Takashi Hyuga, who had been hiding in the courtyard, was called out by Neji Hyuga.
"Lord Neji." Takashi Hyuga emerged with an odd expression. After kneeling on one knee before Neji Hyuga, he turned to greet Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled amiably, but seeing Takashi Hyuga greet Neji Hyuga before greeting him made him deeply displeased.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was now certain that the Hyuga Branch Family Neji Hyuga had gathered harbored improper intentions. Though he kept smiling on the surface, his heart grew colder.
Neji Hyuga... had already slipped beyond Hiashi Hyuga's control. Nor would he, like Hiashi Hyuga, willingly allow Konoha to command him and protect Konoha.
In other words, the current Neji Hyuga had begun to slip out of the Hyuga Clan's control.
He already believed that the Hyuga Clan could no longer restrain him.
The next step would be for even him, the Hokage of Konoha, to lose control over him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi maintained his smile, though suspicion filled his heart.
"Neji, you possess talent that even Hiashi envies. Perhaps not even the First Hokage could compare to such frightening talent. But you are still young. You should not be forming your own little faction within the clan, doing things that make your clan head wary. Hiashi, he..." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the expression of an elder concerned for a child, as though he deeply regretted Neji's choices.
Neji's maturity exceeded Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations. He could no longer be treated as a six-year-old child.
"Does Lord Hokage mean that I am talented, but should hide that talent until I grow up before forming my own faction within the Hyuga Clan?" Neji Hyuga asked with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Or is Lord Hokage willing to protect me, so long as I hand over