Hyuga Hiashi's Hatred

Kurenai and Anko hurriedly put on their clothes, preparing to get up and leave for home.

Seeing the two crimson stains left on the pristine white sheets, the two of them tore the sheets apart, each taking half with them.

After watching them leave.

Senya changed into fresh bedding and lay on the bed, savoring the night. Counting his previous life, it had been over fifty years since he'd had a proper "pre-sleep workout." He hadn't expected that after all these years, he would actually pull an all-nighter; it was truly a sin.

He lay on the bed to rest properly and replenish his stamina.

The sun began its slow descent from high in the sky toward the west.

Senya sat up from the bed, prepared a simple meal, and was eating in the living room.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Another round of knocking sounded, and he reached out to slap his own forehead.

No way, again? They looked like they could barely walk anymore...

Opening the door, what met his eyes were white pupils.

It was someone from the Hyuga clan. Wait? Why is the Hyuga clan looking for me?

"Vice-Captain Senya, this is a letter from our Clan Head, inviting you to the Hyuga compound this evening to discuss some matters."

Senya took the letter handed over by the other party, and the man turned and left.

Looking at the expressionless face of the man, who seemed just like a cold machine, if not for those iconic Byakugan eyes, Senya would have suspected he was a ninja from Root.

It seems the conflict between the Hyuga main branch and the branch family has only worsened since the death of Hizashi Hyuga.

Returning to the living room to sit down, he opened the letter sent by Hiashi Hyuga while continuing to eat.

"Vice-Clan Head Senya, as the two great dojutsu clans of Konoha, the Uchiha and the Hyuga have important matters to discuss tonight. Please be sure to come for dinner."

There was only this simple, straightforward sentence on the letterhead.

But Senya immediately understood what Hiashi Hyuga wanted to convey.

In the evening, Senya wore a deep blue kimono with the Uchiha Gunbai crest on the back and arrived at the Hyuga compound.

Senya didn't want to wear such old-fashioned clothing, but after mentioning the matter to Fugaku, Fugaku insisted that Senya represented the image of the Uchiha clan tonight and must dress formally, so he had Mikoto Uchiha take one of his kimonos and force it onto Senya.

Senya tried to decline in every way possible, but Fugaku remained adamant. Helpless, Senya had to agree.

A maid from Hiashi Hyuga's household had been waiting at the entrance of the compound for Senya for some time. When she saw a handsome youth in an Uchiha-style kimono appear in her line of sight, she didn't initially think this was the Vice-Clan Head of the Uchiha, as he was simply too young.

However, when she noticed Senya stop there, she realized that the Vice-Clan Head of the Uchiha was indeed this youth who looked like he had just reached adulthood.

She hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

"Vice-Clan Head Senya, I am Satsuki Hyuga, a maid in the Clan Head's household. Please follow me."

Following behind the girl, Senya recalled the expression on her face just moments ago.

Unlike the nameless messenger who was expressionless earlier, Satsuki Hyuga looked much more lively, possessing a bit more of the vitality of a living person, which made him shake his head inwardly.

He felt a sense of melancholy. So these are the two great dojutsu clans of Konoha? Both have contributed so much to the village, yet the Uchiha are suppressed and resist, while the Hyuga are suppressed and simply submit, even leading to a worsening situation between their own main and branch families. It's truly laughable.

The once-revered "Will of Fire" has now been reduced to a tool of governance for the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi...

Inside the Clan Head's residence, Hiashi Hyuga was sitting at a tea table, waiting for his guest to arrive.

"Clan Head, the Vice-Clan Head of the Uchiha clan has arrived as invited."

Satsuki Hyuga bowed, poured the tea, and then retreated, leaving the room.

"I wonder why the Clan Head of the Hyuga would openly invite me, the Vice-Clan Head of the Uchiha, to be a guest. Aren't you afraid of being suspected by the Konoha high command?"

After hearing Senya's words, Hiashi Hyuga gave a bitter smile and mocked himself:

"The Uchiha clan still has the courage to resist the village's high command, but we Hyuga have already compromised with the village."

Senya was a bit surprised to hear this. That shouldn't be right; it had been several years since Hizashi Hyuga was forced to commit suicide by the Konoha high command. Aside from the trouble caused by the Cloud Village delegation, it seemed nothing had happened to the Hyuga clan in all these years.

Hiashi Hyuga's words made Senya suspicious. Could it be that Hiruzen and Danzo had also made a move against the Hyuga?

"The fact that Shisui Uchiha of the Uchiha clan jumped into the river and committed suicide half a month ago was, without a doubt, Danzo's doing."

Senya understood; Hiashi Hyuga was sharing this information to strengthen the relationship between the two clans. He then realized that the old thief Danzo was truly restless...

"The death of Shisui Uchiha is indeed a pity, but one shouldn't speak carelessly, Clan Head Hyuga."

With a pleasant expression, Senya smiled in response to Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga was stunned, then realized what he meant.

"Vice-Clan Head Senya, there is no need to be so guarded. The Hyuga have a shielding barrier; the Third's Telescope Technique cannot see into here. It's laughable, really—this barrier ninjutsu was only approved by the Third right before my brother died, all to 'protect' the Hyuga clan."

At this point, the grief in Hiashi's heart became unbearable. He slammed his fist onto the tea table, venting his dissatisfaction with himself. Recalling that year, he had to watch his brother go to his death for him, hating his own incompetence, the incompetence of his clan, and even more, the incompetence of that trash Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Looking at Hiashi Hyuga before him reminded Senya of Shisui Uchiha. It was a pity that he hadn't awakened his Mangekyo at the time; with the power he had then, he couldn't have stood against the Konoha high command. As for now, Senya could only manage to look out for himself.

However, accepting this invitation to the Hyuga was already part of his future plans. It seemed, though, that because of some of the dirty things Danzo had been doing, the plan had been moved forward.

Hyuga Hiashi calmed himself down, reined in his emotions, and recounted to Senya what had transpired within the Hyuga clan the previous night.

"Danzo personally brought Root ninja to our Hyuga compound last night, demanding to take my daughter Hinata! He claimed it was to train her in Root, and he used a warrant from the Third to coerce us. In the end, after the elders deliberated, they decided that my brother's child, Neji, would be taken away instead. I could not stand by and watch Root take my own daughter. I have failed Hizashi!"

Having only just regained his composure, Hiashi collapsed once more, his grief and indignation impossible to suppress as tears of resentment streamed from the corners of his eyes.

Watching Hiashi in his near-broken state, Senya began to ponder. It seemed this was the butterfly effect brought about by his own changes to Konoha, yet it was precisely because of this foolish act by Danzo that the alliance between the Uchiha and the Hyuga could be forged even more tightly.

"Senya, if your Uchiha clan intends to launch a coup d'état, I, in my capacity as the head of the Hyuga clan, will lead my family to join you. The village has changed; it is now filled with rot and greed. The village leadership is forcing our hand!"

Upon hearing Hiashi utter these words, Senya was stunned. Good heavens, Hyuga Hiashi, you truly don't speak often, but when you do, you shock the world! That old thief Danzo is truly something else! To think you could push an honest man like Hiashi to this point, you dog...