Hyuga * Boy
Izuna left the Hokage Building and walked east along the stone path.
The rehearsal venue was chosen on an open space on the outskirts of the village. The place was originally planned to be Training Ground, but it was temporarily requisitioned by him before construction could even begin.
It's big enough, remote enough, and secluded enough—perfect for doing things that can't be leaked beforehand.
He walked slowly, his mind still preoccupied with the Ultimate Technique Illustration he had just seen.
Peonies are very beautiful.
This is the first time, right? The Ultimate Technique Illustration has changed; I wonder what this means.
Is it a change in personality? Or a change in mindset?
He turned into a narrow alley. It was a shortcut to the east of the village, with the back walls of houses on both sides. It was quiet and rarely used.
After taking a few steps, he suddenly paused.
Deep in my mind, that familiar drumbeat began to play again.
Knock knock. Knock knock.
Prelude to the attack.
But as with countless previous instances, no Detection Field appeared.
Izuna blinked and continued walking forward.
He was used to this kind of thing.
This thing has been causing trouble ever since the first day it arrived in Konoha.
It can play anytime, anywhere – whether you're walking down the street, sitting by the roadside, or squatting by the Training Ground in a daze.
Sometimes it happens when you're passing by someone, sometimes when you're near a house, and sometimes it just rings as you walk by without anything happening.
Those drumbeats sounded like someone's heartbeat.
Filled with anger, resentment, and murderous intent.
Izuna didn't know who those people were, and he was too lazy to find out.
The Senju and Uchiha had only reconciled six months prior, and the other clans each had their own grudges. It was perfectly normal for those who had lost loved ones, and those who still harbored hatred, to have some thoughts when they saw an Uchiha walking down the street.
If you don't take action, just pretend you didn't hear it.
That's how he's always lived.
The same goes for today.
Izuna walked towards the Hyuga Clan while listening to the background music.
Even after he severely punished the Hyuga Clan a few days ago, he still visited them several times.
However, it was done in a private capacity.
He didn't mention a single word about the proposed changes to the Caged Bird Seal and the reforms to Kyudo in the Hokage's Office. He just went to lead the people.
Because there wasn't enough time to prepare the new program, and the task was urgent and demanding, he still had to bring back the original team.
Tetsuya, Akari, and Rei—these three must be taken away.
However, the Hyuga family doesn't currently welcome him wandering around.
Therefore, he had to personally lead the people here.
These past few days have been very tiring for the guards.
The guard stood at the entrance to the Hyuga Clan Compound, watching the figure slowly approaching in the distance, and had nothing more to say.
On the first day, he was wary.
A member of the Uchiha Hyuga Clan Compound and specifically requested to see the Young Clan Head. What did he want? After that duel, the entire Hyuga Clan both feared and respected this person, but also harbored a deep resentment towards him.
Did he come to show off his power? Or did he come to make some demands?
He remembers forcing himself to speak, his voice tense.
"Izumi, Lord Izuna... What brings you here?"
Then I got an answer.
Izuna: "Ah, I'm here to see Tetsuya, Akari, and Rei. There's another event, and I figured I'd be more familiar with them. Anyway, I'm here to find them."
When Tetsuya heard that he had arrived, he immediately carried Rei on his back, holding Akari's hand in one hand and Rei's cane in the other, looking like he was saying, "Lord Izuna, you've finally arrived."
Akari felt a little embarrassed and left with her face covered the whole time.
Guard:?
He was confused the next day.
Why is he here again? He stood at the door, looking at the figure, countless questions popping into his mind.
Despite his doubts, he still went to report it.
By the third day, he had become numb.
Here we go again.
Okay.
Anyway, there was no way to stop them, and the opposing Clan Head didn't say anything. Besides, the Young Clan Head ran away faster than anyone else. He just made the announcement, and that was it.
On the fourth day, he found himself feeling mentally exhausted.
Every morning, I get up, wash up, eat, change shifts, stand at the door, and then—that person appears.
And today.
Day 5.
The guard watched the figure getting closer and closer, his Shisui.
Izuna walked up to him and stopped.
Before he could speak, the guard said, "Lord Izuna, are you looking for young master Tetsuya?"
Izuna blinked.
"... Um."
The guard nodded, turned, and went inside to report.
His steps were steady, neither hurried nor slow.
Izuna watched the guard's retreating figure and thought to himself.
Oh, this.
Isn't this guard a bit too Zen?
I come here Tenten... isn't that a bit annoying?
It seems like the others are too...
The Hyuga clansmen sitting near the shop entrance waved when they saw him looking over.
He also had a completely calm and indifferent expression, just like an old man on the street.
Izuna also raised his hand and waved.
His expression also became Zen-like.
He's been standing here for five days; I bet everyone in the entire Hyuga Clan Compound knows he's been coming Tenten.
I'm sorry.
I'll make you Tenten my annoying face every day.
The guards went in to report, and they arrived shortly afterward.
Izuna squinted and looked at it.
Walking at the front was Tetsuya, followed by Akari, who carried a small bundle. Behind them was a young man carrying Rei on his back; he was Hyuga Tetsuya's butler, who had arrived the next day, and his name was Hyuga Ibara.
Their attitude wasn't great at first, but it's inexplicably improved a lot now.
Huh? It seems like there's one more person today?
Izuna blinked, making sure he wasn't seeing things.
Tetsuya was accompanied by a boy.
The child looked about the same age as Takuma, wearing a simple training uniform, with slightly messy hair, as if he had rushed out in a hurry.
He followed closely beside Tetsuya, glancing up at Tetsuya and then before looking down again, his hands clenched in front of him, extremely nervous.
Izuna tilted his head and thought for a moment.
This child... seems vaguely familiar?
As the group approached, he finally remembered.
Oh--!
It's that child!
He was the last one to charge in during the battle against the Hyuga Clan that day!
He remembered it clearly. At that time, he had already knocked down a group of people, and the boy's companions were lying on the ground, while he was the only one still standing.
The child was trembling all over, tears welling up in his eyes, but he didn't run away or give up. He gritted his teeth and charged forward.
Izuna was stunned for a moment.
To rush forward in that situation, one must either be stupid or truly fearless.
He then easily took the child down.
That's all.
I didn't expect Tetsuya to bring this child along.
Tetsuya walked closer, stopped, and nodded to Izuna.
"Lord Izuna."
Akari also gave a slight bow.
The butler carrying Rei bowed in greeting, and Rei, perched on the butler's back, waved to Izuna.
"Lord Izuna!"
Izuna nodded to her, then his gaze fell on the child hiding behind Tetsuya.
The child was secretly looking up at him, but when their eyes met, he quickly looked down again.
The tips of her ears were red.
Izuna smiled.
"Weren't you the last one to collapse that day?"
The child's body stiffened.
Tetsuya, who was about to make the introduction, paused, then exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Izuna, you remember him?"
The child was extremely nervous; he stammered, "I... um..."
Tetsuya chuckled and reached out to tap him on the head.
"This is Shūichi, my cousin," he said. "Ever since that day, he's been pestering me Tenten about Lord Izuna. Today, when he heard I was coming, he insisted on coming along."
Shūichi's face turned even redder.
He lowered his head, clenching his fists even tighter, as if he wanted to shrink himself into a ball.