The Hyuga Clan Compound stood in the northwest corner of central Konoha. Though it was in a bustling area, the surroundings were remarkably quiet; even the sound of falling leaves could be heard. It had the air of a secluded retreat hidden in the heart of the city.
Naruto followed Neji to the sprawling Hyuga Clan compound. High walls completely shut off the grounds from the outside world, and above the tightly closed vermilion gate hung the imposing crest of the Hyuga Clan.
"Because wandering warriors often come by to challenge us for no reason, the Hyuga Clan's gate is usually kept shut," Neji explained casually as he stepped forward to knock.
"Wandering warriors actually dare to challenge your clan?" Naruto asked in surprise.
Wandering warriors were people who belonged to no country or organization and roamed the Ninja World alone. They usually knew how to use chakra, but without systematic training or an established tradition, most were only mediocre fighters.
"Yes. Ever since the Uchiha Clan was all but wiped out, the only one of the Ninja World's three great dojutsu left is our Hyuga Byakugan, so it draws even more attention," Neji said. "Wandering warriors crave fame more than anything. Challenging us can make them famous whether they win or lose... And we can't exactly beat them too badly, or we'd earn a bad reputation. In the end, we simply started keeping the gate shut and turning visitors away."
"Oh... So the Hyuga care a lot about their reputation."
"...Don't say that once we're inside," Neji warned helplessly. "If someone from the Main House hears you, they'll think you're looking down on them or picking a fight."
"How am I supposed to know if someone's from the Main House?"
"...The ones willing to show their foreheads are from the Main House."
Whoosh—
As soon as Neji finished speaking, the vermilion gate was pulled open from within. A boy wearing a Forehead Protector and a plain white training uniform poked his head out. When he saw Neji, delight immediately spread across his face.
"Neji! You're back!"
"Mm." Neji's voice softened, as it rarely did. "I'm back. This is... a friend of mine and Lady Hinata's. He's here to visit her."
The boy's expression turned a little strange, but he still ushered them inside respectfully. After bowing to Naruto, he leaned close to Neji and whispered:
"The Main House elders are meeting in the west courtyard. Go around from the east, Neji."
Neji nodded and patted the boy on the shoulder without saying more.
Naruto followed Neji along winding, secluded corridors and past one orderly courtyard after another. When they passed a training hall, some of the young clan members who recognized Neji came out to greet him. Every one of them wore a Forehead Protector or a headband.
"Looks like you're pretty respected," Naruto said, giving him a thumbs-up. After having time to process everything along the way, he had recovered his composure.
"Mm," Neji replied calmly. "I'm the strongest among the Hyuga's younger generation, whether from the Branch House or the Main House."
Neji said something that impressive so matter-of-factly that he sounded not the least bit proud, as though he were simply stating an obvious fact.
What could Naruto say? He raised the thumb of his other hand, too.
"You're awesome, senpai."
Neji accepted the compliment without a hint of embarrassment.
"By the way," Neji reminded him, "you can't stay in our compound for too long. Keep an eye on the time while you're visiting Lady Hinata. I'll let you know when it's time."
"Mm." Naruto agreed, then added apologetically, "Sorry for putting you in a difficult position."
At first, Neji had refused his request. It was only after Naruto had kept pestering him that he'd finally agreed to bring him inside.
"...It's fine. We're already here."
Neji remained calm on the surface, though in truth he felt a little helpless.
He really had wanted to refuse Naruto at first. The Hyuga Clan might seem humble and polite to outsiders, but in reality, they were extremely insular and placed immense importance on their bloodline.
In the eyes of the Hyuga Main House elders, the Hyuga's Byakugan was the strongest Kekkei Genkai in the Ninja World. The secret techniques of other clans—which weren't even Kekkei Genkai—were worthless, no better than barnyard fowl and stray dogs. And any outsider who tried to get close to a Hyuga was after their bloodline. Their refusal to marry outside the clan and their decision to place the Caged Bird on members of the Branch House made that plain enough.
There had once been those lunatics from the Uchiha around for comparison, so the villagers had thought well enough of the Hyuga. But after the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, the Hyuga's hidden arrogance, belief in bloodline supremacy, and conviction that their clan was the strongest in Konoha had gradually begun to show in their daily behavior. Now, almost no other clans interacted with them, and most villagers kept their distance, thinking it was better not to provoke them.
So rather than deliberately cultivating the feeling of a secluded retreat hidden in the heart of the city, the Hyuga Clan Compound's isolation seemed more like a reality they'd been forced to accept... Though, of course, they had brought it upon themselves.
Neji had eventually agreed for two reasons. First, he recognized Naruto as a natural-born genius like himself. They were the same kind of person, and Naruto had also earned Teacher Kaido's approval. Second, Neji would soon be incorporating the principles of the "Mixed-Oxygen Method" into his training. Naruto had done him a favor in that regard, so Neji agreed to his request as a way of returning it.
"We're almost there."
As they ventured farther in, they finally reached the deepest part of the compound, its core—a place guarded as closely as a heart.
"This is the Main House's inner courtyard. Don't make too much noise," Neji said, lowering his voice despite himself. "The third room from the left is the Heart Room. Lady Hinata is inside, but you can't go in alone. I'll accompany you."
Naruto nodded to show he understood.
They reached the entrance to the Main House's inner courtyard, where another dark-colored door stood shut. As always, it was guarded by a member of the Branch House.
The guard here was an adult man. Judging by his manner toward Neji, he seemed quite respectful—though perhaps there was another reason for that respect.
Neji whispered a few words to him. The man looked troubled, but still let Naruto pass. The moment Naruto stepped through the inner courtyard's gate, an unexpected voice rang out.
[Hey, brat.]
"Shut up. I'll yell at you when we get back."
[You little shit, you @%¥!@%!!!]
After letting loose a string of curses, the Nine-Tails took a panting breath and tried again.
[Something feels off.]
"What feels off?"
[The third room from the left. Something's wrong in there. It feels wrong in a way I've never experienced since I was born...]
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Can you be more specific?"
[For fuck's sake, you idiot! I told you something feels off! If I knew exactly what was going on, would I be calling it 'off'? All I know is that something's wrong in there!]
"Stupid fox, you—%&...@!!"
The boy and the fox swore at each other furiously in their minds. Neji, walking ahead, looked back and urged him on. "Why did you suddenly slow down? Hurry up."
"Sorry."
Naruto added one more curse at the fox in his mind and quickened his pace.
"Just go in first. You should be able to sense it more clearly when you're closer."
[Hmph.]
The Nine-Tails snorted, but this time it didn't argue.
That didn't mean it wanted to help Naruto. In truth, the Nine-Tails didn't even know who was lying inside, and it didn't care. It had simply been imprisoned for too long. After spending ages with nothing to do, it had developed an intense curiosity about anything unknown.
"We're here."
Neji gently slid the paper door open. As sunlight spilled into the room, Naruto finally saw Hinata again, for the first time in over a decade—
Then an aged hand blocked his view.
Bang!
The paper door slammed shut.
A Main House elder stepped out of the Heart Room. He wore an expensive silk kimono, his hair was white as frost, and his forehead was smooth and bare. His expression was stern, and his gaze swept over them like a chill flash of lightning.
"Neji." He looked down at Neji, and the mere utterance of his name sounded like an accusation.
"Elder Liujia..."
Neji's heart sank. The very situation he'd least wanted to face had come to pass.
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