Millennial ninja clans were very particular.
Like the chessboard and go bowls placed before Hyuga Tenzo.
They looked accidental, yet they were not casually arranged.
Combined, these objects would plant this psychological suggestion: Konoha and the Shinobi World are like a chessboard, and the clan head thinks deeply on many matters...
This was a tactic Hyuga Tenzo habitually used.
He originally wanted to use this atmosphere to make his son Hizashi understand his difficulties and thus seize the initiative...
Yet he never expected Hizashi to be so devoid of martial virtue, refusing to play any Zen riddles or play along with his mute mysteries...
A heavy hat of village betrayal was just tossed straight onto his head!
Hizashi adjusted the collar of his trench coat, his cuffs fluttering slightly with the sound of wind.
His father's habitual tactic was one he could use just as well!
Moreover, Hizashi's words paired with that Anbu trench coat produced an effect...
That was far more intimidating than those damn chessboards and go bowls!
Hyuga Tenzo even suspected that if he truly committed something similar, this son of his might genuinely drag him off to the Anbu and have the Interrogation Department spin him into a top...
Hizashi has grown smarter and knows how to leverage momentum... And the strange part was that even though Hizashi had rebuffed him like this, such a thought flashed through Hyuga Tenzo's heart: And he has been promoted; it seems he is doing quite well working in the Anbu?
Hyuga Tenzo gathered his composure and spoke in a deep voice, "What are you saying, Hizashi!"
"The Hyuga Clan is one of the pillars of Konoha, so how could I, this clan head, ever commit such an act of colluding with foreign countries?"
"The Hyuga and the Kaguya are like the Senju and the Uzumaki, bound by blood for a thousand years. Routine correspondence between us is something Lord Hokage is also aware of."
"The Hyuga has never leaked village secrets, and maintaining ties with the Kaguya Clan is done to infer Kirigakure's movements from their letters, bringing an intelligence advantage to the village!"
"Calling you here this time is also because Lord Hokage once said that if there are issues, you can first communicate with you as an Anbu member." Hyuga Tenzo put on a righteous and open appearance.
Hizashi's expression remained unchanged as he simply gave a slight nod.
He knew these things were facts, and there had been precedents.
On the eve of the First Shinobi World War, the previous Hyuga Clan Head had judged Kirigakure's warlike intent from Kaguya's letters and reported it to Second Hokage Senju Tobirama.
To a certain extent, this allowed Konoha to make preparations.
Yet nearly thirty years had passed...
In Hizashi's view, the current connection between the Hyuga and the Kaguya was nowadays more of an emphasis on independence—meaning that even the Hokage had no right to interfere in the private friendships between the Hyuga and their kin when war had not yet broken out...
If it truly matched Hyuga Tenzo's rhetoric, then why were these communications not reported during normal times?
"The moment I joined the Anbu, Father started acquiring intelligence from the Kaguya here?"
"Ever since Lord Third ascended to the position, is this the first time?" Hizashi asked softly, "Are you worried about the village, or are you afraid of me seeing something?"
"That is because there was previously no intelligence of sufficient value, and I feared disturbing the Third." Hyuga Tenzo said without turning red or skipping a beat.
Thick skin was a basic quality for being a clan head.
Hizashi flipped through the letters, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
What was stated within was that the Third Mizukage recently used the gradually worsening situation in the Shinobi World as a pretext to launch a policy named the "Bloody Mist Village," aiming to strengthen the combat capabilities of Kirigakure's shinobi.
The general meaning at present was to emphasize actual combat, praise bloodline ninja clans for proving themselves through strength, and weed out the inferior to find Kirigakure's future through excellence.
It might cause some heavy casualties, but to better respond to war, it was also worth it.
Anyone with discerning eyes, even if not certain, would in all likelihood suspect...
Was this actually raising a banner to start an internal struggle?
Yet the interesting part was that the Kaguya Clan felt extremely excited about this, believing it to be the Third Mizukage's backing of them.
The Kekkei Genkai possessed by this clan was "Shikotsumyaku," which allowed them to manipulate bones for attack and defense, alongside possessing astonishing wound-healing abilities.
The clan members were mostly unruly and cruel, praising valor and fierce brawling.
The purpose of this letter also made Hizashi feel that this clan was quite indescribable.
Because the Third Mizukage wanted to seize a broader legal basis.
He had publicized letters concerning diplomacy between Kumogakure and Konoha, as well as letters from other hidden villages supporting Konoha and condemning Kumogakure, for quite a long time.
He expressed that the situation in the Shinobi World was indeed very tense to prove the legitimacy of implementing the "Bloody Mist Village" policy.
After seeing this, the Kaguya Clan...
Actually gave birth to the hope that once they became the Fourth Mizukage through sheer strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi—who held influence in the Shinobi World—would step out to support them!
For the Kaguya Clan's reputation within Kirigakure could hardly be considered good.
Because of this, the Kaguya Clan hoped that Hyuga Tenzo would make a move to lay out plans in advance...
Watching his son's twitching mouth, Hyuga Tenzo also helplessly shook his head.
His reaction at the time was much like Hizashi's...
He didn't know what to make of this clan anymore.
To be able to realize their bad reputation within the village showed they still had some brains...
Yet could they not see that this was most likely a conspiracy by the Third Mizukage?
They were already daydreaming about becoming the Fourth in advance!
Because of this, after witnessing the Third Mizukage's methods, Hyuga Tenzo actually felt a trace of gratitude well up from the bottom of his heart.
Fortunately, the Hokage was the Hokage.
In all things, one feared comparison!
Sitting in the position of Hyuga Clan Head, he naturally resisted the Hokage reaching a hand into the clan...
Yet after Hizashi entered the Anbu, Hiruzen Sarutobi was never stingy with the treatment and positions that should be given...
Granted, these were also meant to make the Branch Family yearn for the village, serving as a wedge driven between them and the Hyuga.
At any rate, they still reasoned things out. Besides, the Branch Family was also Hyuga; no matter the conflict, the meat always rotted in the pot...
How could they compare to Kirigakure?
At the slightest disagreement, they were going to hold an Unlimited Mizukage Election Tournament!
Never mind getting elected as the Fourth Mizukage, with the Kaguya Clan's brains, it was hard to say whether there would even be anyone left alive in a few years!
Hyuga Tenzo and Hizashi exchanged a glance.
The two could not help but admire the power of Shikotsumyaku.
With such astonishing intelligence, the only way they could have survived for a thousand years just like the calculating Hyuga was through sheer combat prowess.
"Father, the vacancies for the Byakugan are huge in both the Anbu and the Patrol Force."
"Lord Sakumo has left six slots for the Hyuga."
Hizashi Hyuga slowly said, "I've already brought the message. Whether you choose to agree or refuse, it won't affect my going to invite the brothers of the Branch Family."
Hyuga Tenzo narrowed his eyes.
He had long since anticipated this day would come...
The Hokage's heavy hand would not be satisfied with taking away just one Hyuga Branch Family member.
And Hizashi Hyuga would not stand still; he would definitely pull in the Branch Family to prove his own value.
"If it weren't for seeing those events in Kirigakure, lowering my stance after only a few months would inevitably make people laugh..."
"But by comparison, the Hokage perhaps still reasons things out."
Blocking is worse than clearing; let's observe the effects for now. Hyuga Tenzo closed his eyes, pondering inwardly: If the Hokage goes too far, it won't be too late to demand an explanation!
A moment later, Hyuga Tenzo slowly opened his eyes.
"There's no time to lose, whether it's the matter of Kirigakure or the Branch Family joining village affairs..."
"I want to speak with Lord Hokage in person!"
"Hizashi, can you go ahead and announce this?"
Hizashi Hyuga looked at his father with considerable surprise.
As expected of the head of the Hyuga Clan... This ability to trim the sails was truly admirable!
He didn't want to hand all the credit to this son of his, choosing instead to bypass him and speak directly with the Hokage to seek a new layer of checks and balances.
"What, are you scared?" Hyuga Tenzo said calmly.
"Hmph..." Hizashi Hyuga gave a disdainful smile.
A quarter of an hour later, Hyuga Tenzo and Hizashi arrived at the Hokage Office Building.
The moment they stepped into the room, Hyuga Tenzo's heart skipped a beat.
Why was Shimura Danzō here too?
In his impression, this man was pretty much the same as the Third Mizukage...
After steeling himself to hand over the Kaguya Clan's letter,
Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his tobacco pipe, smoking on his own as if lost in deep thought.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzō let out a heavy cold snort, his gaze like blades as he narrowed his eyes at Hyuga Tenzo.
Hizashi Hyuga could not help but smile faintly.
He desperately wanted to pat his father's shoulder and throw those words right back at him: "What, are you scared?"
Before you continue