It was well known that the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan could see things within a one-kilometer radius.
This range was not the limit, but just the basic range upon activating the Byakugan. Afterward, the range could be increased by further developing the Byakugan.
However, no matter how much it was developed, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could only see several kilometers to over ten kilometers at most.
This was information gathered and organized by various forces during the three Great Ninja Wars.
If Hyuga Hiashi had said this, Kurenai Yuhi wouldn't have been surprised.
As the clan leader, surpassing the limits of gathered intelligence wasn't strange at all.
But how old was Hinata?
She had only graduated a little over a month ago, and already, her Byakugan could see within a twenty-kilometer radius. What kind of monster was this?
She had probably broken the Hyuga Clan's limit already!
Seeing the changes in their expressions, Izayoi secretly smiled inside.
Let alone them, even Hyuga Hiashi had been shocked by Hinata's growth.
Izayoi, who possessed (red) Otsutsuki bloodline, and Hinata, the princess (red) with the Byakugan, were simply a perfect match made by the heavens.
By unlocking Hinata's entry, Izayoi had effectively transplanted Hinata's eyes into himself. With the help of the cheat ability Sage's Eye (Red), he had already completed the first activation.
Hinata, whose bloodline hadn't yet reached the red level, only needed to absorb Izayoi's chakra to awaken her potential and raise her limits.
From the year Konoha 58, Hinata and Hanabi had already started to reverse their destinies.
Because that year, Izayoi awakened the unique ability of the Uzumaki bloodline—physical healing.
Every day after training, whether injured or not, Izayoi would let Hinata and Hanabi bite him to absorb his chakra.
The chakra they absorbed not only healed their injuries but also stimulated their potential.
Hinata's Byakugan had the highest purity, so her changes were the most obvious.
She had just graduated, and her Byakugan's range had already surpassed Hyuga Hiashi's.
At this speed, by the time Shippuden started, Hinata's bloodline limit, the Byakugan, could very well evolve from purple grade to gold grade.
"Is something wrong?"
Hinata tilted her head adorably, not understanding why Kurenai Yuhi and Shino Aburame were so shocked.
Kurenai Yuhi calmed herself down and seriously warned, "Hinata, from now on, don't tell others about your visual range. Otherwise, many people will target you."
A main family young lady, without a Caged Bird Seal, whose Byakugan could see within twenty kilometers—the value and threat she posed—once other ninja villages found out, Hinata would surely be listed on the black market and assassination lists.
"Yes."
Although Hinata didn't fully understand why Kurenai said that, she still nodded solemnly.
"This range makes me feel very reassured. I'll leave the scouting to you for the rest of the journey," Kurenai said with a smile, patting Hinata's head.
Shino also silently recalled the bugs he had sent out.
Compared to Hinata's long-range and x-ray vision, bug-based scent detection simply didn't matter.
And so, on the road afterward, Hinata would activate her Byakugan every now and then to scan within twenty kilometers.
Two more days passed like this.
During those two days, Team 8 eliminated two mountain bandit groups and scared off another.
Because the mountain paths were steep and hard to change, mountain bandits and rogue ninjas familiar with the terrain would often ambush travelers at chokepoints. Either they detoured to avoid them, or they had to wipe them out.
Normally, if bandits or rogue ninjas saw caravans protected by shinobi, they would back off.
But there were always fools who didn't know better and wanted to take a gamble.
The two destroyed bandit groups were precisely such fools.
Against such idiots, Team 8 naturally showed no mercy.
After their first kills, Team 8 only felt slightly uncomfortable, but quickly recovered.
The academy had taught them ways to break genjutsu, and during that time, the teachers had also shown them illusions of bloody scenes.
Some might still struggle to adapt.
But top students like Izayoi and his teammates had long since overcome fear of this level.
That day, after walking several more li along the mountain paths, Hinata, as usual, activated her Byakugan to scan the surroundings.
Suddenly, as if seeing something unbelievable, her expression changed dramatically, and she blurted out, "Everyone, stop right away!"
Upon hearing this, the caravan, which could only proceed on foot due to the steep path, immediately halted.
Kurenai Yuhi's face turned serious as she asked, "Hinata, did you find something?"
"Yes."
Hinata nodded quickly, her face filled with panic and disbelief: "About seventeen kilometers ahead, there are two mysterious people. Their chakra is very strong... way, way stronger than yours, Kurenai-sensei."
At the end, Hinata didn't even know how to describe it and could only downplay Kurenai's strength to convey just how dangerous the two were.
Kurenai wasn't offended at all and immediately asked, "Any characteristics?"
"They're wearing long cloaks and hats. One of them looks like a scorpion, and the other one is standing on a bird, flying low, like they're searching for something," Hinata said.
Kurenai's face instantly changed. She turned to Mr. Nishimura and the others and said, "Turn back immediately and change routes. There are S-rank rogue ninjas ahead!"
"Quick! Turn around quickly!" Mr. Nishimura urged loudly, clearly aware of what S-rank rogues meant.
"So they're S-rank rogue ninjas..." Hinata muttered with realization.
Izayoi didn't say anything. His blue eyes, at some unknown point, bloomed with a white flower-like pattern.
His gaze pierced through mountains toward the direction seventeen kilometers ahead.
He saw two figures—one tall, one short—one in the air, one on the ground.
Those two were exactly as Kurenai described: S-rank rogue ninjas and members of the Akatsuki—Sasori of the Red Sand and Deidara.
Why were they here?
What were they searching for?
Looking at Deidara, who was flying around on a clay bird searching the area, Izayoi thought to himself.
Then, his gaze fell on Sasori hidden inside Hiruko, and a sudden idea struck him.
To use the Tenseigan to remotely control puppets, he first needed to learn how to make puppets.
To make puppets, he needed to buy materials, which meant he needed money.
Puppets—weren't there ready-made ones right here?
After traveling several more minutes down the alternate route, Izayoi left the team under the excuse of "going to the bathroom."
When he returned, it was only a shadow clone of himself, brimming with vast chakra.
As for his real body, he was already heading at high speed toward Sasori and Deidara's direction.
Noticing something, Hinata glanced casually at Izayoi's shadow clone.
The shadow clone, sensing her gaze, shook his head slightly.
Hinata immediately returned to normal, pretending she hadn't seen anything.
Seeing Izayoi head toward the two S-rank rogue ninjas, Hinata didn't feel worried at all.
Because in her Byakugan's view, Izayoi was now instantly teleporting and sometimes flying through obstacles.
Having experienced his gravitational and repulsive forces, Hinata didn't believe that a clay bird could stop Izayoi's attacks.
As long as Izayoi wanted to escape, no one could stop him.