The Second Half

Inside the somewhat shabby Small Tavern, Uchiha Fugaku sat on pins and needles across from Danzo, watching him warily without saying or explaining another word.

Halfway through their conversation, Yume Ryoma abruptly appeared beside Danzo and quietly reported something.

"I understand."

Danzo nodded, his expression calm as he waved a hand to signal Ryoma to withdraw.

"I called you here today because you're still reasonably levelheaded." Danzo tapped lightly on the table, the gentle smile still on his face, though his tone carried an obvious chill.

"In this war, I hope the Uchiha will follow orders instead of being as arrogantly self-important as they were in the past."

Danzo stated his purpose. This war concerned both his reputation and Skill Points; there could be absolutely no mistakes.

Though his current status was not low, that was only in the eyes of the upper echelons of the various villages. Some of the younger high-ranking officials had never even heard Danzo's name.

That made it considerably more difficult for him to spread his reputation.

There would not be many more chances to harvest Skill Points on such a massive scale.

If the Uchiha did not cause trouble on the battlefield and obediently followed his command, Danzo did not mind sparing them.

After all, exterminating the Uchiha Clan would also weaken Konoha.

But if they still maintained that lofty attitude and refused to obey orders—

A trace of coldness flashed through Danzo's eyes.

"Lord Danzo, so you were here too."

A somewhat delighted voice rang out, making Danzo frown.

Hizashi Hyuga familiarly sat down beside Danzo and smiled. "I searched this little town for ages and couldn't find a decent restaurant. I was planning to find a tavern for a drink, but I didn't expect you two to be here as well."

His tone was full of surprise.

If Ryoma had not told him about Hizashi Hyuga's movements beforehand, Danzo might not have realized that this man had deliberately come looking for them.

"What a coincidence."

Though he understood perfectly well, Danzo still replied with a smile and ordered a few side dishes.

"It really is quite a coincidence." Hizashi Hyuga smiled broadly, then asked curiously, "We're heading into battle tomorrow. Were you two discussing strategic matters?"

The moment he said that, Danzo roughly understood why he had come over. He could not help but smile as he responded, "No, I was discussing some personal matters with Fugaku."

"Personal matters?"

Hizashi Hyuga looked at the two of them strangely. Although he was a member of the Hyuga Clan's branch family, he still had quite a few connections in the village.

He knew perfectly well about the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Danzo.

But that was precisely why he had come to this Small Tavern in the middle of the night to find them.

He suspected that Danzo had been putting on an act. Ever since the Uchiha had been the second clan to speak up in support of Danzo, such rumors had begun circulating among the major clans.

Though Danzo publicly inherited the Second Hokage's ideas and was extremely hostile toward the Uchiha—

Privately, however, Danzo had already gotten involved with the Uchiha. Although the two sides had always rejected and hated each other, there was actually no fundamental conflict of interest between them.

Still, that was only the speculation of a very small number of people, and it had not even reached the Hokage's ears.

"Lord Danzo, I still need to prepare for tomorrow, so I'll take my leave first." Seemingly unable to bear the pressure Danzo brought any longer, Fugaku gritted his teeth and stood up, taking advantage of Hizashi's arrival.

"Go on, prepare well. After all, there are many matters that will require the Uchiha's help." Danzo stood with a smile, his words carrying another meaning.

Fugaku's heart sank again. He hurriedly waved to tell Danzo not to see him off, then quickly left.

As Hizashi watched Fugaku's departing back, he became even more convinced that the two men had something else going on behind the scenes.

"Hizashi, take your time eating. I'll be leaving as well." Danzo watched Fugaku's retreating figure with satisfaction, then spoke to Hizashi beside him.

With that, he prepared to leave.

"Lord Danzo, please wait!"

Hizashi Hyuga immediately grew anxious upon hearing that. He had not come out in the middle of the night just to have a meal and a few drinks.

Danzo looked at him in confusion. "Is something the matter?"

"Actually, there are some things I don't understand about the upcoming battle. I hope Lord Danzo can offer me some guidance." Hizashi scratched his cheek and spoke somewhat awkwardly.

Whether in expression or movement, he looked like a big boy in his thirties, leaving Danzo staring at him in bewilderment.

"Fine. Go ahead. What is it you don't understand?"

Since he had put it that way, Danzo simply sat down again. He wanted to see what Hizashi Hyuga was truly trying to do.

Hizashi Hyuga really did act like someone confused about strategy, gradually asking Danzo about all sorts of problems that might arise in the coming war and how to resolve them.

Danzo answered every question in turn.

One was acting, and the other played along. The two remained seated until late into the night.

"Lord Danzo's guidance today has benefited Hizashi greatly."

Outside the Small Tavern, Hizashi bowed deeply to Danzo.

Danzo looked at him calmly and accepted the bow.

He had not actually taught Hizashi much about strategy. He had merely told him about the broad direction he envisioned for the coming war.

Yet Hizashi Hyuga had earnestly kept thinking up topics, with faint undertones of agreement and flattery in his words.

After waiting a long time without a response, Hizashi raised his head to look at Danzo. But the instant he did, he met Danzo's calm gaze.

A bone-chilling sensation abruptly exploded within him. Hizashi could not help but shudder, feeling as though every one of his little thoughts had been laid bare beneath those eyes.

An inexplicable pressure spread out from Danzo and converged upon him.

Danzo said nothing. He simply stared at him in silence.

It was already deep into the night, and most of Yoshino Town had gone to rest.

Standing on the street, aside from the faint occasional sounds of talking and drinking from the tavern behind them, there was no other noise.

"L-Lord Danzo?" Hizashi Hyuga asked cautiously, a stiff smile on his face.

"I don't wish to involve myself in the matters between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, but I do not want the conflict between your two clans to cause any accidents in this strategy."

"Konoha is the greater family, while the clan is only the smaller family. You may cease to be Hyuga, or cease to be Uchiha, but you will forever be people of Konoha. Do you understand?"

Danzo looked at Hizashi Hyuga, his stern face filled with coldness as he issued his warning.

"Yes."

After a moment of stunned silence, Hizashi came to his senses and immediately lowered his head in response.

Panic filled his heart. It sounded as though Danzo had taken note of his hostility toward the Uchiha along the way.

The unclear relationship between the Uchiha and Danzo made Hizashi Hyuga involuntarily think of many possibilities.

When he raised his head again, Danzo had already vanished.

No matter how much this old senior changed on the surface, his nature was still no different from before.

Hizashi Hyuga let out a breath of relief, his back already soaked in cold sweat.