The next day.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and a grim-faced Shimura Danzō paid the Hyuga Clan a visit. Naturally, the Anbu were stopped at the gate.
The Hyuga ninja guarding the gate said, "Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, you two may enter. The esteemed Anbu should stay here and rest while they wait for you~"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's and Danzo's expressions immediately chilled. The Hyuga Clan had become so arrogant. It was time to put them in their place.
"You Hyuga dare to obstruct the Anbu? Are you planning to betray the village?!" Danzo slapped them with a sweeping accusation the moment he opened his mouth.
Sure enough, his tone was exactly like that of the Root ninja.
So this was where it all stemmed from.
The Hyuga ninja remained calm. "You must be joking, Lord Danzo. Our Hyuga Clan is unwaveringly loyal to Konoha."
"Ever since the village was founded, generations of our people have fought bloody battles for it. Thousands of our predecessors have died or been disabled. Your words are truly disheartening, my lord. Aren't you afraid you'll lose the people's support if word gets out~?"
His argument was sound and backed by facts.
The two Hyuga ninja thought to themselves, You've got to be kidding. If we let you barge in with your men, our clan would lose all face.
Showing up with such fanfare first thing in the morning—who would believe you weren't here to cause trouble? Someone already went to notify the clan head and the Great Elder. All we need to do is stall~
Besides, letting them bring men in to conduct a search without any evidence would be no different from admitting they had something to hide and a guilty conscience. They were not the Uchiha, who meekly put up with whatever came their way.
After years of Hyuga Hoze's teaching, the members of the Hyuga Clan had developed some backbone.
Hadn't they heard? Even the gate guards were elites.
They represented the clan's dignity.
Holy shit~ Everyone present was stunned. This Hyuga ninja had guts. He had actually talked back to Danzo. What a warrior... For a moment, even the Anbu looked at him with a measure of admiration.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were dumbfounded too. Since when had the Hyuga become so tough? Even a gate guard dared to talk back like this.
Danzo's face darkened. "You Hyuga brat, you..."
"Ahem~ Don't get upset, young man. Danzo was a little harsh, but he meant no harm..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen hurried to smooth things over. It had to be said that he handled people better than Danzo.
Then he gave the Anbu their instructions, while also sending the Hyuga a pointed message.
"Since it would inconvenience the Hyuga Clan, wait here. I'm sure there's no need to worry about Danzo's and my safety among the Hyuga. I trust the clan will take good care of us~" His words covered every angle. What a crafty old schemer.
The Hyuga ninja replied with a smile, "Of course. We Hyuga are famous for our hospitality."
Everyone present was left speechless again.
The Hyuga? Hospitable?
Are you trying to make us laugh ourselves to death so you can inherit our estates?
Apart from the Uchiha, you're the most arrogant clan in all of Konoha.
Oh, right~ The Uchiha are gone.
Never mind, then.
As they spoke, someone arrived.
"Lord Hokage~ Lord Danzo, this way, please. The clan head and the Great Elder have already prepared tea and are waiting for you..."
The man who had come to greet them was Hizashi Hyuga, the younger brother of Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi—the unlucky fellow who had died in his brother's place in the original story. In this life, thanks to Qingwu's intervention, he had fortunately survived.
"My lords, please~"
Seeing the branch family head, Hizashi Hyuga, being so respectful, and hearing that Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi had personally prepared tea for them, Sarutobi Hiruzen's and Danzo's expressions eased a little. Now that was more like it.
I won't stoop to arguing with a gate guard.
It would be beneath my station.
"Haha~ Excellent. Since Clan Head Hiashi has already prepared tea and is waiting for us, Danzo, we mustn't keep him waiting. We should savor the Hyuga clan head's fine tea..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily and took the lead. Danzo snorted and followed close behind, while Hizashi hung back half a step.
Qingwu: "Grandpa, the troublemakers are here."
Hyuga Hoze: "Don't worry. Those two cowards aren't even worth a proper look from me."
Qingwu: "You're the best, Grandpa."
Hyuga Hoze: "All right, stop fooling around, brat. Leave this to me. Don't show yourself. Just watch from the back."
Qingwu: "Okay, Grandpa."
Is this what having someone to back you up feels like? It's really reassuring.
The moment they entered the old Hyuga residence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo noticed something was wrong. Their sensory abilities were restricted, and the place was far too quiet.
"Hizashi, why is the residence so quiet? Where has everyone gone...?"
"Lord Hokage, they should all be at the training grounds. The year-end assessments are coming up, so everyone is working hard~"
"Oh~ I see..."
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Danzo a meaningful look. Something's off with the Hyuga. Play it by ear.
Danzo nodded slightly. Understood. In a brief exchange of glances, the two had finished communicating.
"Lord Hokage~ Lord Danzo, your presence truly honors our humble Hyuga home~"
"The tea is ready. Please come in~" Hyuga Hiashi was already waiting at the sitting room door. Seeing them approach, he hurried forward to welcome them, showing them every courtesy.
Seeing how respectful Hiashi was, Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face creased into a chrysanthemum-like smile. "Hiashi, you're too kind. Let's go in together." As he spoke, he reached for Hiashi's hand to lead him inside.
"Lord Hokage, you and Lord Danzo are our guests. Please, after you..." Hiashi shifted aside to make room for Danzo and respectfully invited them in again, letting Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo enter first.
You've got to be kidding. You can say that, but I can't actually do it. It's not worth having Danzo hold a grudge over something so trivial.
A flicker of surprise crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. Hyuga Hiashi had actually dodged it.
Danzo nodded in satisfaction. He knows his manners.
Seeing that his little scheme had failed, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not disappointed. It had only been a casually laid trap. "Ahaha~ Since you insist, Hiashi, I won't stand on ceremony. A guest follows his host's wishes, so we'll do as you say... Danzo, let's go in."
With that, he entered the sitting room with Danzo.
Tap, tap~
The brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, followed closely behind.
The two exchanged glances.
They're up to no good.
I know. Play it by ear.
Are we going to fight?
Let's see what the Great Elder wants.
Understood.
"Hm?! Who are you?"
The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo entered the sitting room, they noticed something amiss. Someone was already seated there, drinking tea.
He looked somewhat familiar.
But judging by his Byakugan, he should be a Hyuga.
"Well, well~ If it isn't the ever-busy Lord Hokage and Elder Shimura. What guidance have you come to offer our Hyuga Clan? Slurp~"
Although the middle-aged Hyuga's words were respectful, he sat there leisurely sipping his tea, without the slightest intention of standing.
"Who are you?! You see the Hokage and your clan head, yet you won't stand to greet them? Have you no manners~?"
"Hyuga Hiashi, is this how you conduct yourselves? Are you trying to humiliate Sarutobi and me?"
Shimura Danzō was the first to lash out. He had to find fault and blow things out of proportion, then use the disappearance of the Root ninja to sink his teeth into the Hyuga and tear off a chunk of flesh.
"Hehe~ It's fine, it's fine, Danzo. Hiashi isn't that sort of person. This must be a misunderstanding."
"Perhaps this Hyuga doesn't recognize us. I'm sure Hiashi will handle it properly..."
The crafty old Sarutobi Hiruzen made it sound pleasant enough, but while calling it a misunderstanding, he had already passed judgment. He directly instructed Hiashi to deal with that clan member and slipped in another barb: a Hyuga failing to recognize the Hokage was no laughing matter. What exactly was the clan trying to do?
Danzo understood. Just what I'd expect from you, Hiruzen. You're even more ruthless than I am. If Hyuga Hiashi mishandles this, it'll amount to declaring independence~ Then you'll have a legitimate excuse to openly suppress the Hyuga, using the village's power to force them into submission and bleed them dry.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, my sincerest apologies. Our clan's Great Elder is in poor health, so he cannot stand to greet you~"
Hyuga Hiashi hurried to explain.
"Hm?!"
"What? Who did you say he was?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo suddenly caught on and shouted in unison.
"He is our clan's Great Elder, Hyuga Hoze."
Before you continue