A few days later, at noon, Xue Ge was cleaning the first floor of Danzo's residence.
For once, after finishing his morning work, Danzo had handed his afternoon duties to En and gone home.
Once home, he had told Xue Ge to change out of his housekeeper outfit and come with him, without another word.
"Lord Danzo, where are we going?"
As they walked down the road, Xue Ge asked Danzo.
Danzo answered without a change in expression, "To the Hyuga Clan."
"The Hyuga-"
Xue Ge searched his memories. "The great clan that stands alongside the Uchiha?"
"I wouldn't say they stand alongside the Uchiha. It's just that, of the great clans left in the village, only the Hyuga still amount to anything in comparison." Danzo lowered his eyes to look at Xue Ge. "In the past, only the Senju Clan in the village had the right to stand against the Uchiha Clan."
"Now the Senju Clan is gradually declining. Even the eldest son of their younger generation died on the battlefield. Across the Shinobi World, probably only the Mist Ninja's Kaguya Clan still has the strength to be mentioned in the same breath as the Uchiha Clan."
"Then why are the Hyuga and the Uchiha called Konoha's two great clans?" Xue Ge asked earnestly. "Their children are always at odds at the Ninja Academy, too."
"Because although the Hyuga fall short of the Uchiha, there's an even greater gulf between the Hyuga and the other clans. By comparison, the gap between them and the Uchiha doesn't seem quite so large."
Xue Ge nodded, accepting that explanation.
Then he asked, "So what are we going to the Hyuga for?"
"You're on good terms with the Uchiha Clan. A few days ago, I heard that their clan head received you personally,"