Hyuga Kicho

Several days later.

Land of Fire, Hyuga Clan territory.

It was located deep within a dense forest.

There were no lofty towers or grand pavilions, only relatively simple village-style strongholds.

Generally speaking, ninja were not a group that enjoyed luxury. Their pursuit of power surpassed everything else.

Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan had a strict family tradition. With those above setting the example, the entire clan lived frugally, spending every resource they acquired where it mattered most.

Developing a nation was the business of daimyo and nobles. Ninja only needed to wield their blades.

Even the Hyuga Clan, which outsiders considered relatively gentle, followed this principle in such chaotic times.

One could sense the dense killing intent and bloody aura surrounding every Hyuga clansman patrolling the forest beyond the village.

In these turbulent times, even the Hyuga Clan had been forced to adapt, resulting in the rise of a large Radical Faction within the clan.

Thus, there was no need for pleasure or leisure here. It was a village operating under intense militarization.

Ordinary clansmen raced against time to handle logistics, forge weapons, transport provisions, and manage all sorts of resources needed by ninja.

The clan's children were also centrally managed. From the age of three or four, they had to learn how to use kunai, how to manipulate chakra, and how to kill enemies.

At this moment, near the center of the village stood a tall wooden building that appeared somewhat upscale, with a sizable courtyard outside that could house more than a dozen people.

Compared to the other homes in the village, it was already considered luxurious.

This represented that the Hyuga clansman living here held a core position within the clan.

That was indeed the case. Hyuga Hideto, an elder of the Hyuga Clan's main house, lived here.

Though not yet fifty, Hyuga Hideto had already become one of the elders of the Hyuga Clan's main house.

Unlike those main-house elders who clung to their positions despite their age, refusing to step down even while attending meetings with canes, he had entered the ranks of elders through the formidable strength he had honed in bloody battlefields.

The most dangerous incident had happened two years ago, when he encountered the wandering Two-Tails at the border of the Land of Fire.

Though he had been no match for the Two-Tails and had even been driven into a desperate situation by its Tailed-Beast Bomb, he had ultimately succeeded in leading his clansmen away intact.

"Kicho, following a high-level meeting, you will marry that puppeteer general of the Land of Night. You should possess the bearing and wisdom expected of a daughter of the Hyuga Clan's main house, shouldn't you?"

Hyuga Hideto, a middle-aged man with a somewhat cold expression, informed his daughter Hyuga Kicho of the family's highest command, which had already been fully decided.

"Of course, Father. Kicho has no objections."

Dressed in a white kimono embroidered with red maple leaves, the girl named Hyuga Kicho knelt before her father Hideto with impeccable posture, a smile on her face.

She possessed snow-white, delicate skin unlike that of ordinary female ninja, as well as slender fingers free of calluses—features equally unfitting for a ninja.

Her pure white eyes contained not the slightest impurity, revealing only an incomparably innocent smile that seemed almost alive enough to speak.

Her smooth black hair cascaded over her shoulders to her waist, while blunt-cut bangs fell along both sides of her cheeks, making her resemble a noble princess raised in seclusion.

Yet the thick scent of blood that constantly emanated from her revealed that this girl, who looked like a beautiful princess, was already an executioner who had killed countless people.

As one of the leading figures of the Hyuga Clan's new generation, eighteen-year-old Hyuga Kicho had long since stained her hands with innumerable lives.

Her Byakugan had also been trained to a realm many adult clansmen had never reached.

Even so, she held not the slightest dissatisfaction toward the clan's arranged marriage, merely smiling as she obeyed its rules.

Even if that order required her to marry and bear children for a man she did not know, a man nearly ten years older than her.

As a woman of the main house, she had long prepared herself mentally for such a fate.

Either she would marry a powerful man within the clan, or she would become a tool for a political marriage, seeking new support for the clan beyond its borders.

Hearing his daughter's understanding response, the severity in Hideto's face eased somewhat.

He had known early on that his daughter Kicho was a girl with strong opinions. Thus, he had been worried that, upon hearing such an order, she might do something irrational that would harm the clan's growth.

Fortunately, she had not done anything foolish that went against the Hyuga Clan's traditions.

"Rest assured. Though the man you are marrying is considerably older than you, Father can guarantee that he is an outstanding man. He will not disgrace your bloodline or status."

Yes, an outstanding man—but will he be a husband who can cherish me?

Kicho felt neither joy nor excitement. Her smile remained as exquisite and doll-like as ever as she respectfully listened to her father Hideto's instruction.

"Not long ago, I heard that the puppeteer general subdued the Seven-Tails... That was a Tailed Beast. Even within the Hyuga Clan, I'm afraid only the clan head could accomplish such a thing."

Hideto spoke with a sigh.

Tailed Beasts... They were entities that meant certain death to ordinary ninja.

When he had encountered the Two-Tails before, it was not as though he had possessed no power to resist at all, but he also knew that subduing it was beyond him.

Leading his clansmen away unharmed had been his limit.

He was nearly fifty. His strength had basically taken shape, and after a few more years, it would begin to decline with age.

As for his son-in-law... he was only twenty-seven years old, far from a ninja's peak.

Looking at the carefully maintained smile on his daughter Kicho's face, Hideto had to admit that his daughter was exceptionally beautiful. If she had not been a ninja, she might have been a peerless beauty capable of toppling nations.

However, she was a ninja. Though beautiful, she lacked what ordinary women should possess.

The bloody aura around her was proof that she had killed many people.

She could wear the kindest, gentlest smile while mercilessly killing her enemies, regardless of gender, age, or status.

Thinking of this, Hideto could not help feeling satisfied.

His daughter was just that cold and outstanding.

Thus, Hideto walked to the side, took out a katana with a blue hilt, and handed it to the girl.

"Father, this is..."

Kicho tilted her head, not quite understanding what her father Hideto meant.

"This is a trophy I seized after wiping out a samurai family in the past—Kumokiri."

"A chakra blade?"

Kicho accepted the sword, grasped its blue hilt, and gently drew a small portion of the blade.

Its cold gleam was piercing. Just looking at it made her feel an intimidating aura that caused her skin to sting.

She immediately realized that it differed from ordinary chakra blades.

Ordinary chakra blades contained very little Chakra Metal, but this sword had been forged entirely from incomparably precious special Chakra Metal, supplemented by the finest craftsmanship.

"This is a spirit blade. In the past, besides Tailed Beasts, the Ninja World also had demonic creatures formed from resentment and chakra. The greatest swordsmiths of that era forged spirit blades to deal with those monsters. Beyond their excellent chakra-conducting properties, these spirit blades can also suppress evil entities. When I escaped the Two-Tails intact, Spirit Blade: Kumokiri played a part as well."

Tailed Beasts were different from demonic creatures, but they still contained negative energy. With Spirit Blade: Kumokiri in hand, facing a Tailed Beast would be much easier.

"Now, I am giving Spirit Blade: Kumokiri to you. If your husband loses his value in the future, use Kumokiri to end him. Turn the Land of Night into the Hyuga Clan's backyard and replace him. Therefore, you must make the fullest use of your beauty to win his favor, and then..."

Hideto's voice was cold. He did not continue, but his eyes revealed extreme cruelty and calculation.

"Is that so?" Kicho carefully stroked the spirit blade's body. For a moment, an unreadable look entered her eyes, and her smile became meaningful. "Perhaps one day, this blade may be pointed at Father as well."

Hideto froze, then revealed displeasure.

"Kicho, do not make such treasonous jokes. I know very well that you are not the sort of foolish woman who would throw everything away for love."

"Yes, Father. Ninja do not need things like emotions."

Kicho smiled as she put away Spirit Blade: Kumokiri.

"You may leave. Once the Land of Night's betrothal gifts arrive, the clan will arrange for you to depart for the Land of Night."

Hideto waved his hand. He felt there was nothing else he needed to explain to his daughter, so he told her to stay home during this period and await her wedding day in peace.

"Yes. Then I shall return to my room and rest, Father."

Kicho rose and turned to leave the room.

Both Yayoi and the Hyuga Clan were satisfied with the conditions offered by each side.

Thus, after roughly a month of discussions over the marriage alliance, it encountered no resistance and was naturally finalized.

The Hyuga Clan naturally would not relocate to the Land of Night. They could not let go of their ancestral holdings in the Land of Fire, nor did they enjoy leaving their homeland. That was a fate reserved for losers.

Yayoi quietly breathed a sigh of relief at this.

Unlike the Aburame Clan, the Hyuga Clan was a massive and influential family. If they had decided to merge into the Land of Night, he would have been the one with the greatest headache.

At that point, whether he could keep his position as general would have become a question.

He could suppress the Aburame Clan, but a great clan like the Hyuga Clan would absolutely be a disaster for the present Land of Night.

Therefore, a marriage alliance was the best outcome.

The Hyuga Clan would gain access to the Land of Night's resource channels, while Yayoi would gain the Hyuga Clan's bloodline and establish an alliance with them. It was a win-win situation.

Although Yayoi disliked bloodline supremacy, in the world of Naruto, no matter how much one denied it, bloodlines represented power in this Ninja World.

Because Kekkei Genkai truly could be passed down to the next generation through reproduction.

Yayoi hoped that his descendants would have a higher starting point.

For a ruler, outstanding heirs were a top priority, not something optional.

In short, the marriage alliance between the two factions was already unstoppable.

Besides marrying off a daughter of the main house, the Hyuga Clan also sent two daughters of the branch house to serve as attendants to the main-house daughter, accompanying her to the Land of Night.

Naturally, several branch-house guards and their families would also follow the main-house daughter onto the Land of Night's soil.

This was both the Hyuga Clan's support for the Land of Night and a sign that these branch-house members would become the main-house daughter's strength and foundation in the Land of Night.

This was support in manpower. Apart from that, the Hyuga Clan also provided some ninjutsu materials, including the Yin-Yang Release that Yayoi valued most.

However, it was still an incomplete Yin-Yang Release scroll.

In the entire Ninja World, perhaps only the Senju and Uchiha Clan could assemble a complete Yin-Yang Release.

The incomplete Yin-Yang Release scroll provided by the Hyuga Clan was somewhat more complete than the fragment Yayoi had obtained after destroying the Hagoromo Clan.

Returning the favor, Yayoi was not stingy. He gave the Hyuga Clan the Yin-Yang Release he had obtained from the Hagoromo Clan and partially improved as a betrothal gift.

There were also unique medical ninjutsu and medical knowledge Yayoi had created through his special chakra.

Although these medical techniques could not be fully replicated without special chakra, they could still greatly ease the Hyuga Clan's medical burden.

Moreover, the betrothal gifts included many precious medicinal herbs.

Yayoi had also provided plenty of ninja tools and money.

Yayoi did not value such worldly possessions. The Land of Night's economy was now rapidly growing. He could not claim it changed completely every year, but in economic and resource development, it was quickly catching up to those great nations.

Land of Fire, Hyuga Clan.

After more than ten days of waiting, the wedding procession dispatched by Yayoi had already formed up neatly.

Kakuzu, head of the Military Bureau's Combat Execution Division, was in charge, accompanied by twenty elite ninja and two hundred elite samurai skilled in chakra swordsmanship.

Their ninja uniforms and armor bore patterns of red spider lilies.

In addition, several ninja clad in black high-collared trench coats and wearing sunglasses had appeared among Kakuzu's party.

Their aloof and silent demeanor gave off a mysterious, cold impression that kept strangers away.

Hyuga Hideto, who led the Hyuga Clan's bridal escort, stared at these ninja in black high-collared trench coats with some astonishment.

The high-collared trench coats were embroidered with a ninja clan crest.

The crest resembled a simple drawing of an insect.

Every one of them possessed a deep and powerful aura, proving that they were no ordinary ninja.

Even among a great clan like the Hyuga Clan, they would be considered elite forces.

Especially the sunglasses-wearing man at the lead, who gave Hideto a dangerous feeling.

Hideto knew this man. They had even fought in the past, and their strength was roughly on the same level.

Aburame Yuroketsu.

The Aburame Clan's new clan head.

Only in his thirties, he had swiftly assumed leadership and stabilized the Aburame Clan's internal crisis after the previous clan head died in battle a year ago.

The insects he controlled were bizarre and unpredictable, and they had caused Hideto no small amount of trouble in the past.

He had not expected the man to appear in the Land of Night's wedding procession.

After thinking it over carefully, Hideto understood what had happened.

While the Hyuga Clan and the Land of Night had been discussing the marriage, the Aburame Clan had silently joined the Land of Night.

At this moment, the Aburame Clan's territory in the Land of Fire had likely been abandoned, becoming unclaimed land.

Hideto took a deep breath. Unexpectedly, his future son-in-law had given him such a surprise at this time.

"It has been a long time, Yuroketsu."

Hideto greeted Aburame Yuroketsu.

They had been enemies in the past, but now they were allies. The world truly was unpredictable.

"It has been a long time."

Yuroketsu nodded slightly as well.

His entire body was concealed within the black trench coat, leaving only the upper half of his face and the sunglasses over his eyes visible. No one could tell what he was thinking.

He was like a snake hidden in darkness, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment.

"I never expected your Aburame Clan to leave the Land of Fire."

Hideto sighed with emotion.

The Aburame Clan could be considered an old ninja clan of the Land of Fire, having existed there for over two hundred years.

Though not a powerful clan in the Land of Fire, they were not some insignificant group that anyone could provoke.

The Aburame Clan's ninja generally lacked exceptional strengths, but their overall abilities were very balanced.

Once they matured, their abilities became stable, and their coordination had caused many ninja clans tremendous suffering.

"The general gave us conditions we could not refuse. Besides, the Land of Fire has become too dangerous."

Yuroketsu's tone was indifferent, but anyone could hear the gravity in his words.

Hideto nodded.

He knew Yuroketsu was referring to the alliance between the Senju and Uchiha Clan, which had indeed left many ninja clans in the Land of Fire deeply uneasy.

The Aburame Clan was far weaker than the Hyuga Clan and had no worthy allies. In such circumstances, leaving might have been their best choice.

In comparison, the Yamanaka Clan, Nara Clan, and Akimichi Clan—like the Aburame Clan, secret-technique ninja clans—were much more fortunate.

The secret techniques of these three clans could complement one another. Moreover, they had remained on friendly terms since their founding, and the three clans had already become one.

Especially after the Sarutobi Clan had joined their alliance system several decades ago, they had advanced and retreated together.

Later, under the Sarutobi Clan's mediation, the Shimura Clan, Utatane Clan, and Mitokado Clan had also begun to draw closer.

Faced with these ninja clans that had formed a solid bloc, no ninja clan apart from the Senju and Uchiha Clan could easily ignore such a powerful force.

Therefore, amid the Land of Fire's present tense situation, these ninja clans did not have to worry in fear like the isolated and unsupported Aburame Clan. They could remain calmly where they were and observe how events unfolded.