Hyuga Clan.
Reception Hall.
Hearing Hyuga Hiashi's words, Kai narrowed his eyes slightly.
So… this guy knew that he'd killed those Cloud Village shinobi back then?
As expected of a clan that had endured for a thousand years—
One that not only survived the chaos of the shinobi world, but actually grew stronger across seven generations of Hokage.
There was a reason for that.
But—
If Hiashi knew… then why hadn't he reported it to the Third Hokage?
Otherwise, Kai wouldn't have been able to live so carefree all these years.
Interesting.
The more he thought about it, the more amused he became.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Kai's lips.
Then, without hesitation, he gently squeezed Hinata's small hand—
And pulled her down to sit beside him.
He had absolutely no intention of letting go.
As for Hinata…
Her face was already red enough to light up the room.
Her mind went completely blank.
She just let herself be pulled along, sitting down obediently.
Hiashi glanced at that little movement.
A vein instantly popped on his forehead.
This brat dares to flirt with my daughter right in front of me?!
This talkative Uchiha kid seemed… rather different from the rumors.
He fell silent for a moment, then personally poured a cup of tea and pushed it forward.
"This cup is to thank you for saving my daughter's life."
"Only thanking me now?" Kai shook his head and drained the tea in one gulp.
"That's a bit late—by about two and a half years."
By now, Kai had already guessed why the Hyuga clan head wanted this conversation.
There was really only one reason.
To leak information about Konoha's higher-ups.
To signal goodwill.
As Konoha's other great clan, the Hyuga had nothing to gain from the destruction of the Uchiha.
Originally, there were two giants to share the pressure.
If one disappeared, wouldn't all that pressure pile straight onto the Hyuga?
Of course, Hiashi wouldn't go too far.
He only hinted—subtly—at the upper brass's wariness.
He also mentioned that if help were needed, the Hyuga could offer some assistance.
Finally, he refilled Kai's tea and smiled.
"Kai, how about staying with the Hyuga clan for a few days as our guest?"
"For the past two years, my daughter has thought of you often."
"F-Father…"
Hinata's face instantly reached a new shade of red.
She didn't even know where to look anymore.
She curled inward like a startled quail, shrinking back as much as she could.
"So that's how it is…"
Kai shook his head lightly.
"So when I rescued Hinata that day, she woke up afterward?"
He sighed inwardly, silently lamenting his lack of experience back then.
If it were now, whether she was conscious or not, he'd just knock her out again—problem solved.
He idly traced the rim of the teacup, then shook his head.
The Hyuga clan was nice.
But he still preferred the unhinged madness of the Uchiha.
It was easier to chat. Easier to fight. Less pressure.
Besides—
Any help the Hyuga offered would only come after the massacre began to shift.
Before that, with Hiashi's cautious nature, even a reminder was already the limit.
They could be icing on the cake.
But they would never be the charcoal in the snow.
Kai understood.
Everyone had their own pressure points.
Hedging bets on both sides was only natural.
"In that case," Hiashi said after a short pause, standing up,
"I'll have my daughter show you around the clan."
[Conversation with Hyuga Hiashi for ten minutes. Attempting to copy traits…]
[Copy failed.]
Kai rolled his eyes.
No big deal.
He deliberately took Hinata's hand again and walked out.
Hiashi wasn't the only target—
The Hyuga had plenty of young talents.
And among them was the most gifted prodigy of the early Konoha Twelve—
Neji.
If conversation didn't work…
Then there were other methods.
Clatter.
As the wooden door slid shut, the reception hall gradually fell silent.
Moments later, an elder slowly emerged from behind a folding screen.
White-haired.
Hunched.
Each step required a pause to rest.
He walked to the spot where Kai had been sitting and stood there in silence for a long time.
Finally, he murmured,
"I can't see through him."
"Hm?"
Hiashi was visibly shocked, his Byakugan activating reflexively.
"Great Elder—even you can't?"
The Great Elder—the oldest living member of the Hyuga clan.
A man who had mastered the Byakugan to near-divine levels.
"That boy is shrouded in mist. Even my Byakugan can't pierce it."
He hesitated, then added carefully,
"But his strength… shouldn't be very high."
"Hiashi," he asked slowly,
"are you truly planning to place a bet on him?"
"The Uchiha clan's fate is already sealed."
"Inviting Uchiha Kai now may provoke dissatisfaction from the Third Hokage and the others."
Hearing this, Hiashi waved a hand dismissively.
"Let them be dissatisfied."
"The frontlines still need the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. The Third Hokage won't act against us."
"And besides…"
His voice lowered.
"This is what they owe Hizashi."
At that name, his expression dimmed.
Back then, faced with pressure from the Hokage and the council, he had no choice but to sacrifice his younger brother.
But that didn't mean it was over.
This meeting…
Was merely a test.
The room fell into silence at the mention of Hizashi.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted outside.
Hiashi frowned and immediately slid the door open.
Outside—
A group of Hyuga youths had completely surrounded Kai.
Young, hot-blooded, unable to restrain themselves after seeing their young lady's hand being held.
They were shouting angrily.
"Hey! Let go of the young lady!"
"Do you think you're worthy of touching her?!"
"Let go—or I'll duel you!"
Amid the noise, a calm, distinct voice cut through.
"Are you sure you want to duel… an Uchiha?"
Uchiha.
The youths froze.
Only now did they really notice Kai's attire.
Their momentum instantly weakened.
Among Konoha's great clans, the Uchiha were the most feared.
Not just because of their strange strength—
But because being close to an Uchiha was terrifying.
Who didn't know the saying?
Sacrifice your loved ones, awaken your eyes.
"Ha…"
Seeing the group quiet down, Neji stepped forward with a cold expression.
"Kai—what are you doing here?"
They were in the same generation.
Even though they didn't interact often, Neji recognized him.
There was even a period when Kai would pester him daily with conversations—
And then suddenly vanish.
Weird as hell.
"Huh? Even you, genius Neji, are skipping class?"
Kai shot him an annoyed glance.
This guy was interrupting his harvest.
Annoyed, he turned back to the gathered "leeks" of the Hyuga clan, raised Hinata's hand high, and grinned.
"Ahem—anyone not convinced?"
"You can all come at me together."
As he spoke, he openly lifted Hinata's hand—
And lightly kissed it.
Whoosh!
Hinata's face turned completely crimson.
Then—
Her eyes rolled back.
She fainted.
That was the last straw.
Jealousy.
Envy.
Hatred.
The Hyuga youths exploded.
"All of us together!"
"That's right—together!"
"Even if he's an Uchiha, there's no way he can beat all of us!"
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