That chaotic, rampaging wind chakra didn't just tear apart surfaces—it also tore into the inside of its targets, shattering them from within. That was what made wind chakra the most dangerous of all five elemental natures.
This is why it was considered the rarest and most powerful for close-to-mid-range combat.
If Shinsaaran was ever fully completed, it would essentially be a giant grinding machine—shredding anything caught within its radius into powder so fine it couldn't be seen with the naked eye.
---
"I'm back..."
Naruto pushed open the door, utterly defeated. Covered in dirt and blood, his voice was weak. The moment Sasuke saw him in that state, he instinctively swallowed the jab he was about to throw. Even he could tell—Naruto had truly given his all.
"I'll get the medical kit!"
Tazuna's daughter-in-law looked on with concern. Even as a bystander, she'd been moved by Naruto's relentless efforts. After all, anyone who works that hard is worthy of respect.
"No... just some food, please... I'm a little... hungry..."
He forced a smile but before he could finish, the world darkened, and he collapsed.
Kakashi dashed over just in time to catch him. After checking Naruto's pulse, he exhaled in relief. "He's alright. Just collapsed from overexertion."
"Hmph... Dead last is still dead last. All that effort and he still can't master his jutsu?"
Sasuke's words were harsh, but the tone betrayed a complicated undertone.
"Well, looks like he'll be stuck in that dress for a while longer. Fine, get him to bed—he's got his photo shoot tomorrow."
Hinata shook her head and stepped outside.
"It's already this late. Where are you off to?" Kakashi frowned.
"Mind your business. I'm going to refine Orochi Pheasant. You just stay here and play babysitter, sensei."
She tightened her Sacred Fist Gauntlets and vanished into the night. Sasuke glanced at Naruto, seemingly debating whether to follow—then stayed.
"What's wrong, Sasuke? Aren't you going to practice your own technique?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Sasuke scowled.
"No. I'm waiting for a thunderstorm. Gotta practice Amatsu-no-Habakiri properly."
"Heh... good point."
Kakashi smiled.
"Tch... you smile like a creep, Kakashi."
---
Hinata had always known: everything came at a cost.
And she believed another truth—never depend on others. Trust only yourself.
That's why she couldn't stand Naruto's so-called bonds. They felt naive—childish. It grated on her nerves.
"Disgusting."
Perched on a treetop overlooking the sea, she stared into the dark waters. The cold night wind tousled her hair. Living among these childish, friendship-obsessed brats was clearly testing her patience. She could never truly belong with them.
So, it was time to seek out others—those like her.
Guided by that thought, Hinata leapt through the woods until she reached a small, freshly-dug cave near the coast—obviously made by Earth Release.
No need to guess who was inside.
"Yo, Suigin tou! Knew it was you. Who else would have the guts to crash an Akatsuki meetup?"
Hidan and the others were lounging around a fire, roasting fish. Even Kisame and Itachi were there. None looked surprised to see her. After all, in a world with so many strange jutsu, a remote-controlled clone wasn't shocking.
"Whatever. Give me a fish. I didn't eat enough earlier."
She sat down casually beside the fire. Kisame shifted aside and handed her the best-cooked one.
"Here. Still a bit hot, though. You, of all people, not getting a decent meal?"
"Hey hey hey, who pissed you off? Just say the word—I'll bring you their head by dawn!"
Across the fire, Hidan grinned. Hinata shot him a glare.
"Shut up. If I could kill him, I would've done it already. No need for your help."
"Wahaha~ So it's someone you can't kill? Don't tell me... it's that special someone~?"
Hidan wiggled his pinky and turned to Kakuzu. "Yo, what kind of guy would Suigintou fall for, huh?"
"That's a bad investment. Marriage and kids are costly. No way to guarantee loyalty either. Money's safer."
Kakuzu said seriously. Kisame chuckled.
"You two seriously need to stop gossiping about girls. Not very grown-up of you."
"Oh come on~ Just curious! She's got the brains and the looks. Okay, those eyes are spooky, but the rest? Total bombshell. She'd only fall for a top-tier guy, right? Girls her age usually like the strong, silent types... like..."
Hidan turned dramatically toward Itachi.
"...like him, right?"
"You really are pitifully ignorant. Those aren't ordinary eyes. That's the Byakugan, the signature of the Hyūga—the strongest clan in Konoha. Normal people can't even get near her."
Itachi's words dripped with quiet contempt. The others instinctively glanced at Hinata's eyes. Even in Akatsuki, few had seen a Byakugan up close.
"So that's the famed rival of the Sharingan," Kisame mused. "Heard of it before, but this is my first time seeing it in person. Feels a lot like Itachi-san's vibe."
"I read the Byakugan offers 360-degree vision and x-ray sight. Perfect for reconnaissance. Other nations have tried to steal it—Cloud even attempted a kidnapping years back. Didn't end well."
Kakuzu tilted his head. "Let me guess—you were the target of that incident?"
Hinata smirked as she swallowed the last of her fish.
"Yup. That was me. Hyūga Hinata. The heiress of the main family—the only ones without a cursed seal. The branch members' eyes self-destruct on death. That's how we protect our bloodline. Better than the Uchiha, don't you think?"
"Hmm... sacrificing many to protect the few. Very human. Here, tea. It's hot."
Kisame passed her a bamboo thermos of tea. She sipped to cleanse her mouth from the oily fish.
"No wonder the Byakugan never leaks. Curse seals on everyone except the heir. That's airtight. But... isn't there a problem?"
Kakuzu folded his arms. "If you're the heiress, won't the clan expect you to marry someone they pick?"
"...Alright, enough. Instead of obsessing over my love life, let's talk progress. How's the blockade coming?"
She shot him a cold glare. Kakuzu straightened.
"Here's the current reef layout. It'll be done by tomorrow night. Aside from the three hidden safe routes, any ship trying to enter or leave will be wrecked."
He handed over the map. Hinata unrolled it, studying the distribution carefully.
As expected of Kakuzu—ninety years of life paid off. The reef design was strategic, with variations in size and spacing. Even experienced sailors would struggle to pass safely.
"Excellent. That'll block maritime travel completely. But... controlling the land is one thing. Controlling the hearts of the people is another."
---
Technique Reference (Condensed)
Orochi Pheasant– Fire-based Nanto Sacred Fist (Hinata)
Amatsu-no-Habakiri – Lightning-based sword type technique (Sasuke)
Shinsaaran – Devastating wind-based AoE (Naruto)