Hiashi Hyuga Decides to Visit

After tossing and turning all night, Hiashi Hyuga finally made up his mind.

Before dawn had fully broken, he woke Hinata, who was still sound asleep.

"Father, is something wrong?"

Hiashi Hyuga sighed.

"Get washed up. You'll come with me to visit the Uchiha Clan shortly."

"Huh?"

Little Hinata's eyes widened in an instant.

A faint glimmer of dawn appeared on the distant horizon, and Konoha had yet to fully awaken from its slumber.

There were few pedestrians on the streets.

The entire village was shrouded in silence.

Hiashi Hyuga held Hinata's tiny hand as they walked toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.

It was not that he had to get up so early.

But if they went any later, once Konoha's villagers began going about their day—

Seeing the head of the Hyuga Clan leading his daughter into the Uchiha Clan Compound would likely cause quite a stir.

By the next day, all sorts of strange rumors might spread throughout Konoha.

Hiashi Hyuga did not want the Hyuga Clan to be troubled by such rumors, nor did he want his daughter Hinata to be distressed because of them.

The ideal approach was to quietly visit the Uchiha Clan while dawn was still breaking.

Perhaps in a few minutes, Sarutobi Hiruzen would receive an ANBU report that the head of the Hyuga Clan had brought his daughter to the Uchiha Clan Compound with unclear intentions.

But Hiashi Hyuga could no longer be bothered to consider so much.

These past few days, he had been tormented by inner turmoil.

At last, he had made up his mind today.

A few minutes later, the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound finally came into Hiashi Hyuga's view.

The Uchiha and Hyuga were Konoha's two greatest noble clans.

As the head of the Hyuga Clan, arriving unannounced might cause the other side to misunderstand.

But Hiashi Hyuga could no longer worry about that.

The upbringing of a Hyuga nobleman allowed him to retain that dignified bearing even now.

"Stop. Who are you, and what are you doing at the Uchiha Clan Compound?"

Uchiha Zhiyin, stationed at the entrance to the Uchiha Clan Compound, immediately called out to stop Hiashi Hyuga and Hinata as they prepared to enter.

Hiashi Hyuga said calmly, "I am Hiashi Hyuga, head of the Hyuga Clan. This is my daughter, Hinata. We have come specifically to visit Uchiha Mirai."

Hinata hid behind his leg, only poking out half her head to secretly observe them.

"Visiting Brother Mirai?"

Uchiha Zhiyin frowned slightly as he looked Hiashi Hyuga and Hinata up and down.

Though he had never met Hiashi Hyuga in person, that distinctive noble bearing clearly did not belong to an ordinary member of the Hyuga Clan.

"I heard Brother Mirai rescued the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan head from the Cloud Ninja not long ago. Could this be him?"

"Mm, very likely."

After a brief discussion, Uchiha Zhiyin nodded.

"Kuroko, keep guarding the entrance. I'll take them to see Brother Mirai."

"Understood, Brother Zhiyin."

The young Uchiha named Uchiha Kuroko nodded seriously at Uchiha Zhiyin.

"Come with me. I'll take you to see Brother Mirai."

Uchiha Zhiyin walked ahead and gestured for Hiashi Hyuga to follow.

"Thank you."

After entering the Uchiha Clan Compound, Hiashi Hyuga could not help asking, "Do the two of you normally guard the Uchiha Clan Compound as well?"

"Of course!"

Uchiha Zhiyin proudly raised his head.

"Brother Mirai personally assigned this task to Kuroko and me. In the entire Uchiha Clan, no one but us can do it properly!"

Hiashi Hyuga's mouth twitched slightly.

Zhiyin and Kuroko...

Did the Uchiha Clan really name people this casually...?

But Hiashi Hyuga quickly shook off that feeling, his attention drawn to the Uchiha Clan Compound around him.

Compared to the Hyuga Clan, the Uchiha Clan's buildings were clearly far more flamboyant and extravagant.

The Hyuga Clan had a long history, and its traditions were conservative and orderly.

The entire architectural complex followed an elegant style.

But the Uchiha were different. Their overall style leaned toward unrestrained boldness, filled with ostentatious elements.

Hiashi Hyuga saw the Uchiha Guard Division building. The entire structure was shaped like a massive cat's face, with the Uchiha Clan emblem stamped on its forehead.

Along the way.

Hiashi Hyuga felt as though he had truly had his eyes opened.

As the head of the Hyuga Clan, he had never personally visited the Uchiha Clan before. Naturally, he had never experienced the unique style and culture of Konoha's other great ninja clan.

Three-year-old Hinata followed behind Hiashi Hyuga, looking around curiously.

It was like entering a whole new world.

Before long, Uchiha Zhiyin stopped in front of an estate.

"We're here. Mirai is inside."

Hiashi Hyuga stared at the building before him in astonishment.

This should be the residence of the Uchiha Clan head, shouldn't it?

Uchiha Mirai lived here???

Uchiha Zhiyin curled his lips. "Mirai has always lived here. You'll see him once you go in. I'm heading back now—Kuroko is still waiting for me."

Hiashi Hyuga could only nod.

After Zhiyin left, Hiashi took a deep breath and led Hinata through the entrance of the estate.

Inside the room.

Someone was already reporting to Uchiha Mirai.

"Mirai, Clan Head Hiashi Hyuga has come to visit with his daughter."

"I already know."

Uchiha Mirai nodded calmly.

Beside him, two cups of tea had already been prepared, steam curling from their surfaces.

From the moment Hiashi Hyuga entered the compound, Mirai had known.

The entire Uchiha Clan Compound was filled with his eyes.

Even if a fly entered, it would have to have its sex identified before it could leave.

Outside, Hinata, following behind Hiashi, bit on her finger as she curiously looked around.

Under the guidance of an Uchiha clansman, they arrived before a room.

"Come in. Mirai has been waiting for you for quite some time."

The young clansman pushed open the door and gestured for Hiashi Hyuga to enter.

Hiashi Hyuga's heart trembled slightly.

Uchiha Mirai had known he was coming all along???

Before he could think further, he saw Uchiha Mirai leisurely seated beside the tea table, sipping his tea.

A cup of tea sat on the empty side of the table, steam still rising from it.

"Come in and have a cup of hot tea."

"Lord Hiashi."

Hiashi Hyuga's expression suddenly stiffened.

He abruptly felt as if Uchiha Mirai had seen straight through him and Hinata.