"...From then on, Yukina disappeared from all records of the Hyuga Clan."
Chiba frowned slightly, a faint gloom on his face as he slowly trailed off.
"Probably."
Then, as if giving it some more thought, he added that one word.
Something like that actually happened...
However, his addition drew no reaction from Neji Hyuga and Tenten, who were already dumbfounded and utterly shocked.
At that moment, both of them had their eyes wide open, their gazes filled with undisguised—no, unhideable—shock.
It was hard to imagine that something so significant had happened in the village—no, in the Hyuga Clan—and only in the recent past, merely ten or twenty years ago.
Neji Hyuga especially had never known there was such a history.
Even harder to believe was that he really had an aunt named Hyuga Yukina.
"What happened afterward? After Hyuga Shinsuke betrayed the clan, what happened? What happened to Hyuga Yukina?"
Having thought of this, the two spoke almost in unison.
"..."
Chiba froze slightly at their simultaneous question, apparently not expecting them to react so strongly.
Nor had he expected them to believe him so readily.
To be honest, he had originally thought that suddenly telling them about Hyuga Shinsuke's betrayal would make them strongly suspicious. He would have had to explain himself, and perhaps even his explanation would not have worked.
Of course, Chiba would have been quite happy if his explanation did not work, because then he could use the excuse of finding a witness to create an opportunity for Neji Hyuga and Hyuga Hiashi to meet while he was present.
That would allow him to proceed with his subsequent plans.
It would count as an opening.
But now, these two children believed him completely. They had even developed a full-blown appetite for gossip.
Tenten in particular had