When Ryun arrived at the Hyūga household, Hyūga Natsu was already waiting for him.
This time, she did not take Ryun to the training room, but instead led him to Hyūga Hiashi's reception room.
From this perspective, Ryun's treatment had been elevated by a level.
"Please, sit."
After Hiashi gestured for Ryun to sit, he personally poured tea for him.
This confirmed Ryun's speculation. While acting humble, he did not refuse Hiashi's courtesy.
After Ryun took a sip of tea and set the cup down, Hiashi spoke first, saying, "Yesterday, the Third Hokage came to visit me."
A flicker of surprise passed through Ryun's eyes. He hadn't expected Hiashi to start storytelling.
However, he knew what he should do at this moment, so he cooperatively said, "The Third Hokage visiting the Hyūga Clan must be for something important. After all, the Hokage is very busy with official duties."
"Surprisingly, he was just here for casual conversation."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Hiashi's mouth as he said, "He chatted with me about the past glory and sacrifices of the Hyūga Clan, reminiscing about Hizashi's death—Hizashi was my younger brother—and said that the Hyūga Clan is now the strongest family in Konoha."
"This chattering demeanor really doesn't seem like that of a capable and shrewd Hokage. Instead, it's more like—"
Ryun also laughed and said, "I understand. It's just like those grandparents who hold my hand and tell me stories about the past."
"Many people say the Hokage is a kind old grandfather."
Hiashi nodded and said, "Yes, I've heard children say that too. He is really loved by children."
"But far fewer adults like him, because everyone knows the Hokage shouldn't be a kind old man."
Ryun did not respond, instead pondering whether he should.
Hiashi, as the head of the Hyūga Clan, could joke about the Hokage within his own home. Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen found out, he would pretend not to know.
But Ryun was different. At least on the surface, he didn't yet have the standing to casually mock the Hokage.
Seeing Ryun remain silent, Hiashi understood his concerns and simply spoke directly, "Ryun-kun, is what's happening in Konoha these days related to you?"
Since Hiashi had put it so bluntly, Ryun could no longer play dumb.
He had previously used Tsunade being in the same camp as him to pressure Hiashi. Playing dumb now would completely negate his previous stance.
Ryun calmly shook his head and said, "Lord Hiashi, we aim to restore the Senju Clan's glory. When has the Senju Clan ever been known for kindness or schemes?"
"Besides, you may not believe me, but do you think Sister Tsunade would do something that puts Konoha in danger?"
Hiashi thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.
He knew Tsunade's character. She was someone who couldn't tolerate wrongdoing, and her love for Konoha was no less than anyone else's.
Getting her to do such a thing would be even harder than getting Sarutobi Hiruzen to stand straight and say no to Kumogakure.
Yet the current situation left him no choice but to consider it.
"Now the Hokage-sama is old and frail, Danzō has become this rat-like scoundrel, and the other two advisors are also advanced in years."
"The only ones qualified to inherit the Hokage title are Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade. And Lord Jiraiya is too much of a free spirit; he likely won't take on this responsibility."
"So the remaining question is when the Third Hokage will step down for a worthy successor, or—Ryun-kun, are you really not planning anything?"
Ryun couldn't help but look deeply at Hiashi, as if seeing him for the first time.
In the past, whether based on Ryun's own understanding or others' evaluations of Hiashi, negative assessments predominated.
After all, Hiashi's strength was not weak. With a configuration boasting 60 attribute points, plus the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist, even if he couldn't join Konoha's top leadership, he shouldn't have been so constrained by the village everywhere, let alone allowed his own brother's life to be sacrificed.
It must be remembered that the Hyūga Clan had the Caged Bird Seal, sufficient to ensure the clan was more united than any other family in Konoha.
Holding so many good cards, Hiashi had led the Hyūga Clan in Konoha for so many years in a seemingly timid and muddling manner. No wonder others looked down on him.
Yet, looking at the results, the Uchiha Clan was extinguished, but the Hyūga Clan remained and would continue to prosper. From this perspective, perhaps Hiashi hadn't been entirely wrong.
It's just that he was shackled by the Hyūga Clan, making it nearly impossible for him to achieve anything outstanding. But this didn't mean Hiashi couldn't understand what was happening in Konoha.
Precisely because Hiashi understood, Ryun now realized that perhaps a flame of anger had always been burning in Hiashi's chest.
Unfortunately, Ryun couldn't give him the answer he wanted.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hiashi. We—Sister Tsunade and I—will do nothing."
"Just as you said, once the time is ripe, Sister Tsunade will become Hokage. Why would we do anything to harm our own interests?"
"Such things will naturally be handled by schemers."
Hiashi blurted out, "Danzō?"
Ryun smiled without speaking.
Hiashi thought he understood and let out a long sigh, saying, "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Ryun-kun."
"I'm also glad that you and Lady Tsunade will do nothing. That way, you can probably bring a new atmosphere to Konoha."
"You will see that day, Lord Hiashi."
Hiashi then shifted the topic to Hinata, a change that somewhat surprised Ryun.
"The chakra threads you taught Hinata, and ensuring she eats her fill, have both contributed to her growth in strength."
"I have to admit, I have been a very negligent father, not even noticing that Hinata has never been full."
Ryun slightly shook his head and comforted him, "Hinata's appetite is unusual. It truly can't be judged by common sense. You can't be blamed for that, sir."
"No need to comfort me, Ryun-kun. Right now, I'm focusing all my energy on educating Hanabi. As for Hinata—I really don't know how best to train her anymore."
"So I want her to follow you more in the future, to learn some new skills. If Hinata still isn't suited to be a ninja, then having her be your assistant is also fine."
Ryun looked at Hiashi in surprise. Was Father-in-law entrusting his daughter to him just like that?
But then Ryun realized: by arranging a strong and capable supporter for Hinata, Hiashi was also paving the way for the Hyūga Clan during the era when Tsunade would lead Konoha.
The two Hyūga sisters: one as the clan head, and one as a key Konoha official?
It was indeed a good choice, certainly far better than the outcome for Hiashi and his brother Hizashi.
It's just that Hiashi was still being somewhat idealistic. If Hinata wasn't suited to be clan head, was she suited to be a bureaucrat?
Was it possible that Hinata just wanted to be a housewife?
Ryun was about to nod, but his sensory abilities detected familiar chakra quietly approaching.
Clearly, it was the Hinata and Hanabi sisters after school, having heard that Ryun had arrived, sneaking over to eavesdrop on his conversation with Hiashi.
So Ryun said, "Lord Hiashi, I'm willing to do these things. But as you understand, without proper authority, words lack weight."
"What identity should I use to do these things?"
"Let me state in advance: I'm not much older than Hinata, so becoming her teacher is out of the question."
Ryun's advance statement caught Hiashi off guard.
He could clearly see the teasing look in Ryun's eyes.
However, Hiashi wasn't angry. He knew his request was actually quite excessive.
He wanted Ryun to bring Hinata into the future core circle of Konoha without offering anything in return. That seemed impossible.
So what price should he offer?
Money? Ryun clearly wasn't short of money.
Fame? Ryun's reputation as a great author had already spread from Konoha throughout the Land of Fire.
Power and status? These were precisely what Hiashi hoped Ryun would give Hinata.
After much thought, there seemed to be only one answer. "Hinata, come in."
"Yes! I'm coming in!"
Hinata hurriedly took off her shoes and entered, kneeling respectfully before Hiashi and bowing her head.
But her eyes glanced toward Ryun, who was winking at her.
"Hinata, how much of our conversation did you hear just now?"
"Father, I just arrived! I didn't hear anything!"
"In that case, listen carefully to what I say next."
Hiashi patted Hinata's shoulder. When she looked up, a long-unseen smile appeared on his face—one that had grown faint in Hinata's memory.
It was the smile Hiashi, as a doting father, had given Hinata when she was too young for training.
"From now on, stay by Ryun-kun's side and pursue what you truly want."
"As for the Caged Bird Seal—it won't confine you before I die."
---
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━