"It's real..."
With the Daimyo of the Land of Fire as living proof, the guests' last doubts finally vanished. Delight and greed spread across their faces. "A miracle medicine..."
They stared Heat-ily at the Youth-Preserving Pill in Hyuga Seigo's hand, murmuring, "What a treasure. What an absolute treasure! I want it... I want it... I have to get it..." The women were even more frenzied.
"Aaah~ Lord Qingwu, give it to me... give it to me... please... let me have it... the Youth-Preserving Pill... I want it..."
This was youth. Youth...
A ninja from a small clan shed tears. "Some of our clan elders are already old and frail, with little time left, but they can't simply pass away. They're afraid that once they die, the clan will lose its protection."
“So they can only endure all kinds of suffering, clinging to life with various life-prolonging secret techniques and secret medicines, terrified that their deaths will plunge the entire clan into crisis~ That's the tragedy of minor Factions like ours~” another guest said with feeling.
Another guest agreed. "Exactly. If we could get the Youth-Preserving Pill and restore those powerful elders to their youthful condition, how wonderful would that be!"
None of them were fools. An envoy from a ninja clan said, "Even if its effects only restore youth temporarily rather than extending life, as long as it works at a critical moment, it could become a decisive trump card that turns the tables."
"We might even avert a catastrophe because of it~" His eyes shone with hope for the future.
"Our clan's patron really is getting very old. He rarely takes action anymore and mostly serves as a deterrent... if..."
Many representatives of small clans shuddered. Isn't that exactly our situation?! Even a powerful, thousand-year-old clan like the Uchiha Clan could disappear just like that. What chance do we have~
"With the Youth-Preserving Pill, our clan might reach new heights. And the best kind of mortal enemy is a dead one..." Countless schemes and murderous intentions flashed through the eyes of the ambitious.
Some of these people were plants arranged by Qingwu, but their performance seemed effective enough. Their words struck a chord with everyone.
Hyuga Seigo smiled as he watched their excited faces, his voice full of temptation. "Everyone, you've seen what the Youth-Preserving Pill can do. Do you want it?"
"Yes~ Yes~ Yes~" The women responded first.
No one is stopping me from becoming young today. Anyone who dares will have to fight me to the death... That frenzy terrified the men... though more of them wore pained expressions...
"Damn it, you spendthrift woman. All you ever say is 'I want it'... do you know how much that'll cost...?"
But remembering how lovely their wives had been in their youth, their hearts Heat-ed up despite themselves. "Yes, spend it. This is money worth spending."
The representatives of the other Factions were also calculating what price they could afford to pay for the Youth-Preserving Pill.
“Hiruzen, this brat has gone too far. How can he publicize a Secret Medicine like this so freely? Does the village mean nothing to him?”
"Why didn't he hand it over to the village first? Hyuga Seigo is betraying the village... he's strengthening our enemies..." Growing anxious, Danzo growled quietly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, also hoping to stir up trouble.
"Sigh~ I know~"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed softly. He understood all of that perfectly well. "Danzo, do you think the Hyuga will listen to me, or to you? Or do you think you can stop them?!"
Danzo, I know you want it without paying. So do I. But the Hyuga don't give a damn about us.
Have you forgotten what happened at the Hokage Building that day? Do you think Hyuga Seigo would dare attack you?!!
There was no question. He absolutely would.
Danzo understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's unspoken meaning. After so many years together, they still shared that much understanding...
"I..." The question silenced Danzo too. He wanted to say that if they could wipe out the Uchiha, they could do the same to the Hyuga. But the words stuck in his throat. The strength the Hyuga Clan had revealed was already terrifying.
Who knew whether they had any more trump cards? The so-called Great Sage of Hundred Beast Mountain had yet to appear, but the strength they had displayed was already on par with the Three Great Sage Regions.
Large Summoning Beasts had always been strategic weapons. Even if they couldn't win, they could still escape through reverse summoning.
If they retaliated, the consequences would be more than either man could bear.
Unwilling to accept it, Danzo said, "Hiruzen, are we really just going to watch? Let that Hyuga brat keep running wild...?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen tugged his Hokage hat down, hiding his expression. "Danzo, a man may be innocent, but possessing a treasure makes him guilty. Hyuga Seigo is still too young. He doesn't understand human greed..."
Danzo stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen in surprise. "You..."
By then, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already regained his usual kindly smile. "Danzo, what are you talking about...? I never said a thing~"
Danzo: ...Damn it. I hate people who talk in riddles.
You come up with the ideas, and I do the dirty work. You enjoy the rewards, and I take the blame.
It seemed half his life had gone that way.
Hiruzen, you bastard.
Danzo had actually grown a brain. Remarkable. Truly remarkable.
But didn't that tone sound a little like... that? Grumbling and saying no, yet deciding to do it anyway.
And he had never married in his entire life.
Could he be...?
Really!!!
"Clan Head Hyuga, how can we obtain the Youth-Preserving Pill?" someone asked impatiently.
"Heh~ Then why don't you all take a seat inside, and we can talk?!" Qingwu watched the ill-intentioned guests whisper among themselves. He understood their many malicious and greedy thoughts, but that was simply human nature.
"Talk? Of course we should talk." None of the Factions objected. Qingwu's willingness to share the Youth-Preserving Pill was already a delightful surprise. Faced with such overwhelming force, what damned objections could they have...?
Watching this, Qingwu thought, Sure enough, diplomacy only works within cannon range...
His expression remained composed as he politely invited everyone into the Hyuga Clan's largest reception hall. The site of the Handover Ceremony wasn't suitable for their discussion. “Everyone, please come inside~”
"After you, Clan Head Hyuga~"
"Lord Daimyo, please~"
"Third Hokage~"
"..."
Everyone exchanged courtesies. Qingwu knew it was all for show. Once their interests clashed, these people would beat each other's brains out in an instant~
"Heh~ Let me usher in a new era."
Qingwu understood perfectly well that the moment he decided to step into the spotlight, he had prepared himself to face every method and situation thrown at him. He wanted to throw the Ninja World into chaos.
Flap, flap~ Countless ninja pigeons, hawks, and messenger birds took flight. Even Summoning Beasts began using reverse summoning to carry intelligence.
Some people also made excuses to leave, keeping a few companions behind to observe while the others returned to report, knowing they couldn't afford the price.
After all, information was money.
These people could hardly wait to cash in at the Exchange Office.
"Go on. It can only get chaotic once enough people are involved~"
Qingwu watched without stopping them.
The Hyuga Clan had no fear of outsiders coveting their possessions. A powerful Formation covered the entire clan compound.
In fact, Qingwu had deliberately arranged the black-clad intruders' appearance today to establish his authority. The Formation remained dormant, ready to activate at any moment.
Only when someone attacked could he strike freely in self-defense, and right now, he needed laborers to complete some work.
Both Small World Construction and his experiments required people.
"Qingwu is amazing. When I grow up, I want to be like him..." His young friends watched how effortlessly Qingwu handled everything, their eyes full of admiration. Even Sasuke was impressed.
His father had never enjoyed this much glory.
The Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka, and Aburame had all formed plans by now.
"This boy has already established himself. We could have the younger generation visit him and see whether they can..."
"Diplomacy through children. That could work~"
As for whether to fully align themselves with him, they would wait and see. After all, the Hyuga Clan's trials had only just begun~
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen had said.
Human greed.
Its depths were unfathomable.
Before you continue