Gossip and Rumors

"What?"

Hyuga Hiashi's expression shifted. "How does Uchiha Fugaku know about my loss to Uchiha Siming?!"

He and Uchiha Fugaku were both clan heads.

In their youth, the two had even competed against each other.

But now, being defeated by an ordinary member of the Uchiha Clan was nothing short of a monumental disgrace. Even if they hadn't fought again as adults, in Fugaku's eyes, he was already a defeated general!

"Uchiha Fugaku asked on his own. When his subordinate didn't answer, he probably... inferred it from the subordinate's reaction."

Hyuga Liuhuo braced himself and explained.

"Damn it!"

Boom—!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he grew. The teacup before Hyuga Hiashi shattered violently, tea splashing, leaves scattering across the floor, the walls, and his once-pristine white robes, now stained.

Just like his mood at this moment.

"How dare Uchiha Fugaku be so arrogant? I am the head of the Hyuga Clan!"

His breathing grew ragged.

He could no longer maintain his initial calm and nobility. In his heart, the Hyuga Clan had always been transcendent, standing tall in Konoha for a hundred years, making countless contributions—especially their noble bloodline.

Something no other clan possessed.

That was his pride.

Yet today, Uchiha Fugaku had crushed it alive, and all of this—

"It's all Uchiha Siming's fault! If not for him, I wouldn't have lost, and I wouldn't be in this situation now!"

In just a few short days.

Not only had the Hokage treated him dismissively, but even Uchiha Fugaku had shown no mercy in his tone toward the head of the Hyuga Clan. All of it was that fifteen-year-old boy's fault!

"Yes, and Neji too. Because of Neji, Uchiha Siming came to the Hyuga Clan."

Hyuga Hiashi suddenly thought of the root cause. His face darkened:

"Bring Neji here immediately!"

Soon, Neji was summoned. Seeing Hyuga Hiashi's grim, cloud-like oppressive expression, he knew what awaited him.

Hah.

Just the shackles of the Caged Bird.

The agony of a fate worse than death.

There was no fear in his eyes, only piercing clarity and understanding.

And seeing Neji's gaze, Hyuga Hiashi felt the authority of the Main Family challenged, rage burning within him!

No fawning or fear—that was disrespect to the Main Family!

"Neji! You are, after all, a member of the Hyuga Branch Family."

Hyuga Hiashi's cold voice cut like a blade, as if to shred Neji's hopes.

"No matter what, you cannot escape the Branch Family, nor can you escape the Caged Bird on your forehead. Always remember your place as a member of the Branch Family!"

His gaze fell on Neji's forehead.

If it were before, Neji thought he would feel inferior, sad, resentful. But now, his eyes remained clear, and he saw Hyuga Hiashi, who used such despicable means to control his clan, as nothing more.

Like a clown.

"Hyuga Neji!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes trembled. In Neji's eyes... he saw contempt?

He couldn't believe it!

Rage surged in his eyes.

"It's all that Uchiha Siming's fault—that evil Uchiha—making you impure too!"

Any Branch Family member who offended the Main Family would suffer the pain of the Caged Bird!

He would make Hyuga Neji recognize his mistake!

But at that moment, two figures appeared in an instant. The leader wore a wild dog mask, his spiky white hair standing out sharply as he blocked his path.

"Hyuga Clan Head."

Anbu?

Kakashi?

The son of the Konoha White Fang, now a man who had become an Elite Jonin!

Hyuga Hiashi's pupils contracted, his gaze fixed on the Anbu's white hair.

"By order of the Hokage, Hyuga Neji is to be summoned as a member of the Anbu. I hope Lord Hyuga will consent."

He said "hope."

But for the Hyuga Clan, who had always supported the Hokage, this was no different from a notification. Hyuga Hiashi's expression stiffened slightly before he replied, "Since it is the Hokage's order, the Hyuga Clan will naturally support it."

"Thank you, Lord Hyuga."

Hatake Kakashi nodded in acknowledgment. "Then I will take Hyuga Neji with me now. If anything comes up, Lord Hyuga may communicate with the Hokage at any time."

With that said.

He looked at Hyuga Neji, who immediately caught on and followed him out. At the same time, a flash of insight struck him, and his heart began to pound.

This was... his teacher coming to save him!

After watching the three leave, Hyuga Hiashi's face darkened like ink, as if it could drip water.

"What reason could there be for the Hokage to personally summon Neji to become an Anbu?!"

In his view.

Uchiha Siming had just had a heated argument with the Hokage, so naturally this had nothing to do with him. Could it be that the Hokage had taken a liking to Hyuga Neji's talent?

But Anbu selection had always been strict, and they only chose seasoned ninjas.

Letting a seven-year-old child with no battlefield experience enter the Anbu?

This was a first.

"Regardless, the Hyuga Clan's loss of face is inseparable from Uchiha Siming!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes were as cold as an abyss:

"This matter will not end so easily!"

If the Hyuga Clan were trampled underfoot by the Uchiha Clan, then from now on, everyone would question the Hyuga Clan's ability and standing. This was about the Hyuga Clan's dignity, and he would never allow such a thing to happen.

Root.

After half a month of searching, Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru were still nowhere to be found.

Shimura Danzō's expression grew darker by the day!

His two strongest trump cards were Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru. If their poison insects and mental control were combined properly, even a Kage-level expert would meet their end!

But now, there was no trace of either!

"Even if I can't find them, I am certain that Uchiha Siming is responsible!"

His sinister, triangular eyes turned cold, but he took a deep breath:

"I underestimated Uchiha Siming's strength. He already possesses power no less than a Kage-level expert."

It seemed the men in his hands were no longer enough to deal with Uchiha Siming.

He would have to act personally.

"Patience."

He quickly calmed down:

"I've already waited this long. There's no need to rush. I must wait for the perfect opportunity—preferably... for the Uchiha Clan to tear each other apart. And Uchiha Itachi is an excellent entry point."

He had been observing Uchiha Itachi for a long time.

He considered himself clear-headed, loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and estranged from the Uchiha Clan.

If the Uchiha Clan ever rebelled.

For the sake of peace, Uchiha Itachi would be the sharpest blade. And now, he didn't need to do anything—it was also a good time to think through the situation.

But just then, a panicked voice came through.

"Lord Danzo, it's bad! Over the past half month, two rumors have spread through Konoha. One says the Uchiha Clan is arrogant and abuses the Police Department's authority. The second... says that you have been arbitrarily slaughtering fellow villagers!"

"Even... conducting human experiments!"

Danzō's pupils contracted!

His face twisted in fury!