"Cough, cough, Clan Head."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Hyuga Hiashi looked puzzled, unsure why his younger brother had called out to him.
Seeing Hizashi Hyuga gesture with his eyes, he looked over at Fei Shi, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. He suddenly remembered that Fei Shi used the Uzumaki surname when he was out and about, but the Uchiha surname among familiar people. So...
"Cough, cough, I... I wasn't talking about you, Fei Shi."
The usually stern Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help feeling awkward and a little helpless.
Ever since he'd acknowledged Fei Shi as family, he kept losing his composure whenever they met. He couldn't beat Fei Shi in a fight, which made things awkward. All he could do was endure it in silence.
"Um, were you thinking of taking Miss Hinata and Neji as your students?"
Hizashi Hyuga changed the subject, easing his older brother's embarrassment. At the same time, he hoped his child could escape this wretched fate.
Hyuga Hiashi understood what his younger brother was thinking. As clan head, he should have stopped him, but as an older brother...
Hyuga Hiashi didn't stop Hizashi. That made Fei Shi think more highly of him.
"Sure. They can live at my place after they enroll, and I'll teach them well. Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, two geniuses, often come over to exchange ideas with me. Sasuke and the Fourth Hokage's orphan will also be under my tutelage. Competition with kids their own age will inspire them to work harder, and they'll learn a lot just by observing how Shisui and Itachi interact with me."
That good?!
They knew about the two genius shinobi, Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha, but they hadn't expected them to come to Fei Shi for advice. Didn't he avoid associating with the Uchiha?
As if he'd noticed their confusion, Fei Shi explained:
"Not being fond of the Uchiha doesn't mean I can't appreciate talented youngsters, right? They're both very gifted. As long as they don't die young, they could lead Konoha to new heights and might even have a shot at the Hokage Position."
Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga were both astonished. They hadn't expected Fei Shi to rate the two Uchiha boys so highly. After all, Fei Shi wasn't just an extraordinary genius; he was a powerful shinobi whose strength rivaled, or even surpassed, that of the leaders of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. They couldn't believe someone like him thought so highly of them and believed they might become Hokage.
If anyone had the hardest time becoming Hokage, it was undoubtedly someone from the Uchiha Clan.
Ever since the Second Hokage took office, he had been wary of the Uchiha Clan. After the Third Hokage came to power, some of his policies also suppressed the Uchiha Clan. He didn't want them to grow too powerful and slip out of his control.
So when Fei Shi said those two Uchiha boys might become Hokage, how could they not be shocked?
"No need to be surprised. They really do have the talent."
After listening, Hyuga Hiashi fell silent for a moment before speaking:
"Since they're youngsters you admire, let me give you a warning. Make sure they watch out for Shimura Danzō. He can't stand the Uchiha Clan. Tell them to be careful."
"I know. They're excellent at ninjutsu and combat. They understand as soon as I explain something. What I focus on when we talk is how to deal with people and how to judge them and things correctly."
"Oh, hahahaha! I forgot about your relationship with the Third Hokage. As a youngster he's taken under his wing, how could he not teach you those things? Hahahaha."
Fei Shi smiled too but said nothing. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't taught him, he'd watched Naruto and could judge their personalities and how to deal with them based on the original story.
After a moment of silence, Fei Shi spoke:
"Is there anything else you want to say?"
Fei Shi asked the two Hyuga brothers. "Uh, no..."
"Then I'll go keep my little niece company. I'm just a young guy; I don't have much to talk about with grown men like you. Hinata-chan, hahahaha! Uncle Fei Shi is here to see you."
"Come on, let your uncle hold you, little niece."
That night.
Fei Shi stayed overnight at the Hyuga residence, while Naruto was still at the Third Hokage's home. The Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako, was looking after Naruto, so Fei Shi didn't need to worry about him. Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't object either.
He'd been very displeased with Danzo's actions before, and this gave him a chance to gradually guide Naruto. Naruto was a Jinchūriki and the son of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. There was no way he lacked talent, so he was one of Konoha's future pillars.
He could teach him the Will of Fire and tell him stories about his father, Minato Namikaze, though he still couldn't reveal his identity to him.
After the previous incident, Hiruzen Sarutobi had asked Fei Shi whether they should use the opportunity to reveal Naruto's parentage to the public. Fei Shi refused. His reasoning was that the hostility wouldn't make Naruto give up; it would only drive him forward, because he was Minato Namikaze's son. They only needed to explain the hardships of being a Jinchūriki. Naruto could bear the rest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed.
Although some villagers still couldn't help looking at Naruto with hatred, most of them felt sorry for him, so young yet burdened with such a heavy fate.
Whenever Naruto went out, some shopkeepers even gave him little trinkets, hoping the child could live happily and not be crushed by fate.
Naruto also...
Damn, I've gotten off track again.
Fei Shi had stayed here to see whether the Land of Lightning would still act shamelessly as it had in the original story, even with him intervening. It was also a way of announcing his strength and presence to the Ninja World.
In the middle of the night, he sat meditating in the room Hyuga Hiashi had arranged for him, refining chakra. Meanwhile, the special skill he'd drawn in the lottery, Observation Haki, enveloped the grounds of the Hyuga residence.
He sensed two Kumogakure shinobi heading toward Hinata's room. As they picked up the sleeping Hinata and prepared to flee, Fei Shi stepped out of his room and used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of them.
"You two, what brings you here in the middle of the night? And could you put my little niece down?"
Fei Shi said with a beaming smile. Behind him, the servant in charge of Hinata's care ran off to call for help.
"Damn it! We've been spotted!"
"Heh, just a little brat..."
"Retreat! We can't let them catch us."
Then they ignored Fei Shi and quickly fled.
"Heh, ignoring me like that... you'll pay a heavy price."
Boom!
The Kumogakure shinobi felt the chakra burst behind them and turned pale with shock.
That chakra was even stronger than Bee, their village's Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Damn it, how could Konoha still have a powerhouse like this? Hadn't Konoha's strongest shinobi dwindled after the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, died? How could this be?!
Run! Run fast! Or we'll die!
"Oh, come on. I just told you to put my little niece down. Why wouldn't you listen?"
Many shinobi felt that powerful surge of chakra and couldn't help trembling with fear.
Could the Nine-Tails have gone berserk again?
Before you continue