Cooperation with Hyuga Aya (New book seeking collection, seeking recommendation)

The figure emerged gradually from the darkness.

"Aya? Is something the matter?"

Yusuke's voice was calm, but his sensory ninjutsu was already active, probing the surroundings.

Hyuga Aya had changed out of her combat gear into simple civilian clothes.

The silvery moonlight reflected in her pure white pupils and upon her already pale skin, creating a somewhat ethereal beauty.

Hyuga Aya did not answer immediately; she took a few steps closer, her gaze sweeping over the greatsword in Yusuke's hand.

"Your strength is not that of a Chūnin."

"And being able to kill a Root squad is certainly not something an ordinary Jōnin could accomplish."

Yusuke's eyes narrowed, unsure of what she was truly after.

If this matter were leaked and there were witnesses, Shimura Danzō would undoubtedly use it as a pretext to brand him a traitor.

He still needed Konoha as a platform; it was not the time to burn bridges.

He had assumed that since Inuzuka Go and Hyuga Aya had helped him kill the Root members, they were accomplices and would not stir up trouble.

It seemed that was not entirely the case; he had trusted his own deductions too much.

Yusuke's chakra circulated quietly, locking onto Hyuga Aya.

Should she make any suspicious move, he would strike without hesitation, ending everything before she could send a signal.

Hyuga Aya seemed to perceive that faint, lingering killing intent, yet her face showed no fear; instead, a trace of a smile appeared.

Perhaps because she was usually so cold, this smile created a striking contrast.

"Don't worry, I won't report you."

"Why?"

"Reporting you might be an opportunity for the Hyuga Clan to curry favor with the higher-ups."

Yusuke asked, his tone still cold and probing.

"Curry favor?"

"Curry favor with whom? Shimura Danzō? Or those Main Branch members who treat us of the Branch House like tools?"

The mockery at the corners of Hyuga Aya's mouth deepened. She slowly raised her hand to remove the forehead protector, her movements deliberate and heavy.

The moonlight spilled down without obstruction, illuminating her smooth forehead.

That greenish mark was exposed to the air, clear and unmistakable.

Her face, usually as cold as ice, revealed a trace of unmasked pain and hatred.

"I came to you because I want to ask for your help."

"Help me break this."

Hyuga Aya's voice dropped, carrying a hint of a tremor.

Yusuke watched her in silence; he knew the terror of the Caged Bird seal, which allowed the Main Branch to cause brain death in a Branch House member with a single thought.

"Why should I help you? And what makes you think I have the ability to do so?"

Yusuke's voice remained devoid of ripples.

Hyuga Aya met his gaze, her white eyes sharpening.

"I have been observing you for a long time, longer than you think—ever since you were carried back by Tsunade."

"You dare to go against Shimura Danzō, the assistant to the Hokage; you are not someone content with the status quo."

"You need allies, especially allies with influence among the higher-ups."

She paused, then continued: "The Caged Bird is a powerful sealing technique."

"But I do not believe that Tobirama Senju, known as the 'Master of Forbidden Jutsu,' would never have studied it."

"His notes from before he died are likely in the hands of Tsunade, or within the collection of the Senju Clan."

"So, your true goal is to use me to make contact with Tsunade?"

Yusuke understood her intent; this woman was clever and deep-thinking.

"Yes," Hyuga Aya admitted frankly.

"I need the notes of Tobirama Senju as a reference."

"And I need the help of Tsunade, a top-tier medical ninja. Only then is it possible to find a way to break the Caged Bird."

"My parents were forced by this mark to die as shields for the Main Branch."

"Until their deaths, they were nothing more than tools for the Main Branch."

"I do not wish to repeat their fate."

Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if lost in memory, her voice laced with cold hatred.

The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.

Yusuke could easily deduce from her words that she had a group of people behind her.

And in all likelihood, they were those from the Hyuga Branch Family who refused to be controlled to death by the Hyuga Main Family.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons; Hyuga Aya's proposal carried risks, but the potential gains were immense.

A genius from the Hyuga Branch Family who had broken free from the shackles of the Caged Bird, plus a group of Hyuga Branch Family members.

If he could help them overthrow the rule of the Hyuga Main Family and turn them into allies, the value would be immeasurable.

"The world is cruel, Hyuga Aya. Just because you are weak or miserable does not mean others will offer a helping hand for free."

"If you want to obtain freedom, what can you offer?"

"Show me your chips."

"Empty words cannot trade for the secret scrolls of the Senju Clan or the help of Tsunade."

Yusuke stated the naked reality.

Hyuga Aya seemed to have been prepared for this; she retied her forehead protector, covering that mark of shame.

"First, for my current help: the fact that you killed Danzo's squad will rot in my stomach."

"Furthermore, in the missions to come, I will be your most reliable blade."

"We can look out for each other to deal with Danzo's schemes."

"Second, for my future help: as long as you help me break the Caged Bird, I, Hyuga Aya, can handle some unsavory matters for you in the future."

"I can become your sharpest spear, or your sturdiest shield."

"Third, intelligence on the Hyuga Main Family. I know many of their secrets, their weaknesses, and their shady dealings."

"These should be useful for your future struggles against the high-level officials of Konoha."

"Fourth, the friendship of the Hyuga Branch Family—or rather, the friendship of our entire Hyuga clan after we win the civil war. We can support Tsunade to ascend to the position of Fourth Hokage."

She spoke with absolute conviction, but Yusuke felt a headache coming on as he listened.

On the surface, the conditions were specific and carried significant weight.

Immediate combat support, a powerful enforcer for the future, plus internal intelligence on the Hyuga Main Family and support for the Hokage seat.

But in reality, it was all an empty-handed gamble; all the promised benefits could only be realized after successfully breaking the Caged Bird curse seal.

This person is treating me like a complete fool. Yusuke was almost amused to the point of laughter.

However, Yusuke was still prepared to agree; for no other reason than the fact that he was also playing an empty-handed gamble.

The two of them could be considered evenly matched opponents.

Yusuke spoke up: "I can try to bring this matter up to Tsunade."

"But I cannot guarantee that I will get the scrolls, nor can I guarantee that she will be willing to help."

"That is enough."

A smile of relief flashed across Hyuga Aya's face: "As long as you are willing to try."

"Remember what you said today."

"I hate betrayal. If I discover that you have other motives, or if you turn on me halfway..."

Yusuke's tone turned cold. He didn't finish the sentence, but his icy killing intent said everything.

"The Hyuga Branch Family hates betrayal more than anyone else," Hyuga Aya said solemnly.

In her view, the Hyuga Main Family had betrayed the entire Hyuga clan; for the sake of some nonsense about bloodline purity, they enslaved twenty times their number in the Branch Family.

Hyuga Aya said no more, turned, and merged into the night, disappearing from sight.

Yusuke stood where he was, the moonlight stretching his shadow long.

This trip to the Land of Whirlpools was even more troublesome than he had imagined. The threat from Danzo had not yet been resolved, and now he was entangled in the internal grievances of the Hyuga clan.

"Caged Bird... Caged Bird..."

He muttered to himself, his fingers brushing over the Flying Thunder God kunai in his ninja tool pouch.

"Perhaps, this is indeed an opportunity—a fulcrum to pry open the established structure of Konoha."