This Is Konoha!

"Is this Hidden Leaf Village?" When the caravan arrived at Konoha's gates, Gato curiously poked his head out of his sedan chair and carefully examined the entrance to the ninja village.

This was his first time in Konoha.

Thinking of the mission assigned by "that person," Gato did not dare slack off in the slightest and urged his caravan into the village.

The ninjas at Konoha's gates were not especially strict when inspecting ordinary merchants and travelers. They only needed to complete routine registration and answer a few simple questions.

After all, the mysterious intruder who had previously infiltrated the village could not possibly have entered through the main gate.

After entering the village, Gato followed the proper procedures and went to the administrative district where the Hokage Office Building was located. He registered with the mission center and directly stated his purpose to Konoha.

Gato Company would be opening a branch office in Konoha, mainly selling specialty goods from various countries.

The company's location had been chosen in the busiest commercial street in Konoha.

"Also, I see that Konoha is a place of outstanding people and natural beauty. I'd like to purchase some property here," Gato said to the Konoha Chunin receiving him.

"Oh, then you're more than welcome!" The Chunin immediately began enthusiastically introducing the village's real estate.

Although Konoha was primarily home to ninjas, it was also heavily reliant on merchants and nobles.

After all, ninjas were not skilled at doing business or managing the economy. Even ninja clans that engaged in trade mainly dealt in ninja tools, ninja beasts, or industries related to ninjas.

Gato looked over the streets on Konoha's map, then pointed to a district adjacent to the Hyuga Compound and asked, "How much do properties in this area cost?"

"As expected of a great merchant, you have a sharp eye! This area is right next to the Hyuga Compound, and the public safety nearby is famously good. It's very suitable for living, and the prices aren't expensive either..." The Konoha Chunin began his sales pitch.

He even personally took Gato to inspect the houses.

After all, this was a major patron!

"Mm, the environment here really is quite nice." Standing on the veranda beneath the eaves, Gato surveyed the courtyard with satisfaction.

Several decorative rocks were piled in the small pond. A bamboo tube struck against a stone under the flowing water. With a few ornamental fish, it would surely have a lovely charm.

"This residence is peaceful, and the courtyard is spacious. You and your wife would certainly live very comfortably here!" the Konoha ninja said with a flattering smile.

"Actually..." Seeing that the groundwork had been laid, Gato's expression suddenly darkened. With a soft sigh, he said, "For certain reasons, I've never been able to have children of my own."

"Ah, um—" The Konoha ninja panicked a little. How had he ended up reopening someone else's wound?

"Eh? If I adopted an orphan from Konoha, could I send him to your Ninja Academy?" Gato suddenly seemed to think of something. He clapped his hands together and asked eagerly.

"An ordinary merchant like me lost any talent for being a ninja long ago, but I still admire them greatly. If I could adopt a child, even if he only became an ordinary ninja..."

The more Gato spoke, the more animated he became.

"Adopt an orphan from Konoha?" The Konoha ninja was somewhat stunned by the sudden request.

In any other world, such a fanciful idea would have been suspicious.

But this was the Shinobi World!

This was Konoha!

The application from Gato, a major merchant of the Land of Fire, to adopt an orphan from Konoha as his son was quickly delivered to Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.

"A major merchant named Gato..." Wisps of smoke rose from Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe as he looked at the application in his hand, then at the background investigation prepared by the Intelligence Division.

Although Gato was merely a merchant, the nobles of the Land of Fire stood behind him. He might even have subtle ties to the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire. Whether it was his request to settle down or to adopt a child, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, he would be choosing a war orphan from Konoha and sending him to Konoha's Ninja Academy.

That meant Gato's adopted son would grow up in Konoha from childhood, receive an education in Konoha's Will of Fire, and have Konoha ninjas as his playmates, classmates, and friends.

After considering the matter carefully, Hiruzen Sarutobi stamped the application with the seal of the Hokage's office.

Hyuga Compound.

Four-year-old Neji stood outside a study, holding a meal box prepared by his mother. Beneath the blue Caged Bird Seal on his forehead, his face was full of worry.

Ever since Hizashi Hyuga had returned from the hospital yesterday, he had locked himself in the study for an entire day and night, refusing to see anyone.

"Father..." he called softly.

"Neji, don't mind me. Let me be alone for a while." Hizashi's voice from inside the study was somewhat hoarse and weak.

"Please eat at least a little!" Neji placed the tray at the door, then knelt before it. "Mother is very worried about you too."

Silence filled the room.

Neji continued kneeling outside the door.

Although he was only four years old, the mature Neji was extremely sensitive to major events involving the clan and the village.

A few days earlier, a mysterious person had attacked the Hyuga Compound. His father had been seriously injured and hospitalized for many days. Every day, Neji had visited him with his mother.

From that time onward, Neji had felt that something was off about his father.

But at such a young age, Neji did not understand the profound meaning in Hizashi's Byakugan. He only assumed that Hizashi had not yet recovered mentally from being defeated by the mysterious person.

"Sigh, go back and rest first, Neji." Hizashi's sigh came from within the room.

"I'll eat later."

Seeing his father say that, Neji could only rise to his feet and silently withdraw.

Inside the study, Hizashi Hyuga, dressed in casual clothes, searched frantically through the Branch House's ancient texts and historical books. Half-unrolled scrolls lay scattered all over the floor.

"Nothing... How could there be... nothing at all..." After finishing the texts in the study, Hizashi shook his head. Despair showed in his Byakugan.

The "truth behind the birth of the Caged Bird" that the mysterious person had shown him that day was not recorded anywhere within the Branch House.

As the head of the Branch House, Hizashi had inherited many texts from the previous head, including secret techniques for using the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, the profound principles of the Gentle Fist, and several historical records.

Hizashi had tried to find historical evidence to refute the mysterious person.

Yet the more he failed to find any trace of it, the more alarmed Hizashi became.

The more there was no evidence to disprove it, the more real and believable that terrifying "truth" seemed.

A wave of loneliness washed over him. Hizashi raised his trembling right hand and unconsciously touched the back of his head.

The twenty-four hours without the Caged Bird Seal had been brief, but they had left Hizashi constantly longing for that feeling of freedom.

When the Caged Bird Seal had just returned, Hizashi felt the Byakugan's full range of vision disappear. It felt as though countless ants were crawling all over his body. That unbearable itch nearly destroyed his sanity.

He desperately restrained the urge to seek out the mysterious person.

"Pledge your loyalty to me!" The mysterious person's words still echoed in his ears.

"Will you be a coward for the rest of your life, or do you want to become a hero of the Branch House? Even if only for a few minutes."

Hizashi shook his head in pain, trying to drive away that demonic whisper.

He tried hard not to think about that person, who had looked utterly evil at first glance!

But the fate of the Hyuga Branch House...

Neji's future...

Crack—

The study door finally opened. Hizashi, who had locked himself inside for an entire day and night, walked out looking somewhat dazed.

Looking at the meal tray and the food placed on the floor outside the door, he slowly sank to his knees.

"Neji..." Hizashi murmured softly, his brow weighed down by an inescapable sorrow.