One more evening, the Hyuga Clan welcomed two visitors of no ordinary status.
Hyuga Tianren, the clan head, showed them all due courtesy.
As soon as he heard who had arrived, he went out to greet them personally.
Only after the three of them reached the reception room and exchanged a few polite pleasantries
did he ask his visitors,
"May I ask what brings Lord Hokage here today?"
The First Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, Senju Hashirama,
looked guilty as he heard the question.
"We've investigated the matter that young Xingzhuo uncovered."
"Oh?"
Hyuga Tianren responded with some curiosity, but the look in his eyes turned a little colder.
At that moment, Senju Tobirama stopped his elder brother from feeling guilty on someone else's behalf and took over the conversation:
"Sarutobi Sasuke, the head of the Sarutobi Clan, was behind it."
"Although he covered his tracks well, he couldn't escape the investigation of the advisory council."
"He didn't just smear the Hyuga Clan; he smeared the Uchiha Clan too. If our Senju Clan hadn't given up our surname and fully integrated into Konoha, we probably wouldn't have escaped being slandered either."
Hyuga Tianren frowned. "What was the purpose of smearing our clans, the wielder of dojutsu?"
"According to his own account, he only wanted to weaken the political standing of the two strongest clans and ensure peace and stability in the village."
"But anyone can see that he wanted his son to become the next Hokage."
Hyuga Tianren muttered in confusion, "If he's aiming for the Hokage seat, then even if he suppresses the two great dojutsu clans, there's no way his Sarutobi Clan's Sarutobi Hiruzen would be next in line, is there?"
Then he seemed to realize something and abruptly turned to Senju Tobirama.
"Of course. Though Lord Hashirama is the Hokage, everyone knows you've always been the one exercising that authority. And Sarutobi Hiruzen is your prized student. Sarutobi Sasuke really had it all figured out."
Senju Hashirama let out a quiet sigh. "It's a good thing your youngest son discovered it in time. If that matter had been allowed to stand, there might have been no way to undo the damage."
Senju Tobirama was more practical. "My brother and I don't want this to blow up. The consequences would be far too serious, so let's follow the rules we agreed on when we founded the village."
Hyuga Tianren's pale lavender Byakugan remained calm and unreadable. He said nothing, silently prompting them to continue.
Senju Tobirama took out three Sealing Scrolls. "Sarutobi Sasuke bears sixty percent of the responsibility, the Sarutobi Clan thirty percent, and I bear ten percent for failing to supervise properly. These are the compensations from the three parties."
As he spoke, he pushed the Sealing Scrolls toward Hyuga Tianren, indicating that he should open them.
Hyuga Tianren gave a noncommittal nod, then opened the first Sealing Scroll.
Senju Tobirama promptly explained, "The first is Sarutobi Sasuke's personal compensation: land, shops, businesses, and various supplies worth three hundred million ryo."
Hyuga Tianren scanned the contents of the Sealing Scroll. His discerning eye as a clan head told him the value was at least three hundred million.
Satisfied, he gave a slight nod inwardly. His expression remained impassive as he moved on to the next Sealing Scroll.
Senju Tobirama continued, "This is the Sarutobi Clan's compensation. As members of the village, they received an order to harm other clans in the village. They didn't object—instead, they supported it wholeheartedly."
"So the village has decided to transfer businesses worth two hundred million ryo to the Hyuga Clan and reduce the Sarutobi Clan's positions in important departments. Those posts will be divided evenly between the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans, about six positions each."
Hyuga Tianren nodded without changing expression. After putting away the second Sealing Scroll, he looked at Senju Tobirama.
Senju Tobirama grinned. "The third compensation is from me. You can choose one of the following."
Hyuga Tianren's expression grew a little more serious. "Go ahead."
Senju Tobirama said calmly,
"First, I'll reduce the number of Hyuga family ninja serving the village by ten percent."
"Second, I can take Hyuga Hoshishaku as my student."
"Third, you can take the three S-rank ninjutsu in that Sealing Scroll."
Hyuga Tianren chose without the slightest hesitation. "I'll take the second option. From now on, I'll leave my unruly son in your hands."
Senju Tobirama raised his eyebrows in surprise.
A great ninja clan like the Hyuga had made an agreement with the village when it was founded: a certain number of their bloodline-limit users had to join the village's ninja forces, where they would serve under the Hokage's command.
Was Hyuga Tianren also trying to groom the future Hokage?
Senju Tobirama nodded, put away the third scroll, then looked Hyuga Tianren in the eye and asked seriously, "Then, are you satisfied with this compensation?"
Senju Hashirama seemed a little at a loss in the tense atmosphere.
The other two, however, seemed used to it.
Hyuga Tianren closed his eyes and considered the matter for a moment. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "You've shown plenty of good faith. The Hyuga Clan is satisfied with this compensation, and we promise to act as though this never happened, starting today."
"Excellent." Senju Tobirama nodded, pleased.
Senju Hashirama breathed a sigh of relief and broke into a somewhat goofy smile. "It's always better when we get along."
Hyuga Tianren nodded in agreement. "Yes. If that's what you want, then we'll get along."
After the serious business was settled, Senju Hashirama left ahead of the others.
Senju Tobirama stayed behind.
He spent more than ten minutes learning about his future student.
At last, he said, "Tell that brat Xingzhuo to meet me at Training Ground One at two in the afternoon three days from now."
Then he left the Hyuga Clan Grounds using the Flying Thunder God.
Afterward, Hyuga Tianren summoned the Main Family and Branch Family elders to discuss the matter and divide up the benefits.
As the one who had set the whole affair in motion,
Hyuga Hoshishaku entered the sight of the entire clan's leadership with an exceptionally high overall evaluation.
He was also awarded benefits worth one million ryo.
That's right. Though they had received five hundred million ryo in compensation from the Sarutobi Clan,
the biggest prize—the chance to become Senju Tobirama's student—had already gone to Hoshishaku.
If Hyuga Tianren hadn't overseen the division of the spoils, the six-year-old might not have received even a single ryo.
Early the next morning,
before Hoshishaku had even woken up, he heard his cousin Yun Fei trying and failing to suppress an excited cry from outside.
He already knew his cousin well enough to know that Yun Fei wasn't the type to get worked up over nothing.
So what had happened?
Had Yueye come looking for revenge?
At the thought, Hoshishaku sprang out of bed and charged outside, brimming with fighting spirit.
A moment later,
contracts for a three-colored dango shop and a fried-snack shop lay in front of him.
Hoshishaku asked in disbelief,
"You're saying an elder brought these over personally?"
"That's right, young master," Yun Fei said excitedly. "The elder brought over the two shops. Apparently, they held a meeting all night, and the clan head secured these businesses for you."
"Phew..."
Hoshishaku sucked in a breath.
"Has Hyuga Tianren gone nuts?"
Yun Fei couldn't understand what "nuts" meant, but he could tell from the young master's tone that it wasn't anything good.
So this time, it was Yun Fei's turn to suck in a breath.
Before you continue