Walking Another Two Alone

Yuzuru Hyuga's gift to Itachi was very simple: just a piece of calligraphy he had personally written.

While practicing the Finger Engraving Seal, he had also inadvertently honed his calligraphy skills. Combined with the little calligraphy he had practiced before his transmigration, in this Ninja World where calligraphy was not valued at all, he could be considered to have achieved a small success in calligraphy, possessing a unique style that was presentable.

The calligraphy he gifted to Uchiha Itachi contained only a single line of ordinary text.

"Hesitation leads to disaster."

These words were meant for Fugaku Uchiha, delivered through Uchiha Itachi.

You should either be decisive. Take the Uchiha Clan with you now, rally them, demand respect, demand power, find allies, negotiate interests, and aim for the Fifth Hokage position. If you succeed, great; if you fail, you die, but at least you tried. If negotiations fail, then part ways.

Otherwise, just rebel directly. Kill Danzo, strike down the Third Hokage, and tell the other clans that leadership will be shared on rotation. Your only goal is to seize power, but you will still uphold the Will of Fire. You are all still one family, and you might even attract a following.

Dilly-dallying like a scholar rebelling will never achieve great things.

Whether the Uchiha rebel or not, as long as a decision is made, it's better than the current situation, isn't it?

If the Uchiha could change Konoha's structure even a little, Yuzuru Hyuga would feel somewhat more at ease. At least, he wouldn't worry about the Uchiha interfering in the Hyuga's affairs, nor would he worry about them making a move against the Hyuga Clan.

At least, not in the short term after his appointment.

Of course, how much effect the gift would have was still questionable. At least the current Fugaku Uchiha didn't take the eight characters written by Yuzuru Hyuga seriously, though Itachi quite liked them.

In the conference room at this moment, the atmosphere was becoming somewhat strange.

Hiashi Hyuga did not want to speak, only coldly watching Hizashi Hyuga. Anger and confusion swirled within him, and he couldn't understand his actions at all.

The Hyuga Clan had always maintained neutrality, which was the key to not getting dragged into the mud during these years of wind and rain. Getting involved in the Uchiha's affairs—was he not tired enough of the Uchiha's troubles?

With a few words, the 'relocation' of the Uchiha Clan was decided. After the other reconstruction work was also arranged, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hizashi Hyuga.

He seemed more relaxed, showing a kind smile. "Let's not talk about those bothersome matters, Hizashi. I heard that your son, Yuzuru Hyuga, seems to be in his sixth year at the Ninja Academy?"

"Yes, he just entered the sixth year of the Ninja Academy this September," Hizashi Hyuga felt a jolt in his heart.

"What a young prodigy! He's only five years old this year, right? To possess at least Chunin-level abilities at the age of five is truly remarkable."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, stating a fact that surprised everyone.

"However, he is still too reckless. I heard that yesterday, to save someone, he directly faced a Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails and escaped unscathed? That's far too dangerous."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words caused many people to fall into thought, looking at Hizashi Hyuga with strange eyes.

What was that?

Facing a Tailed Beast Bomb at five years old?

If these words hadn't come from the Hokage, everyone would have thought the Hyuga family had gone mad. They couldn't possibly play such games to build hype.

"You flatter me, Hokage-sama. Yuzuru merely used Rotation to slightly alter the trajectory of the Tailed Beast Bomb; it wasn't exactly facing it head-on," Hizashi Hyuga explained a few words but found that the solemn expressions of contemplation from the others became even more real. Facing a Tailed Beast Bomb was bizarre, but altering its trajectory didn't seem like baseless talk.

It's just… this shouldn't be something a five-year-old could do, right?

What does it mean to be at least a Chunin at five years old?

Even the son of the White Fang, Kakashi Hatake, who was once renowned throughout Konoha, didn't have this ability!

Representatives from some smaller and medium-sized clans couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves, inquiring about this suddenly appearing Yuzuru Hyuga.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was unconcerned. With the punishment for the Uchiha Clan settled, the meeting was nearing its end. Let them discuss; wasn't this exactly why he brought up Yuzuru Hyuga?

He wanted Yuzuru Hyuga to surface, to make the Hyuga Clan understand that pretending ignorance and maintaining neutrality was no longer acceptable. The Hyuga Clan's neutrality, when he was mediocre, gave him the magical advantage of being untouchable. But when a terrifying genius emerged, the Hyuga Clan's neutrality became quite conspicuous.

So, while playing a small King to push the Uchiha Clan away, Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand grew worse.

Just playing a small King wasn't enough. He even had to break up his four Twos to play them.

Snap, he played a single Two.

Tsunade would cry tears of blood seeing this, and Minato Namikaze would certainly be unable to eat for three days. It was a situation that evoked silent tears from men and women alike.

Fortunately, the Third Hokage didn't like gambling, or he might have lost Konoha itself.

And how would this move of playing a small King first, then a single Two, affect the current structure of Konoha? It would force the Hyuga Clan to make a choice.

What choice?

Danzo spoke slowly, "I, Danzo, admire these young prodigies the most. If Patriarch Hyuga doesn't mind, I am willing to be his teacher. Such a genius is only wasting his time continuing in school."

Hiashi Hyuga couldn't sit still this time. But just glaring at Hizashi Hyuga wouldn't make the Tenseigan appear, so he quickly turned back and refused, "Root doesn't seem very suitable…"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and tapped his pipe again. "Then what about the Anbu? I believe, based on Yuzuru Hyuga's performance, he is already qualified to serve in the Anbu without needing further training in Root."

The two of them, singing in harmony, delivered another familiar and disgusting combination punch to Hiashi Hyuga's face.

Follow the Hokage, or go to Root?

Refuse, or accept?

Hiashi Hyuga's face was about to crack, but when he looked at Hizashi Hyuga beside him, he found that the father was even calmer than him.

Fine, if he's not scared, why should I be?

"Please allow us to discuss it, but if the Third Hokage thinks this way, graduating early and joining the Anbu is not impossible."

Hiashi Hyuga gave his answer.

The Third Hokage smiled with satisfaction.

As long as Hizashi Hyuga handed over Yuzuru Hyuga, he would maintain neutrality for them.

As for Hizashi Hyuga's actions, which showed a tendency to appease the Uchiha, it was harmless.

Who didn't know that in the Hyuga Clan, the Main Family's attitude was what mattered?

As for whether the Hyuga Clan would be dissatisfied because of this...

Wasn't Yuzuru Hyuga from the Branch Family?

Did people from the Branch Family even count as people in the Hyuga Family?

No regrets after making a move.

The cards on the table were set.

The meeting ended.

Danzo was satisfied, another day of successfully suppressing the Uchiha.

Hiruzen was satisfied. He had gained a genius card, the Uchiha were kept away from the center of power, and the Hyuga would continue to be their neutral mascots. Balance existed in all things.

Fugaku Uchiha was completely disheartened. Do whatever you want, just let it all be destroyed quickly.

Only Hiashi Hyuga's face was extremely dark, and he stared angrily at his brother.

What are you doing?

Are you rebelling?

The two returned to the Hyuga residence in silence. Hizashi Hyuga was ordered by Hiashi Hyuga to go to his study to discuss matters.

As soon as they entered the study, the enraged Hiashi Hyuga sternly reprimanded, "Hizashi, what exactly were you doing today! Do you still have any respect for me as the clan head!"

Regarding the meeting, the Nine-Tails' Rampage, and the protagonist not continuing to keep a low profile and make a fortune, some doubts were explained in the chapter comments of chapter 26.

If other questions arise later, I will consider opening a separate chapter. Personally, I believe that the plot does not have any major flaws at the moment. Apart from the setting of the Hyuga family, which might have some of my own secondary settings, I think other aspects are fine.

After all, I'm a newbie, so please be gentle ( ´ ▽ ` ).