"Lord Hiroki! The Third is asking you to come to the Hokage's office immediately to attend a jōnin meeting!"
Anbu Tatsushi's voice sounded beside him, pulling Hiroki from his troubled thoughts.
He glanced at Kushina, who was still shaken, gave her a reassuring look, and said solemnly, "Stay in the tower and keep yourself safe."
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was so oppressive, it felt like stepping into an ice cellar.
Hiroki and Tatsushi appeared at the same time.
Dozens of gazes turned toward them, sharp, complicated, and heavy.
They belonged to thirty or forty jōnin—the elite jōnin who had remained in Konoha, all gathered in the same room.
In the front row were a few familiar faces: the older Ino-Shika-Cho trio quietly exchanged information; the sunglasses of one member of the Aburame Clan gleamed coldly; there were members of the Inuzuka Clan and the Uchiha Clan—
Farther back was an entire row of Hyuga, their Byakugan gleaming.
Stare—stare— (Byakugan exclusive edition)
The moment Hiroki stepped inside, they all looked up almost at once.
"—Lord Hiroki."
"Lord Hiroki."
Their voices were subdued and low, yet carried a hint of gratitude. But the next moment, they froze.
They had seen the necklace hanging around his neck.
It wasn't an ordinary ornament. It was a pure-white eyeball!
Even more horrifying, the "cord" holding the eyeball in place was made of several writhing black blood vessels, like tentacles!
Earth Grudge Fear, Byakugan—
"That's..." someone murmured.
"He can actually... use it like that?" another voice asked in shock.
But this was the Hokage's office, and their discussion quickly fell silent.
Hiroki didn't explain. He didn't need to. He simply nodded slightly, then looked toward the Third.
The Third held his pipe, his expression grave.
"Hiroki," the Third said slowly, his voice low.