The Fourth Hokage's Promise!

The two Hokage and the two members of the Hyuga Clan who were discussing matters naturally failed to notice the faint glimmer that flashed through Shinichi Hyuga's eyes.

On the other hand, Kushina Uzumaki, who had been bored out of her mind, had watched Shinichi Hyuga with curious eyes ever since taking her seat. The fondness in her gaze was impossible to hide.

Though Shinichi Hyuga was young, children his age usually found it hard to sit quietly while adults discussed business. Yet he remained calm and composed at the side, and the steadiness and maturity he displayed had long caught Kushina's attention.

Kushina had been pregnant for over two months now, and she held all sorts of beautiful hopes and imaginings for her child.

She hoped her child would inherit Minato's intelligence and composure, as well as her own strength and independence.

When pregnant women interacted with other children, they often secretly observed those children's strengths and flaws. They hoped their own children would possess the good qualities of others while avoiding their shortcomings.

As she quietly watched the handsome, steady-natured Shinichi Hyuga, Kushina's expectations for her own child deepened.

As if sensing someone watching him, Shinichi Hyuga tilted his head slightly and looked toward Kushina. Noticing his gaze, Kushina gave him a gentle smile.

Shinichi did not feel awkward under her gaze. Seeing that the tea in front of Kushina had run low, he scooped more tea from the jar and refilled her cup of his own accord.

"What a good child. My child must be raised to become like this too!"

Kushina dipped her head slightly toward Shinichi, then unconsciously linked her arm through Minato's and leaned against him. She had some private words she could not wait to share with Minato, but she had forgotten where they were.

"Lady Kushina and Lord Minato truly have a wonderful relationship."

"How enviable!"

Shin Hyuga chuckled and remarked on it. Minato responded with a generous smile, then gently put an arm around his wife and soothed her. "Kushina, are you tired? We'll head back as soon as we're done here."

Shin and Hiashi quickly exchanged a glance. Hiashi then picked up the conversation at the right moment.

"Third Hokage, Fourth Hokage."

"The Hyuga Clan will certainly give this matter our full support."

"This is no longer merely a matter of Lady Kushina's safety. It concerns the village's security, and the Hyuga Clan cannot shirk this responsibility."

"I wonder... how many ninja do you need the Hyuga Clan to send to assist the Hokage's Direct Anbu?"

Hiashi agreed readily. A guard mission like this was truly nothing to the Hyuga Clan's ninja. He had great confidence in his clan's abilities and believed they could be of great help to the Hokage.

On one hand, the mission was not particularly difficult. On the other, Hiashi felt this was an excellent opportunity to build a deeper relationship with Minato and Kushina.

Although the Hyuga Clan did not need to bend to anyone's whims within Konoha, maintaining a good relationship with the Hokage would always bring the Hyuga Clan many conveniences.

"Thank you very much for your assistance, Mr. Hiashi."

"Since the delivery must remain secret, an overly large guard force would also make us a more conspicuous target."

"Therefore, the Third Hokage and I plan to keep the total number of guards under forty, divided into eight teams."

"If possible, we hope the Hyuga Clan can send eight elite ninja skilled in using the Byakugan to assist us."

Seeing Hiashi agree so readily, Minato Namikaze could not help addressing him more intimately. Instead of Clan Head Hiashi, he now called him Mr. Hiashi.

"Eight people..."

Hiashi understood very well what Minato meant by "elite ninja." To be recognized as elite by someone like Minato, they would likely need to be Jonin.

Thanks to the Byakugan, any Hyuga ninja capable of awakening it could at least become a Chunin. A considerable number of clan members who awakened it could even earn the title of Special Jonin.

But true Jonin were not numerous even within the Hyuga Clan.

Mobilizing eight Jonin at once would greatly weaken the Main Family's guard force.

Still... since he had already agreed, there was no reason to go back on his word now. After a brief moment of consideration, Hiashi nodded in acceptance and quickly began sorting through suitable candidates in his mind.

Serving as guards during Kushina's delivery was a good thing for the clan members. Not only would they have a chance to distinguish themselves before the Hokage, but if they performed well, they might even leave a favorable impression in his mind.

Although the fate of the Hyuga Branch Family was tightly bound to the Main Family, Branch Family members could still make a name for themselves in Konoha through merit and ability. The Main Family did not restrict them in that regard.

At the same time, during this brief discussion with Minato Namikaze, Hiashi had already decided on several candidates for the mission.

The benefits should not go to outsiders. Even among the various Branch Family lines, there were still differences in closeness to the Main Family.

"Fourth Hokage, the Hyuga Clan will certainly give this mission our full support."

"I will select the Hyuga Clan ninja for this mission as soon as possible. At that time, my younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, will lead the other seven Hyuga Ninja to meet you."

"They will guard your wife with all their hearts and will not disappoint your high expectations."

Both Hokage present knew the ninja Hiashi had just mentioned, Hizashi Hyuga. He was one of the most outstanding ninja of the Hyuga Clan's middle generation, and his name had already spread across the battlefields of the Third Shinobi World War.

During the Third Shinobi World War, the Hyuga Clan had suffered a major incident in which their Kekkei Genkai was leaked. In order to recover the Byakugan seized by Kirigakure, the Hyuga Clan formed an elite unit to hunt down the ninja named Ao. The one leading that mission was Hizashi Hyuga.

Although the mission to recover the Byakugan had failed, Hizashi had killed many somewhat renowned Kirigakure ninja on behalf of the Hyuga Clan, thus entering the view of Konoha High-Ranking Officials.

Hearing that Hiashi intended to have his own younger brother take charge of this guard mission, Minato and the Third Hokage both sensed the Hyuga Clan's sincerity and the importance they attached to this task. After exchanging a glance, smiles appeared on both their faces.

"Hizashi Hyuga will lead the team?"

"Then I can rest easy."

"Mr. Hiashi, I'll have to trouble the Hyuga Clan with Kushina's matter. If there is anything the Hyuga Clan needs my help with afterward, so long as it is within my power, I will do everything I can to assist."

Minato smiled as he gave the Hyuga Clan his promise. Though the Hokage and the Hyuga Clan should have had a relationship of command and subordination, because of the Hyuga Clan's unique status, Minato still afforded Hiashi treatment that ordinary ninja could scarcely imagine.

The essence of a close relationship was simply, "You help me when I need it, and I help you when you need it."

Minato's personal strength was beyond doubt, but due to his background, his foundation as Hokage was ultimately still shallow. Even after becoming the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage and the Konoha elders still exerted tremendous influence over his various policies.

Behind those people stood the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, and numerous Konoha ninja clans such as Ino-Shika-Cho.

Minato saw Konoha's power structure clearly. He also needed to cultivate and win over ninja clan forces that could support him, and drawing Hiashi Hyuga closer was an important political measure.

As the person concerned, Hiashi could not help feeling delighted upon hearing Minato say this, but he modestly replied, "There is no need to be so formal. We are all doing this for the village. It is what we should do."

As they spoke, Hiashi and Minato looked at each other, then shared a knowing smile. Communication between intelligent people could sometimes be remarkably effortless.

Over a tea gathering, Konoha High-Ranking Officials and the Hyuga Clan reached an understanding. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato's couple did not stay long afterward. Once they had finished their tea, they excused themselves on the grounds that Kushina was fatigued and left the Hyuga Clan.

Hiashi led Shinichi Hyuga and Shin Hyuga to see them off at the entrance to the Clan Compound. Only after watching them leave did they return inside.