Naruto: The Chosen Undead-Chapter no.214 Naruto

Read advance chapters of all my works or want to support me.

https/www.p.a.t.r.e.on/Adamo_Amet

Join us on discord:

https://di..scord.gg/h3kDw7ma

••••••••••••••••••

Chapter 214 Eyes That Will Not Look Down

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Before Team 7 returned to Konoha, Team 8 stood outside the Hokage's office.

While Hiruzen and Kurenai talked about the Wave mission, Team 8's attention was locked on Naruto's Bingo Book entry.

[ BINGO BOOK DOSSIER ]

[ TARGET #007: "UZUMAKI NARUTO" ]

[ STATUS: ACTIVE CONTRACT ]

[ ISSUED BY: MULTIPLE HIDDEN VILLAGES ]

[ DISTRIBUTION LEVEL: HIGH ]

[ IDENTITY FILE ]

[ NAME: Uzumaki Naruto ]

[ AFFILIATION: Konohagakure no Sato ]

[ SUMMONING AFFILIATION: Unknown. Data suggests a nonstandard summon ("Oscar") ]

[ CLASSIFICATION: Confirmed Jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox ]

[ LINEAGE RECORD ]

[ FATHER: Minato Namikaze. The Yellow Flash of Konoha ]

[ MOTHER: Kushina Uzumaki. The Crimson Valkyrie of Chains ]

[ NOTES: Direct descendant of two high priority combat class assets. Subject possesses abnormal chakra reserves, unknown medical ninjutsu, and hidden jutsu. ]

[ KNOWN ALIASES ]

[ "Son of Calamity". Iwagakure designation ]

[ "Knight of Konoha". Otogakure designation ]

[ RANK AND THREAT ASSESSMENT ]

[ KONOHA RANK: Genin ]

[ IWAGAKURE CLASSIFICATION: B Rank threat ]

[ OTOGAKURE CLASSIFICATION: B Rank threat ]

[ THREAT SUMMARY: Despite low official rank, displays tactics and combat potential comparable to a jonin. Subject's use of Nine Tails chakra elevates potential to S Rank if controlled. ]

[ ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY ]

[ Avoid prolonged contact. Subject demonstrates high adaptability and unknown techniques. If cornered, terminate swiftly or disengage. ]

[ ACTIVE BOUNTIES ]

[ IWAGAKURE: 10,000,000 Ryo. Dead or alive ]

[ OTOGAKURE: 5,000,000 Ryo. Uzumaki Naruto ]

[ OTOGAKURE: 5,000,000 Ryo. "Oscar," Crystal Lizard summon. Specimen retrieval preferred alive ]

A silence formed as the genin just looked at each other, each of them stuck on the same line, the same name, the same implication, wondering if they had read it wrong.

"Team Eight. Office. Now."

That snapped them out of it.

They followed Kurenai into the Hokage's office, and the first thing the genin noticed was the Third Hokage at his desk, fingers pressed to his temples as if the day had already aged him ten years. His pipe lay untouched. His shoulders were straight, but there was a tiredness in his eyes that no posture could hide.

Hinata was still staring down at the entry in her hands until Kurenai stepped closer and snapped her fingers in front of her face.

"Hinata," she said, softer than her command voice. "What's on your mind?"

Hinata simply handed the book over.

Kurenai took it, skimmed the page, and her eyes widened in a way that did not happen often. She looked up slowly, almost unwilling to.

"Naruto… is the Fourth's son?"

Her gaze flicked to the Hokage.

Hiruzen gave a small nod.

Kurenai's mind raced immediately, professional instincts taking over. Was this a deliberate leak? Who would risk exposing something like this? What else did they leak alongside it? Was it meant to bait foreign villages into acting? Was it meant to force Konoha's hand politically? Was it targeting Naruto specifically, or was Naruto just the loudest piece on the board?

Before she could spiral further, Kiba leaned back with his hands behind his head, trying to act like he was not rattled.

"You're acting like that's more shocking than the stuff Naruto's already revealed to us. Honestly, at this point, I'm not even surprised."

Akamaru barked once, like he was backing Kiba up.

Kurenai opened her mouth, then paused, and let it close again. She did not like agreeing with Kiba.

But she could not argue either.

Hiruzen watched the exchange, something strange stirring behind his tired expression. He had not expected this casual acceptance, like Naruto being the Fourth's son was just another item on a growing list of absurdities.

What had Naruto shown them that made this feel… secondary?

"Hokage sama," Shino said, stepping forward. "May I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"How did Naruto receive a Bingo Book entry?"

"A very good question, Shino kun. The truth is, we suspect someone deliberately leaked information about Naruto. Some of it true. Some of it false."

Kiba frowned. "Why would someone even do that?"

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice stayed measured.

Hiashi Hyūga understood that people changed in the shinobi world. In a profession built on violence, loss, and proximity to death, transformation was expected. Shinobi hardened, broke, or adapted. Sometimes all three.

What he did not expect was to see that change reflected so clearly in his own daughter after a single mission.

Hinata sat across from him with her back straight and her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her posture was composed, her expression calm. There was no hesitation in her eyes, no instinctive shrinking away from his gaze. The quiet confidence she carried was subtle, but unmistakable.

The contrast was so stark that for a fleeting, unsettling moment, Hiashi wondered if this was his daughter.

That realization alone told him the mission had not been a simple one.

"Hinata?" he asked, the name leaving his mouth with unfamiliar weight.

"Yes, Father."

"You have… changed."

"A new set of clothes and a bit of confidence can do wonders."

Hiashi's gaze drifted to the armor she wore. It was not elaborate. Compared to the lacquered plates of samurai or ceremonial clan armor, it was almost plain. Shinobi armor culture had never emphasized heavy protection. Mobility, stealth, and chakra mattered more than layered steel. Most shinobi were not expected to survive long enough for stronger armor to matter.

Yet this was different.

Leather reinforced with metal rivets, flexible but durable. The structure was designed not to interfere with precise footwork. It favored quick engagement, controlled strikes, and rapid disengagement. Terrain based movement rather than brute force.

Hiashi recognized the intent immediately.

This armor was made for a practitioner of the Gentle Fist.

It did not restrict the shoulders or wrists. It protected vital points without sacrificing speed. Whoever had chosen it understood how a Hyūga fought, not just how they looked on the battlefield.

"The mission with your team," Hiashi said carefully. "How did it go?"

"I am afraid the Hokage has forbidden us from discussing its details. But it was a success."

He nodded once, accepting the answer. Still, his mind worked through the implications. For the Hokage himself to restrict information from genin meant the mission's rank exceeded what was normal. At minimum, it bordered on A rank territory. Possibly higher.

That was a concern for later.

For now, Hiashi studied his daughter in silence.

"And what of the task I gave you?"

Hinata's expression tensed. "I became Naruto's friend," she said. "But not for the reason you intended."

"Continue."

"I will not use my friendship with Naruto as a political shield to secure my place as heiress," Hinata said. Her voice was firm. "If I am to be the future head of this clan, then I will earn it through strength. Through merit. Not by clinging to the shadow of another."

Silence.

For a moment, Hiashi said nothing. He simply looked at her.

When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "So you disobeyed my order."

"I fulfilled it, but not in the way you wanted," Hinata replied. "Naruto is my friend. Truly. But I will not use him."

"Now that the entire village knows Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage, rumors have begun to circulate."

Hiashi fixed his gaze on Hinata, studying her reaction.

"One of those rumors is that you are close to him. Whether you intended it or not, that association carries weight. With his lineage revealed, your position as the next clan head is no longer in question."

Hinata's fingers curled slowly at her side. "And Hanabi?"

Hiashi did not hesitate.

"She will receive the Caged Bird Seal the day you are formally announced as heir."

The words struck with the force of a physical blow.

Hinata's breath hitched before she forced herself to speak. "When is that announcement supposed to happen?"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly at her tone. Once, that look alone would have made her lower her head and retreat inward. Now she held his gaze, unflinching.

"When you attain the rank of chunin or when you are formally recognized as an adult by clan law. Whichever comes first."

Hinata felt a cold knot settle in her chest.

Within the Hyūga, adulthood was not defined by age alone. It was an old custom, one that predated the founding of the village itself. A kunoichi was considered an adult when her body was deemed capable of bearing heirs. The menarche marked the transition.

The tradition had its roots in the Warring States era, when clans lived and died by bloodlines, when succession needed to be settled early to prevent internal conflict. Certainty was valued above compassion. Once an heiress was declared, the hierarchy became absolute. Any siblings born after were safeguards, nothing more.

Hinata understood that now with painful clarity. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"That means I still have time to tear down this barbaric system."

The silence that followed pressed in on the room.

"Excuse me."

"You are excused, Father, but know this… I intend to abolish the Hyūga branding system," Hinata replied without hesitation. "I will unify the main and branch families."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 15k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 97, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!