A Small Revenge, Faces of Konoha

Time passed in the blink of an eye, fleeting as a white colt flashing past a crevice.

Although the conflict that occurred at the Hokage Building that day was not publicized, the Hyuga clan also maintained their silence, choosing not to leak the matter.

However.

The fact that Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had gone to Konoha Hospital was still witnessed by others. This news spread rapidly throughout the entire village, triggering an uproar.

"What?! Elder Koharu and Elder Homura played too hard and got hurt, so they ended up in the hospital?"

"Is it for real?!"

"Of course it's real. My cousin's in-law's aunt's son's girlfriend saw it with her own eyes."

"Are the elders really that wild? Is Elder Koharu even past menopause at her age..."

"Elder Mitokado is truly in good shape~"

"I really want to try it, I haven't even..."

"I heard that..."

In an instant, all sorts of rumors came pouring in. It was overwhelming, and the gossip even veered off-topic... There was no helping it; information was scarce in this world, and these rumors filled that void.

Various rumors and little stories circulated: that the two had an affair when they were young and were now rekindling a sunset romance in their old age;

That the two had always been inseparable and had long since conceived a child out of wedlock, and that so-and-so was their illegitimate offspring... It was told as if it were the truth, becoming the talk of the town during tea and meal times.

(Qingwu: Hehe~ That's me, I did it all, I made it all up. No need to thank me...)

"Bastards! How dare these bastards maliciously discuss the upper echelons like this~ Quickly send people to clarify... forbid them from discussing it..."

Utatane Koharu was the first to lose her composure. Everywhere she went, people would secretly point and whisper at her, which made her, having held a high position for many years, feel particularly humiliated and enraged.

"It's no use, it's impossible to forbid it... and the more you try to explain, the darker it gets... it can't be cleared up..." Mitokado Homura comforted her, though he didn't know why he felt a little thrill in his heart.

One had to know that he had fawned over Utatane Koharu his entire life without ever getting a taste of her, and now that a scandal had broken out in their old age, it left him so excited he almost wanted to shout that it was all true.

Hehe~ An old tree blooming.

In good shape—that's me.

"So that's it? We just let them spout nonsense?" Utatane Koharu glared at him: "You and I are perfectly innocent."

Her face was full of disgust.

Danzo and Sarutobi were one thing.

But Mitokado Homura?

What kind of thing is he?

A sycophant.

"But there's nothing to be done. Sarutobi won't let us reveal the truth about the Hokage Building..." Mitokado Homura could only persuade her from the side, while secretly thinking that even if he had a way, he wouldn't say it.

Damn it, are you in such a rush to distance yourself from me? Compared to your dead husband, what am I, Mitokado Homura, lacking? Hmph~ If you look down on me, why come to me to discuss things?!

"But if this continues, how can you and I face anyone? We've lost all our dignity." Utatane Koharu looked full of grief and regret; if only she hadn't scolded that Hyuga brat back then, none of this mess would have happened.

"It's alright, Koharu. Don't you still have me by your side? Once the Hyuga handover ceremony passes in a while, no one will remember this little matter of ours." Mitokado Homura had been angry just a moment ago, but seeing Utatane Koharu so distressed, he felt a pang of heartache and stepped forward to soothe her softly.

"No, if this goes on, I'll go crazy. Every day there are people whispering behind my back, it's simply outrageous~" Utatane Koharu was somewhat hysterical, her expression even becoming distorted.

"I repeat, Sarutobi and Danzo will not allow what happened that day to be exposed," Mitokado Homura shook his head.

"Then what if I say it anyway?!"

"The upper echelons interfering in the internal affairs of various clans is a taboo. If we really push them into a corner, Sarutobi will push us out as scapegoats. It doesn't matter if I die, but you cannot be harmed." Mitokado Homura remained gentle and soft-spoken as he comforted Utatane Koharu; he didn't want to watch Koharu die—White Fang was a cautionary tale.

"Homura~ you..." Looking at the gentle Mitokado Homura, who had previously stood up against Sarutobi's killing intent to speak for her and was now by her side during such a time, it would be a lie to say Utatane Koharu wasn't moved. Subconsciously, she leaned into his embrace.

"Koharu~" Mitokado Homura's eyes widened. He hadn't expected her to make such a move and didn't know where to put his hands for a moment, so he could only silently savor this moment of tenderness.

"Good, sycophant, sycophant, you get everything if you fawn long enough."

Qingwu's shadow clone, who was secretly monitoring the Konoha high-ups, felt his eyes burn at the sight of this, but he still subconsciously snapped two photos.

And then...

The two advisors became famous again.

This time, there were photos.

It was confirmed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: Pfft~ Good grief, you two aren't even avoiding people anymore? I told you two had something going on~

Danzo: It seems it is time to win over Homura~

"Impossible, it was only the two of us at the time. Where did this photo come from..." Utatane Koharu felt like dying when she saw the photo. Her entire life of purity had been ruined just like that.

"Koharu, we've been had. Neither of us sensed anyone; it seems we are dealing with a master of concealment." Mitokado Homura no longer cared. As long as he was with Koharu, he wouldn't regret it even if he died right now; in fact, he wanted to thank this person.

For recording that beautiful moment for him.

He was already thinking about printing a few more copies later, framing them, and keeping them as a precious treasure.

"Sigh~ Forget it, it's useless to talk about this now~ The matter has already happened, so it doesn't matter anymore..." Utatane Koharu also gave up. Since there were photos, what was the point of explaining?

Believe it or not.

The facts were laid out before them.

Faced with this situation, the two advisor elders felt utterly helpless. They knew these rumors would bring them unnecessary trouble and might even affect the villagers' trust in the upper echelons. However, they could not publicly explain the truth.

They could only silently endure the pressure. Regarding these baseless speculations and rumors, they truly had grievances they could not voice.

The major clans, however, were trying every means to uncover the truth.

They were all stunned.

They never expected this, not in their wildest dreams.

"Holy crap~ The Hyuga clan is so bold, daring to strike their own teammates right in front of the Third Hokage and the Darkness of the Ninja World, Danzo~"

That's badass.

What's even more badass is that they hit Utatane Koharu and still managed to walk away unscathed. Furthermore, they actually intimidated those figures in the Konoha high command.

"Hyuga Seigo, this new young clan head of the Hyuga, has some real substance. It seems we need to make contact and see~"

"I heard he has a good relationship with the brat from my family."

"Doesn't this kid like beauties? Our clan has plenty of them; let's find a way to arrange for a few to get into their class~"

"A newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger, but isn't he afraid of retaliation from those in the high command? Better wait and see for now."

"Hmph~ Young and reckless, he won't achieve anything great."

On this day.

The Hyuga clan's succession ceremony began.

The Konoha high command, representatives from every clan in Konoha, the village's outstanding younger generation, nobles from the Land of Fire, and representatives from other ninja villages all arrived to observe the ceremony.

"Welcome, everyone. Please, come inside~" The reception was handled by a group of Hyuga elites led by Hizashi Hyuga.

The crowd watched them with surprise.

Because these Hyuga elites were completely different from the impression they had; they were young, confident, cheerful, and positive.

One had to know that the Hyuga used to be all poker-faced.

The Main Branch was too arrogant to lower their status to greet others or manage interpersonal relationships.

The Branch House, due to the Caged Bird, was oppressed, each one silent as the grave, exuding an aura of sorrow.

Now, these young people were sunny and cheerful, and their strength didn't seem weak either; judging by their aura, they were at least Chunin.

What a massive display of power.

Over a hundred experts, at least at the Chunin level, were receiving guests.

And they were all so young.

"Interesting~ It seems the Hyuga clan is truly different now. I'm really looking forward to meeting that young clan head of the Hyuga."