Chapter 17: Hinata rescued

Kushina and Naruto returned to the party, their faces calm and unreadable, as if nothing had happened. But beneath that mask of normalcy, Kushina's mind was already running through every possible move. She knew they had little time before Kumo made its move. 

Meanwhile, Naruto suddenly remembered his original reason for leaving in the first place. His stomach churned, reminding him of the unfinished business. But this time, he wasn't about to go alone. 

Turning to Hinata, he leaned in and whispered, "Hinata, can you come with me?" 

Hinata blinked, slightly flustered. "Eh? Where?" 

"I still need to go… you know," Naruto mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. 

Hinata giggled softly but nodded. "Okay, I'll show you the way." 

With her guidance, Naruto quickly found the restroom and finally got the relief he so desperately needed. As they walked back, the warmth of her presence beside him was comforting. Even though she was shy, she always helped when needed. 

As they reentered the hall, the energy of the celebration had begun to settle. Guests were slowly starting to leave, bidding farewell to the Hyuga family. The once lively party was winding down, but Naruto knew that the real event—the one no one else suspected—was about to begin. 

He stole a glance at his mother across the room. She gave him the slightest nod, a silent confirmation that everything was in place. 

Now, all that was left was to wait.

Naruto clenched his fists as he watched the Kumo nin sneak into Hinata's room, moving like shadows in the dim moonlight. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was the moment he and his mother had prepared for. 

Hinata, barely awake, was too startled to scream as they covered her mouth and lifted her off her bed. She struggled weakly, her pale eyes filled with fear. 

Kushina, hidden in the darkness with Naruto, whispered, "Wait for the right moment… We can't let them know we're here yet." 

Naruto grits his teeth, his entire being screaming at him to charge in, to stop them before they take another step. But he trusted his mother. He knew they had to strike when it mattered most. 

The Kumo nin moved swiftly through the corridors, making their way toward the exit. As they reached the courtyard, Kushina's voice rang out like a blade cutting through the silence. 

"That's far enough." 

In an instant, the air around them changed. The Kumo shinobi froze, sensing the killing intent pouring from the red-haired woman standing before them. Naruto, standing beside her, had the same determined look in his eyes. 

One of the Kumo nin scoffed. "You think you can stop us alone?" 

Kushina smirked. "Who said I was alone?" 

Chains of pure chakra burst from her back, glowing in the moonlight like golden threads of fate. At the same time, Naruto vanished from sight, moving faster than they expected. 

The battle had begun.

With Kushina's overwhelming strength, the Kumo nin began to falter. Though Naruto was still a toddler, a year of training under two Legendary Sannins had sharpened his instincts. He moved with precision beyond his age, striking at weak points and dodging attacks effortlessly. It wasn't long before the Kumo shinobi were subdued, struggling against the unbreakable grip of Kushina's chakra chains. 

Despite their actions, Kushina didn't deal the final blow. Instead, she bound them tightly with ropes, her expression unreadable yet radiating a quiet fury. 

The sounds of battle had drawn the attention of the entire Hyuga clan. Hiashi, his wife, and several others arrived swiftly, their eyes widening at the scene before them. The once-proud Kumo nin were restrained, completely defeated. 

Amidst it all, Hinata clung tightly to Naruto, sobbing into his shoulder. Her small frame trembled, but in his warmth, she found comfort. 

Hiashi's sharp gaze shifted to Kushina, who stood tall and unwavering. 

"Hiashi-san, these people tried to kidnap Hinata," she stated, her voice steady yet carrying an unmistakable edge.

Hiashi's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed into a cold, deadly glare. His grip tightened into fists as he stepped forward. The Hyuga clan members behind him murmured in disbelief, their anger simmering beneath the surface. 

Hiruzen arrived moments later, his aged but sharp gaze scanning the scene—Kumo shinobi bound and defeated, Kushina standing firm and little Naruto holding Hinata as she clung to him, sobbing. 

The Third Hokage exhaled deeply. "So, it has come to this..." 

Kumo's leader among the captured men struggled against his bindings, his face twisted in anger. "This is an outrage! We were invited here under a truce, and now you dare accuse us—" 

"Enough." Hiashi's voice cut through the air like steel. He took a step closer, his Byakugan activated, veins pulsing at the sides of his eyes. "Your actions speak for themselves. You dishonor your village with your cowardice." 

Kushina crossed her arms, her sharp gaze never leaving the restrained enemies. "We could have killed you. But we didn't. That's how much we care about peace." Her voice carried an unshakable weight, her words as powerful as her fists. 

Naruto, still a child but already carrying the strength of his mother's will, looked up at Hiruzen. "Jiji, what happens now? They tried to take Hinata… They should be punished, right?" 

Hinata sniffled against his shoulder, still trembling. Naruto tightened his hold on her as if silently vowing never to let anyone hurt her again. 

Hiruzen sighed. "This… will not go unpunished. But we must handle this carefully." He turned to Hiashi. "We must discuss this with the council and deliver Kumo an ultimatum. They have broken trust." 

Hiashi nodded stiffly, but his gaze lingered on his daughter, still clutching Naruto like he was her only source of comfort. His eyes softened, if only for a moment. "I am in your debt, Kushina… and Naruto." 

Kushina smiled gently, placing a hand on Naruto's head. "He acted on his own tonight. He has his father's courage and his mother's heart." 

Naruto pouted. "And my awesomeness!" 

Despite the heavy situation, a small chuckle spread through the Hyuga clan. 

But beneath it all, Naruto knew this wasn't over. The world was bigger than just this moment. And one day, he would be strong enough to protect everyone he cared about. No matter what.