To the southwest of Konoha, a cluster of courtyards lay surrounded by bamboo groves. Four or five buildings were scattered among the dense bamboo, and unless you ventured inside, it was hard to imagine that any courtyards were hidden in such a vast expanse of greenery.
In one of the courtyards, three adults and a boy sat facing one another.
The large and small figures on the left were both dressed in Uchiha Clan garb. On the right sat a man with spiky hair and sunglasses, along with another man dressed in a white kimono. He had long hair, and his eyes were pure white.
The two Uchiha were Fugaku Uchiha and Shisui. The other two men were Shibi Aburame and Hiashi Hyuga.
"Clan Head Hiashi, Clan Head Shibi, thank you for understanding the Uchiha Clan. You're welcome to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound again."
Indeed, Shibi Aburame and Hiashi Hyuga were the current heads of the Aburame Clan and Hyuga Clan, respectively.
The Hyuga Clan were descendants of Hamura Otsutsuki and one of the founding clans that joined Konohagakure during the early days of the Land of Fire. Their members inherited the Byakugan and possessed special abilities such as the Gentle Fist.
The Aburame Clan was likewise one of the founding clans that joined Konohagakure during the early days of the Land of Fire. Its members fed insects their own chakra, allowing the insects to live inside their bodies, where they could be controlled. As a result, all Aburame techniques relied on insects.
These two clans could also be considered a mainstay of Konoha's fighting force, with overall strength surpassed only by the Uchiha Clan.
"No, it's our two clans who can't stand openly alongside the Uchiha Clan. We're the ones who should apologize," Hiashi replied.
The three clan