"Dango… you owe me dango."
Neji glanced at the three-colored dango smashed on the ground, then suddenly lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Samui's long legs and crying loudly.
The Konoha ninja's expression changed instantly.
"Kid, get away from her!"
The purple-haired man's gaze fell on Neji's bright white eyes. The sternness on his face softened slightly.
"Samui, you bumped into him. You should apologize," he said calmly. "Take the child to eat some dango."
"Understood."
A sharp glint flashed through Samui's eye before vanishing just as quickly. She gave a small nod.
Seeing that the Kumogakure ninja showed no displeasure, the accompanying Konoha ninja finally relaxed, thinking he'd worried over nothing.
Kumogakure was clearly sincere about signing the peace treaty—there was no way they'd make an issue out of something this trivial.
"Troy-senpai, please come with me."
"No trouble at all."
The Konoha ninja led Troy away, leaving only Neji and Samui behind.
Neji looked up.
His vision was completely blocked by her snow-white chest—he couldn't see her face at all.
Samui crouched down and asked casually, "Kid, how about big sister takes you to eat dango?"
A snowflake drifted down, landing gently on the soft white curves, trembling slightly with her shallow breathing.
"Thank you, big sister."
Neji's gaze followed that snowflake as it slid downward into dangerous territory, and he nodded hard.
Since ancient times, heroes have loved lofty mountains—never heard of a fine steed running across flat plains.
Samui vaguely heard the sound of Neji swallowing.
But his appearance and age were far too deceptive.
She simply assumed the child was starving.
Cute.
Samui couldn't help patting Neji on the head.
"Then let's go."
---
Dango Shop
A rich, sweet fragrance filled the air.
Samui lifted Neji and placed him on the inner seat, while she sat on the outer side.
As she ordered, she asked casually, "What's your name?"
"Hyuga Neji."
"Oh? A Hyuga Clan member," Samui said in surprise, patting his head. "No wonder your eyes are different. My name is Samui."
The waiter quickly brought over ten skewers of three-colored dango along with two drinks.
"Big sister, I'm digging in!" Neji's eyes lit up as he grabbed a skewer and started eating with enthusiasm.
"Slow down," Samui said calmly as she sipped her drink. "No one's taking it from you."
"Big sister, you should eat too!" Neji grabbed another skewer and thoughtfully offered it to her.
"I don't like sweets. They're all yours."
Samui stared at Neji's clear white eye for a moment, then asked curiously, "Neji, is there something special about your eyes?"
Neji paused mid-bite and looked at her with pure, innocent eyes.
"Of course. I can see everything within a kilometer, see through obstacles, see chakra flow, and even the human circulatory system. Normal people can't do that."
"So impressive," Samui said softly. Her gaze flicked to Neji's smooth forehead, and she smiled faintly. "You must be from the Main Family, right?"
Neji shook his head.
"Not yet. But Hiashi-sama will make me Main Family soon."
"Huh?"
Samui was genuinely surprised.
Neji planted his hands on his hips, pride written all over his face.
"My father is the head of the Branch Family, so by the rules, I'm Branch Family too. But I awakened the Byakugan at three years old—the most outstanding genius in Hyuga Clan history. Hiashi-sama will definitely make an exception."
"Awakened the Byakugan at three?" Samui's eye narrowed slightly, and she unconsciously licked her red lips.
The Byakugan and the Sharingan were known as Konoha's two great dōjutsu.
Uchiha Itachi had awakened the Sharingan at eight and shocked the entire ninja world.
This Branch Family child had awakened the Byakugan at three.
Truly terrifying.
"Amazing, right?" Neji said proudly. "Big sister, I'm going to become Hokage one day!"
"That's wonderful," Samui said, patting his head again. Then she asked casually, "Neji, is there any difference between the Main Family's Byakugan and the Branch Family's?"
Neji looked at her and slowly shook his head.
As long as the Caged Bird Seal hadn't been placed, there was no difference.
Only after the seal was implanted would the Byakugan develop a one-degree blind spot behind the spine.
But that was something a four-year-old child could never say.
"Good boy."
Samui pinched Neji's cheek, a smile flashing through her eye.
By then, Neji had finished every last skewer. Licking his lips, he said eagerly, "Big sister, I want more."
Samui waved her hand.
"Boss—ten more skewers!"
---
Evening, at the Kumogakure Delegation Residence
Troy stood alone in the courtyard.
"You're here," he said flatly. "Did you bring what I asked for?"
"Do you have any idea how much risk I'm taking meeting you here?"
A voice suddenly sounded.
It was like metal scraping against metal—hoarse, harsh, impossible to tell whether it belonged to a man, a woman, or even a human.
Troy looked at the snow-covered ground and replied indifferently, "No need to worry. Konoha fully believes in Kumogakure's sincerity. At a time like this, they wouldn't dare place ANBU surveillance nearby."
The voice paused.
"Have you made up your mind?"
"Don't question my resolve."
"If you take that step," the hoarse voice continued, "whether you succeed or fail, you won't survive."
Troy didn't respond directly. Instead, he asked calmly, "Is what I requested ready?"
Silence followed.
Then, a scroll dropped soundlessly at his feet.
Troy opened it and examined it twice.
It was a detailed map of the Hyuga Clan compound—buildings, pathways, patrol routes, even hidden and visible sentries were clearly marked.
The Hyuga Clan was heavily guarded, and more importantly, it was a dōjutsu bloodline clan.
Even Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, could never infiltrate the Hyuga Clan without being detected.
The value of this map was beyond question.
Troy rolled the scroll back up and asked calmly, "To obtain something like this… are you also a Hyuga?"
The voice was silent for a long moment.
Then it spoke coldly.
"I am a ghost that hasn't completely died. My only purpose is to bury a decaying clan. To achieve that goal, I'm willing to risk everything."
(This ghost was not Neji.)
Such pure, violent hatred could only come from the Branch Family.
Understanding dawned in Troy's eye.
"If you ever reach a dead end," he said, "you can go to Kumogakure and live out your days."
"Before the clan is buried, I will not leave Konoha."
"Don't worry. My actions this time—whether they succeed or fail—will benefit you greatly."
"I wish you success."
"One last question," Troy added. "What's the difference between the Main Family's Byakugan and the Branch Family's?"
"Fundamentally, there is none," the voice replied. "What separates noble from lowly is the Caged Bird Seal."
---
Late at Night
Neji lay in bed, restless, unable to sleep.
Seven days had passed since he met Samui.
The Kumogakure delegation still hadn't made a move.
After planning this far, Neji couldn't help feeling anxious.
If they didn't act soon, he would have to take a gamble and defect on his own.
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
Soft footsteps echoed faintly.
Neji activated his Byakugan and instantly detected two dark figures that had appeared in the courtyard without his notice.
They're here. They're here. They're here.
Joy surged through him.
Neji immediately deactivated his Byakugan and lay perfectly still.
The next instant, countless illusory white feathers filled his vision.
Temple of Nirvana Technique.
His eyelids grew unbearably heavy. An overwhelming drowsiness flooded his mind, and his consciousness rapidly slipped away.