Night Visit to the Hyuga Clan

Night fell.

Uchiha En changed into a clean, dark-blue clan robe. The fan crest on his back gleamed faintly in the moonlight.

He left the Uchiha Clan Compound alone.

He had barely reached the gate when Uchiha Yashiro hurried after him, carrying a lantern.

"Clan Head, are you really going without anyone to accompany you?"

Uchiha Yashiro frowned, his face full of concern.

"The Hyuga Clan sent an invitation, but at a time like this, if something goes wrong..."

"No need."

Uchiha En did not look back. His voice was calm.

"I'm going to meet them, not to fight."

"But..."

"Elder Yashiro."

Uchiha En stopped and turned around.

His gaze was steady, with a certainty that left no room for doubt.

"With my current strength, how many people in all of Konoha do you think could stop me from leaving?"

Uchiha Yashiro froze.

Uchiha En continued, speaking quietly but with complete confidence.

"Might Guy, if he opened the Eighth Gate of the Eight Gates Formation, would be one."

"As for everyone else..."

He smiled.

"Even if I couldn't beat them, I could still get away."

Uchiha Yashiro opened his mouth, then closed it without a word.

It was true.

Their clan head had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Yashiro had seen the true power of those eyes before. Looking across all of Konoha, there really was no one who could hurt their clan head.

"Then... please be careful."

In the end, that was all Uchiha Yashiro said.

Uchiha En nodded, turned, and vanished into the night.

The Hyuga Clan Compound lay on Konoha's eastern side. It covered a vast area, with white walls, black roof tiles, and towering outer walls. From a distance, it looked like a small fortress.

When Uchiha En reached the gate, the two Hyuga clansmen standing guard had already spotted him.

They wore the Hyuga Clan's distinctive white haori, and their pure-white eyes glimmered faintly in the moonlight.

"Who goes there?" one guard demanded warily.

Uchiha En stopped and lifted his chin slightly.

"Uchiha En of the Uchiha Clan."

"I'm here at Clan Head Hiashi's invitation."

The two guards exchanged a glance.

One of them nodded. "Please wait."

He turned and hurried inside. The other remained where he was, watching Uchiha En closely.

Uchiha En paid him no mind. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and waited quietly.

Before long, the guard came running back.

"Uchiha Clan Head, please come in."

He stepped aside, his tone much more respectful than before.

"Our clan head is waiting in the reception room."

Uchiha En nodded and walked in.

Led by an attendant, Uchiha En passed through a long corridor and around several screen walls before arriving at a spacious tatami room.

"The Uchiha Clan Head has arrived!"

The attendant announced him, then slid open the wooden door.

Uchiha En stepped inside.

The reception room was large, with fine tatami mats covering the floor and a landscape painting hanging on the wall. Sandalwood incense burned in one corner, its faint fragrance filling the air.

Hyuga Hiashi sat in the place of honor, a Yixing Tea Set before him.

He wore a white haori, his hair tied neatly behind his head. He sat straight-backed, carrying the authority of the Hyuga Clan Head.

When he saw Uchiha En enter, he rose with a polite smile.

"Uchiha Clan Head, please sit."

Uchiha En made no ceremony of it and sat opposite him.

A low table stood between them. The water had already come to a boil.

Hyuga Hiashi did not rush to speak. Instead, he picked up the teapot and began to make tea.

Water poured from the spout into a cup with a clear, gentle sound. Steam rose, carrying the scent of tea through the room.

His movements were steady and unhurried, as though he were savoring every step.

Uchiha En said nothing either.

He sat quietly, watching Hyuga Hiashi make the tea, his expression unreadable.

The two remained silent.

Both knew that whoever spoke first would give up the upper hand.

After a moment, Hyuga Hiashi pushed a freshly brewed cup of tea toward Uchiha En.

"Please."

Uchiha En lifted the cup and took a small sip.

The tea was slightly bitter at first, then turned sweet. A delicate fragrance lingered in his mouth.

He set down the cup and nodded.

"Good tea."

A faint smile appeared on Hyuga Hiashi's lips.

"It is indeed a rare tea."

"The Hyuga Clan has kept these tea leaves for hundreds of years. We usually bring them out only for our most honored guests."

He paused, his gaze settling on Uchiha En.

"Come to think of it, it's thanks to you, Uchiha Clan Head, that I have the chance to drink it today."

Uchiha En smiled.

"You're too kind, Clan Head Hiashi."

"As clan head, can't you drink it whenever you like?"

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head.

"I could."

"But as clan head, I must set an example."

"If I don't follow the rules myself, no one else will."

Old fox. What a performance, Uchiha En thought.

But his face showed admiration.

"You're right, Clan Head Hiashi."

"As the head of a clan, you do have to lead by example."

He picked up his cup and took another sip.

Then he set it down and changed the subject.

"Our Uchiha Clan suffered terrible losses on Clan Massacre Night."

"Out of more than a thousand people, only one or two hundred remain."

He sighed, his voice turning somber.

"It's... heartbreaking."

Hyuga Hiashi was silent for a few seconds.

He picked up his cup, took a sip, and set it down.

"I heard about what happened to the Uchiha Clan."

"It was... unfortunate."

His words were restrained, his tone carrying just the right amount of sympathy.

But Uchiha En could tell it was only courtesy.

He had never expected Hyuga Hiashi to truly grieve for the Uchiha.

They were both clan heads. They knew how this worked.

Uchiha En let the subject drop and turned to something else.

"By the way, Clan Head Hiashi."

"I heard the Hyuga Clan has... increased its patrols around the compound lately?"

Hyuga Hiashi's hand paused slightly as he lifted his tea.

Then he nodded as though nothing had happened.

"That's right."

"Konoha has been unsettled lately. It never hurts to strengthen our defenses."

Uchiha En smiled.

"Yes, unsettled."

"The night before last, the Uchiha Clan was nearly wiped out. The Shimura and Sarutobi clans were attacked too. The village's defenses clearly aren't up to the task."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Hyuga Hiashi's face.

"You must be worried too, Clan Head Hiashi?"

Hyuga Hiashi did not answer.

He took another sip of tea, set down his cup, and fell silent for a few seconds.

Then he raised his head and looked at Uchiha En.

"Uchiha Clan Head."

His voice grew solemn.