayasu-san,"

"We have done as per your request," The Ninja reported as he placed Hinata onto the floor.

"Poison?" The old man asked.

"Indeed,"

"It's a poison that will keep her in this state for days till she dies, unless… we provide the antidote of course," Motayasu said.

"I see…" The old man nodded.

"Motayasu-sama," The man beside called.

"What is it?"

"Mashiro," Motayasu asked.

"Can you take a look at this," The man asked as he lifted Hinata's left arm to show her ring finger which had Naruto's Flying Thunder Mark.

"THIS!" Motayasu woke up in alarm.

"What is it?" The Old Man asked.

"Nothing," The man said as he looked towards Mashiro.

"Get council member Takeuchi here,"

"IMMEDIATELY!" Motayasu ordered.

"At once!" Mashiro ran out of the room.

…

(BANG!)

"What is it?" Takeuchi opened the door.

"Takeuchi,"

"This may be more troublesome than we thought," Motayasu said as he showed Hinata's ring finger.

"IMPOSSIBLE," Takeuchi squealed.

"??" The Old man stared silently.

"No way,"

"The yellow flash died over 12 years ago…" Takeuchi grabbed his hair in disbelief.

"True…" Motayasu murmured.

"The Yellow Flash?" The Old Man asked.

"It's a taboo incident in our Grass Village," Takeuchi explained.

"During the third ninja war, Out of the two bridges of our village the Kannabi and the Tenchi bridge, the Kannabi bridge was used as a supply route for the Hidden Stone,"

"A weak village like ours was also inevitably pulled into the war on to Hidden Stone's side," Takeuchi paused.

"At that time, many of our ninjas were stationed amongst the thousand-strong armies of the Hidden Stone, only to be taken down single-handedly by the Yellow Flash of the leaf," Motyasu explained.

"Yellow Flash, as in a group?" The Old man asked since he was not well educated in Ninja matters.

"As a group?"

"It would be okay if that were the case,"

"But the yellow flash was a 22-year-old at that time,"

"He alone took down thousands," Takeuchi explained.

The Old Man's eyes went wide,

"ONE MAN TAKING DOWN A THOUSAND?" The Old Man was scared out of his wits.

"However he's supposed to be dead, Right?" The Old Man asked.

"Or so we thought until this one…" Takeuchi stared at Hinata's hand.

Motayasu looked at Takeuchi,

"What's the plan?" Motayasu asked.

"Tie her up to a chair and have four ninjas within 5 feet range around her,"

"Also set up a wire trap to instantly kill her," Takeuchi said.

"Do you still plan to go with this?"

"Is that other girl that important?" Motayasu asked.

"No, She is not that important compared to this,"

"This is a chance for revenge,"

"The seal might not disappear forever, but it is also not possible for the girl to be born before his death," Takeuchi said.

"So, in other words, there is a 1% possibility that he might be alive, or there might be nothing behind this mark at all,"

"However there is one more final possibility," Takeuchi paused.

"The son of the Yellow Flash you mean," Motayasu filled in.

"Indeed," Takeuchi nodded.

"But, The yellow flash never had a kid," Motayasu said.

Takeuchi stepped out the door,

"it doesn't matter,"

"Handle the preparations,"

"We are going to change the terms of negotiation," Takeuchi said as he walked away.

…

Takeuchi penned a letter, following which he handed it over to the feudal lord for a final review.

The feudal lord nodded in approval after reading the contents.

Takeuchi then handed it over to the messenger team who then sent the letter on a hawk.

…

That night Kurenai used every trick possible to evade the ninjas only to be captured a few hours later.

———————————

Present Day, Hidden Leaf Village, Hokage Office…

(Whoosh!)

Minato teleported along with Naruto into the Hokage's Office room.

"Naruto," Karin called out upon seeing Naruto arrive.

Naruto turned around to see Karin, Kiba and Shino stand around with Asuma standing beside Hiruzen.

"What happened old man?" Naruto asked.

"Naruto,"

"Hinata…"

"has been…"

"Kidnapped," Hiruzen said.

"WHAT?" Naruto's eyes widened.

"Old Man,"

"What happened?" Naruto asked quickly.

"WHAT THE HELL!!!" Kiba growled in anger.

"…" Naruto stared at Kiba.

"Lord Third,"

"Stop wasting our time. We have to save Sensei and Hinata,"

"Why call Naruto?"

"As a Chūnin, is he capable of saving them?" Kiba asked.

"Kiba," Shino put a hand over Kiba's shoulder.

"Calm Down," Shino said.

"Kiba-kun,"

"Naruto-kun here is the jōnin in-charge of this mission," Hiruzen said.

"WHAT?" Kiba felt the world spin around him.

Naruto looked at Hiruzen then at Asuma and Karin who were also in the room and finally his father.

("Surely there is something more to this…") Naruto thought as he looked at Hiruzen.

"Old Man,"

"What are you not telling?" Naruto asked.

Hiruzen beckoned Naruto to come over to his side.

Naruto then appeared beside Asuma and Hiruzen.

Hiruzen pointed to the letter that was on his desk.

Naruto read across the letter with his frown deepening at every line.

("The nerve…") Naruto clenched his fists upon reading the last line.

——————————

Next time on NRe - Tenchi Bridge!