The Land of Water, the Kaguya Clan's grounds.
A Hyuga ninja stopped outside the main gate.
He took out an invitation and handed it to the Kaguya clansman guarding the gate.
The Kaguya Clan had always been warlike, routinely pulling out their own bones to use as weapons.
"This is an invitation from our Hyuga Village."
The Hyuga ninja looked at the Kaguya clansman before him.
"Our clan leader specifically instructed us to deliver this invitation to you separately."
The Kaguya clansman lowered his head and glanced at the invitation in his hands.
"Our Hyuga Village will be holding a distributors' conference in half a month to sell the ninja tools we make. We'd like to invite you to take a look."
The Kaguya gatekeeper accepted the invitation, turned, and ran into the clan grounds.
He crossed the courtyard and rushed straight into the clan leader's room.
"Clan Leader, the Hyuga sent this."
He handed over the invitation.
Several other Kaguya clansmen were sitting in the room, and they all gathered around at the commotion.
The Kaguya clan leader opened the invitation. As he read the words on it, his brows furrowed.
"Hyuga Village?"
He raised his head and looked at the clansman who had brought the message.
"Didn't the Hyuga Clan agree to join Konoha long ago?"
"When did a Hyuga Village spring up?"
The Kaguya clansman shook his head.
"The Hyuga ninja outside said they never joined Konoha at all."
"The Hyuga Clan went north to the Land of Rice Fields."
"They established their own shinobi village there and called it Hyuga Village."
"They're inviting us to attend a conference where they'll sell the ninja tools they make."
Everyone in the room put down what they were holding.
Only today had they learned that the Hyuga Clan had actually struck out on its own.
A powerfully built Kaguya clansman snorted.
"People from Kirigakure were just here a few days ago."
"They kept discussing us joining Kirigakure."
"All they talked about was how we'd have to follow the Mizukage's orders once we joined the village."
His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists and looked at the clan leader.
"Even the Hyuga Clan can establish its own shinobi village."
"Why should our Kaguya Clan have to serve under the Mizukage?"
The other Kaguya clansmen in the room began shouting in agreement.
A bare-chested clansman slapped the table.
"Exactly!"
"When has our Kaguya Clan ever feared anyone in battle?"
"The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan may be powerful, but our Shikotsumyaku is no worse."
"Even the Hyuga Clan can establish its own shinobi village."
"Why can't our Kaguya Clan?"
The clansmen grew louder as they spoke, each rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"If we join Kirigakure, we'll have to bow to that Mizukage's whims."
"If war really breaks out, who knows whether he'll stab us in the back?"
Sitting at the head of the room, the Kaguya clan leader listened to his clansmen's shouts without saying a word.
He looked down at the invitation from Hyuga Village in his hands.
In truth, what his clansmen were shouting was exactly what he was thinking.
Rather than take the entire clan to join Kirigakure and serve under the Mizukage,
be constrained at every turn and follow someone else's orders in everything,
the Kaguya Clan would be better off establishing its own shinobi village.
They could be their own masters and have the final say themselves in this Land of Water.
Since the Hyuga Clan could establish its own shinobi village in the Land of Rice Fields,
their Kaguya Clan could establish its own shinobi village just the same.
With these calculations in mind, the clan leader closed the invitation in his hands.
But as he looked at the warlike clansmen in the room, he did not voice those thoughts.
Their joining Kirigakure was still under discussion. It was not yet time to fall out with Kirigakure.
Just then, a clansman reached out and picked up the invitation from the table.
When he read that Hyuga Village intended to sell ninja tools, he could not help scoffing.
Their Kaguya Clan never used kunai or shuriken in battle.
They had always pulled bones from their own bodies to use as weapons.
"Go buy the ninja tools they make?"
The clansman tossed the invitation back onto the table and curled his lip in disdain.
"Ninja tools? How could they be as useful as our own bones?"
The Kaguya clan leader glanced at him and shook his head.
"The Hyuga Clan are distant relatives of us Kaguya, when you get down to it."
"Though we've lost touch over the years, they're still distant relatives."
"Since they went out of their way to deliver an invitation to our gate,"
"we might as well take this conference as an opportunity to visit."
"We can renew our old ties."
At this point, he pointed at the clansman who had just spoken.
Then he singled out several other clansmen in the room.
"You lot, get ready."
"In a few days, you'll go to Hyuga Village."
The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, the Raikage's building.
The Raikage sat at his desk, holding an invitation sent by the Hyuga.
After reading its contents, he tossed it onto the desk.
"The Hyuga Clan actually went to the Land of Rice Fields and established its own shinobi village?"
The Raikage turned to A, the guard beside him.
"Pick a few capable men."
"Go to the Land of Rice Fields."
"Find out everything about this Hyuga Clan for me, down to the last detail."
A nodded, turned, and left the room.
A few days passed.
The Kumogakure ninja sent to gather information hurried back to the village.
As soon as they entered the village, they went straight to the Raikage's room to report.
The lead Kumogakure ninja dropped to one knee.
"Lord Raikage, we've finished investigating Hyuga Village."
The Raikage glanced at him.
"Speak."
The ninja raised his head, his eyes still showing astonishment.
"The Hyuga Clan's Main Family is dead. All of them."
The Raikage's brow twitched sharply.
"All dead?"
"How did they die?"
The Kumogakure ninja quickly lowered his head.
"A rebellion broke out in the Hyuga Clan, and the entire Main Family died overnight!"
"The current Hyuga Clan Leader is called Shinichi Hyuga."
"He was the one who led the overthrow of the Main Family."
The Kumogakure ninja paused, then continued his report.
"After that Shinichi Hyuga became clan leader, he also issued an order."
"He publicly ordered the abolition of the Caged Bird Seal."
"Hyuga children born from now on will no longer have the Caged Bird Seal inscribed on their foreheads."
After hearing this, the Raikage sneered.
Several Kumogakure jonin standing in the room began discussing it.
"With the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal gone, doesn't that mean we can..."
"Without the Caged Bird Seal, aren't they practically handing us the Byakugan?"
"This new Hyuga clan leader really is an utter fool."
One jonin pointed at the invitation on the desk.
"This invitation also says the Hyuga are going to sell the ninja tools they make."
A Kumogakure jonin beside him clenched his fists.
"Why spend money buying something we can just take by force?"
Sitting behind his desk, the Raikage snatched up the invitation.
With a flick of his hand, he tossed it to A, the guard beside him.
"A."
"Take a few men to Hyuga Village yourself."
"See if you can bring back a pair of Byakugan!"
Meanwhile.
The invitations sent out by the Hyuga had not gone only to these major ninja clans and shinobi villages.
Takigakure, west of the Land of Rice Fields, had also received an invitation.
The village's senior officials soon selected several skilled ninja and sent them on their way.
The Land of Hot Water, east of the Land of Rice Fields, had not yet established its own shinobi village.
But the several major ninja clans entrenched there each sent people hurrying west as well.
Kusagakure and Amegakure lay west of the Land of Fire.
These two small countries' shinobi villages likewise sent their ninja north.
There was also the Land of Whirlpools, out at sea east of the Land of Fire.
The Uzumaki Clan living there also sent clan ninja out to sea by boat.
Ninja clans and shinobi villages, large and small, each had their own thoughts.
People from every side were all heading for Hyuga Village in the Land of Rice Fields.
Before you continue