The Hyuga and Kurama Alliance (Part 2)

Hyuga Hiashi returned to the Hyuga Clan compound filled with rage. However, he was unaware that the Hyuga elders were also waiting for him, their young clan head, filled with anger.

Ming Jing slowly walked out of the Hokage's office, with Tsukishiro Yuexi and Qing Yan following closely behind. Ming Jing squinted his eyes, and after exiting the Hokage building, he said to Tsukishiro Yuexi, "Immediately write a letter to the head of the Royal Capital, asking him to personally state that I will be fully representing the Kurama Clan's affairs during this period! I need to receive this reply within two days."

"Yes!" Tsukishiro Yuexi nodded with a solemn expression and returned to the clan compound. Tsukishiro Yuexi immediately utilized the rarely used carrier pigeons within the clan. After personally releasing three carrier pigeons, Tsukishiro Yuexi finally felt a sense of relief.

Meanwhile, upon his return to the clan, Hyuga Hiashi was immediately summoned by the elders.

In a dimly lit room filled with seals, the seven elders of the Hyuga Clan sat in a semicircle, with Hyuga Hiashi, the clan head, kneeling in their center. This secret room was one of the most confidential places in the Hyuga Clan, and the seals were capable of preventing any sounds from escaping the room. Similarly, any creature entering the room without permission would be detected immediately.

"As the clan head of the Hyuga Clan, your actions at the meeting today were extremely disrespectful! Lord Hiashi." One of the elders spoke, who was also among those who attended the meeting with Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi frowned. He had originally intended to persuade the elders to put pressure on the village together. Now, it seemed even his own clan had compromised!

"Then, according to your wishes, how should I respond?" Hyuga Hiashi looked at the elder, his tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"Of course, by handing over the culprit and ending this incident!" The elder smiled slightly, daring to answer as Hyuga Hiashi dared to ask.

Hyuga Hiashi scoffed and looked at the seven old fossils opposite him. "I killed the person, one palm strike was enough. You can hand me over!"

"No, it wasn't you." The head elder, sitting at the forefront, slowly shook his head. His cloudy eyes seemed unable to see anything. "The culprit has already confessed and is being held. Why should the clan head continue to protect them?"

"What?!" Hyuga Hiashi was stunned. He was the one who killed the person. Where did this culprit the head elder mentioned come from? But he quickly realized that these old fossils had found a scapegoat for him! And the most suitable scapegoat in the entire Hyuga Clan was Hiashi's younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga! A branch family member with similar strength and appearance!

"No! Absolutely not!" Hyuga Hiashi stood up abruptly and roared, "I was the one who killed him, not Hizashi! Hizashi is innocent!"

"Is that so?" The head elder raised his head slightly, a strange smile appearing on his face. "Who knows?"

Who knows???

Hyuga Hiashi's mind was in chaos as if struck by lightning. No wonder the head elder had reminded him at the beginning not to tell anyone that he was the one who acted, using the excuse of "confusing the enemy in the dark." It was only at this moment that Hyuga Hiashi understood that the head elder had made thorough preparations from the very beginning!

If the Raikage backed down, the Hyuga Clan would release the news of the loss of Kumogakure Jonin to assert the Hyuga Clan's prestige.

If the Raikage overreacted, the Hyuga Clan would release the scapegoat, Hizashi Hyuga. The death of one branch family member was not a major issue for the Hyuga Clan.

From the very beginning, the head elder had placed the Hyuga Clan in an invincible position.

Unfortunately, this approach did not gain the approval of Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi. The young clan head glared at the head elder and asked, "Are we just abandoning our clan member like this?!"

"This is also the village's intention." The head elder looked at Hyuga Hiashi calmly and said, "The clan head is still young, and impulsiveness in actions is understandable. But I hope this is the last time. The future of the Hyuga Clan rests on your shoulders. In the future, when making choices, you must weigh the pros and cons. 'Sacrificing the self to save the greater good' is the mindset a clan head should have."

Hyuga Hiashi was speechless for a moment. He didn't know how to refute the head elder. Even a voice within him told him that the head elder was right.

Hyuga Hiashi walked out of the secret room in a daze. He had been persuaded. The thought of his brother dying in his place made Hyuga Hiashi's heart ache as if being cut. He slammed his palm onto the armrest, shattering it into pieces.

The next time Hyuga Hiashi saw Hizashi Hyuga was two days later. Hyuga Hiashi had struggled for two days, but it all seemed so insignificant. In the clan's prison, Hizashi Hyuga was still the understanding Hizashi Hyuga, but Hyuga Hiashi was no longer the confident Hyuga Hiashi. The prison was located in the northernmost part of the Hyuga Clan compound. Its defenses were not the strongest, but its conditions were certainly the worst. There was only coarse food and a thin mat for bedding. If one wanted better food, they could only hope for visitors.

"I'm sorry, Hizashi..." Hiashi knelt before Hizashi, his sorrow overflowing.

"This is not your fault, brother." Hizashi shook his head and instructed, "From now on, I'll trouble you to take care of Neji, brother."

"Hizashi, I... I'm sorry!" Hiashi wanted to say more, but the words caught in his throat, and he didn't know what to say.

"Why must Mr. Hyuga be so sad?" Just then, a childish voice came from the door. The iron gate was then pushed open, and Kurama Ming Jing walked in with a gentle smile.

"Who are you?!" Hyuga Hizashi instinctively stood up to shield Hyuga Hiashi, activating his Byakugan and entering a combat state.

"This person is Kurama Ming Jing, the acting representative of the Kurama Clan. To be able to reach here without alerting the guards, your strength is not weak. State your purpose, or else..." Hyuga Hiashi gently pushed Hizashi aside, explaining to his brother. In front of his brother, Hiashi could be a failed elder brother, but in front of outsiders, he was always the proud clan head of the Hyuga Clan!

"I apologize for this presumptuous intrusion, young one. I offer this tea in lieu of wine to Mr. Hyuga, begging for your forgiveness." Ming Jing knelt down, picked up the teacup on the table, and toasted Hyuga Hiashi before drinking it all in one gulp.

Seeing Ming Jing lower his stance so much, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't be too overbearing. He knelt opposite Ming Jing, with Hyuga Hizashi kneeling behind Hiashi. The two brothers stared directly at Ming Jing, wanting to know his purpose for coming here.

Ming Jing didn't rush to speak. He clapped his hands. Tsukishiro Yuexi brought out a delicate lunchbox. Layer by layer, she removed the compartments, revealing nine exquisite dishes laid out on the table.

"You came here just to promote your flower cuisine?" Hyuga Hiashi asked dismissively, seeing Ming Jing's actions.

Ming Jing took out a pair of chopsticks and placed them in front of Hyuga Hiashi before saying with a wry smile, "Mr. Hyuga, please don't joke. I'm telling you that our Kurama Clan is not having an easy time!"

"Oh? Then I don't know what kind of life would be considered easy." Hyuga Hiashi glanced at the delicacies, suppressing his saliva.

"Do you know a saying called 'possessing jade invites trouble'? That's what our Kurama Clan is like now! We have a lot of wealth, but no corresponding strength to protect it. That's why I say, life is not easy!" Ming Jing said to Hyuga Hiashi with a sincere expression, "I risked coming here this time hoping that our two families can mutually benefit and advance and retreat together!"

An alliance??

Hyuga Hiashi frowned slightly. He really wanted to arrogantly say, "My Hyuga Clan doesn't need it!" But this incident had truly slapped him in the face. Without allies, they would just be at the mercy of others!

Although he was inclined in his heart, it didn't mean the Hyuga Clan was willing to form an alliance with the Kurama Clan. Or rather, the current Kurama Clan. Ten years ago, the Hyuga Clan would have been willing. Now... what else does your Kurama Clan have besides money? And money doesn't mean as much to ninjas as one might imagine.

"I don't think the Kurama Clan is qualified to form an alliance with the Hyuga Clan!" Hyuga Hiashi said directly.

Ming Jing smiled indifferently. "The Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka, Gekko, Mochizuki, and Hatake clans are staunch supporters of the Hokage. The Aburame Clan remains on the periphery, and the Uchiha Clan has its own faction. In the entire Konohagakure, is there any clan more suitable than my Kurama Clan? More importantly, I can save Mr. Hizashi."

"What?!" Hyuga Hiashi almost stood up. His entire body leaned forward, as if to push Ming Jing to the ground. "How can you save him?!"

"Mr. Hyuga, have you forgotten? The Uchiha Clan isn't the only one skilled in Illusion Techniques in Konohagakure; it's also my Kurama Clan!" As Ming Jing said this, he suddenly found that his surroundings had changed. A ripple spread out, and a world of birdsong and fragrant flowers, bathed in bright sunlight, appeared before them. Hyuga Hizashi immediately activated his Byakugan, but he still couldn't see through the scene, as if it were all real.

But in reality, it was night!

"You've awakened the ability to control the five senses!" Hyuga Hiashi stared at Ming Jing. No wonder this guy could bring his attendants here. If it was this Bloodline Limit, perhaps he could really do it!

"Mr. Hyuga indeed has broad knowledge." Ming Jing nodded calmly. Controlling the five senses wasn't just for use like Yakumo's!