The Hozuki Clan

"Clan Head! Clan Head! Something major has happened! You must wake up at once!" Accompanied by a series of urgent and anxious knocks on the door, the slightly panicked and hurried shouting reached directly into the room.

In an instant, the lights flickered on in the previously pitch-black and silent room of the Hozuki Clan head.

Immediately following, a figure shot out from the room like a bolt of lightning.

Looking closely, this person had long yellow hair and a thin mustache on his lips, with a slender and tall physique; he was none other than the current head of the Hozuki Clan—Hozuki Gengetsu.

"Yueshi? Isn't it you and Zhengyi who are responsible for the perimeter watch today? How could anyone dare to sneak into our clan grounds under the cover of moonlight?" Hozuki Gengetsu's speech was as fast as a driving rain, and before his words had even faded, his sharp eyes were already locked tightly onto the person before him.

Hearing the Clan Head's interrogation, the clansman named Yueshi immediately showed a look of embarrassment on his face, and he hurriedly explained: "That's not it, it's just that someone suddenly broke into the clan grounds a moment ago..."

"Broke in? If someone dares to trespass on our territory, just drive them out! Do I need to teach you how to handle that? I thought it was someone from Konoha attacking!" Hozuki Gengetsu frowned slightly, his tone revealing a hint of dissatisfaction, while he reached out and gave Yueshi a light flick to the forehead.

While rubbing his aching head, Yueshi replied cautiously: "Uh... well, it's not an attack from Konoha, but the situation is probably not much different. From my observation, the clan crest on the intruder seems to be from the Uchiha Clan..." Having said this, Yueshi couldn't help but glance up at the Clan Head's expression, secretly guessing how he would react next.

"Yawn..." Hozuki Gengetsu yawned while rubbing his eyes. "This sleepiness really comes on whenever it wants."

However, before he could finish his complaint, he heard that sentence from Yueshi...

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong? Was it really an Uchiha clan crest?" Hozuki Gengetsu widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, and asked urgently.

"Uh... Clan Head, now that you ask, I'm starting to feel a bit unsure. But I can guarantee that judging by the aura radiating from that person, his strength is absolutely formidable!" As he spoke, Yueshi even patted his chest hard to show that he was telling the truth.

However, to Yueshi's surprise, before he could finish his sentence, he saw Hozuki Gengetsu stride away without a word, his footsteps hurried.

"Clan Head?"

"Move!!!"

"Huh?"

"Take me to see him! Hurry, hurry! And you brat, to leave Zhengyi there all by himself! You really aren't afraid of something happening to Zhengyi? Lead the way immediately!!!"

Not making Madara wait in place for too long, Hozuki Gengetsu hurried over to the entrance of the clan grounds with Yueshi in tow.

The moment he looked up and saw the man with the Gunbai on his back and a tall, upright posture, an indescribable sense of terror instantly spread through his entire body, making every hair on his skin stand up as if he had been electrocuted.

Hozuki Gengetsu dared not delay in the slightest, hurriedly quickening his pace and reaching Madara in two or three strides.

He bowed slightly in greeting, his tone respectful yet slightly nervous as he said: "Senior Madara, I have long heard of your great name. This junior is the current head of the Hozuki Clan, Hozuki Gengetsu."

However, Yueshi, standing to the side, seemed somewhat confused. When he heard his own Clan Head address this person, who didn't look particularly old, as "Senior," his heart was filled with doubt and curiosity.

Thus, he couldn't help but ask: "Clan Head, you seem to be older than him, don't you think? Zhengyi!"

"Maybe it's because the Clan Head has a mustache!" At this moment, a human figure appeared from an unremarkable puddle of water, speaking in a somewhat teasing tone.

Before the two could finish their banter, Hozuki Gengetsu swung his fist without hesitation, smashing it toward Yueshi's head with lightning speed.

With a dull thud, the head of Yueshi, who was standing beside him, was directly beaten into a puddle of water.

Following that, Hozuki Gengetsu quickly retracted his hand, as if that punch hadn't been thrown by him at all. Then, he lowered his head and explained to Madara with an apologetic expression: "I am truly sorry, Senior Madara. The children are still young and don't know any better; please forgive them."

Regarding Hozuki Gengetsu's actions, Madara only glanced indifferently at Yueshi, who had already reformed his head, and then responded softly: "It is of no consequence."

For some reason, when Madara saw Yueshi's chattering mouth and his slightly innocent expression, the image of Qile involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

This caused his mood, which had not been particularly good, to improve by a few degrees at this moment.

At this time, Hozuki Gengetsu steadied himself, took a deep breath, and asked Madara again: "Senior Madara, I wonder what brings you to our Hozuki Clan so suddenly? If there is anything you need help with, just give the order, and we will do our utmost."

"I just felt bored, so I left the village to wander around." Uchiha Madara waved his hand dismissively, signaling for Hozuki Gengetsu to relax. "I am quite interested in your Hozuki Clan; I wonder how many clansmen you have now?"

"Wandering around?" Hozuki Gengetsu muttered to himself; he found it truly difficult to fathom the true intentions of the person before him, but on the surface, he remained calm and replied: "Currently, the number of people in our Hozuki Clan is not very large, maybe fifty or sixty people in total. This includes not only the elderly and children, but even those in their prime who can shoulder heavy responsibilities are only a handful. It is precisely because of this that the burden of being Clan Head has fallen upon my shoulders."

Hearing this, Uchiha Madara did not beat around the bush, but asked directly: "Then, do you have any greater ambitions? For example, making the Hozuki Clan grow stronger, or even occupying a place in the entire ninja world?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Hozuki Gengetsu's expression changed abruptly, becoming exceptionally serious. "Could it be that Konoha intends to intervene in the affairs of our Kirigakure?"

"You don't need to be so nervous, relax. I have come here today representing only myself; it has nothing to do with Konoha or... the Uchiha!" Madara narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on Hozuki Gengetsu—who had been slightly sycophantic upon first seeing him but was now extremely guarded—his tone appearing exceptionally casual.

Hearing these words, Hozuki Gengetsu was stunned, and his mind began to race at high speed.

All kinds of possibilities surged into his mind like a tide, but no matter how he thought about it, Hozuki Gengetsu's train of thought was like a tangled thread, impossible to sort out for the moment...