You Won't

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing. He looked at Uchiha Izuna, then at Hinata Hyuga behind him, whose eyes betrayed her worry. Finally, he sighed.

Hyuga Hiashi withdrew his chakra. "Come inside with me." Then he turned and headed for the reception room.

After taking just two steps, he stopped. "Hinata, would you like to listen too?" Hyuga Hiashi's gaze was probing and cold.

Hinata Hyuga's face paled. She was just about to refuse when Uchiha Izuna nodded to her.

Hinata Hyuga seemed to forget her father's imposing presence. Then she cried out in a sweet voice, "I want to come!"

This was the first time she had worked up the courage to defy her father!

To her surprise, the coldness in Hyuga Hiashi's eyes turned to warmth, and even his voice grew tender. "If you want to listen, then come along!"

With that, Hyuga Hiashi turned and walked on, in a good mood. He marveled that the little boy with such powerful chakra could bring about such a huge change in Hinata!

Hinata Hyuga stood frozen. She had thought she would be punished for defying her father, but instead, he approved of her actions and had even encouraged her.

Uchiha Izuna spoke up. "Hinata, are you wondering why the head of the Hyuga Clan is happy that you defied him?"

Hinata Hyuga looked at Uchiha Izuna, her face full of anticipation as she waited for him to explain.

Uchiha Izuna said, "Because your father is the clan head, and you're the future heir to the Hyuga Clan, the heir to a shinobi clan. If you're weak, people will bully you."

"Just like Uchiha Fugaku. He kept backing down at every turn, and in the end, he was pushed out of the inner circle. Now he's even struggling to survive." Uchiha Izuna sighed.

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui's mouths twitched. Even Hyuga Hiashi was so engrossed in listening that he bumped his head against a pillar, then covered it and rubbed it.

What a dutiful son! Using his own father as a cautionary tale. Still, Uchiha Izuna wasn't wrong. Perhaps Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui couldn't see things as clearly as Uchiha Izuna did.

But the Uchiha Clan really was getting weaker and weaker, while the village was becoming more and more oppressive, plundering the Uchiha Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi took the Uchiha's experience as a lesson. He decided that the heir he raised had to be strong and unyielding, and must never compromise with Konoha!

Hinata Hyuga pondered this, then nodded. "I understand, Brother Izuna. From now on, I'll be strong, never give up, and dare to say no to oppression!"

Uchiha Izuna laughed. Even five-year-old Hinata understood this principle. It was laughable that his father, Uchiha Fugaku, had only figured it out recently. He really couldn't tell whether his father was pretending to be stupid or deliberately sending the whole clan to the Pure Land to follow their ancestor Madara.

Hyuga Hiashi was in an incredibly good mood. Honestly, if they hadn't had company, he would have wanted to bow down to Uchiha Izuna. Uchiha Izuna had just given him a promising heir!

At the very least, with Hinata at the helm, the Hyuga Clan would survive into the next generation. Little did he know that in the future, under Hinata's leadership, three members of the Hyuga Clan would awaken the Tenseigan.

The Hyuga Clan would become a true equal to the Uchiha Clan!

With her mind now freed, Hinata Hyuga no longer felt any fear when she looked at Hyuga Hiashi. Instead, determination filled her little face.

Hiashi couldn't have been more satisfied. Whatever the Uchiha had come here for today, he would do his best to grant their request. He would even rush the Hokage Building if needed—without hesitation.

Konoha had rotted to its core. Influenced by its highest leader, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the major clans had almost stopped contributing to the village. Most of them were busy pursuing benefits for their own clans.

If things were allowed to continue, Konoha would eventually fall apart. The major clans would scatter in every direction and seek refuge in other shinobi villages.

Who knew what Hashirama Senju would say if he saw this outcome?

After a twenty-minute walk, they finally reached the place where Hyuga Hiashi had arranged to host them.

There were five tables in the reception room. Members of the Hyuga Clan guided them to their seats.

Hinata Hyuga and Uchiha Izuna sat together. Neji Hyuga, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi each had their own table, while Hyuga Hiashi took the seat of honor.

He glanced at Hinata Hyuga, the corners of his mouth lifting. He wanted his daughter to learn from Uchiha Izuna's way of thinking. On the walk over, he had already realized that Uchiha Izuna had the mindset of a proper clan head.

On the surface, Hinata Hyuga pretended to be composed. In reality, she was greedily breathing in Uchiha Izuna's scent, drawing it into her lungs before letting it out.

Neji Hyuga watched and snorted, turning his head away.

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi sat down. Only then did Hyuga Hiashi ask, "My three young nephews, have you come to the Hyuga Clan on Fugaku's orders?"

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi looked at Uchiha Izuna. The gesture was telling. In an instant, Hyuga Hiashi understood that Uchiha Izuna was the one leading the three of them.

Hyuga Hiashi stopped looking at Shisui and Itachi and turned his attention to Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna stood up and picked up his cup. "It was my idea. But our clan head will follow my lead."

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes lit up. Uchiha Izuna intrigued him even more.

"Tell me, young nephew, what brings you here?" Hyuga Hiashi downed a cup of sake, then fixed his gaze on Uchiha Izuna without blinking.

Uchiha Izuna glanced at Shisui and Itachi. They understood at once, stood up, and looked toward the Hyuga servants. Their Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

All the Hyuga servants "fell asleep."

Hyuga Hiashi narrowed his eyes. Was this a show of force?

But Uchiha Izuna said, "There are too many ears around, so we had to let everyone else sleep for a while."

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing and poured himself another drink.

Uchiha Izuna didn't mind. He began, "Our main purpose in coming here is to learn from past mistakes and cure the sick."

Hyuga Hiashi's hand paused. Learn from past mistakes and cure the sick? An interesting way to put it.

"Go on." Hyuga Hiashi set down his cup and gave him his full attention.

"The Uchiha made too many mistakes in the past. We must learn from them and never make them again."

"As for curing the sick, this village is ill. We must use decisive measures, cut away the rotten roots and the old, withered trunk, and only then will it have a chance to thrive!"

Uchiha Izuna hadn't mentioned anyone outright, but every word pointed to someone. As soon as he finished, Hyuga Hiashi slapped the table and sprang to his feet. "Uchiha Izuna, you've got some nerve! Aren't you afraid I'll report what you said today to Lord Hokage?"

"Your Uchiha Clan will be in a world of trouble, and its members will be slaughtered!" Hyuga Hiashi stared at Uchiha Izuna. By now, he had even activated his Byakugan to watch every tiny movement.

"You won't, because..." Uchiha Izuna didn't speak aloud. Instead, he silently mouthed the words: "Hizashi Hyuga."

Hyuga Hiashi fell silent. He sighed. "You're right. Go on." He took a sip of his drink and waited for Uchiha Izuna to continue.