Hanabi stared intently at Ryun, seeming to want to judge whether his next words would be lies.
However, how could such a small scene trouble Ryun?
He said with a serious face, "A gentle and considerate girl like Hinata, how could using just the method of manipulating chakra threads be enough as a betrothal gift?"
"When I become a powerhouse like the Sage of Six Paths in the future, I will use the entire moon as the betrothal gift."
"-Wow."
Hanabi exclaimed expressionlessly, "Moegi told me you were amazing, able to say intimidating things with a straight face. Now I see it's true."
"But don't blame me for not warning you, people from the Hyūga Clan have never married outside the clan."
"Whether it's my sister or me, in the future we will only marry people from the Hyūga Clan. Don't you feel despair hearing this news?"
Ryun was taken aback and said, "Why would I feel despair over not being able to marry you?"
Hanabi's pretended expressionlessness crumbled. She clenched her small fists and waved them, saying, "It's about my sister!"
Ryun laughed heartily, patted her head, and said, "Didn't you want to work with your sister to break the fate where one of you would inevitably be branded with the Caged Bird Seal?"
Hanabi nodded.
Hanabi and Hinata did not know that even several years later, Hyūga Hiashi had not branded them with the Caged Bird Seal.
So the Caged Bird technique was a sharp sword hanging over their heads, forcing them to strive with all their might.
It was just that Hinata had given up before, willing to sacrifice herself for her sister's sake.
"Then I will work hard together with you two sisters to break the curse that Hyūga people cannot marry outsiders."
Emotion seemed to flicker in Hanabi's pure white eyes.
The fact that her sister could stand shoulder to shoulder with her to face their fate was already a beautiful future Hanabi had not dared to imagine.
And now, they could even have one more companion. Was today her lucky day?
But why did she feel something subtly off about Ryun's words?
"Isn't this a matter between you and my sister? Why drag me into it?"
"Don't you want to work hard for your sister's happiness?"
"That's true in a way-"
Hanabi's young mind could not quite grasp Ryun's convoluted reasoning. No matter how smart and hardworking she was, she was still just a child.
But Hyūga Hiashi was a seasoned family patriarch. Fooling him would not be so easy.
"Father!"
Hanabi, who had just led Ryun out of the courtyard, gasped, her pupils contracting as she looked at the expressionless Hyūga Hiashi. She instinctively took a step back, shielding Ryun behind her.
"Please, let me explain-"
Hanabi racked her young brains, trying to find a reason to explain Ryun's presence.
Ryun patted her head from behind and said, "Let me handle it."
Under Hanabi's puzzled gaze, Ryun walked up to Hyūga Hiashi and said, "Hello, Lord Hiashi."
Ryun was not surprised to see Hyūga Hiashi. In fact, after staying at the Hyūga household with Hinata and Hanabi for so long, not seeing Hiashi would have been strange.
Although Hinata said theoretically no one dared to spy on them, their father keeping an eye on their movements seemed perfectly reasonable, didn't it?
In Hinata and Hanabi's eyes, Hyūga Hiashi was stern and unsmiling, even valuing clan rules more than his love for his two daughters.
But Ryun knew very well that this guy was a complete doting father.
It was just that in his position, he had long lost the courage to fight against the clan rules. The most he could do was hold out and prevent his two daughters from being branded with the Caged Bird Seal before they came of age.
Ryun even guessed part of his purpose for being here.
Most likely, it was to dissuade Ryun, to make him stop getting involved with his two daughters.
"Since you are here, how can you leave without having a cup of tea? Come with me."
Hyūga Hiashi turned calmly, and Ryun immediately followed.
Hanabi tugged at Ryun's clothes from behind, signaling him to escape now.
But Ryun gave her a reassuring smile, then followed his prospective father-in-law.
As for Hanabi, she bit her lip, thought for a few seconds, and decided to consult her sister for a strategy.
Ryun followed Hyūga Hiashi for a while, arriving at an indoor training hall.
Hanabi's attendant, Hyūga Natsu, had already prepared the tea, clearly having waited here for some time.
Just now, Ryun had wondered why she, the branch family member responsible for Hanabi's daily care, was absent. Now the answer was clear.
She had actually been here all along, and she had informed Hyūga Hiashi of Ryun's arrival.
"Please, sit."
Hyūga Hiashi's attitude was calm, not showing anger because Ryun had approached his two daughters.
This was clearly because Ryun's reputation in Konoha was at its peak, and Hyūga Hiashi did not want to clash with him.
But his daughters were his bottom line. Letting the two direct lineage daughters of the Hyūga Clan mix with an outsider man was absolutely unacceptable.
"Lord Nojuro, please have some tea."
After taking a sip of the tea handed to him by Hyūga Natsu, Ryun spoke first, "Lord Hiashi, feel free to state your business."
Generally, the side that speaks first in a confrontation loses some momentum.
But for Ryun, this was not the case, because he held too many cards.
Hyūga Hiashi's only card was that he was Hinata and Hanabi's father, and Ryun would not easily clash with him.
"In that case, I will speak frankly."
"I am grateful that you resolved the conflict between my two daughters, and I thank you for guiding Hinata in developing a new ninjutsu technique."
"For this, the Hyūga Clan can offer you sufficient compensation, even help you sell your books."
"But I hope from now on you will keep your distance from my two daughters."
After Hyūga Hiashi finished speaking, he looked at him with his Byakugan.
Ryun remained neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "And the reason?"
"They are both busy with their studies and still need to train in the Gentle Fist. They really don't have much time to play ninja games with you."
"Nojuro, you are an excellent young commoner, destined to have no ties with a great clan like our Hyūga Clan. I hope you can understand this."
Hyūga Hiashi felt he had made himself very clear. Ryun was not a foolish person; how could a fool write such brilliant books?
But Ryun deliberately pretended not to understand, saying, "Lord Hiashi, do you remember what I said at the book signing?"
"Which part?"
"I hope that one day, the village will no longer have the hierarchy between powerful clans, ordinary clans, and ordinary people. Everyone can merge into one big family, and the barriers between people will be completely eliminated."
Hyūga Hiashi's face finally showed an expression, a faint, almost imperceptible sneer.
He thought Ryun was no ordinary person, but he was still a young man, always harboring overly naive ideas.
Hyūga Hiashi shook his head and said, "Nojuro, you are not even a ninja. How do you expect the great clans of Konoha to give up their status and interests?"
"If you think you can rely on books—while it is a good ideal, it is not a feasible method."
"What about through marriage alliances?"
Hyūga Hiashi's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. He felt he must be hearing things.
Was this young man talking about marriage alliances?
Even Hyūga Natsu stared blankly at Ryun, also thinking she had misheard.
Hyūga Hiashi found this statement too outrageous, so much so that he wondered if Ryun was using some metaphorical figure of speech.
And then Ryun's next words almost made him furious.
"What I mean is, why don't I form marriage alliances with the various great clans, creating a new, merged family? That way, everyone—"
Hyūga Hiashi threw a punch at Ryun, so fast it created a sonic boom.
If this punch had connected, Ryun would have broken at least a few ribs.
But Ryun dodged with speed not much slower, even without putting down the teacup in his hand.
This wasn't because Ryun's speed could match Hyūga Hiashi's, but because he knew Hiashi would inevitably be furious and had been prepared.
Hyūga Hiashi looked at Ryun in astonishment, then said in a low voice, "You are not Ryun. Who are you really? A spy from another village?"
He slowly stood up, his aura rising, clearly intending to capture Ryun and deliver him to the Hokage for credit.
Ryun remained calm in the face of all this.
He already considered Danzō and even the Hokage as potential enemies. Why would a single Hyūga Hiashi make him nervous?
In fact, Ryun was pleased to see Hyūga Hiashi's emotional fluctuation. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to persuade him.
"I am, of course, Ryun, Lord Hiashi. Just not the Ryun you are familiar with."
Ryun focused his mind: 'Release!'
In the next second, dense curse marks appeared all over Ryun's body. Powerful chakra burned like flames, causing Hyūga Hiashi's clothes to flutter wildly.
Hyūga Hiashi's pupils contracted. Unable to believe it, he directly activated his Byakugan and immediately saw the flow of chakra within Ryun.
He asked in shock, "What is your relationship with Lady Uzumaki Mito?"
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