"You are talking about..." Ginka Hyūga's face slightly changed.
"The words from that day." Natsu Hyūga lowered her eyes.
The two seemed to be speaking in riddles, but they both knew exactly what incident was being referenced.
"He also said that Kushina overheard the words." Natsu Hyūga dropped another bombshell.
Kushina, who had once been an outsider and a target of bullying, also knew about this.
"Kushina…." Kushina's face flashed through Ginka Hyūga's mind.
Kushina was the Hidden Leaf's only descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Although she usually kept a low profile, anyone with keen eyes could tell that Kushina was not simple.
The Uzumaki clan's Sealing Jutsu was profound. The Hidden Leaf possessed many of their clan's sealing techniques, which had improved the Hidden Leaf's native Sealing Jutsu.
Some sealing techniques were left by Mito Uzumaki, but most came from the humanitarian collection by the Hidden Leaf after the fall of the Land of Whirlpools.
Currently, not many people could study these Sealing Jutsu, because powerful Sealing Jutsu required the support of a Bloodline!
"Uchiha Kiyoshi... well, what is his attitude?" Ginka Hyūga was concerned about this question.
Kushina was only an eavesdropper; as long as the person involved, Kiyoshi Uchiha, didn't hold a grudge, there wouldn't be any major issue.
But if Kiyoshi Uchiha made a fuss, his sensitive identity would undoubtedly attract more attention from many Uchiha clan members.
If they weren't careful, the matter would become public knowledge.
At that point, the Uchiha, who valued the clan's reputation above all else, would surely come knocking for an explanation.
This would be detrimental to the Hyūga clan, and she herself would almost certainly be severely punished by those conservative elders.
"Kiyo… Uchiha Kiyoshi was very angry about it." Natsu Hyūga nearly habitually used Kiyoshi's given name, but quickly changed to his full name so as not to appear too close to him.
"You didn't go and try to explain?" Ginka Hyūga immediately asked.
If they couldn't handle this small matter, these Branch Family members were truly just freeloaders.
"I went… but Uchiha Kiyoshi asked me to pay one million Ryo, and also…" Natsu Hyūga recounted everything that happened that day, including the humiliation of having her Caged Bird Seal viewed.
After listening, Ginka Hyūga frowned.
That Uchiha Kiyoshi actually told her to offer an apology and sincerity?
Ginka Hyūga, as a Main Family member used to a life of luxury, had never suffered such indignities!
"He truly is an inherently evil brat!" At this moment, Ginka Hyūga felt that the words she had spoken that day were absolutely correct.
The mistake was that Kiyoshi Uchiha overheard them, and there was a second witness.
Otherwise, Ginka Hyūga would have tried to apply pressure if it were only Kiyoshi.
After all, she belonged to the ruling class of the Hyūga clan, while Kiyoshi Uchiha was just an ordinary Uchiha.
He was only sensitive because of his birthplace, making the issue prone to political entanglement.
But now that Kushina knew, she couldn't handle it that way.
Given her similar experience, Kushina was highly likely to side with Kiyoshi.
That would only blow the issue up further.
Ginka Hyūga pondered how to resolve the matter.
She asked Natsu Hyūga to bring her a cup of tea.
Natsu Hyūga answered and left.
A short while later, Natsu brought up a cup of rare, fragrant tea.
Ginka Hyūga elegantly took a sip. The tea liquid moistened the fine lines on her red lips.
She then spoke:
"Go prepare two extravagant gifts. I need to visit Kushina Uzumaki and Kiyoshi Uchiha."
Ginka Hyūga was not a fool.
She knew when she could be overbearing and when she should humbly submit.
If the matter truly escalated, the Hyūga clan might strip her of her Main Family status.
Just imagining that scenario made Ginka Hyūga feel utterly devastated.
"Yes, Madam Ginka." Natsu Hyūga responded softly.
The following matters should have nothing to do with her.
She had done everything a Branch Family member was supposed to do.
The thought of no longer having to interact with Kiyoshi Uchiha made Natsu Hyūga feel a sense of relief.
Dealing with someone so unpredictable always put her under pressure.
Natsu Hyūga then excused herself to prepare for dinner.
The Main Family and Branch Family lived in separate areas within the compound, and they also took their meals separately.
"Natsu, where have you been?" Tetsu Hyūga scooped a mouthful of rice, asking indistinctly.
"Madam Ginka wanted to ask me something."
Tetsu Hyūga paused his scooping motion, remembering what the matter was.
A hint of worry flashed in his Byakugan eyes, and he asked with concern:
"Nothing bad happened, did it?"
"Nothing." Natsu Hyūga shook her head and served herself a bowl of rice.
"That's good then." Tetsu Hyūga went back to burying his face in his food.
Motivated by the excitement during the Chunin Exams, he also longed to have a body as strong as Kiyoshi Uchiha's.
When carrying out missions, the enemy didn't care if you were Main Family or Branch Family.
***
The next day.
Hidden Leaf Hospital.
Kiyoshi arrived at an office.
This office was Nonō Yakushi's private room, typically used for reviewing documents.
As the captain of the Medical Corps, she had this small privilege.
After writing a few characters, Nonō Yakushi subtly shifted her gaze, offering Kiyoshi a smile.
"Since you've come all this way, why bring things?"
"I couldn't very well come empty-handed, could I, Nonō-sensei?" Kiyoshi placed a basket of fruit down.
This batch of fruit was more expensive than what he usually brought. Now that he had money, he naturally had to upgrade the quality.
Nonō Yakushi wouldn't be in the Hidden Leaf for much longer, so he should try to maximize his goodwill with her as much as possible.
It was possible that he might need Nonō Yakushi's assistance in the future.
Furthermore, Kiyoshi didn't mind reciprocating kindness to those who showed him goodwill.
The fact that Danzō Shimura still felt the need to pressure her into returning to service after she had been the director of the orphanage for several years showed how capable Nonō Yakushi was.
It was precisely because she was too outstanding and knew too many secrets that Danzō later arranged for Kabuto Yakushi to kill her.
This was also a major reason why Kabuto later fell into confusion, unable to distinguish his own identity.
"Little Kiyoshi, how was the Chunin Exam?" Nonō Yakushi noticed the expensive fruit Kiyoshi brought. A small, helpless smile appeared on her lips.
However, the fact that Kiyoshi showed gratitude this way made her feel good; she hadn't taught this student in vain.
This was also Nonō Yakushi's first time taking on a student. In truth, she would have been satisfied even if Kiyoshi hadn't done anything.
"It went well." Kiyoshi nodded.
The remaining third stage would be much easier; it was a one-on-one competition.
The matches would take place in an arena-like setting, watched by thousands of spectators.
Ninjas who made a name for themselves would catch the eye of powerful figures.
They would then receive more mission commissions.
"How are you doing with the things I asked you to master?" Nonō Yakushi pushed up her glasses, unconsciously leaning close to the wooden desk, looking at Kiyoshi standing not far away.
Her substantial bosom pressed lightly against the wooden desk as she did so.
"It's very big... oh, no, very good." Kiyoshi nearly blurted out the wrong words.
"Big?"
***
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