Hyuga Clan

Ultimately, Haku returned home alone.

When he got home, Haku did not see Might Guy or Might Duy. Normally, they should have been home at this hour, but neither of them was there.

Haku had originally wanted to find someone and ask what was going on, but after glancing at the sky, he restrained his impulse to immediately go look for Hyuga Riko.

The next morning, at the Hyuga clan.

[Haku, you're back!]

Hyuga Riko was still very happy to see Haku, who had come to visit him.

[Yeah, I'm back. I came to see you. How have you been these past few months?]

Haku asked as he looked at the somewhat haggard Hyuga Riko.

[I'm fine. I've just been training at home these past few months, while waiting for Haku to take me out on missions again! I'm really strong now!]

Hyuga Riko spoke very casually, but Haku could still sense that something was off in his words. However, Haku did not say anything more and planned to investigate it himself when he had the time.

Afterward, Haku changed the subject and chatted with Hyuga Riko about what had happened on the battlefield over the past few months.

After checking the time, Haku asked about Might Guy and Might Duy. The two of them still had not returned home after an entire night.

Hearing Haku ask about the father and son, Haku did not know how to answer him for a moment. However, considering that Haku would find out sooner or later, he hesitated briefly before slowly speaking.

[Haku, Mr. Might Guy couldn't hold on because of the toll his body had suffered a month ago. He passed away and was buried in Konoha's cemetery.]

[As for Might Duy, according to the information the Hyuga clan received, he should have been assigned a mission by the village and sent to the battlefield against Iwagakure the day after you survived taking attacks from the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki head-on.]

At this point, Hyuga Riko seemed somewhat hesitant.

[Also, the mission Might Duy went to carry out apparently wasn't originally his. Given his strength, even completing that mission would have been somewhat difficult.]

[Yeah! I understand. Thank you, Riko! I have something to do, so I'll leave first. I'll come visit you again when I have time.]

Listening to Hyuga Riko, Haku understood that there was definitely a problem. Riko's knowledge was limited. Perhaps someone in the Hyuga clan knew more, but Hyuga Riko could not possibly know any more of the hidden details.

Under Hyuga Riko's reluctant gaze, Haku still left his residence.

[Ah! So someone is targeting me. Looks like I'd better stay farther away from Hyuga Riko. I'm sorry, Riko. Once I've solved everything, I'll take you out on missions again.]

As he walked toward the Hyuga clan, Haku thought to himself.

[Mr. Haku, my clan elder wishes to see you!]

Before Haku could even leave the Hyuga clan's gate, a shinobi from the Hyuga Branch Family blocked his path.

[Who is your clan elder?]

[Lord Hyuga Valley, Miss Hyuga Riko's father.]

[All right. Lead the way.]

As Haku followed the Hyuga Branch Family shinobi, he began wondering why Hyuga Riko's father wanted to see him.

[I am Hyuga Valley. You must be Riko's teammate, Might Haku!]

Before Haku could figure anything out, a deep voice tinged with decay reached his ears. Haku raised his head and sized up Hyuga Valley. He was a middle-aged man wearing the Hyuga clan's clothes, with strands of gray already visible in his hair.

[Not bad! A young hero indeed. I already know about what you did at the front lines.]

While Haku was still sizing him up, Hyuga Valley spoke—and his opening words left Haku completely baffled.

[What do you think of my Hyuga clan? Would you be interested in joining us?]

[Huh? What do you mean, sir? I don't really understand.]

Hyuga Valley did not answer Haku directly. Instead, he swept back the hair over his forehead, revealing his smooth brow.

[I am an elder of the Hyuga Main Family, and Hyuga Riko is my only child. In the future, he will inherit the position of an elder of the Main Family.]

[If you also want to take the position of an elder of the Hyuga Main Family, that is actually possible.]

[What do you think, Haku?]

Hyuga Valley did not give Haku any time to react. He finished saying what he wanted to say, then quietly waited for Haku's response.

[Lord Hyuga Valley, what would I have to do for the matter you mentioned? Or rather, what price would I have to pay?]

[I don't believe the position of an elder of the Hyuga Main Family could simply be handed to an outsider.]

[Clap, clap, clap!]

Hearing Haku's answer, Hyuga Valley applauded first, looking at him with approval.

[Not bad. You're still very young, but you haven't let the benefits in front of you cloud your judgment.]

[Becoming an elder of the Hyuga Main Family as an outsider is impossible.]

Hyuga Valley first denied the possibility of Haku directly becoming an elder of the Hyuga Main Family, but then he changed course and presented Haku with an unexpected option.

[However, as my descendant, Riko's partner can marry into the Hyuga clan, take the surname Hyuga, and gain the authority of an elder.]

[The only responsibilities would be protecting Hyuga Riko's safety and carrying out certain missions that he absolutely must undertake.]