Hiashi Hyuga's Hatred

Kurenai and Shizune hurriedly dressed and prepared to get up and head home.

Seeing the two red stains left on the pristine white sheets, they tore the sheet apart and each took half.

After they left,

Senya changed the bedding, lay down on the bed, and reminisced about the night. Including his previous life, it had been over fifty years since he had properly done any bedtime exercise. He had not expected to pull an all-nighter after so many years. What a sin.

He lay in bed to get some proper rest and replenish his strength.

The sun gradually began to descend westward from high in the sky.

Senya sat up in bed, made himself something simple to eat, and was having his meal in the living room.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Another round of knocking sounded. He directly raised a hand and slapped his forehead.

"Seriously, again? They clearly looked like they could barely walk..."

He opened the door and was met by a pair of white eyes.

So it was someone from the Hyuga clan. Wait, why was the Hyuga clan looking for him?

"Vice Clan Head Senya, this is a letter from our clan head. He invites you to visit the Hyuga clan tonight to discuss certain matters."

Senya accepted the letter offered by the other party, who then turned and left.

The man's expressionless face made him seem like a cold machine. If not for those distinctive Byakugan, Senya might have suspected he was a Root ninja.

It seemed that ever since Hizashi Hyuga's death, the conflict between the Hyuga clan's main and branch families had only grown worse.

He returned to the living room, sat down, and opened the letter Hiashi Hyuga had sent while continuing his meal.

"Vice Clan Head Senya, the Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan are both Konoha's two great ocular jutsu clans. There is an important matter to discuss tonight. Please be sure to join us for dinner."

There was only this simple sentence on the letter.

Yet Senya immediately understood what Hiashi Hyuga was trying to convey.

That evening, Senya arrived at the Hyuga clan compound wearing a dark blue kimono embroidered with the Uchiha Gunbai on its back.

Senya had not wanted to wear something that made him look so old, but after telling Fugaku about it, Fugaku said that Senya represented the Uchiha clan's image at tonight's meeting and had to dress formally. So he had Mikoto Uchiha bring over one of his kimonos and stuff it into Senya's hands.

Senya had refused in every possible way, but Fugaku Uchiha insisted. Left with no choice, Senya agreed.

A maid from Hiashi Hyuga's household had been waiting at the entrance to the clan compound for Senya. When she saw a handsome young man in an Uchiha-style kimono enter her view, she did not initially think he was the Uchiha clan's vice clan head. He was simply far too young.

But when Senya stopped before her, she realized that the Uchiha clan's vice clan head truly was this youth who looked as though he had only just come of age.

She hurried forward and bowed.

"Vice Clan Head Senya, I am Satsuki Hyuga, a maid in the clan head's household. Please follow me."

Following behind the girl, Senya recalled the expression she had worn just now.

Unlike the Nameless Person who had delivered the letter earlier with an expressionless face, Satsuki Hyuga appeared far more lively, with a little more of the quality of a living person. He could not help but shake his head inwardly.

A sense of melancholy rose in his heart. Were these Konoha's two great ocular jutsu clans? Both had gradually given so much to the village. The Uchiha were suppressed by the village and resisted, while the Hyuga were suppressed and directly yielded, worsening the situation between the main and branch families. How ridiculous.

The once-vaunted Will of Fire had now become a tool of rule for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi...

Inside the clan head's residence, Hiashi Hyuga sat at the low tea table, waiting for his guest's arrival.

"Clan Head, the Uchiha clan's vice clan head has arrived at your invitation."

Satsuki Hyuga bowed, poured the tea, then withdrew and left.

"I wonder why the Hyuga clan head has openly invited me, the Uchiha vice clan head, as a guest. Aren't you afraid Konoha's higher-ups will become suspicious?"

After hearing Senya's words, Hiashi Hyuga gave a bitter smile and mocked himself.

"The Uchiha clan still has the courage to resist the village's higher-ups, but we Hyuga have already compromised with them."

Senya was somewhat surprised. That should not be right. It had been years since Hizashi Hyuga had been forced to commit suicide by Konoha's higher-ups. Other than the Hidden Cloud delegation causing trouble, the Hyuga clan did not seem to have encountered anything in recent years.

Hiashi Hyuga's words made Senya suspicious. Could it be that Hiruzen and Danzo had also made a move against the Hyuga?

"Shisui Uchiha of the Uchiha clan committed suicide by jumping into a river half a month ago. If nothing unexpected happened, Danzo should have been behind it."

Senya understood that Hiashi Hyuga was sharing this information to draw the two clans closer together. He then came to his senses. It seemed that old bastard Danzo had not been behaving himself...

"Shisui Uchiha's death was indeed regrettable, but you cannot speak carelessly about certain things, Clan Head Hyuga."

With a pleasant expression, Senya smiled as he replied to Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga froze for a moment, then understood.

"Vice Clan Head Senya, there is no need to be so wary. The Hyuga have a barrier that blocks surveillance. The Third Hokage's Telescope Technique cannot see this place. It is rather laughable—the Third Hokage only agreed to this barrier ninjutsu before my younger brother died, supposedly to protect the Hyuga clan."

At this point, Hiashi could no longer suppress the grief in his heart. He slammed a fist onto the tea table, venting his dissatisfaction with himself. He recalled how, back then, he could only watch helplessly as his younger brother went to his death in his place. He hated his own incompetence, his clan's incompetence, and even more, the incompetence of Hiruzen Sarutobi, that useless Hokage!

Looking at Hiashi Hyuga before him reminded Senya of Shisui Uchiha. Unfortunately, he had not awakened the Mangekyo at the time. With the strength he possessed then, he could not contend with Konoha's higher-ups. As for now, Senya could only protect himself.

However, accepting the Hyuga clan's invitation had already been part of his future plans. But now, it seemed certain despicable things Danzo had done had pushed those plans forward.

Hiashi Hyuga calmed down, reined in his emotions, and told Senya what had happened in the Hyuga clan the previous night.

"Last night, Danzo personally brought Root ninja to our Hyuga clan and wanted to take away my daughter, Hinata! He said he wanted to bring her back to Root for training. Danzo used the Third Hokage's written order to pressure us. In the end, after the elders discussed it and made their decision, my younger brother's child, Neji, was taken away by them. I could not stand by and watch Root take my own daughter away. I have failed Hizashi!"

Hiashi, who had only just calmed down, broke down again. His grief and fury could no longer be contained, and tears flowed from the corners of his eyes alongside his hatred.

Watching Hiashi's nearly broken state, Senya began to ponder. It seemed this was a butterfly effect caused by the changes he had brought to Konoha. Yet it was precisely because of this foolish thing Danzo had done that the alliance between the Uchiha and Hyuga could become even closer.

"Senya, if your Uchiha clan plans to launch a coup, then as the Hyuga clan head, I will lead my clan to stand together with the Uchiha. The village has changed. It is filled with decay and greed. The village's higher-ups are forcing us into rebellion!"

When Hiashi said those words, Senya was completely stunned. Well, damn. Hiashi Hyuga, you either say nothing or drop a bombshell! That old bastard Danzo is incredible! He actually pushed an honest man like Hiashi into this state...