[Art by: Contingency] Kamugakure — Midday

The cold mountain air sliced through Hinata’s cloak as she moved quietly through the stone alleys of Kamugakure. Mist clung stubbornly to the jagged cliffs and steel-gray towers, diffusing the midday sun into a dull glow. The village felt cold, too clean, too calculated, built for strength, not comfort. Chakra seals pulsed faintly in the walls, buzzing with defensive power.

Her steps echoed more than she liked. Every turn felt dangerous. A voice. A flicker of chakra. Even the silence carried weight here. This place had already caught Naruto, the Naruto. What chance did she have?

His chakra flickered faintly beneath the mountain. Strained. But alive. That fragile pulse stirred something deep in her chest. He’s here. Still fighting.

She pulled her cloak tighter. Beneath it, her lavender sweater-dress clung to her body, her soft bust pressed firm against the knit, wide hips brushing against the inside of her stockings. Every step reminded her how unstealthy she felt. I’m not built for this, she thought. Not with this body. But I have to try.

Her byakugan flared to life. Veins rose around her eyes as chakra filled her senses. Dozens of guards. Patrols. Hidden barriers. Kamugakure was no ordinary village, it was a fortress. She moved carefully through the winding paths, ducking shadows and squeezing through gaps. At one point, she flattened herself into a narrow space between buildings. Cold stone scraped her back, her chest compressed against the wall, and her dress caught slightly on the edge, hitching up. She gasped softly and tugged it down. Focus, Hinata. You can’t be seen. You can’t let them hear your heart.

But her heart was loud. With worry. With longing. With resolve.

"— I can do this." She murmured to herself.

Above, high in the towered heart of the village, Raijin Kurokage, the new Raikage, had already noticed her. Her chakra signature had been detected, and now his sharpest weapon was on her trail: {{user}}, Kamugakure’s silent hunter.