A thousand-year-old shinobi clan paid attention to details.
The Go board and stone containers placed before Tenzo Hyuga were not there by accident.
They looked casual, but they were carefully arranged.
Together, they sent a subtle message.
Konoha and the entire shinobi world are like a game of Go. The clan head considers every move with care.
This was one of Tenzo's favorite methods.
He had meant to use the atmosphere to make his son understand his difficulties, to seize the initiative without saying it outright.
He had not expected Hizashi to throw courtesy aside and refuse to play along.
Instead, his son had dropped a charge of treason on his head without hesitation.
Hizashi adjusted the collar of his coat. The fabric at his cuffs stirred softly.
He knew his father's tricks well.
And his own words, paired with the Anbu squad leader coat, carried far more weight than a Go board ever could.
For a fleeting moment, Tenzo even suspected that if he truly had done something questionable, this son of his might personally drag him to the Anbu interrogation department and have him spun like a top.
Hizashi's grown sharper. He knows how to borrow momentum now…
Strangely, despite being cornered so bluntly, that thought crossed Tenzo's mind.
He's been promoted too. Seems he's doing well in the Anbu.
Tenzo steadied himself and spoke in a deep voice.
"What are you saying, Hizashi?"
"The Hyuga Clan is one of Konoha's pillars. As clan head, how could I collude with foreign enemies?"
"The Hyuga and the Kaguya Clan are bound by blood that stretches back a thousand years, much like the Senju and the Uzumaki. Exchanging letters has always been known to the Hokage."
"The Hyuga have never leaked village secrets. Maintaining contact with the Kaguya Clan has allowed us to infer movements within the Hidden Mist Village and has given Konoha an intelligence advantage."
"I called you here because the Hokage once said that if there were concerns, I could first discuss them with you as a member of the Anbu."
His tone was open, almost righteous.
Hizashi did not change expression. He gave a slight nod.
He knew that much was true.
Before the First Shinobi World War, a former Hyuga clan head had deduced the Hidden Mist Village's intent to wage war from Kaguya correspondence and reported it to Tobirama Senju.
That had given Konoha precious preparation time.
But nearly thirty years had passed.
To Hizashi, the Hyuga Clan's continued contact with the Kaguya Clan now felt less like intelligence gathering and more like a declaration of independence.
Even the Hokage, before war formally began, had no authority to interfere in the clan's private ties.
"If it's truly as you say," Hizashi asked quietly, "why not report these exchanges regularly?"
"I enter the Anbu, and suddenly valuable intelligence appears from the Kaguya Clan?"
"Since the Third Hokage took office, is this the first time?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Are you worried for the village… or worried that I might see something?"
"In the past, there was nothing worth reporting. I didn't want to disturb the Third Hokage unnecessarily," Tenzo replied without a flicker of embarrassment.
Thick skin was a basic requirement for a clan head.
Hizashi unfolded the letter and read. His brows drew together.
The contents stated that the Third Mizukage had recently introduced a policy called the Blood Mist Village, citing the worsening situation in the shinobi world.
Its goal was to strengthen the combat capability of Hidden Mist Village ninja.
In simple terms, it emphasized real combat. Bloodline clans were to prove themselves through strength. The strongest would be chosen to represent the future of Kirigakure.
There would likely be heavy casualties.
But for the sake of preparing for war, it was deemed worthwhile.
Anyone with eyes could see it.
Even if not certain, they would strongly suspect that this was a pretext to ignite internal conflict.
What was amusing was that the Kaguya Clan was thrilled.
They believed this was the Third Mizukage's way of supporting them.
The Kaguya Clan possessed the Kekkei Genkai known as Shikotsumyaku, allowing them to manipulate their own bones for offense and defense. They also had astonishing regenerative ability.
They were notorious for their fierce and brutal temperament.
The purpose of this letter left Hizashi at a loss.
In order to legitimize his policy, the Third Mizukage had publicly displayed diplomatic correspondence between Kumogakure and Konoha, as well as letters from other villages supporting Konoha and condemning Kumogakure.
He had kept them posted for quite some time.
The message was clear.
The shinobi world was tense. Therefore, the Blood Mist Village policy was justified.
After seeing this, the Kaguya Clan had drawn a remarkable conclusion.
Once they proved themselves through strength and one of their own became the Fourth Mizukage, they hoped that Hiruzen Sarutobi, a Hokage with influence across the shinobi world, would publicly support them.
After all, their reputation within the Hidden Mist Village was not particularly good.
To that end, they hoped Tenzo Hyuga would begin laying groundwork in advance.
Tenzo noticed the twitch at his son's mouth and sighed.
His own reaction had been much the same.
How was one supposed to evaluate this clan?
At least they understood their reputation was poor.
That meant they had some brains.
But could they not see this might very well be the Third Mizukage's scheme?
They were already dreaming of producing a Fourth Mizukage.
Because of that, after witnessing the Third Mizukage's methods, Tenzo had felt a strange sense of relief.
Fortunately, the Hokage was the Hokage.
Nothing reveals the truth like comparison.
As the head of the Hyuga Clan, he instinctively resisted the Hokage extending influence into clan affairs.
Yet since Hizashi entered the Anbu, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not been stingy with rank or treatment.
True, this also tempted the Hyuga Branch House toward the village and could be seen as a strategy to divide the clan.
But at least it was done within reason.
The branch house was still Hyuga. No matter the conflict, the meat stayed in the pot.
Unlike the Hidden Mist Village.
There, a single disagreement could lead to an unrestricted Mizukage selection battle.
Let alone becoming Fourth Mizukage.
With the Kaguya Clan's judgment, it was hard to say whether they would even have survivors in a few years.
Father and son exchanged a look.
They both found themselves admiring the strength of Shikotsumyaku.
With intelligence like that, the only explanation for surviving a thousand years alongside the calculating Hyuga Clan was simple.
They were strong enough to beat anyone who questioned them.
"Father, the Anbu and the Patrol Unit both have serious shortages of Byakugan users."
"Sakumo Hatake has reserved six positions for the Hyuga."
Hizashi spoke slowly.
"I've delivered the message. Whether you agree or refuse won't stop me from inviting the brothers of the Hyuga Branch House."
Tenzo narrowed his eyes.
He had expected this day.
The Hokage would not be satisfied with taking only one branch house member.
And Hizashi would not stand still. He would gather the branch to prove his own value.
If not for what I've seen in the Hidden Mist Village, lowering my stance after only a few months would invite ridicule…
But compared to that… perhaps the Hokage truly is reasonable.
Better to guide than to block. Let's observe the results first. If the Hokage goes too far, I can demand an explanation later.
After a moment, Tenzo opened his eyes.
"This cannot wait. Whether it's the matter of the Hidden Mist Village or the branch house joining village affairs…"
"I wish to speak with the Hokage personally."
"Hizashi, can you report this?"
Hizashi studied his father with faint surprise.
As expected of the Hyuga Clan head.
His ability to read the wind and adjust was impressive.
Tenzo did not want all the credit passing through his son. He would bypass him and negotiate directly with the Hokage, seeking a new balance.
"What? Afraid?" Tenzo asked calmly.
Hizashi let out a soft scoff.
A quarter of an hour later, father and son stood inside the Hokage's office.
The moment Tenzo stepped in, his heart skipped.
Why was Danzo Shimura here?
In his mind, this man was not so different from the Third Mizukage.
After forcing himself to present the Kaguya Clan's letter, Tenzo stood stiffly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his pipe and began smoking, eyes half-lidded as if deep in thought.
Danzo Shimura let out a heavy snort. His gaze cut like a blade as he narrowed his eyes at Tenzo.
Hizashi allowed himself the smallest smile.
He almost wanted to clap his father on the shoulder and return the words from earlier.
"What? Afraid?"