Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Arrive, Hyuga is Stubborn

The next day.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and a grim-faced Shimura Danzō paid a visit to the Hyuga clan, though their Anbu escort was promptly blocked at the gate.

The Hyuga gate guard spoke: "Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō, the two of you may enter, but these Anbu lords should remain here to rest and wait for your return."

The expressions of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō turned cold instantly; the Hyuga clan was so arrogant that it was clearly time to knock them down a peg.

"You Hyuga dare to obstruct the Anbu? Is this an act of treason against the village?!" Danzō immediately slapped a heavy label on them.

As expected, his tone was cut from the same cloth as the Root ninja.

So, that was where the roots were planted.

The Hyuga ninja remained calm: "Lord Danzō, you jest. Our Hyuga clan is fiercely loyal to Konoha."

"From the founding of the village, generations of our kin have bathed in blood and fought; thousands of our predecessors have died or been maimed in battle. For you to say such things is truly chilling. Are you not afraid of losing the hearts of the people if this gets out?"

The words were reasonable and well-founded.

The two Hyuga guards thought to themselves: As if we'd let you bring people in to ransack the place; the Hyuga clan would lose all face.

Coming here with such a grand display early in the morning—only a fool would believe they aren't looking for trouble... Someone has already gone to notify the Clan Head and the Great Elder, we just need to stall for time.

Besides, letting you conduct an inspection without evidence would be no different from admitting we have something to hide. We aren't the submissive Uchiha.

Educated by Hyuga Hoze over these past years, the people of the Hyuga clan had grown a backbone.

They were elites guarding the gate, after all.

That was a matter of pride.

Holy crap! Everyone present was stunned. This Hyuga ninja was incredibly bold; he actually talked back to Danzō. What a Champion... For a moment, the Anbu even looked at him with a hint of admiration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō were also dumbfounded. Since when did the Hyuga become so rigid? Even a gate guard dared to talk back like that.

Danzō's face darkened: "You Hyuga brat, you..."

"Cough, cough, cough—little brother, don't be so hasty. Danzō is a bit blunt, but he means no harm..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly stepped in to smooth things over; one had to admit, he was better at playing the social game than Danzō.

He then instructed the Anbu, while also making a point to the Hyuga.

"Since it is inconvenient for the Hyuga clan, you may wait here. I believe our safety is not a concern while with the Hyuga, and I trust the Hyuga clan will treat us well." His words were impeccable; he was truly an old fox.

The Hyuga ninja smiled: "Of course, our Hyuga are famous for our hospitality."

Everyone present was speechless once again.

The Hyuga. Hospitable?

Are you trying to laugh me to death so you can inherit my estate?

In all of Konoha, only the Uchiha were more arrogant than you.

Oh, wait—the Uchiha are gone.

Never mind then.

As they spoke, someone arrived.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō, please come this way. The Clan Head and the Great Elder are already brewing tea to welcome you both..."

The one who came to greet them was Hyuga Hizashi, the younger brother of the Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi. In the original timeline, he was the unlucky soul who served as a scapegoat, but in this life, due to Qingwu's intervention, he had luckily survived.

"My lords, please."

Seeing the branch family head Hyuga Hizashi act so respectfully, and hearing that the Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi was personally brewing tea to wait for them, the expressions of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō finally softened. That was more like it.

This old man won't lower himself to bicker with a gate guard.

It would be beneath my status.

"Haha, excellent! Since Clan Head Hiashi is already waiting with tea, Danzō, we mustn't keep him waiting. We must properly enjoy the Hyuga Clan Head's fine tea..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily and walked ahead. Danzō snorted and followed closely behind, while Hizashi stepped aside to let them pass.

Qingwu: "Grandfather, the troublemakers are here."

Hyuga Hoze: "It's fine. Those two cowards aren't even worth a glance from this old man."

Qingwu: "Grandfather is mighty."

Hyuga Hoze: "Enough, you brat, don't be mischievous. Leave this matter to me; just stay in the back and watch without revealing yourself."

Qingwu: "Understood, Grandfather."

So this is what it feels like to have a backer? It's truly reassuring.

Upon entering the old Hyuga estate.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō noticed something was wrong; their sensory perception was restricted, and it was far too quiet.

"Hizashi, why is the estate so quiet? Where has everyone in the Hyuga clan gone..."

"Lord Hokage, they should all be at the training grounds. With the year-end assessments approaching, everyone is working very hard~"

"Oh, I see... so that's how it is..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen then signaled to Danzō with his eyes; the Hyuga were acting strangely, so they should play it by ear.

Danzō nodded slightly, understanding. In a split second of eye contact, the two had finished their exchange.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō, your presence truly brings splendor to the Hyuga clan~"

"Tea has already been prepared, please, both of you~" Hyuga Hiashi was already waiting at the entrance of the living room. Seeing them arrive, he hurried forward to welcome them, giving them plenty of face.

Seeing Hiashi so respectful, Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face crinkled into a smile like a chrysanthemum: "Hiashi, you are too polite. Let's go together." As he spoke, he reached out to take Hiashi's hand.

"Lord Hokage, you and Lord Danzō are the guests. Please, after you..." Hiashi shifted his body to let Danzō pass, extending a respectful invitation once more to let Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō enter first.

Are you kidding? I can't let you do that. It's not worth being held a grudge by Danzō over such a trivial matter.

A flash of surprise crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes; he hadn't expected Hyuga Hiashi to dodge him.

Danzō, however, nodded in satisfaction—the man was sensible.

Seeing his scheme fail, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt no disappointment; it had been a trap laid on a whim anyway: "Hahaha~ Since you insist, Hiashi, this old man won't stand on ceremony. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let's go in, Danzō."

With that, he and Danzō entered the living room together.

"Step, step~"

The two brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, followed closely behind.

The two exchanged glances.

The visitors are ill-intentioned.

Understood, play it by ear.

Are we going to make a move?

Let's see what the Great Elder intends.

Got it.

"Hm?! Who are you?"

As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō entered the living room, they realized something was wrong; someone was already sitting there drinking tea.

He looked somewhat familiar.

But judging by the Byakugan, he had to be a Hyuga.

"Yo~ If it isn't the busy Lord Hokage and Elder Shimura. What brings you to my Hyuga clan? Slurp~"

Although the middle-aged Hyuga's words were polite, he remained seated, leisurely sipping his tea without the slightest intention of standing up.

"Who are you?! You don't even rise to greet the Hokage and your own clan head? Do you have no manners?"

"Hyuga Hiashi, is this how you do things? Are you trying to make things difficult for me and Hiruzen?"

Shimura Danzō was the first to stir up trouble; he had to find a fault to escalate the situation, then use the disappearance of the Root members to take a vicious bite out of the Hyuga and tear off a piece of flesh.

"Hehe~ It's fine, it's fine. Danzō, Hiashi isn't that kind of person; it must be a misunderstanding."

"Perhaps this Hyuga doesn't recognize us. I believe Hiashi will handle it well..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old fox, spoke with honeyed words. While calling it a misunderstanding, he had already delivered the verdict, directly pressuring Hiashi to deal with the clansman. He had planted a seed of doubt: the Hyuga clan was not under the Hokage's control—this was no laughing matter. What exactly were the Hyuga planning?

Danzō understood. As expected of you, Hiruzen. You're even more ruthless than I am. If Hyuga Hiashi handles this poorly, it's tantamount to declaring independence~ You'll have an excuse to openly suppress the Hyuga, using the village's power to force them into submission and bleed them dry.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzō, I am terribly sorry. Our Great Elder is in poor health, which is why he cannot rise to greet you~"

Hyuga Hiashi hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

"Hm?!"

"What? You said he is who?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō reacted in unison, shouting in shock.

"He is our clan's Great Elder, Hyuga Hoze."