Takashi and the Hyuga Clan

Everyone, including Izuna himself, froze.

Uchiha Takashi, who was secretly following near Wakako, was completely blank at that moment.

After a while, the fight he had with Izuna at the beginning came to mind.

At that time, they unanimously decided to either force Izuna to Sharingan or execute him on the spot to demonstrate the power of the Uchiha.

However, Izuna's Strength was too great, and despite their best efforts, they were unable to force him to open his eyes.

At the time, they thought the imposter was looking down on them or that he didn't exist at all.

Even after being informed that Izuna had returned from recuperating and that he had apparently suffered a great deal, it was still difficult to understand why.

There are also rumors that Lord Izuna gave his eyes to Clan Head on the day he faked his death, so it's actually quite normal that he doesn't have Sharingan now.

But these things are all speculation, and the clan has always been skeptical. Many clansmen still Akari or secretly express their disapproval of him as their Second-in-Command.

If it weren't for Izuna's current fame, which is practically equivalent to the face of the Uchiha Clan, they probably would have already started impeaching him and removing him from office, or at least preventing Izuna from interfering in clan affairs.

After all, nobody knows for sure if this is really Uchiha Izuna.

If he is, then everyone will be happy.

But if he isn't? That would mean this guy has infiltrated the most important central position in the clan.

If war breaks out again, even a slight suppression of frontline intelligence by him could result in massive casualties.

This is the only consequence that the ethnic group cannot accept.

You, Madara Uchiha, want a younger brother? Fine, but don't expect to be able to command the people you bring in before things are settled.

However, so far, Izuna has behaved very honestly, diligently building up the reputation and achievements of the Uchiha.

He never touches anything he shouldn't, does what he can within his ability, and completely avoids anything related to combat when asked for help; it's all about Genjutsu or trivial neighborhood matters. If he's really told not to do something, he simply quits and goes off to play with the children.

His open-mindedness and cheerful personality made him a true optimist, which earned him the admiration, support, and friendship of people from other tribes.

People like him are so rare and unusual; in all these years, Uchiha Takashi has only ever met one like him. So, emotionally, Ryu hopes that he is that Izuna.

However, we still need to be vigilant, as it concerns our ethnic group and we cannot be careless.

That's what he thought until he saw Izuna's eyeballs easily pop out of their sockets.

Now, Long has stopped thinking.

He felt as if the sky had fallen.

Oh no!! If Lord Madara finds out about this, he'll absolutely explode!!

That guy with the most toxic masculinity is definitely going to go berserk!

Will the Uchiha Clan Compound —no, Konoha— cease to exist?!

"Ah, sorry, mine." Izuna covered her empty left eye socket, held out her hand to him, and said in a casual tone as if asking for a piece of junk that had accidentally fallen out of her pocket, "Give it back to me."

Hinata stared at the eyeball in his palm, then at Izuna's left eye socket, which was now just a black hole, and something snapped in his mind.

He let out a heart-wrenching scream, "Aaaaaah-- Lord Izuna's eyeball has fallen out--!"

The scream woke everyone up.

Wakako's mouth could fit an egg.

Lian's face was as pale as Hinata's, and she covered her mouth with both hands.

Yūki instinctively protected the group of people hiding behind him, staring at him with wide eyes.

The Cheshire Cat's tail bristled like a feather duster.

Hinata gently cradled the eyeball, his arm stiff as a stick, wanting to hand it over but afraid to move, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

"What's your name?" Izuna asked helplessly. "That's fake, Artificial Eye. Give it back! Why are you all making such a fuss?"

"Prosthetic Artificial Eye?!" Hinata's voice cracked as he stared at the flesh attached to the so-called "Artificial Eye" and screamed inwardly.

Is this really Artificial Eye?!

"Artificial Eye," Izuna confirmed.

He took the eyeball back from Hinata's hand, blew on it, and then turned his head to fiddle with it for a few moments.

When he turned his face back, his eyes were perfectly fine, just as black and bright as ever, as if nothing had happened.

"Are you alright, Lord Izuna?!" Rei's voice trembled.

"It's nothing, just my Artificial Eye fell out." Izuna rubbed his eye socket, his tone as casual as if he were talking about a loose shoelace. "These things aren't very sturdy to begin with, and the impact was too strong just now, so it lost its balance and came out on its own. Don't worry."

"What is Artificial Eye...?" Wakako slid down from the cat's back and asked cautiously.

"It's a fake eye." Izuna pointed to his left eye. "I went blind from an injury before, and then I got a fake one. It was fine until it fell out after a bump... Anyway, it's nothing serious."

He spoke casually, but the expressions of those around him were even more complicated.

What kind of injury could cause an Uchiha to lose an eye? And what level of battle would it take to cause Uchiha with the Sharingan to lose an eye?

And... you'll fall out after just one bump?! So you're saying you didn't fall out during previous battles because you're too strong and never got bumped?!

Help! How can you say that so easily?! Such terrifying vocabulary and circumstances, Lord Izuna!

Longzheng crouched in the shadows, shivering.

He was going crazy; he saw it! Those were real eyes!

Just now, when Izuna turned his head to fix his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the Sharingan. In an instant, he felt dizzy. If it weren't for the Chakra instincts that held him up to the tree bark, he probably would have already fallen headfirst.

Lord Izuna! You... Sharingan! No?! Why do you have that... Could it be a connection problem...?

"Alright, alright, stop making that face. It's all old news." Izuna clapped his hands. "But Lady Wakako, what brings you here? And with such a large group of people. Is there something you need me for?"

Wakako then remembered the important matter at hand.

She straightened her clothes, took a deep breath, and looked at Izuna with an extremely serious and solemn expression.

Izuna, intimidated by her posture, instinctively straightened his back. Wakako spoke up, "Lord Izuna, I have something important to discuss. May I speak to you privately for a moment?"

"I need to discuss Rei and Hinata's engagement with you."

Izuna blinked, taking about two seconds to process what he was saying.

Then his expression changed from confusion to sudden realization, and then from sudden realization to an indescribable, subtle look that mixed relief and gossip.

"Madam," he lowered his voice, "You've only been in Konoha for two days."

"What happened the next day?" Wakako asked matter-of-factly. "It's my child's wedding, of course I have to be concerned!"

Upon hearing the word "marriage," Lian and Hinata's previously pale faces instantly flushed.

Izuna mentally gave Wakako a thumbs up, then asked, "Have you asked them what they think?"

"I asked. Lian is willing, Hinata is willing too. They're mutually in love. What's there to hesitate about?"

What are your plans?

Wakako slightly raised her chin, revealing a haughty smile. "With my status and your intellect, I don't believe I can't handle the Elders of two families."

Izuna took another look at the most distinguished woman in the Land of Fire before him.

She was wearing a kimono suitable for activities, her long hair was a little messy from the wind, and there were some mud spots on the hem of the kimono, so she didn't actually look very dignified.

But her noble and dignified demeanor remained unchanged, and her arrogant and domineering aura was overwhelming, making the innocent college student feel immense pressure. He felt as if he were facing the dean of students' affairs, and he dared not even breathe loudly.

However, he still tried to remain calm, straightened his back, and thought hard about how to reply.

"Okay," he said, "Then let's settle this."

Izuna and Wakako went to a quieter corner to talk.

Wakako recounted the whole story of Lian and Hinata from beginning to end.

Lian's concerns, the threat of the Caged Bird Seal, the reality of mutual distrust between the two races, and the proposal she wanted to make.

Let Rei and Hinata engaged.

After listening, Izuna nodded. "Actually, I've wanted to do this for a long time. It's just that I haven't found the right opportunity or suitable allies."

He looked at Wakako, "Now that you've arrived, the time has come."

Wakako couldn't help but glance at him, "You didn't already think of this, which is why you let Ren play that tragic role on stage, did you?"

Izuna gave a wry smile, "How could that be? What kind of role Madam likes is not up to me. Ren's ability to win your favor is her own doing, and has nothing to do with me."

"Hmph--Is that so..." Wakako covered her mouth with her sleeve, looked Izuna up and down, and nodded. "I'll believe you for now."

Izuna apologetically.

They quickly devised three directions.

First, the Caged Bird Seal must be removed as soon as possible.

The Hyuga Clan's own research progress was too slow, so they asked Mito Uzumaki to assist them.

This was Wakako's suggestion.

Her current status is, on the surface, due to her Daimyo.

But in reality, the key lies in the operation of interpersonal relationships and verbal communication.

Wakako was the absolute ruler of the Daimyo Ōoku; even her husband, the Ōoku.

She knew the importance of keeping power in her own hands. Even though she didn't understand how Ninjas defined strength, she knew that this thing called the Caged Bird Seal absolutely could not be placed on her Ren's head.

Izuna meant the same thing, even though the Caged Bird Seal could indeed protect the Byakugan from being coveted to some extent.

But that's not a long-term solution. Even if we can't come up with a change plan, we must at least come up with a way to completely free the Caged Bird Seal.

Mito is the princess of the Uzumaki Clan, and her mastery of Sealing Jutsu is unmatched in the world. Izuna believes she can resolve this matter.

Wakako indicated that she could have the Daimyo express his concern to the Hyuga Clan at an appropriate time. Since the Daimyo had already inquired, the Hyuga Clan had no reason to delay any longer.

Having her step in to help the Hyuga Clan break the Caged Bird Seal is actually a poor strategy, but now that Lady Wakako is present, the momentum for reform within the Hyuga Clan has already begun.

Since that's the case, we must take advantage of this rare opportunity for external forces to intervene and push this matter forward. Once the gears are set in motion, everything will be easier to discuss.

Secondly, Hinata came of age and got married, they moved out of the Hyuga and Uchiha Clan Compound and lived separately.

He is neither a member of the Hyuga Clan Uchiha Clan.

Konoha allocated them separate residences, and they built their own houses and lived their own lives.

In this way, neither tribe would have a reason to interfere with their lives, and with them watching over them, neither tribe would openly try to do anything to the other tribe through them.

Third, the couple's future children will be allowed to choose their own surnames, and neither of their families is permitted to interfere.

Whether they are surnamed Uchiha or Hyuga, it's up to them to decide.

If anyone uses this to make a fuss, it would be an act of hindering Konoha's unity and a serious crime of sowing discord.

Izuna was confident that under his leadership, Konoha would prioritize the village's development, and such a charge would deter anyone from taking action.

"What if someone objects to any of the above?" Izuna asked and answered himself, his tone light. "Then we'll use the Daimyo's Wife's name to pressure them. We'll reprimand them. Interfering in the marriage of two juniors is utterly shameless."

Wakako clasped his hands together. "That's exactly what I was thinking."

Izuna and she exchanged a glance, both seeing the same eager gleam in each other's eyes.

"Then it's settled." Izuna stood up, turned to the group of children still whispering to each other by the Training Ground, and raised his voice, "Hinata, Rei, come here for a second."

Lian lowered her head, her ears still red, while Hinata straightened his back, but his tight lips betrayed his nervousness. The two children held hands and came to them together.

"You two," Izuna said, crossing his arms, "Lady Wakako just discussed something with me. She wants to arrange your marriage."

Hinata and Lian looked at them intently.

"I won't ask if your friendship can last until then." Izuna's gaze shifted from Hinata Rei's, his tone as indifferent as if he were commenting on the Tenten. "I'll just ask you one question. Do you dare?"

Hinata answered without hesitation, "I dare."

Rei raised her head, meeting Izuna's gaze. Her face was flushed, but her expression was resolute and bright. "I dare."

Izuna's lips slowly curved into a smile. "Alright. Then I'll leave it to you, sir."

Wakako stood beside him, looking at the two children, and smiled gently.