chap 5: Everything Changes

"Alright, Team 4 I've got a new mission for you today." Minato said looking at the three genin and sensei in front of his desk, wearing his headband around his forehead with his blonde hair spiking over it, his sideburns reaching his chin, wearing a dark blue ninja outfit with a jonin flak jacket overtop with his hokage cloak overtop that.

"Alright! Let's do this lord hokage." Geikan said excited, his black hair curled over his headband on his forehead, wearing a purple longsleeve shirt with a large collar, the uchiha logo on both of his upper arms, with tan shorts, his shuriken holster on his left thigh with his kunai pouch on his back waist wearing blue zori on his feet. His fist in front of his chin in excitement and Minato hummed, before Geikan groaned from the hit he took from Anita

"Focus you idiot, this is important." She said looking forwards, her yellow hair was in a half up ponytail secured with a purple bow the rest of the hair falling to her shoulders, the undercut hidden by the style. Her headband around her neck loosely. Wearing an auburn sleeveless romper with halter style top. Wearing a cropped forest green hoodie overtop, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist sitting on the black belt. Wearing auburn fingerless gloves on her hands, with black zori on her feet. her orange eyes trailing towards the boy,

"Come on Hinami, back me up here..." Geikan said and the girl looked over before putting her hands up in surrender,

"We should probably hear what the mission is for." She pointed out, her black hair in a plait braid behind her head, with her headband around her forehead, her bangs falling over her headband, wearing a sky blue kimono style top with a black belt and black shorts wearing a tan poncho overtop sitting on her shoulders, wearing sky blue thigh-high fabric going into her white zori, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh and a kunai pouch on her back waist,

"Focus you three." Airu said from behind them, her headband around her forehead wearing a dark blue ninja outfit with a jonin flak jacket overtop, wearing her black hair behind her head in a low ponytail, the remaining hair falling to her knees. her shuriken holster on her left thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist.

"Yes sensei, sorry sir." they said, bowing to Minato who hummed in amusement, before lifting up the offered job.

"Your team has been doing excellent in your C rank assignments, I have a B rank mission for you. Guarding a traveling caravan." Minato said reading the flyer, it was a basic request, except for the fact that ninja had been targeting these people, they requested help.

"Awesome!" Geikan said, causing all eyes to swerve towards him, the boy going a light shade of pink

"Well, uh... not for them... I just.. Um... am happy to have another mission... I'm gonna stop talking now." Geikan said, Hinami laughing behind her hand as Airu grabbed the offered flier, reading it over as well,

"We'll get this done." She said and Minato nodded, dismissing the team from the office, Airu telling them to get their things together and meet at the training grounds in 10 minutes. Which they did,

"You got another mission, elder sister?" Ikumi asked as Hinami packed a bag for her travels, the girl turned to address the 6 year old, as she nodded. Ikumi had half brown half white hair sitting around his head, wearing a light blue poncho with the senju clan symbol on the front paired with a white shirt and black pants. His light brown pupiless eyes looking towards Hinami.

"Yeah, sorry bud, I'm gonna guard some people. I'll be back before you know it." Hinami said, placing a hand on his head, her walls of her room held photos of her and her friends, including her team. The teams photo saw Hinami in the middle with Anita and Geikan on either side, Airu behind her, her hands on Anita's and Geikan's shoulders. Geikan smiling wide as he pointed to his headband around his forehead, Anita had her body turned slightly to the side with her arms crossed looking towards Geikan with a small smirk. Hinami had her arms crossed in front of her loosely, grinning at the camera. All were wearing their ninja attire. The clouds seen in the sky behind them, as they stood on the training grounds. Another photo she had was of her and each of the sand siblings as well as a photo of all of them together alongside Kiyoka and Naruto. In her photo with Sana, the two hugged eachother lightly, looking towards the camera, in Gaara's she hugged the boy who looked towards the camera shyly. With Kankuro she was on the boys shoulders, the two having wide grins, Yashamaru in the background his arms out in preparation. With Temari, the girl was mimicking the girls expression and stance, which saw Temari frowning towards the camera with her arms crossed.

"Aww.... I was hoping you could play with me.. I mean train." Ikumi said in response before their mom walked up, standing in the doorway,

"Be safe on this mission, Hinami, alright." Hadami said in response and Hinami nodded her mother placing a hand on her shoulder, her violet hair sitting behind her head reaching her thighs, wearing a violet yukata. Hinami nodded in return.

"Geikan and Anita are going with me, so we'll be okay." She said in return, before waving off as she walked out the door after putting on her shoes in the genkan

"Alright Hinami! lets do our best. Geikan dont get in the way." Anita said as they read over the mission request. Standing in the training fields as they waited for their sensei to arrive, which should be any moment now, Airu was a huge stickler for punctuality. Hinami looked over the paper as well, it was their first B rank mission. Guarding a wagon of travelers from enemy ninja. Anita wore her yellow hair in a half up ponytail, secured with a purple bow, the rest of her hair flowing to her shoulders, she had an undercut in the back that was completely hidden, wearing her headband tied loosely around her neck, wearing a auburn sleeveless romper with halter style top. Wearing a cropped forest green hoodie overtop, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist sitting on the black belt. Wearing auburn fingerless gloves on her hands, with black zori on her feet. Her orange eyes looking towards Hinami who read the paper eagerly, excited at her second mission outside the village.

"Hey come on, Anita, I won't get in the way!" Geikan said, he was part of the uchiha clan, his black hair curling over his headband that sat on his forehead, the rest of his hair sitting in a pixie cut, his black eyes, wearing a purple longsleeve shirt with a large collar, the uchiha logo on both of his upper arms, with tan shorts, his shuriken holster on his left thigh with his kunai pouch on his back waist.

"We'll all do our best. This is a super important mission." Hinami said in return, hugging Geikan and Anita, Hinami the shortest on the team, standing at 4'11 as opposed to Geikan's 5foot and Anita's 5foot 2 frames. Her black hair in a plait braid behind her head, with her headband around her forehead, her bangs falling over her headband, wearing a sky blue kimono style top with a black belt and black shorts wearing a tan poncho overtop sitting on her shoulders, wearing sky blue thigh-high fabric going into her white zori, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh and a kunai pouch on her back waist, her pink eyes looking towards her teammates. A small sparrow on her finger tweeting a few times, looking over and Hinami glanced back towards where Airu was walking up towards them, before flying away towards the trees,

"That's correct, Hinami. Today's mission is protecting a large caravan from possible ninja. Which makes this a B rank mission. So you each need to remain on top guard the entire time we're out of the village, higher than usual. Another team is going to be nearby as backup." Airu spoke, she was their sensei and a kunoichi from the Sarutobi clan, wearing her headband around her forehead wearing a dark blue ninja outfit with a jonin flak jacket overtop, wearing her black hair behind her head in a low ponytail, the remaining hair falling to her knees. her shuriken holster on her left thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist. Geikan and Anita turning towards the woman as well,

"Oh yeah! which team?" Geikan asked, jumping with his hands under his chin, excited at the prospect of working with another team. Team 4 rarely worked with other teams, as was the case for every team, so the prospect of working with another excited Geikan. Airu hummed in response, her brown eyes trailing over towards the boy

"You'll see." She said mysteriously, causing the kids to look at her in even more curiosity. Airu just hummed mysteriously, before placing her hand on the threes heads ruffling their hair slightly with a grin.

"probably not one as awesome as us." Geikan continued laughing, putting his arms over Hinami and Anita's shoulders as he laughed, Anita and Hinami following him in his laugh. Hinami looking over towards, their sensei, they stood on grass in front of Airu who hummed in curiosity before looking over behind them, where another team was making their way up towards them. Their zori sounding against the grass as they walked forwards.

"I see you havent changed Geikan. still so loud." Tenten said looking towards the boy as they turned, she wore a pink sleeveless top, with blue capris pants, wearing her brown hair in chinese buns, her bangs parting over the headband on her forehead. They stood with Gai sensei behind them, Neji in the middle with Lee and Tenten on either side. Tenten's arms on her waist, looking towards Geikan.

"Aw come on Tenten, be niice." Geikan said on the ground begging her, and Hinami laughed behind her hand, watching the scene unfold,

"Geikan, come on, get up. This is still a serious mission." Anita said rolling her eyes towards the boy, before turning her attention towards Hinami who stifled her laugh with a cough

"And you, don't encourage him." Anita said looking at Hinami who cleared her throat, pursing her lips together as she looked to the side, before clearing her throat again and nodding as she looked forwards.

"Alright! Team Gai is helping out with this." Gai said, holding out his arm in a thumbs up. Grinning as he looked towards the kids all of whom gave him flat looks aside from Lee who seemed to match his energy.

"I think they figured that out already, Gai." Airu said in return before they went to meet the client at the front of the village. a small group with two wagons a mix of old and young people as well as children. mixed among the group. The ninja walked up, and the children seemed to grow in excitement, looking towards the ninja as they spoke rapidly to their parents.

"Are you the ninja who are gonna protect us?" A child, seeming to be about five asked, pulling on Hinami's hand causing the girl to look over, their blue hair spiked around their head, wearing a cream colored outfit with a black cloth, Hinami placing a hand on his head and ruffling his hair slightly,

"I'm Hinami, what's your name?" she said in return,

"Kou. It's not like we need protection anyway... Those other ninja don't scare me one bit, but the adults were scared so I guess you can help." He said and Hinami hummed, the boy looking towards her with his bright green eyes, he had a scar running from his right cheek to his ear, as well as a scar down horitontally down the middle of his face,

"That's good, we'll need someone strong to help, you think you'll be up for the task?" Hinami questioned, and Kou nodded seriously, heading over towards the caravan,

"You know, I think you'd be a good sensei." Geikan said putting an arm over her shoulder, Hinami turned towards him a moment before laughing, pushing his face away,

"Be serious." she said in return before tuning into the conversation. The ninja seemed to not have a specific target, so they were going to have to protect all fronts. Gai's team had a separate mission and would catch up with the caravan at the village.

"Stay sharp you three." Airu said as they crossed into the valley of the end, getting close to their destination, the ninja constantly surveying their surroundings, looking around as Hinami kept her ears open, keeping in constant communication with the animals around them. Walking through the path towards their village which was near the mountain graveyard. They were crossing through the valley to get to their destination.

"Right!" They said, Anita was on the right with Geikan on the left, Hinami was behind the caravan, with Airu in front, they were keeping a constant eye. The people on the caravan were traveling with specialized medicine which was likely why they were being targeted, Gai and his team took the other caravan with the children and elderly as well as a few adults and half of the medicine to the village on a different path. So far, there hadn't been any issues, Hinami humming as the sun began to set for the fourth day, Airu calling for them to set up camp and rest. The people of the caravan in more need than the ninja, as they could continue. They stopped on the edge of a forest, taking to sleeping shifts with Airu taking the first shift, followed by Geikan, then Anita, and then Hinami. They passed through another forest. Continuing on the longer path towards the village.

"She's way too old, Kou." one of the kids said looking over at the boy who'd been the one who'd talked to Hinami, Kou looked over shaking his head

"You're just too naive, Niziu. It's true love." Kou said with hands under his chin as he looked towards the sky dreamily, Tenten who happened to be nearby raised an eyebrow at their conversation, they were currently refueling before the next leg of the journey, which would get them to the village

"Uh, so, what are you talking about?" Tenten asked, walking over, she wore a pink sleeveless top, with blue capris pants, wearing her brown hair in chinese buns, her bangs parting over the headband on her forehead. Wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh and her kunai pouch on her back waist.

"Hey, you know that other kid, the one that had her hair in a braid?" one of them said, his green hair in a braid behind his head, wearing an orange sleeveless top with black pants, Tenten nodded in confusion, Neji keeping an ear on all of the conversations around them, checking with his byakugan if they were being followed, which they weren't.

"Uh you mean Hinami?" Tenten questioned the two children,

"Yeaah... She's so dreamy... my future wife." Kou said and Tenten tried not to laugh, before humming,

"Oh I see. Unfortunately, you're a bit too late Kou, her sights are set on someone else. Besides, you'd never get past her big brother." Tenten said in response,

"I could too! Who is this guy, her older brother, I'll fight him!" Kou said standing from the ground,

"You will loose. You couldn't even be considered a warmup." Neji said leaning against the rocks behind the kids, his leg bent as he placed his foot on the rocks, his eyes closed a moment, leaning his head back,

"What would you know, come on just let me fight the guy!" Kou said lifting his fist, as he looked towards Neji,

"Very well, hurry up then." Neji said in return,

"Where is he?" Kou said,

"You're looking at him kid." Tenten said and Kou looked towards Neji in shock a moment before throwing his hands up,

"Forget that! I don't wanna fight anymore!" he said running back over to the caravan, Neji smirking as his eyes remained closed.

"Alright! Let's get reeeady to move. We should reach the village by sundown tonight." Gai announced and the team nodded, before piling onto the caravan and setting out once more. Going across a mountain pass.

"Alright, Hinami, are there enemies nearby?" Airu asked wearing her headband around her forehead wearing a dark blue ninja outfit with a jonin flak jacket overtop, wearing her black hair behind her head in a low ponytail, the remaining hair falling to her knees. her shuriken holster on her left thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist wearing a small bag on her back for their traveling, and Hinami activated her byakugan, looking around them, the only person with them was the client who'd requested the job, a man named Haito, the others all went with team Gai. Hinami looked around with her byakugan, looking around the forest but not finding anything within a 30m radius that she could see, turning her head to see more around her, but finding nothing around them. She hummed listening to the sounds of nature as they walked,

"Anything?" Anita asked her yellow hair in a half up ponytail, secured with a purple bow, the rest of her hair flowing to her shoulders, she had an undercut in the back that was completely hidden, wearing her headband tied loosely around her neck, wearing a auburn sleeveless romper with halter style top. Wearing a cropped forest green hoodie overtop, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh with her kunai pouch on her back waist sitting on the black belt. Wearing auburn fingerless gloves on her hands, with black zori on her feet. Wearing a purple backpack on her back, her orange eyes trailing over towards the girl and Hinami shook her head,

"Not that I can see, no. The animals don't see anyone either..." Hinami said in return, her black hair in a dutch braid behind her head, with her headband around her forehead, her bangs falling over her headband, wearing a sky blue kimono style top with a black belt and black shorts wearing a tan poncho overtop sitting on her shoulders, wearing sky blue thigh-high fabric going into her white zori, wearing her shuriken holster on her right thigh and a kunai pouch on her back waist, holding a backpack on her back.

"What was that?" Haito asked, his brown hair falling flatly around his head, his red eyes looking towards the ninja in curiosity, wearing a sleeveless pink vest over his bare chest secured closed with a black belt with purple shorts with sandals on his feet, the ninja looked over,

"It's called the byakugan. It's an ability that allows the user to see through objects and far away, what's your distance Hinami?" Geikan asked his black hair curling over his headband that sat on his forehead, the rest of his hair sitting in a pixie cut, his black eyes, wearing a purple longsleeve shirt with a large collar, the uchiha logo on both of his upper arms, with tan shorts, his shuriken holster on his left thigh with his kunai pouch on his back waist. Wearing a backpack on his back as well, and Hinami hummed,

"30meters, just 20 below big brother Neji." She said in response,

"That's a handy ability." Haito commented and Hinami nodded in response,

"Yes, I'm lucky to have it." Hinami said in response, the group crossing over into the rocky terrain of the mountains pass. Before Hinami turned quickly, birds leaving the forest in droves, as other animals ran in the opposite direction, hiding away with small noise of scurrying in fear.

"Sensei!" She started before she was sent flying back as a ninja materialized in front of them. The girl sent into the cliffside, leaving a crater. The rock breaking off the mountain, and crumbling to the ground as the team looked back quickly before looking towards where the attack came from.

"Well well, now this is an interesting team." the person spoke, he wore an orange mask on his face his features completely hidden, wearing a black cloak with a hood on his head, sleeves covering his hands,

"Masked man..." Airu said as Hinami jumped back down to them, wincing, her bag gone from her shoulder as it was completely torn, falling to the ground in broken fabric, her sleeve torn,

"Hinami, Anita, Geikan. Get Haito out of---" Airu started before Haito's head was sliced from his body, the blod splattering over the three genin who looked in shock, 'I didn't even sense the attack. Just how powerful is this guy?' Airu said, the body falling to the ground,

"Whoops, no need to loose your head." A woman said laughing a shrill laugh, wearing an offwhite cloth on her nose and mouth, her bright orange hair was on either side of her head wearing a bubblegum pink dress with yellow tights paired with green zori on her feet, wearing a brown headband around her forehead with a black cloak over her shoulders.

"Well, the plan was to take him alive, but I suppose this works as well, Taia." The masked man said, the four in front of him gearing up for a fight, as blood poured from the body, creating a pool on the ground,

"He was... He just... she just..." Geikan said

"Focus! Geikan!" Airu said looking forwards, before sighing,

"You need to remain focused, one slip will cost you your life." She said and the three nodded, taking up the position she told them, the caravan overturned completely, the four engaging in a fight against the two others that appeared before them.

"The other team should be meeting us here soon." Gai said looking towards the village they'd just completed their part of the mission, waiting for the other team which should be coming up any time now, but Gai was getting a bad feeling in his gut. His black hair was in a bowl cut around his head, wearing a forest green jumpsuit with a his protector on his waist underneath his jonin flak jacket. Wearing orange leg warmers on his legs sitting overtop his blue ninja sandals. The villagers thanked them for delivering the others safely, Haito was with the other ninja, and they were growing worried the longer it got. The ninja stood from where they sat with the villagers, looking towards eachother a moment,

"Sensei, I think we should go look for them. They're late." Neji said looking towards the man who looked at his genin,

"Here's what we are going to do. Neji, you'll come with me, we'll go see what's keeping the others. Tenten and Lee, you two will patrol here and protect the village just in case. If we need help we'll signal. Now let's move with the power of youth!" Gai said raising his fist and the three genin nodded before splitting. Lee and Tenten remaining in the village helping where they were needed while Neji and Gai headed out towards the path that Team4 had taken. It was a slightly longer path than what they'd taken but even so, they shouldn't have been that far behind team9. Something was keeping them, but what was it? And then they heard a scream. Which carried through the canyon valley, amplified by the rocks around them.

"Anita!!" Hinami yelled, her friends arm had been sliced clean from her body, the blood sprawing across the bridge of her nose, and cheek, her arm hitting the ground a few meters away, the girl yelling as blood dripped from the wound. Hinami was trying to heal Airu's wounds, the woman had been stabbed in multiple places, but she wasn't able to keep up. They were inflicting wounds without even breaking a sweat. When Hinami had tried to use woodstyle, it was deflected back at her, her clothing now riddled with holes and slices. Blood dripping down her forehead and from her mouth, splattered over her clothing, her hands soaked with blood, as she put pressure on Anita's wound.

"You kids... have to run... get out of here." Airu said, before her breathing stopped, her wounds simply too much for the woman to handle, blood running from pretty much every crevice that it could, her eyes, ears, mouth, head, everywhere, her body had been almost completely cut in half. Hinami tied a tourniquet around Anita's wound, her hands shaking, as she tried to also heal Airu. The girl was reaching her limits, and the others knew it. Geikan shaking from where he stood next to the overturned caravan, the materials spread over the ground. Before looking towards Hinami and Anita who'd been fighting, hardening his resolve, he looked towards their opponent.

"Firestyle! Fireball jutsu!" Geikan said running forwards before jumping into the air sending fire forwards before sliding on the ground sending forwards paper bombs, sliding in front of Hinami. Holding his arms out in a defense position. Glancing towards Hinami and Anita a moment, Hinami's hands covered in blood as it dripped from Anita's missing arm, Hinami encouraging her healing as she reconnected her nerves, Anita having tears rushing from her face from the pain, biting her lip to keep from yelling out once more. Hinami had her hands on the wound in order to encourage healing.

"How's the wound looking on Anita, Hinami." He questioned and Hinami looked towards

"I've staunted the bleeding for now." Hinami said in response

"Wow, you guys are just super weak, huh?" Taia said

"Thank you Taia, Ill take it from here. Mere children aren't a competition for me." The masked man said, dismissing his associate who laughed as she disappeared, a shrill laugh. The masked man looked forwards

"It's time to end this. Ive grown bored." he said, Hinami standing beside Geikan, Anita stood behind them just barely conscious, both from pain and bloodloss, Hinami wasn't able to heal her completely, Anita telling her to help Geikan.

"Do you have enough chakra for our combo?" Hinami asked and Geikan nodded,

"Windstyle, Tornado." Hinami said swiping out her hand

"Firestyle phoenix bird." Geikan said spewing for from his mouth

"combined technique, Firebird tornado" they said together the tornado reaching a height that could be seen by Neji and Gai, who pushed themselves to run faster as Nejis byakugan picked up the fight.

"Just who is this enemy?" Neji said aloud as they ran,

"Hi...nami..." Geikan said as hed ran in front of a hit meant for her, the branch stabbing through both their stomachs, Hinami coughing blood as Geikan did the same, before he fell to the ground, Hinami looked towards him with her eyes wide, tears rolling from her face, her legs were unable to support her weight, her clothing becoming stained with the crimson liquid on the ground. They'd been fighting for what seemed like forever but in reality was only thirty minutes. She kneeled on the ground, her outfit torn in different places, taking in the injuries to her team, blood running from her nose, mouth, and forehead. Looking forwards with her pink eyes, the veins on her face became more pronounced as she cried before releasing a yell, a loud and almost inhumane yell. the chakra she unleashed awakened the forest behind the man as it followed her call, the rocks beneath her body cracking and splintering apart as her hair fell from its braided state, the strands touching the crimson liquid below. Her yell was heard by team Gai, who was pushing themselves to go faster. Her eyes changed, a white flower appearing in the center as she looked towards the masked man, glaring forwards as she continued to yell in agony. 

"What pure byakugan you possess. Id like them." the man said lifting Hinami by her neck, reaching for her eyes. Hinami completely out of strength to fight, as Geikan and Anita summoned up more strength in their bodies,

"Anita... Geikan...." Hinami said looking towards the two, her tears falling from her eyes, though she tried, she was powerless to do anything as her chakra was almost completely drained, her eyes returning to their original state.

"Leave her alone!" Anita yelled as did Geikan, the man huffed in partial amusement before he sent woodstyle straight through them, sending their bodies to the ground, Hinami tried to move but found herself unable to do so. She yelled enraged at the man who held her, her chakra spiking through the ground causing a large crater to form, the trees behind him to crack and break apart the cracks traveling up the mountain side, her hair moving behind her. She was close to loosing consciousness, her blinking becoming slower, as his hand came closer to her eyes.

"Dynamic Entry!" Gai said kicking the man in the face and grabbing Hinami at the same time, Neji taking the girl from Gai so he could fight. her black hair fell around her head falling towards the ground, over Neji's arm, the girl mostly out of it and unable to do anything. Gai and Neji took a look at the ground around them, the ground stained with blood,

"You did this." Gai said looking towards the man who seemed to tch in response before moving his arms out

"This has already taken too long. Fine, konoha ninja, you will take this win. But you'd do well to remember. One way or another, I will return for her pure byakugan. And for the nine tails as well. We will meet again." he said before disappearing completely, Gai sending a notice to Lee and Tenten for them to meet them there immediately, calling an S.O.S

"they're barely breathing. Airu Sensei is dead. What about Hinami?" Tenten asked after she and Lee looked over the other three with Gais help

"She's still breathing, but we have to hurry. She's the medic ninja, not me." Neji said in return and the group nodded before heading out towards the leaf as the fastest team in the leaf, they would run at full speed without any breaks, in order to reach the leaf.

"Big brother?" Hinami said halfway back to the leaf, they were moving at max speed with Hinami being held bridal style in Nejis arms, Geikan on Lee's, and Anita on Tentens. Gai carried the remains of Airu on his back as well. Neji glanced towards her, they ran through the forest, they were close to the village. But weren't there yet, Hinami's blood dripping slowly from her wound and onto the ground as Neji continued to run full speed.

"It's so cold... wheres Geikan and Anita? " she questioned as an involuntary shiver ran through her body, her body was completely pale as it lost more blood and lost color from that.

"We're headed back to the leaf to help. Try to hang on until then. Tenten and Lee are carrying your teammates." Neji said in response.

"There's someone following us... in the trees... he's killing the plants. The animals are crying out..." Hinami said in response, her voice was weak the three others looked towards her in shock,

"What, where?" Tenten said, Gai asking Neji to using his byakugan, but the boy was unable to see what Hinami was talking about, he was however, able to locate dead trees and leaves almost in a direct trail behind them.

"She's right, there's someone leaving a trail of dead plants behind us, but Hinami who did you see." Neji said looking down at the girl who'd lost consciousness once more, her breathing was slowing, a bad sign, they looked towards eachother before pushing themselves faster.

"The teams are... What happened?" Izumo said from the gate before he and Kotetsu stood in alarm looking towards the teams who returning from some sort of battle, they were in desperate need of medical attention, all of team 4. Being carried by Gai's team in a hurried manner. Blood on all of their clothing, dripping to the ground.

"Alright team, straight to the hospital." Gai said as he stood at the front gates, looking forwards urgently, Hinami, Geikan, and Anita had stopped breathing upon their arrival, which pushed them further harsher, ready to continue to the hospital.

"Right" They said in return, jumping over towards the hospital. Tsunade looking over in complete shock, sending the hospital into a frenzy, having Neji set Hinami on the bed in front of her, Shizune directing Gai and the others.

"We need to get them all to surgery, right now. Let's move. Alert the fourth and fifth hokage." Tsunade called and the medical nin nodded, wheeling the four away to the operating rooms. The hospital was a frenzy, as the operating rooms became completely full

"Alright team. Let's go report to the hokage." Gai said looking towards his team and they nodded, jumping towards the hokage's office where they informed the encounter from their perspective with Gai and Neji confirming the appearance of the masked man, the group passing rogue ninja on the way back, all of them having been killed in different ways. And Minato looked towards the team, his face dark a moment. Looking towards the desk. 'What is this mans goal... first my wife and child was attacked, then this...' Minato thought, before looking towards the team in front of him, nodding,

"I see... the masked man once more. Those words he spoke... Do you know what he meant about her byakugan?" He questioned and the team shook their heads, they all had blood staining their outfits, reporting the mission had been a success but the client who'd requested the job, Haito, had been killed by the masked man. Leaving the entire team 4 with fatal wounds, Hinami was the least injured thanks to her healing but that was just barely. This had been displayed as a B rank mission, so it wasn't a surprise that they encountered enemy ninja, but to encounter an A-rank criminal, the very same criminal that nearly destroyed the leaf 11 years ago, that was unexpected. Minato put the Leaf under even harsher security, as he asked Hiashi to meet with him.

"I see, is she alright?" Hiashi questioned and Minato sighed a moment, sitting in the meeting room, looking towards the man, wearing an off-white kimono secured with a blue belt, paired with a green haori overtop, his black hair flowing behind his head, sitting at a small table with Minato across from him.

"She's not out of the woods. Whatever the masked man used to attack her, completely perferated her abdomen, she's in surgery. But Airu Sarutobi passed at the scene, the rest of her teammates are in surgery as well, but it doesn't look good. To be completely transparent. But what concerns me is something the masked man said before fleeing the scene, or letting the teams go." Minato said, his hands underneath his chin as he looked forwards with his blue eyes wearing his headband around his forehead with his blonde hair spiking over it, his sideburns reaching his chin, wearing a dark blue ninja outfit with a jonin flak jacket overtop with his hokage cloak overtop that. The room they were in was larger than his office, but a floor below, the brown door forcing the parting of the light blue paint on the walls. Behind Minato on the wall, were photographs of the previous hokages. A window in the otherside of the room gave way to light into the room with purple curtains drawn to the side. The wall right next to the wall was adorned with books and scrolls used by Minato as well as documentations left by the previous hokage. Behind Hiashi stood photographs of the previous hokages with their families. Hashirama with Tsunade, Tobirama with Tsunade, Nawaki, and Kansai, Hiruzen with Asuma and Keito (Konohamaru's father and Asuma's brother), Nawaki with Kiyoka and Hinami (Taken before Ikumi was born), and Minato with Naruto. Hiashi's pink eyes met Minato's gaze and hummed in question, looking towards the man.

"Have you ever heard of a 'pure byakugan' what could that refer to? Age or something else?" Minato asked and Hiashi sat straighter in his chair,

"Pure byakugan?" He questioned a moment, and Minato nodded,

"According to Team Gai, the masked man warned that he would return for her pure byakugan." He said in response and Hiashi looked alarmed for a moment, putting his hands under his chin a moment, looking forwards,

"I see... This could refer to her age, or possibly the fact that she hasn't seen battles as we adults have, but I'll have to look further into it." Hiashi said in response and Minato nodded in response, looking towards the head of the Hyuga.

"Alright." He said in response the meeting continuing for a few minutes before coming to a close, Minato returning to his office to research more on the masked man, it was clear that he used to be a konoha shinobi and could be Madara Uchiha, who else could move through the leaf and appear where he wanted, no-one that he knew of.