The Third Shinobi World War... had erupted!
It was Hyuga Yuto's first time attending a meeting of this level.
Sarutobi Hiruzen presided over it. Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, Minato Namikaze, and Shimura Danzō were all present, as were every Hidden Leaf Village jōnin who could make it.
This was a war mobilization meeting.
Hyuga Yuto was a direct descendant of the Hokage's disciple line and born of a prominent Hidden Leaf Village clan, so there was no reason for him not to attend. Of course, he also understood that a setting like this was not his place to speak. He folded his arms and tucked himself into a corner, listening quietly as the important figures spoke.
Hatake Kakashi stood beside him. The youngest jōnin in Hidden Leaf Village leaned listlessly against the wall, apparently sharing the same thoughts.
"Kakashi," Hyuga Yuto asked curiously, "why aren't you standing with your teacher?"
"That would draw too much attention." The white-haired youth answered softly. As jōnin, using chakra to control their voices for a private conversation was actually quite simple. "Being the center of attention... is too troublesome. Aren't you also staying away from Lady Tsunade?"
"That's because the clan head is here." Hyuga Yuto's lies came effortlessly. "Look, Lord Hiashi and all the Hyuga jōnin are here, and Teacher Tsunade is here too. Which side should I stand on? One side is my clansmen, the other is my teacher, and they're so far apart. It wouldn't be right for me to stand with either side. I don't really care, but you know how complicated the adult world is. If two young juniors like us stand together, no one can find fault with it..."
Hatake Kakashi's eyes widened. "Yuto, you... are already thinking about such mature issues? I suppose that's to be expected from