A Coordinated Performance

"Bastard, Kawaki Aoba, where's your Byakugan?"

When Kawaki Aoba pushed open the door and entered, the three people in the room all turned to look at him. Of them, Hyuga Second Elder was by far the most agitated.

The Byakugan Kekkei Genkai was the Hyuga Clan's exclusive treasure. How could Hyuga Second Elder not be furious when he saw that a pair of awakened Byakugan had vanished?

But faced with Hyuga Second Elder's aggressive reprimand, Kawaki Aoba remained unfazed. He calmly said, "Byakugan? What Byakugan? I don't understand what you're talking about. Besides, this is Lord Hokage's office. Please don't make a scene here.

"If you want to know why, it's because making a fuss here is disrespectful to Lord Hokage."

While playing dumb, Kawaki Aoba also silently apologized to the not-yet-born Aburame Shino. Sorry, but I'm calling dibs on your catchphrase.

"Damn brat, I'm the Hyuga Clan's Second Elder. I'm asking you, where did your Byakugan go?" Perhaps he'd realized this wasn't the right place for an outburst, because Hyuga Second Elder had toned down his aggression. Even so, he questioned Kawaki Aoba again.

Kawaki Aoba shook his head. "So you're the Hyuga Clan's Second Elder. But even if you ask me all sorts of strange questions, I still won't know the answers. Besides, as far as I know, the Byakugan is your clan's Kekkei Genkai. What does that have to do with an outsider like me? I'm just an ordinary Konoha Ninja."

Although Shimura Danzō hadn't had good intentions, Kawaki Aoba had to admit that the method he'd suggested was remarkably effective.

As long as they had no evidence, he could deny everything. And as long as he denied it, the fact that the Hyuga Clan had injured a fellow villager—and even blinded him—without cause would be as solid as iron.

That's right. Kawaki Aoba had been blinded by those two Hyuga Ninja earlier, and both of the little friends beside him believed it without a doubt.

At this, Kawaki Aoba's voice took on an angry edge. "But it's a good thing the Hyuga Clan's Second Elder came. I also have something to discuss with your clan. Lord Hokage, as a member of Konoha, I'd like to ask you to get justice for me from the Hyuga Clan."

Even Hyuga Second Elder couldn't help staring blankly when Kawaki Aoba finished speaking.

Get justice? What justice did a brat like you want? The Hyuga Clan was simply reclaiming its own Byakugan. That was only right and proper. Not even the Hokage could stop it.

Unfortunately, Kawaki Aoba couldn't hear Hyuga Second Elder's thoughts. Otherwise, he would surely have marveled at how naive the old scoundrel was.

"Lord Hokage, this is what happened..." Kawaki Aoba then launched into a vivid account of how two despicable Hyuga Clan Ninja had ambushed him and injured his eyes.

Naturally, he embellished the story a little as he told it. In short, the two Hyuga Clan Ninja he described had been utterly lawless, showing not the slightest regard for Konoha's rules.

The two little friends beside Kawaki Aoba twitched at the corners of their mouths. They had discussed things privately before coming here, but hearing the embellished version from Kawaki Aoba now, the two of them—who hadn't experienced much—still thought he was going a bit too far.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and his old buddy Shimura Danzō, on the other hand, listened with great seriousness, as though everything Kawaki Aoba said were true.

Shimura Danzō in particular looked more and more grim as Kawaki Aoba spoke.

"Bastards! They openly attacked their comrades in the village. Do they have any regard for the village? What do they take the Will of Fire for?" As he spoke, Danzō slammed his cane against the floor, producing a dull thud.

Kawaki Aoba: ...

He knew Danzō was putting on an act, but could someone tell him why hearing the words "Will of Fire" come out of Danzō's mouth felt so strange?

It just didn't seem like something he should be saying.

But Danzō's performance wasn't over yet. He turned and glared at the Hyuga Clan's Second Elder with his one remaining eye.

"Well done, Hyuga Clan! A noble family with a thousand years of history, and you attack your comrades without cause. Is that your clan's code of conduct? If you're this arrogant inside the village, then when you carry out missions beyond its walls, what comrade would dare entrust their back and their life to a Hyuga Ninja?

"Hyuga Clan's Second Elder, as Hokage Assistant, I must demand an explanation from your clan!"

Hyuga Second Elder: ...

What had just happened?

If he remembered correctly, he had been the one furious about the missing Byakugan. He had been the one demanding an explanation from the Hokage.

So who could tell him how, in just a few short sentences, he'd gone from demanding an explanation to being the one forced to give one? And why was the Hokage Assistant questioning him in such a tone?

From the way Elder Danzō spoke, this was no longer about a few individuals or a single clan. It had become a question of trust between the Hyuga Clan and the village.

Weren't conflicts and mistrust between a clan and the village supposed to be the Uchiha Clan's story? Why had the Hyuga Clan become the target now?

Everything had changed so suddenly that Hyuga Second Elder was completely at a loss.

But before he could figure out what to do, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, seized the moment and spoke up in his defense.

"Enough, Danzō. Don't make accusations without evidence. The Hyuga Clan is a great clan with a thousand years of history, and its strict rules are common knowledge. I don't think you could be unaware of that. As Hokage Assistant, how can you jump to conclusions so easily based on a single person's word?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's words let Hyuga Second Elder breathe a sigh of relief. He abandoned his original plan to step forward and explain himself.

At the same time, he felt a little more favorably toward Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage.

It seemed Sarutobi Hiruzen knew how to read the room, after all. At least he knew who to choose between the Hyuga Clan and a brat.

However, before Hyuga Second Elder could enjoy his relief for long, Sarutobi Hiruzen's next words showed him just how impartial the Hokage was.

"Still, although there's no evidence, Kawaki Aoba's injuries are right there, and they can't be faked. So, Kawaki Aoba, do you have any proof that Hyuga Clan Ninja caused the injuries to your eyes?"