Kirigakure

As the ship approached the dock, Neji disembarked with the Hyuga Clan's party.

Seeing the Hyuga Clan's party leave the dock, the eight members of the Kaguya Clan came over to meet them.

Leading the Kaguya Clan was a burly, middle-aged ninja with a warm, delighted expression. He walked straight up to Hyuga Keisuke. "Keisuke, it's been three years since we last met, hasn't it? I never expected you to be the one coming this time!"

"That's right, Yoshiyuki. I'd planned to come last year, but Hiroshi stole my chance!" Hyuga Keisuke laughed heartily.

"Come on, come on! We haven't seen each other in three years. I have to show you a good time here in the Land of Water. Quite a few fun places have sprung up over the last few years." Kaguya Yoshiyuki took the lead.

Hyuga Keisuke immediately followed him.

Another Kaguya Clan Jonin, Kaguya Takao, smiled at the rest of the Hyuga party. "Everyone from the Hyuga Clan, let's follow them. It's not often you get to visit Kirigakure, so let me wish you an enjoyable stay in advance."

Hyuga Shunsuke, a Jonin of the Hyuga Branch Family, stepped forward. "Sorry for the trouble, everyone."

"No need to be so formal." The burly Kaguya Takao glanced over the Hyuga Clan's accompanying party. "Our clans have been on good terms for generations. There's no need for such courtesies. While you're in Kirigakure, just make yourselves at home as you would in Konoha."

"Let's go." Smiling, he led the Hyuga party after Kaguya Yoshiyuki and Hyuga Keisuke.

Neji was completely inconspicuous among the group. Though he was young, he had grown quickly, and there was little to suggest he was only around thirteen. He looked no different from an ordinary fifteen- or sixteen-year-old.

Fifteen or sixteen was hardly young in the Shinobi World. Some prodigies had even become Jonin by that age.

The Land of Water was not as large as the Land of Fire. After only a few hours of walking, Neji's party reached a village shrouded in mist.

Neji looked around. Haze filled the air, and building after building disappeared into the mist.

Lamps along the streets cast hazy glows, making the place look like a city of fog.

"What do you think, everyone? Kirigakure has a charm all its own, doesn't it? Can you feel how different the atmosphere is from Konoha?" Kaguya Takao asked with a smile.

Hyuga Shunsuke nodded in appreciation. "It certainly has its own charm. There's a hazy beauty to it, as though it's within sight but beyond reach."

"Haha, thank you for the compliment." Kaguya Takao laughed. "Then you'll have to take your time exploring. First, I'll take you to the hotel our clan has arranged for you."

The party entered Kirigakure under the watchful eyes of the two guards at the main gate.

There were few people on Kirigakure's streets, and every passerby seemed to be in a hurry. It lacked Konoha's bustling crowds entirely.

Neji also noticed that the passersby seemed terrified of them. At the sight of Kaguya Takao at the head of the group, they no longer dared to raise their heads as they walked. Everyone they encountered lowered their heads and quickly stepped aside, while some simply turned into nearby streets.

Why is everyone avoiding them like the plague...? The Kaguya Clan's reputation is far worse than the Uchiha Clan's ever was, Neji wondered.

The Uchiha Clan's reputation in Konoha had never been particularly good, but their presence on the streets had never prompted anything like this. These people were avoiding them as though they were venomous snakes or scorpions.

People outside say the Kaguya Clan is bloodthirsty and mad, but judging by their behavior today, they seem perfectly normal. They haven't shown any of that supposed bloodthirsty madness. They don't look like irrational lunatics. Neji carefully observed his surroundings.

The Kaguya Clan members had long since grown accustomed to the passersby's behavior and showed no particular reaction.

Neji was not the only one puzzled. Confusion also appeared on the face of Hyuga Shunsuke, the Branch Family Jonin leading their party. The passersby seemed afraid not only of the Kaguya Clan, but of the Hyuga Clan as well.

Kirigakure really is strange. Is this a consequence of the blood mist policy? he wondered.

Hyuga Shunsuke did not voice his questions. He simply followed Kaguya Takao in silence.

Several people are watching us. I wonder which faction they belong to... With his current strength, Neji could sense at least four gazes watching them from the shadows, even without using his Byakugan.

Before coming, Neji had studied intelligence on Kirigakure. Its strongest faction was undoubtedly the Mizukage faction, backed by the Fourth Mizukage and his tailed beast.

After taking office, however, the Fourth Mizukage had abolished the Third Mizukage's blood mist policy, only to reinstate it shortly afterward.

The Fourth Mizukage's reversals had alienated the remaining Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from Kirigakure. Some had defected when the blood mist policy was abolished, and others had defected when it was reinstated. Zabuza had even attempted to assassinate the Mizukage.

Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura's repeated changes of course had driven some of his own supporters into the rival faction led by Genji.

Even so, the Fourth Mizukage's faction remained one of the largest in Kirigakure.

Genji's faction was the other major force in Kirigakure. Dissatisfied with the Mizukage's blood mist policy, they had plotted many things in secret. Even the position of Mizukage figured in their plans. They wanted to bring the Bloody Mist to an end.

This faction was also very powerful. Otherwise, it could never have survived unscathed under the Mizukage's oppressive policies.

As for the Kaguya Clan, they likely belonged to neither faction. Bloodline clans were in a terrible position, both in Kirigakure and throughout the Land of Water.

Both factions considered bloodline clans like theirs, which might lose control, extremely dangerous. This was one of the lasting effects of the Third Mizukage's implementation of the blood mist policy.

Prejudice was not so easily erased.

The somewhat oppressive atmosphere on the streets silenced both clans' leaders. They walked without a word until they reached a hotel in Kirigakure reserved for foreign guests.

The hotel stood seven stories tall and was quite large. Beautiful, lavish lights adorned its exterior, and a sign above the main entrance read: Water Mist Mansion.

"Everyone, this is one of the finest hotels in Kirigakure. I hope you'll all find your stay comfortable." Kaguya Takao led them into the lobby.

"Sorry for the trouble," Hyuga Shunsuke said gratefully.

"It's nothing." Kaguya Takao led them up to the seventh and highest floor, then smiled at Hyuga Shunsuke. "We've reserved this entire floor. You're free to choose whichever rooms you like."

Just then, the door at the end of the corridor opened, and Hyuga Keisuke and Kaguya Yoshiyuki stepped out.

Hyuga Keisuke looked at the Hyuga party. "Everyone, the Kaguya Clan has prepared a welcome banquet over at their compound. Let's head over."

As members of the Branch Family, Neji and the others naturally obeyed the Main Family elder's order. Neji followed at the rear of the group. After going downstairs and walking a short distance along the street in front of the hotel, they reached the Kaguya Clan's compound, with its stately, traditional buildings.