Deep within the Hyuga Clan compound in Konoha Village.
The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the grand manor of this prestigious Family.
While the flames of war raged on the Front Lines, this place was a scene of song and dance, peace and prosperity.
In the backyard of the luxurious Grand Elder's mansion, red candles flickered, and sounds that would make one blush drifted from behind the thin gauze curtains.
Unlike the tragic, meat-grinder-like Front Lines, the air here was mixed with a certain heart-pounding, romantic atmosphere.
Warm yellow light filtered through the paper doors, casting two overlapping shadows onto a large red sandalwood bed big enough for five or six people.
The air was thick with the scent of sweet incense, mingled with heavy panting and the suppressed moans of a woman.
Hyuga Ieyasu was lying on top of a young woman with skin as white as snow. His wrinkled old face was flushed bright red with excitement, and his cloudy eyes were filled with sickening greed.
Even though he was nearly sixty, at this moment, he was like a tireless beast.
Ever since he became an Elder of the Main House and gained control over the Family's finances, he had become increasingly unrestrained in such matters.
"My... My Lord..."
The woman let out a pleading sob, her voice broken.
"Mmm... My Lord."
Just then.
Knock, knock, knock.
An urgent knocking sound rang out abruptly.
Hyuga Ieyasu, who was in the middle of'searching for a water source in the jungle,' stiffened. He jerked his head up, and his face, covered in liver spots, instantly clouded over with anger.
He used his wrinkled hand to wipe the moisture from the corner of his mouth, his cloudy old eyes staring at the vibrating door with surging killing intent.
In this Hyuga Clan, who dared to disturb his pleasure and court disaster?
"Get in here!" he roared, his voice carrying undisguised killing intent.
The door was pushed open in a panic.
Hyuga Ran stumbled into the room, catching a glimpse of the vast expanse of pale skin on the bed and the glistening moisture at the corner of Elder Ieyasu's mouth.
He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look further.
The young woman on the bed let out a short cry of alarm, her face turning deathly pale.
She frantically pulled a silk quilt over herself, wrapping it tightly and shrinking into the corner of the bed, shivering with only her terrified eyes showing.
She hadn't expected Hyuga Ieyasu to completely disregard her and just let someone in so brazenly.
"This had better be a matter of the sky falling down," Hyuga Ieyasu said, casually pulling a blanket to cover his waist. His voice was as gloomy as if it had drifted out of a graveyard.
"Otherwise, tomorrow's list for the Branch House will be missing one name."
Hyuga Ran's knees went weak, and he almost collapsed to the floor.
He swallowed hard, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, and stammered, "Lord Ieyasu, it's... it's Lord Danzo."
"Lord Danzo... Lord Danzo is here, and he specified that he wants to see you."
Hyuga Ieyasu's brow twitched violently.
Danzo?
What does that rat hiding in the sewers want with me?
The Hyuga Clan had always minded their own business when it came to Root.
A flash of impatience crossed his eyes.
As a powerful Elder of the Hyuga Clan, even if the Hokage came, he would have to show him some respect.
Let alone a man like Danzo who hid his head and showed his tail.
No formal request for a meeting, no notification, just barging in late at night.
This was simply not taking the Hyuga Clan seriously!
He snorted coldly, stepping barefoot onto the carpet, his chest heaving violently.
"Specified he wants to see me? Without even a formal request, showing up in the middle of the night like a ghost!"
"What does he think the Hyuga Clan is? Does he think it's his dilapidated Root?"
Hyuga Ieyasu flicked his sleeve, the fat on his face trembling. "I won't see him! Tell him to get lost!"
"Just say I am unwell. If there is anything to discuss, we can talk at the Hokage Building another day!"
What good could come from a rat hiding in a gutter showing up at this time?
While Hyuga Ieyasu was calculating, a sudden commotion of fighting came from the front yard.
"Lord Danzo! This is the forbidden area of the backyard, please show some respect!"
"Halt! This is the forbidden area of the backyard!"
"Ah—"
A few short screams followed immediately, accompanied by the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground.
"Elder Ieyasu is unwell? Then it's just as well. I know a bit of medicine and have come specifically to check your pulse."
A cold, raspy voice, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, crossed the courtyard and bored straight into the bedroom.
Hyuga Ieyasu's face changed drastically.
Before he could even react.
Boom!
The intricately carved wooden door of the backyard was violently kicked open from the outside.
Two Branch House Ninjas responsible for guarding the area flew inside like broken sacks of grain.
The sound of footsteps mixed with the tapping of a cane drew closer.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Every strike felt like it was pounding on one's heart.
Hyuga Ieyasu trembled with rage.
This was going too far!
This was simply going too far!
He never expected that Danzo would actually dare to use force within the Hyuga Clan compound!
But now that the man was at the door, pretending to be asleep was obviously impossible.
He glared fiercely at the woman shrinking in the corner of the bed. "Get behind the screen! Don't make a fool of yourself!"
With that, he haphazardly grabbed a large dressing gown, threw it over himself, and got out of bed with a dark expression.
The night wind rushed in, making the candles in the room dance wildly.
A figure leaning on a cane slowly stepped over the threshold.
Half of his face was wrapped in bandages, and his single eye gleamed in the dim light.
Behind him followed two Root Ninjas wearing masks, like lifeless Puppets.
Danzo Shimura.
He really had barged in.
The woman on the bed had just gotten up and was about to hide behind the screen when she let out a scream of terror, tightly wrapping herself in the quilt and hiding behind the screen.
"Danzo!" Hyuga Ieyasu stood up, pointing at the door and shouting in anger.
"You are too presumptuous!"
"This is the Hyuga Clan! Not your Root base!"
"Trespassing into an Elder's private residence and injuring clan members... are you trying to declare war on the Hyuga?!"
Facing Hyuga Ieyasu's roar, Danzo Shimura remained expressionless.
"Declare war?" The cane in his hand tapped lightly on the ground.
"I don't have the leisure for that."
He turned his single eye, coldly scanning the luxurious furnishings in the dimly lit room.
Finally, his gaze rested on the disheveled Hyuga Ieyasu, and a sneer curled his lip.
"Elder Ieyasu's life seems quite comfortable. This 'illness' looks like it was contracted in this land of gentle dreams," Danzo Shimura said in a flat tone, yet every word was laced with thorns.
This was the current power-holder of the Hyuga Clan?
Compared to Hyuga Ichizoku back then, it was simply the difference between heaven and earth.
The power of the Hyuga Clan was held by such a rat hiding in the shadows.
Konoha's number one prestigious Family would eventually rot at its Roots.
Hyuga Ieyasu's face turned from blue to white. "That has nothing to do with you!"
"This is a private matter of my Hyuga Clan! Please leave immediately!"
Danzo Shimura's mouth curled downward slightly, his tone full of undisguised mockery. "The warriors on the Front Lines are fighting bloody battles, their bodies often unrecovered, yet you here in the rear certainly know how to enjoy life."
He glanced toward the screen and suddenly said nonsensically, "Quite white, indeed!"
"Danzo!" Hyuga Ieyasu suppressed his rage. "Did you force your way into my Hyuga Clan compound late at night and injure my Guards just to humiliate me?"
"If that's the case, even if you are the Hokage Assistant, I will go to the Hokage to demand an explanation! I'll ask him if his assistant has any respect for the Hyuga Clan, barging in late at night to humiliate us!"
..
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