Uchiha and Hyuga

After his Shadow Clone Technique took Shisui away for special training, Ren stopped paying attention. After all, the shadow clone was himself.

Instead, he looked over the visitation list Uchiha Mitsuba had handed him. At the very top was the Hyuga Clan.

"Did the Hyuga side agree?"

"They did, Clan Head."

"When?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

"Make sure all the necessary preparations are in place. This is an official visit. If you're unsure about anything, look through the clan's old records."

After work that evening, Ren made a special trip to one of Konoha's electronics stores.

It had to be said that while most of the ninja world remained utterly feudal and backward,

modern appliances like televisions and computers had already appeared in some prosperous areas.

Konoha was located in the prosperous Land of Fire and also served as its military center, so it was only natural for it to have the most advanced products in the ninja world.

After selecting what he needed and storing it in a sealing scroll, Ren went straight home.

"Lord Danzo, the target visited an electronics store, then went directly home. However, training is still continuing at the training ground, so it is presumed to be a shadow clone."

Danzo naturally knew about Konoha's electronics stores. Their backers were influential figures from the capital, and he admired how ordinary people could always invent such strange and novel things.

He had purchased a batch of computers from there before, and they had greatly helped advance Root's various secret research projects.

"Looks like that brat wants to research something too. Could it be the Sharingan?" Danzo's first thought was that Ren wanted to begin researching the Sharingan.

"Can you infiltrate the Uchiha Clan and find their secret research lab?"

"My deepest apologies, it cannot be done."

"It isn't your fault. If the Uchiha Clan were that easy to deal with, they wouldn't have become such a thorn in my side."

Mitsuba returned home as well. What she had experienced today was more exciting than all six years she had spent in the Konoha Military Police Force.

She told her husband, Uchiha Qiyue, about what had happened today. Uchiha Qiyue had no talent as a ninja, but he and Mitsuba had grown up together, and after coming of age, they had naturally gotten together.

"I received a notice at home today as well. Lord Ren has become the new clan head."

Then Uchiha Qiyue said solemnly, "Mitsuba, you're very fortunate to have earned Lord Ren's favor."

"I've gathered all sorts of information. Even if only half of it is true, Lord Ren is far superior to Lord Fugaku in every respect."

"Mitsuba, although it was Lord Fugaku who allowed you to join the Konoha Military Police Force, remember this: you must keep pace with Lord Ren. Don't take the wrong path, understand?"

Mitsuba had known since childhood that her husband possessed an extraordinary talent for gathering intelligence. She trusted his words completely.

"You know that in six years with the Konoha Military Police Force, I never even met Lord Fugaku. Lord Ren values me so highly—how could I not understand?"

"Mitsuba, I was only reminding you."

Not long after Ren arrived at his office the next day, the four squad captains brought him their completed plans for review.

Ren skimmed through them. Finding no issues and seeing that the details were thorough, he had the four of them carry out the plans directly.

Before they left, he reminded them, "Hurry up and replenish the Konoha Military Police Force's manpower. You can relax the standards a little where appropriate."

Ren's shadow clone had also met Shisui at the training ground yesterday.

Shisui no longer had yesterday's high spirits. His entire body seemed to radiate a low, oppressive air.

"Today, we'll be conducting another round of special training. Get ready to begin." At the same time, he set up a soundproof barrier around them.

Root base.

"Lord Danzo, the target went to the training ground with Uchiha Shisui early this morning."

"However, a soundproof barrier was set up there today, so we were unable to obtain further intelligence."

"Keep watching them closely!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Afternoon arrived quickly. Ren brought more than ten guards and arrived at the Hyuga Clan compound right on time.

This undisguised action stirred the hearts of many in Konoha. In fact, every ninja clan had received news yesterday that the Uchiha Clan head and the commander of the Konoha Military Police Force had been replaced.

Then, on the very next day, the newly appointed Uchiha Clan head openly visited the Hyuga Clan, prompting all sorts of speculation.

Some believed that the Uchiha Clan's new head was demonstrating his strength to the Hyuga Clan. Perhaps they would hold a private duel to determine which clan was Konoha's number one ninja clan.

Others believed this was a sign that the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan were about to join forces and seize greater benefits from Konoha's other ninja clans.

The Third Hokage and Danzo were also paying close attention to the matter. The prospect of the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans coming together gave them a bad feeling.

Inside the Hyuga Clan compound, beside an ancient-looking pond.

Compared to Fugaku's residence, this place was much quieter.

Though there were more people here, the Hyuga branch family members serving nearby made no sound whatsoever, not even when they walked.

Much like his meeting with Fugaku, Hiashi leisurely began by drinking tea with Ren.

Before outsiders, Ren currently represented the Uchiha Clan. In order not to be discourteous,

he sat in the kneeling posture he found extremely uncomfortable, watching Hiashi. Aside from having a servant brew the tea rather than doing it himself,

the process was almost identical to his meeting with Fugaku. Was tea-drinking a required course for the heads of long-established clans? But no one had taught him any of this after he became clan head. The old man couldn't care less.

Looks like he would have to ask Mitsuba to look through the records after he returned, and perhaps learn the tea ceremony while she was at it.

When the two of them had dragged out this opening for nearly half an hour, Ren, having finished a cup of tea, finally spoke.

"I wonder what Clan Head Hiashi thinks of the current Konoha?"

"Konoha is doing very well now. Peace is rare, and the entire village is developing prosperously."

Hiashi Hyuga answered cautiously, clearly unwilling to discuss such a topic.

But Ren had no intention of being brushed off so easily. He continued, "Does Clan Head Hiashi not think that Konoha is sick now?"

"Watch your words!"

Hiashi Hyuga had no intention of playing along with Ren.

Looking at Hiashi Hyuga, who remained as steady as an old dog, and recalling the original story from his previous life, Ren directly played his trump card.

"It seems Senior Hiashi has calmly accepted Senior Hizashi's death!"

The moment those words fell, veins bulged around Hiashi Hyuga's eyes. Even in those pure white eyes, obvious killing intent could be seen as he stared at Ren.

"It seems Clan Head Ren came to provoke the Hyuga Clan. You have successfully achieved your goal."

Ren ignored Hiashi's murderous aura entirely and smiled faintly. "Does Clan Head Hiashi truly not know my purpose? Or have you simply accepted your fate? Are you willing to accept it?"

Hizashi Hyuga's death was an eternal pain in Hiashi Hyuga's heart. Those bandits from the Hidden Cloud Village had coveted the Byakugan bloodline.

They abducted his daughter Hinata from the Hyuga Clan. After he discovered them, they committed suicide and framed him.

They demanded that Konoha hand over the corpse. In the end, his younger brother Hizashi died in his place, while the cold indifference shown by Konoha's higher-ups at the time had been carved deeply into his heart.

"What does it matter if I'm unwilling? What right do you have to be unwilling? Your Uchiha Clan?"

Hiashi's tone was filled with mockery.

"Clan Head Hiashi, Konoha is indeed extremely powerful. Even if the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans were combined, Konoha could destroy us with a single turn of its hand."

"Hmph! Since you know that, why struggle?"

Having a clear understanding of the Uchiha Clan's predicament, Hiashi did not believe they had any hope at all.

"Senior Hiashi, you need to understand whose Konoha this is. We don't need to fight Konoha."

"What do you mean?"

"Konoha is Hiruzen Sarutobi's Konoha, but it is also the Uchiha Clan's Konoha, the Hyuga Clan's Konoha, and the Konoha of countless villagers. Hiruzen Sarutobi is merely Konoha's Hokage—and the Third Hokage at that."

Ren's words set Hiashi thinking. He quickly grasped the key point.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was merely Konoha's Hokage, while Konoha did not belong solely to the Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest problem was that he was the Third Hokage, while Konoha's current Hokage ought to be the Fifth.

"Is your goal to become the Fifth Hokage? Frankly, even if I support you, your Uchiha Clan has no possibility of succeeding."

Hiashi asked probingly.

Ren smiled faintly. "Who becomes the Fifth Hokage is not important. What matters is that Konoha needs a Fifth Hokage. My goal has always been clear: Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and the Mitokado Clan."

"I wonder whether this answer satisfies Clan Head Hiashi, and whether we might have the possibility of further cooperation."

Having received his answer from Ren, Hiashi Hyuga no longer possessed his prior calm elegance. His expression was filled with venom. "I only want Hiruzen Sarutobi dead!"

"It seems we have many more things to discuss." Ren's face was filled with a smile.

No one knew what the two said afterward. They only knew that when Ren left the Hyuga Clan compound, he was in an exceptionally good mood.

After Ren left, a figure flashed out from within the Hyuga Clan. The figure then concealed itself and slipped toward the Uchiha Clan compound.