Hyuga's Scheme

"A lavish gift... like a weasel paying New Year's calls to a chicken—nothing good can come of it."

Uzumaki Shusen muttered to himself, stopping his experiment and taking off his white coat.

The Hyuga Clan's sudden visit gave him an ominous feeling, leaving him unable to continue fusing the eyes in peace.

If the Senju clan said they had a lavish gift for him, he might believe it. But the Hyuga and Uzumaki Clans had no ties whatsoever. If they claimed they were bringing benefits, they surely had some scheme brewing behind the scenes.

With that in mind, Shusen used the Transformation Technique. With a puff, he turned into Black Zetsu and swiftly returned to Whirlpool Village.

Over the years, he had grown used to wearing Black Zetsu's disguise. Wherever bad deeds were done, Black Zetsu's trail could be found. He had turned him into the most evil shadowy mastermind in the entire ninja world.

"Whirlpool Village has only been established for half a month, and conditions are still rough. Please excuse any inadequacies."

The Grand Elder led Hyuga Tenfu and the others into the village while introducing it to them.

The Hyuga clansmen said nothing, but obvious astonishment showed on their faces as they kept looking around.

The bustling scene before them was far beyond their expectations. Tens of thousands of civilians were putting their backs into reclaiming the wasteland, gathering densely over a vast area like diligent ants.

The Uzumaki clansmen were not idle either. They used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to move stones and fell trees, taking on the heavy labor the civilians could not handle. Around Whirlpool Village, they were building a wall dozens of meters high, working with great vigor.

For a moment, Hyuga Tenfu had the illusion that the Uzumaki Clan was not building a village, but forging a nation.

In the end, he pursed his lips and said nothing.

Before long, the Second Elder brought the Hyuga clansmen to the clan head's residence.

As they stepped through the gate, they saw Ryū sitting in the courtyard making tea. Mito and Ashina sat obediently at his left and right.

Mito and Ashina had still been helping build Whirlpool Village a quarter of an hour ago. But when Ryū learned of Hyuga Tenfu's visit, he summoned them over, wanting his children to broaden their horizons.

"Clan Head Tenfu, please sit."

Ryū greeted him in a tone as calm as if he were meeting an old friend he had not seen in years.

Hyuga Tenfu nodded and sat opposite him. Hyuga Tenjin, Hyuga Rika, and the other clansmen stood at his side.

Ryū poured him a cup of tea, but Hyuga Tenfu did not drink it.

"After walking through the village, what impression does Clan Head Tenfu have of our Whirlpool Village?"

Seeing the calm smile on Ryū's face, Hyuga Tenfu hesitated briefly before answering, "To be honest, it exceeded my expectations."

"I had thought Whirlpool Village was just a minor undertaking. I never expected such a grand scale. Although it is only in its early stages, once completed, its prosperity may well rival the imperial capital of the Fire Country."

Hyuga Rika and the others vaguely agreed. When they had first encountered the guard squad, they had been quite dismissive of the Uzumaki Clan's attempt to build a village. Yet after entering Whirlpool Village themselves, their attitudes had unconsciously begun to change.

Perhaps the Uzumaki Clan really could build a second imperial capital of the Fire Country.

"Heh, all beginnings are difficult. How could it be so easy to see it through to the end?" Ryū shook his head, drained the tea before him in one gulp, then refilled his cup and said quietly,

"Who knows how many ninja clans are hiding in the shadows, waiting to laugh at us and for the day Whirlpool Village collapses under its own weight? We have already been placed over the fire to roast..."

At that moment, Shusen used Earth Release to slip into Whirlpool Village. He released the seal on the Byakugan in his right eye and found the Hyuga clansmen in his home.

After a brief hesitation, he used sealing techniques to suppress his presence to the utmost limit. He quietly lurked beneath the small courtyard and used an improved version of the Wind Release: Clairaudience Technique to eavesdrop on his father's conversation with Hyuga Tenfu.

"The Uzumaki Clan's situation is indeed worrying, but Clan Head Ryū does not seem as anxious as I imagined," Hyuga Tenfu said expressionlessly.

"I merely did not let you see it. If I lacked even that much composure, I would not be worthy of being clan head." Ryū continued making tea without pausing.

"It seems the Uzumaki Clan has quite substantial reserves."

If the Hyuga Clan had supported tens of thousands of civilians for half a month, it would not cripple them, but they would inevitably be stretched thin.

"No matter how substantial one's reserves are, they cannot fill a bottomless pit."

At the thought of the money and provisions promised by the daimyo, the calm smile on Ryū's face suddenly became difficult to maintain.

Hyuga Tenfu fell silent for a moment before finally revealing the purpose of his visit. "The Hyuga Clan can, in fact, help Whirlpool Village shoulder some of its burden."

"Oh? Could this be the lavish gift Clan Head Tenfu mentioned?"

"Yes."

Hyuga Tenfu did not beat around the bush. "The Hyuga Clan can provide Whirlpool Village with ten thousand dan of grain and two hundred million ryo. If you conserve them, they should last one or two months."

"It truly is a lavish gift." Ryū looked thoughtful. "What do we need to offer in return?"

"The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques are renowned throughout the ninja world. Among the ninja clans of the Five Great Countries, none can match the Uzumaki Clan's mastery of sealing techniques. I would like to ask Clan Head Ryū to develop a sealing technique for my clan."

Beneath the ground, Shusen already had a bad feeling upon hearing this.

No way, right?

Could it be...

"What kind of sealing technique does Clan Head Tenfu want?" Ryū asked.

Hyuga Tenfu stated his idea. "A sealing technique that automatically destroys the brain and eyes after death. In addition, once this seal is planted, the life and death of its bearer will be entirely at the caster's mercy."

Shusen: "..."

Damn it!

It really was that fucking Caged Bird!

His emotions were unbelievably complicated. He had never expected to witness the birth of the Caged Bird in this way. He felt like crying but had no tears.

He had actually considered this long ago. The Hyuga Clan was a bunch of brutes who only knew how to punch. How could they possibly develop a curse technique as exquisite as the Caged Bird? They had probably bought it from the Uzumaki Clan!

Yet when he saw his guess confirmed, he felt utterly miserable. Without a doubt, once the Caged Bird came into being, he would no longer be able to dig out Byakugan as freely as before on the battlefield. His grand plan to fuse the Tenseigan would also come to an end.

Dad, don't agree to this. Please, don't agree...

Shusen prayed silently, panicking.

"Is this sealing technique meant to deal with Black Zetsu?" Ryū asked. The Fire Country was only so large, and the grudges between Black Zetsu, the Hyuga Clan, and the Uchiha had long ceased to be a secret.

Ryū felt considerable sympathy for the two great ocular technique clans whose eyes had been ruthlessly gouged out. He felt that Black Zetsu was far too twisted and evil. Fortunately, he did not gouge out ordinary eyes, or the major ninja clans would have joined forces to hunt him down long ago.

"That is one reason. The other is to resolve the issue of status between the main family and branch families," Hyuga Tenfu answered truthfully.

There was nothing to hide about that reason. The Hyuga Clan's main family system was exceedingly cruel, and all the ninja clans had known about it for a long time.

The branch families were unwilling to remain oppressed and enslaved by the main family, and recently showed faint signs of rising up and seeking independence. Coupled with Black Zetsu's relentless harassment through eye-gouging, Hyuga Tenfu, as clan head, was exhausted by troubles from within and without.