32, Clue

After the war with Iwagakure ended, neither Konoha nor Iwagakure showed any initiative to submit a peace treaty.

Iwagakure was now busy dealing with the restless Kumogakure.

Konoha also needed to make time to deal with the Hidden Mist Village, which had been constantly harassing them from the east.

Matters of peace negotiations could only be left to the daimyos of the two countries.

The two nations exchanged letters, discussed the terms, then sent representatives to sign an agreement within the Land of Grass, with Konoha and Iwagakure each dispatching representatives as witnesses.

Afterward, to thank the Land of Wind for its assistance, the Land of Fire specifically sent lavish gifts to express its gratitude.

Although this war had left Konoha severely weakened, it did not change the Land of Fire's vast resources and wealth.

The daimyo also gave Konoha support in every regard, funding the hiring of several renowned ninja factions within the country to help deal with the Hidden Mist Village.

In this world where military power was dominated by ninja, the strength of a ninja village was also an important component of national power. The daimyo likewise hoped that Konoha would recover its strength as soon as possible.

At present, aside from the Hidden Mist Village, Konoha's internal affairs were also giving Sarutobi a headache. Since returning to the village, all the accumulated official business required his attention, piled so high on his desk that it nearly buried him alive.

Suddenly, a ninja knocked and entered.

"Hokage."

"Mm." Sarutobi replied without raising his head.

"There has been progress in the matter of Jinyu Hyuga's death."

Sarutobi, who had been buried in reviewing official documents, could not help but freeze. He had long since cast this matter to the back of his mind.

He set down his pen and looked through the mountain of files before him at the ninja. It was the person he had originally sent to investigate the matter at the Hyuga Clan, though the man had later gone to the front lines with him.

"What progress?"

The ninja stepped forward and handed over a booklet.

Sarutobi accepted it, opened it, and carefully flipped through it, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

"You've done well. You may leave for now."

"Yes."

After the ninja withdrew, Sarutobi did not continue reviewing official business. Instead, he sat there, lost in thought.

Not long afterward, someone else pushed open the door and entered.

It was Danzo.

Sarutobi casually closed the booklet and set it aside. "Why are you here?"

"I came to ask about the Hidden Mist Village. They need a commander-in-chief."

Sarutobi's expression remained unchanged. "Who do you think is suitable?"

Danzo answered without hesitation, "Orochimaru."

"You think so highly of your former subordinate?"

"It's not that I think highly of him. Orochimaru is the people's choice now. You understand that too, Sarutobi."

"I have my own decision to make on this matter. You needn't concern yourself with it," Sarutobi said calmly.

Danzo was somewhat dissatisfied with Sarutobi's attitude, but he did not flare up. Instead, he asked, "How is the investigation into the mole going?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the office suddenly fell silent.

Sarutobi sat there, his eyes fixed intently on Danzo. Only after a long while did he say, "We haven't found them yet."

Danzo said, "Do you need my help?"

Sarutobi replied, "If you have any clues, you can provide them to me."

As Danzo turned to leave, he suddenly heard Sarutobi's icy voice behind him.

"Don't worry. I absolutely will not let the mole remain alive in this world."

After Danzo left the Hokage's Office, a Root Ninja waiting outside stepped forward.

"Where is Orochimaru?" Danzo asked.

"Lord Orochimaru is with Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade," the Root Ninja replied.

Danzo frowned upon hearing this. "That fellow isn't anxious at all."

Isn't he afraid the truth will come out...?

"Go find him again. Tell him to come see me once he comes out."

"Yes."

Hyuga Clan Compound.

Hiashi was also handling clan affairs at a desk in his study.

Since the clan's numbers had plummeted, many of the clan's businesses had been left unattended and had fallen into stagnation.

Some of these businesses were inside the village, while others were outside it.

Otherwise, the extravagant expenses of such a large clan could never be supported solely by the salaries of its ninja.

Some places could be handled by the clan elders, while others could only be watched over by hired professionals.

The Hyuga Clan now needed to undergo a long period of recovery.

At that moment, Ayano suddenly entered carrying tea and gently set it on his desk.

"Hiashi, you've been busy for a long time. Take a break."

Hiashi ignored her and continued reading the document in his hand.

"Hiashi..." Ayano softly called out.

Only then did Hiashi frown. "I know. You can leave."

The words Ayano had wanted to say caught in her throat. She stood there, hesitating.

"Hiashi, I..."

"Why are you still standing here?"

Hiashi's cold dismissal made Ayano look even more dejected.

She could only pick up the tray and silently leave.

Ayano had once explained to Hiashi that it had been Lord Taikei's order at the time, and that she had no choice.

But Hiashi seemed to have made up his mind about certain things, and his attitude toward her had turned directly cold.

After leaving the hall, she encountered Hizashi entering the courtyard.

"Lady Ayano." Hizashi bowed.

A gentle smile returned to Ayano's face. "Hizashi, are you looking for Hiashi?"

Hizashi lowered his head and replied, "Yes. I have some matters to report to Lord Hiashi."

Ayano nodded. "He's in the study."

Hizashi bowed again and prepared to enter the hall, when Ayano suddenly called out to him.

"Hizashi, you're going to marry Ayari."

"Yes."

"Ayari may be an adult now, but she's still like a child in many ways. You should be more tolerant of her."

"Hizashi understands."

Hizashi entered the hall.

Ayano remained where she was, watching his retreating back with a complicated look in her eyes.

The four of them had grown up together, and they had once been very close. When they were children, Hizashi had always preferred playing with her.

But ever since Hiashi had been established as the Main Branch and she had become engaged to him, everything had changed.

An ugly cursed seal had appeared on Hizashi's and his sister's foreheads, and her parents had told her many things as well.

In the future, she would be Hiashi's wife, the Hyuga Clan head's wife. Her status would be far above that of others, so she had to keep her distance from Hizashi and grow closer to Hiashi.

For more than ten years, she had indeed done so, until Lord Taikei told her about the list of five people some time ago.

She had panicked at once. If she truly left the village with Hizashi, how was she supposed to live from then on?

Moreover, Lord Taikei's meaning had been to give both her and her sister to Hizashi, which made her feel humiliated.

But at the time, that seemed to be the only way out. If they did not leave, they could only remain in the village and wait to die, then find Hiashi on the road to the afterlife and continue keeping him company.

She did not want to die.

What no one had expected was that the village had actually won, and Hiashi and the others had returned. Joy and despair had come too quickly, catching everyone off guard.

Meanwhile, in Hiashi's study, Hiashi was processing the information Hizashi had just told him.

"You're saying Jinyuu's death may be connected to the mole?"

"That's right. Those stolen Byakugan may very well have been the mole's doing!"

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