Reconciliation

The next morning.

Uchiha Ao arrived at the Hyuga Clan gates with some gifts.

"Clan Head Ao, sorry to keep you waiting!" Hyuga Hiashi hurried over as soon as the guards informed him.

When he saw the exquisite gifts in Uchiha Ao's hands, he laughed heartily. "Haha, Clan Head Ao, you shouldn't have brought a gift just for coming to visit."

Uchiha Ao handed the gifts to a Hyuga clansman, then smiled at Hyuga Hiashi. "I came to discuss something with you, Clan Head Hiashi. Do you have some time?"

"Of course, of course." Hyuga Hiashi gestured for him to come inside, the smile on his face never reaching his eyes. "Please, Clan Head Ao. Let's have tea in the reception hall while we talk."

Uchiha Ao followed Hyuga Hiashi into the reception hall. As soon as he sat down, he took out a sheet of paper and spread it on the low table.

"Clan Head Ao, what's this?" Hyuga Hiashi stood up to take a look. He saw that it was a map.

"Danzo isn't dead. You know that, don't you, Clan Head Hiashi?" Uchiha Ao continued.

"Of course." Hiruzen Sarutobi had previously ordered Danzo's execution, but the man who was executed had merely been a substitute. The shinobi clans all knew this. Only civilians who knew nothing about ninjutsu believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually executed Danzo.

As for why they didn't expose him...

They had wanted to, of course, but the Uchiha Clan Head wouldn't allow it.

If they exposed Danzo and the Uchiha Clan fled, they would be left to face Hiruzen Sarutobi's fury alone.

"Clan Head Ao, you've brought this up so suddenly. I doubt it's just idle conversation, is it?" Hyuga Hiashi asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I had someone follow Danzo before. Guess where he went."

Hyuga Hiashi replied unhurriedly, "Since you're asking, Clan Head Ao, I assume you already know the answer."

"Come on, Clan Head Hiashi. You could at least play along," Uchiha Ao joked, then pointed at the map.

The Land of Demons.

"What's he doing there?" Hyuga Hiashi asked, puzzled.

He knew a little about the Land of Demons. It was an ordinary country with practically no shinobi.

What was Danzo doing there?

"There's something you may not know, Clan Head Hiashi. A demon is sealed away in the Land of Demons," Uchiha Ao said in a lowered voice. "It has the power to make people fearless of death, and Danzo is planning to unseal it."

Hyuga Hiashi's pupils contracted. The teacup trembled slightly in his hand, and tea spilled over the rim, leaving a dark stain on the table. "You mean Danzo wants to control the demon and create an Undead Army?"

"Exactly." Uchiha Ao nodded.

As for the so-called demon Moryo, he didn't take it seriously.

So what if it had an immortal body and tremendous regenerative abilities? Judging by its performance in the original story, its strength was only close to Kage Level.

It would be easy to deal with.

He simply wanted to use this crisis to propel the Uchiha Clan's reputation to the heights of Konoha.

He almost hoped Danzo would release the so-called demon Moryo right away and bring it to Konoha.

Meanwhile.

Hyuga Hinata had only just woken up when she thought she heard Ao-kun's voice.

She looked around. No, she must have imagined it. There was no way Ao-kun would be in her room.

Rubbing her aching temples, she went out into the corridor, hoping to find something to eat.

The familiar voice coming from the meeting room in the distance made Hyuga Hinata's eyes light up.

Her feet carried her toward it before she even realized.

Through the door left slightly ajar, Hinata saw the Ao-kun she had been longing for.

"Ao..." Hyuga Hinata had just started to push the door open to greet him when she suddenly remembered what had happened the day before.

Her eyes dimmed.

Never mind. Ao-kun probably doesn't want to see me. I shouldn't disturb him and Father.

Hyuga Hinata lowered her hand and turned away.

Inside the meeting room.

Uchiha Ao sensed a chakra outside the door and glanced over without thinking.

He saw his little Hinata standing outside, though she didn't seem to be in a good mood.

Uchiha Ao turned back to Hyuga Hiashi. "Clan Head Hiashi, we've nearly finished discussing everything. I'd like to go see Hinata."

The minor business was done. Now it was time for the important part.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded.

His mind was entirely occupied by the immortal demon, and he hadn't paid attention to what Uchiha Ao said.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled Uchiha Ao's lips as he turned and stepped out of the meeting room.

The wooden floor creaked softly beneath his feet. Following the traces of Hinata's chakra, he found her curled up at the corner of a snow-covered corridor.

Her thin kimono wrapped around her shivering body. Snowflakes dusted her hair, and the frost on her eyelashes trembled with each sob.

"Why are you hiding here?" He took off his outer robe and draped it over her shoulders, but Hinata turned her head away.

Uchiha Ao froze.

He didn't understand why Hinata was rejecting him.

As he watched Hinata's huddled figure, Uchiha Ao suddenly remembered what Uchiha Tekka had said the day before.

"Why didn't you come back with Miss Hinata, Clan Head?"

Oh. It looked like Hinata had gone to his house to find him yesterday, but hadn't found him there.

Uchiha Ao immediately understood what had happened. He crouched down and gently wrapped his arms around the girl before him.

Hinata went rigid in his embrace, her whole body taut as a drawn bowstring.

Uchiha Ao rested his chin on the top of her head. The lingering scent of jasmine in her hair mingled with the crisp cold of the snow and drifted into his nose.

"Hinata, I was wrong yesterday. I should have sent someone to let you know."

Uchiha Ao spoke softly.

Hinata said nothing in his arms.

"Actually, the Lord Third suddenly summoned me to the Hokage Building yesterday to discuss some matters."

"You know I'm the Uchiha Clan Head, Hinata. Sometimes I can't do as I please." The warmth of Uchiha Ao's palm seeped through her thin clothes as he held it against her back.

Hinata bit her lower lip, feeling a little guilty.

She had misunderstood Ao-kun.

"Hinata, I'm sorry." Uchiha Ao rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice rough with an emotion he hadn't even noticed himself. "I should have told you beforehand. I'm sorry I kept you looking for me for so long."

"Actually, the main reason I came today was to apologize to you. But I heard you were still resting, so I had to talk to Clan Head Hiashi first."

After all, a little girl with a broken heart would often sleep for a long time the next day.

"A-Ao-kun," Hinata said, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm the one who should apologize. You're already a clan head, but I keep clinging to you."

"No, Hinata." Uchiha Ao held her tighter, slowly rubbing his palm over her back as he tried to chase away the cold. "You've never been a burden to me."

Hinata's eyelashes fluttered. She turned and hugged Uchiha Ao.