Hyuga Hiashi

The two exchanged greetings and shook hands. Uchiha Izuna's hand was a size larger than Hinata Hyuga's, and as they clasped, Hinata Hyuga couldn't help but marvel at how warm it felt.

Uchiha Izuna only felt a silky sensation against his palm and couldn't help but feel... ahem, let's not describe it any further, or it would be too criminal.

"Why are you here?" Uchiha Izuna asked, looking curiously at the little one beside him.

"I, I was planning to run away from home!!!" At this, the young girl's expression turned resolute as she looked at Uchiha Izuna.

"Run away from home??? What's wrong? Is someone bullying you?" Uchiha Izuna frowned; he had already realized this was the catalyst for the meeting between Hinata Hyuga and Naruto.

At that moment, Naruto, who was sleeping at home, suddenly woke up. He felt as if he had lost something. He got up to check the refrigerator and breathed a sigh of relief; his milk and instant noodles were still there.

So, he went back to bed and fell asleep again.

At the Hyuga Clan compound, Hinata Hyuga's eyes reddened, tears welling up, and she nodded. "Yes."

Uchiha Izuna patted her head. "Then, would you like to tell your big brother? I will listen carefully and won't laugh at you."

Hinata Hyuga nodded. "Of course." And so, Hinata Hyuga began to pour her heart out to Uchiha Izuna, who listened very attentively.

Finally, he spoke up: "Are you sad because you feel your brother Neji Hyuga doesn't like you, and he goes all out against you during every training session?"

Hinata Hyuga nodded. "At home, I don't dare tell my father, because he would think I'm useless and tell me to practice more if I can't win."

Uchiha Izuna knew the reason. It was likely a year or two ago when a Kumogakure delegation attempted to steal the Byakugan from Konoha and kidnapped Hinata Hyuga. Hyuga Hiashi had arrived in time, killed the Kumogakure envoy with a single strike, and brought her home.

When Kumogakure learned of this, the Fourth Raikage A was furious and sent a letter to Konoha: either hand over the person responsible or go to war with Kumogakure.

Kumogakure had chosen their timing well. Konoha had just gone through the Nine-Tails Incident and was in ruins. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had only recently been reinstated and did not want to go to war with Kumogakure.

He went to the Hyuga Clan personally to negotiate. No one knew the contents of that negotiation, but that night, after Sarutobi Hiruzen left, sounds of things being smashed could be heard throughout the Hyuga Clan compound.

The next day, the body of Hizashi Hyuga was sent to Kumogakure, and from that day on, Hyuga Hiashi never again participated in any meetings convened by the Hokage.

The Hyuga Clan had completely fallen out with the Hokage's faction. From then on, every major clan lived in fear, understanding the principle that if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.

However, Uchiha Izuna couldn't bear to tell young Hinata Hyuga about this, especially since Neji Hyuga, the son of the victim, had never used these events to retaliate against her, no matter how angry or frustrated he was.

Uchiha Izuna fell silent, then patted Hinata Hyuga on the back and said, "In a while, I will talk to Neji Hyuga for you so he won't dare bully you in the future."

Hinata Hyuga was stunned. She looked at Uchiha Izuna with her bright, watery eyes, as if asking, "Really?"

Uchiha Izuna smiled without answering. "Let's go. I'll introduce you to the two geniuses of our clan."

He took Hinata Hyuga's hand and led her to Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Shisui frowned, and Uchiha Itachi stood up immediately. What a beast! How could he lay a hand on someone so young!

Look at this child; she couldn't be more than four or five years old, right? You thick-browed, big-eyed Zhan, you're five years older than her!

"Brother Shisui, Big Brother, why are you looking at me like that?" Uchiha Izuna frowned.

Uchiha Itachi was pacified by the title "Big Brother." From yesterday until now, Uchiha Izuna hadn't called him that for twenty-four hours!

The Uchiha Clan were all afflicted with a "Sister Complex" (or in this case, a brotherly obsession), so how could they endure such a situation?

But then again, once Uchiha Izuna called Uchiha Itachi "Big Brother," Uchiha Itachi's anger vanished instantly. He sat back down, looking composed.

This made Uchiha Shisui laugh in frustration. He looked at Uchiha Izuna with a hint of wariness and asked, "Zhan, is this a new friend of yours?"

After hesitating, Shisui couldn't bring himself to ask in front of the little girl if this was his girlfriend, as she might just be a friend of Zhan's.

Uchiha Izuna nodded. "Yes, this little one was peeking at us earlier. I caught her, and then I asked about her situation..."

Uchiha Izuna briefly recounted what had just happened. Uchiha Shisui's brow relaxed, and Uchiha Itachi nodded repeatedly. That was the Uchiha way: to see injustice and draw one's blade to help.

Just then, Hyuga Hiashi, dressed in a white kimono, walked out of the house. He was about 1.8 meters tall, which was quite imposing in the ninja world.

With an expressionless face, he stepped down from the stairs one by one. He looked straight ahead, exuding the aura of a noble and the head of a great clan.

This caught the attention of the Uchiha trio, who all turned to look at Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi looked back at them. He was curious why the Uchiha would send these three to the Hyuga compound, but one look made his expression change, and his mood soured.

He didn't acknowledge the Uchiha trio at first, but instead looked at Hinata Hyuga with a gloomy face and said, "Hinata, why are you here?"

Hinata Hyuga trembled when she was called out, and she instinctively looked toward Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna stepped forward. "Clan Head Hiashi, why be so impatient with your own daughter? Surely you don't blame a two-year-old girl for what happened back then?"

He showed no fear, smiling as he looked at Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi was stunned; it was likely the first time anyone had dared to speak to him like that.

"What business is it of yours? You are nothing but an outsider. Do you really think you can interfere in the family affairs of the Hyuga!!!" Hyuga Hiashi released his chakra.

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui exchanged a glance and shielded Uchiha Izuna, which left Hyuga Hiashi confused, and even Hinata Hyuga began to panic.

"Big Brothers, please help Zhan! How can he withstand Father's pressure all by himself!" Hinata Hyuga said, tears beginning to fall.

"Heh, don't worry. Never mind your father; even the Hokage might not be able to beat Zhan," Uchiha Itachi laughed.

The next second, Uchiha Izuna released his chakra. An aura as deep as the abyss erupted, and the floor shattered instantly.

Uchiha Izuna's hair whipped in the wind, his eyes cold. "I merely spoke a word of justice, yet Clan Head Hiashi chooses to release your chakra to oppress me. Do you truly think my Uchiha Clan has no one?"

Watching this scene, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but sigh. The Uchiha Clan was about to produce another genius. Three geniuses in one generation—they were truly lucky.