An Older Man

No wonder they were one of Konoha's top clans.

As Yun Xi brought Tenten and Hyuga Neji to the entrance of the Hyuga Clan compound, a powerful presence immediately washed over him.

A wooden gate stood half open before them, yet the aura spilling out was enough to make anyone think twice about entering.

Even the plain white walls gave Yun Xi a sense of the traditions upheld by this clan...

"Is this the place?"

Yun Xi glanced at the gate, then turned to Hyuga Neji and asked. Neji didn't say a word.

He merely nodded, then slowly walked into the Hyuga Clan compound.

Looking at Neji's aloof expression, Yun Xi gave a helpless, wry smile.

Compared with Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji seemed even more like an aloof, edgy teenager...

"Big Brother Yun Xi, I don't like the atmosphere here..."

Tenten, who was sticking close to Yun Xi, was unusually nervous. Most of the time, she was full of energy.

But right now, she was more like a timid little kitten.

Her face showed how uncomfortable she felt...

"We'll leave soon."

Seeing how ill at ease Tenten was in the Hyuga Clan's presence, Yun Xi gently stroked her head with his soft hand to reassure her, then said, "We'll leave as soon as we've brought this little guy inside."

"All right..."

Tenten looked at Yun Xi, then at Neji, who had already gone ahead. She felt a little unhappy. She hadn't expected that the random little boy she'd brought along would live in a place like this.

She quietly resolved to keep her distance from him next time...

"Let's go."

Meanwhile,

After Neji slowly pushed open the Hyuga Clan's gate, Yun Xi followed him in with Tenten.

In fact, once they'd brought Neji to Konoha's main street, Yun Xi could have let him find his own way home.

But...

Yun Xi's real purpose wasn't just to bring Neji home.

He wanted to use this opportunity to meet someone with influence in the Hyuga Clan...

"Who are you?!"

Unfortunately,

The moment Yun Xi caught up with Neji, a stern middle-aged voice rang out around them.

Then, with a whoosh...

A tall, stern-faced older man appeared right between Yun Xi and the others.

He first shot an irritated look at Neji behind him, then turned his attention to Yun Xi and Tenten.

"The little girl from the ninja tool shop..."

After a brief look, the middle-aged man recognized Tenten, who was standing behind Yun Xi, but didn't recognize Yun Xi...

He walked up to Yun Xi and said coolly, "This is the Hyuga Clan compound. Outsiders aren't allowed in. Please leave."

As he spoke, the middle-aged man blocked Yun Xi from entering, then shot an irritated look at Neji, who was standing by the gate.

"Uncle, we don't even want to go in."

Just as Yun Xi was about to speak, Tenten suddenly darted forward. She counted on her fingers as she grumbled, "It's so quiet here, and there's nothing fun to do. And you're mean, too. If Big Brother Yun Xi hadn't wanted to bring him home, I wouldn't have come along..."

Yun Xi: "..."

The middle-aged man: "..."

"Little girl, hasn't anyone told you that outsiders aren't allowed in the Hyuga Clan compound?"

At Tenten's complaint, the stern middle-aged man's face twitched. He continued, "Only members of the Hyuga Clan are allowed to stay here. You're just a bunch of children, so I'll let you off this time. Otherwise, I'd have to use force!"

"Big Brother Yun Xi, he's trying to bully me!"

The moment the middle-aged man spoke, Tenten darted behind Yun Xi and said in a plaintive voice, "Big Brother Yun Xi, this uncle is really scary!"

"Sir, we mean no harm. We ran into this little guy on the road when he was lost, so we brought him home."

After patting Tenten on the head, Yun Xi explained to the middle-aged man why they were there.

In fact, the moment the man appeared, Yun Xi had already guessed who he was.

He was in his thirties or forties, and there was no Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.

He wore a grayish-white robe...

And an inexplicable aura radiated from him...

There could be no doubt: he was the current head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi.

"Neji, is what he said true?"

At Yun Xi's words, Hyuga Hiashi's expression grew even more displeased.

He immediately turned and questioned Neji.

Neji didn't know how to explain. After hesitating for a moment, he simply nodded...

"Hmph, useless!"

When Neji admitted it, anger flashed across Hiashi's face. But with Yun Xi and Tenten there, he held back from losing his temper.

Instead, he suppressed his anger and said coolly to Yun Xi, "Since Neji is home, we'll leave it at that."

With that, Hiashi turned to leave...

But Yun Xi couldn't possibly let him go just like that!

As one of the most rigid characters among Konoha's clans—and even in the original Naruto story—Yun Xi could easily guess what Hiashi was thinking.

He just felt that Neji's getting lost had brought shame on the Hyuga Clan.

He wanted to send Yun Xi and Tenten away, then reprimand Neji...

But that wasn't the only reason Yun Xi had come.

In other words, Neji was just a convenient tool and scapegoat in all this...

(I can't help but say: Neji, you really have it rough...)

Truthfully, Yun Xi hadn't wanted to do this in the first place.

But...

He had no choice.

Yun Xi couldn't think of any other way to get in touch with the Hyuga Clan...

So how could he let Hiashi leave just like that?

"Uncle, wait a moment."

The instant Hiashi turned around, Yun Xi spoke up.

"What do you want, boy?"

After stopping and looking back, Hiashi asked in puzzlement.

"May I ask if you've ever heard of the Uchiha Clan..."

Hiashi hadn't appeared often in the original story, and he wasn't a particularly memorable character.

But...

Anyone who could become the head of a clan—

Surely had some measure of wisdom...

So Yun Xi didn't bother with any indirect approach.

He went straight to the point, testing Hiashi's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan...

"You, boy..."

Hearing Yun Xi mention the Uchiha Clan, a faint, inscrutable smile appeared on Hiashi's face. He slowly replied, "Interesting..."