When he reached the fork in the road, Neji was already waiting there.
The two exchanged a glance, turned in unison, and prepared to head for the training grounds at the Hyuga Clan Compound as usual.
However, today was destined to be different.
Just as they had taken only a few steps, a sharp, arrogant argument rose from ahead, blocking their path.
Several people dressed in lavish clothing, utterly unlike Konoha's usual style, stood there.
They were surrounding a Konoha Chunin assigned to guide them, loudly berating him about something.
At their head was a pot-bellied middle-aged merchant with a small mustache. He waved a hand adorned with gemstone rings, spittle flying from his mouth.
"Is this how Konoha treats its guests? Two blind little brats ran into honored visitors! Do you know who we are? We are the Takamagahara Chamber of Commerce, here to discuss important business with the daimyo of the Land of Fire!"
Ning Xue and Neji stopped, frowning at the same time. They had merely been walking normally and were still some distance away from those people. How could they possibly have collided with them?
This was clearly deliberate troublemaking. Perhaps their negotiations had not gone smoothly, and they wanted to use this as an excuse to dampen Konoha's spirit. Or perhaps they simply disliked the Hyuga Clan's conspicuous attire.
The Konoha Chunin looked troubled and tried to explain.
"My deepest apologies, sir. They are only children. They did not mean to—"
"They did not mean to?"
The merchant raised his voice, refusing to let the matter go.
"Doesn't the Hyuga Clan call itself one of Konoha's great clans? Yet they do not even understand basic manners? It seems Konoha's shinobi are nothing special after all!"
His gaze swept over Ning Xue and Neji, filled with undisguised contempt. When he noticed the bandages on their foreheads, beneath which lay the Caged Bird Cursed Seals marking the Branch Family, a mocking curl appeared on his lips.
Neji's fists clenched instantly, a flash of anger passing through his pale eyes.
The Hyuga Clan's pride would not allow him to endure such humiliation.
Ning Xue's gaze turned cold as well, but he remained silent. His mind raced as he considered how to resolve this unprovoked disaster without drawing even greater attention.
Just as the tension reached its peak and Neji was about to speak in protest, a steady voice carrying unquestionable authority rang out.
"Gentlemen of Takamagahara, why stoop to the level of arguing with two children?"
Everyone turned toward the voice. A middle-aged man who bore some resemblance to Ning Xue, with a stern expression and dressed in traditional Hyuga Clan attire, had appeared at the crossroads at some point.
The newcomer was Ning Xue's father, Hyuga Ning.
His gaze calmly swept over the merchants before settling on their leader. Though his tone was mild, the subtle pressure belonging to a Hyuga Clan jonin made the noisy merchants fall silent without realizing it.
"Father."
Ning Xue called softly. Neji also gave a slight bow.
Hyuga Ning gave the two children a faint nod, then looked back at the merchant.
"If the children have been discourteous, I apologize to you all on their behalf.
However, this is already the outskirts of the Hyuga Clan Compound. I hope you will abide by Konoha's rules and keep quiet."
His meaning was perfectly clear.
This was not a place where they could behave however they pleased.
The merchant's expression changed several times. He seemed to want to say something more, but beneath Hyuga Ning's calm yet oppressive gaze, he could only snort coldly in the end.
"Hmph! The Hyuga Clan... Fine. Very well! Let's go!" He led his subordinates away in frustration, but the venomous look he cast back before leaving foretold that this matter was far from over.
The conflict was temporarily settled, but a price had already been paid.
Afterward, it was said that during the following negotiations, the Takamagahara Chamber of Commerce made a great fuss over the incident and took a tougher stance on the trade terms. In the end, Konoha—or rather, the Land of Fire—conceded some benefits to smooth things over and preserve the appearance of cooperation.
Though no one said it aloud, certain people had clearly taken note of this debt.
Several days later, in a dark room beside the Hokage's office.
Shimura Danzō looked at a classified mission scroll in his hand that required exceptional reconnaissance and infiltration abilities, a glint flashing through his lone eye. The mission location was unusual. He might even need to go personally, and he would need the assistance of a Kekkei Genkai with outstanding perception.
"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is the most suitable," he said in a low, hoarse voice. "Members of the Hyuga Main House should not be moved lightly, so choose from the Branch Family.
I recall... the branch that offended the Takamagahara Chamber of Commerce a few days ago and caused losses to the village's interests was Hyuga Ning's, wasn't it?"
His words were casual, yet they seemed to carry an icy chill.
"Then send him and another Branch Family member. For Konoha's sake, the Hyuga Clan should make its contribution as well."
On the surface, this order was perfectly logical. The mission's requirements matched the personnel's abilities.
Yet in the eyes of those who knew the truth, it was undoubtedly sending Hyuga Ning into an extremely dangerous situation.
The difficulty and potential risk of that mission far exceeded those of an ordinary A-rank mission. It was practically on the verge of S-rank.
Danzo's move not only exploited the Byakugan's abilities, but also served as a subtle punishment for Hyuga Ning, who had damaged the village's interests, and as a warning to the Hyuga Clan—especially the Branch Family.
Ning Xue knew nothing of the undercurrents behind it all. He continued living the same routine of school, training grounds, and home.
Before you continue