Hyuga Mirai used the power of Yomi-no-Hirasaka to enter Konoha. The technique was extremely convenient; once the spatial passage opened, it produced no chakra fluctuation at all, so Kiyo Hyuga could not detect it.
But at this moment, Kiyo Hyuga was staring at Mirai with her pale eyes, as if he had done something terribly unforgivable.
Mirai finished preparing two cups of tea, set them on the table, and said, "They're all asleep. They won't wake up before morning."
In the entire courtyard, only the two of them were awake.
"Kiyo, your eyes seem much stronger than before."
Because they were close, Mirai immediately sensed that the power in Kiyo's Byakugan was far beyond its usual level—already surpassing what a normal Byakugan could achieve.
The strength of ocular power had nothing to do with training; it depended on how much the user inherited from their ancestors. Kiyo's power had clearly exceeded that limit—she must have used another method.
"I changed my eyes. Not only my grandfather's, even the First and Second Elders' eyes—I switched them all in." Kiyo lowered her head slightly and said, "Using an old method from our ancestors, sealing the Byakugan first, then replacing it enhances its abilities. I can now see nearly ten kilometers away."
"Ten kilometers?"
That was far beyond the normal Byakugan's limit. Most Hyuga could see one or two kilometers; the gifted ones might reach three or four. But that was the extreme.
Wait—ten kilometers…
Then, during the battle in the Land of Rain, she must have already seen me.
Mirai suddenly realized. If that was true, he had wrongly blamed Tsunade last time. Still, a ban was already placed, so he might as well pretend he knew nothing and keep backing her.
"Can you talk about your childhood? I feel like I barely understand anything about you."
Kiyo asked. She felt she had never truly understood Mirai, and wanted to hear something real.
"My childhood? Nothing special. It probably started around the Ninja Academy. I just didn't expect you to abolish the Caged Bird."
Mirai explained from his own perspective. He had benefited greatly within the Hyuga clan—because there was a seemingly clever heiress shielding him from the front. Whether it was clan resources, medical-ninjutsu learning, money, or time, everything became easier.
A little prompting with the right words was all it took for Mirai to get whatever he wanted from Kiyo.
But Kiyo was not the clan head. And above the Hyuga were people like Hiruzen Sarutobi. Staying in Konoha meant binding himself within their rules. He'd have to spend energy participating in politics and arguing with the F4.
That was exactly how Orochimaru ended up stabbed in the back. Too troublesome. Better to leave Konoha decisively.
Besides that, there wasn't much to say—mostly how Mirai had taken advantage of "Lady Kiyo's" childish personality to secure many benefits for himself.
As Kiyo listened to Mirai's description of her younger self, her face gradually turned red. She had never imagined she was that foolish back then. Her grandfather had always praised her as the most qualified heiress. Yet in Mirai's eyes, she seemed like someone he could take advantage of at will.
"I wasn't like that!"
Kiyo's face flushed bright as she tried to protest. She refused to believe that clumsy girl was her. It was slander.
But before she could finish, Mirai interrupted, "It's fine, Kiyo. That's just how you are. You've been Captain of the Police Force for so long—you must care deeply about Konoha. After the war on the front lines ends, Konoha's stability will be crucial for peace. With your support—and the Hyuga's—combining Konoha with the Sand Federation will let the shinobi world unify quickly and enter an era of peace."
"And the fact that you learned all this and didn't tell anyone already proves your choice. All that's left is the final resolve."
Mirai smiled softly. "So let me be that resolve. From now on, hand your choices and decisions to me."
As he spoke, he stood and leaned closer to her. Their faces were so near that he could clearly see the tension and redness reflected in her eyes.
The closer he came, the more chaotic her thoughts became—like dozens of startled deer running in every direction. She couldn't even remember what he had just said.
Too close—too close! What is he trying to do? Here!?
Kiyo couldn't hold out. She shut her eyes tight, her long lashes trembling from nervousness. Like an ostrich, she buried her head and stopped thinking.
Do whatever you want—if my eyes are closed, that counts as resistance!
Seeing her reaction, Mirai thought to himself that she was exactly the same as before—unchanged.
He gently took her hand from where she had been anxiously gripping her thigh. Nanoparticles flowed from his wrist device onto her hand, forming into the shape of a ring on her finger.
Once the ring was set, Mirai leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I'm counting on you, Kiyo."
Then he patted her head and vanished via Yomi-no-Hirasaka.
When the room finally grew quiet, Kiyo cautiously opened one eye. After confirming Mirai was gone, she exhaled in relief.
"He left…"
Her face flushed again when she noticed the ring on her hand. After checking no one else was around, she lifted her hand like a prairie dog and admired it slowly.
"For peace…"
She whispered. But as she admired the ring, a projection suddenly blinked into the air—showing Kurenai Yuhi, fresh out of the bath. Kurenai saw her and grinned mischievously.
"Oh my, is that Kiyo? Huh? Why are you here?"
"K–Kurenai!? Close! Close it now!"
At her command, the projection vanished immediately.
Once Kurenai's face disappeared, Kiyo let out a deep breath. But she knew she wouldn't escape Kurenai's teasing tomorrow. That woman had always looked gentle—but was black-hearted inside.
Kiyo realized this ring was no ordinary accessory. It must contain many secrets. But she didn't know how to use electronics—she barely even watched TV—so she had no idea how to operate the terminal ring.
She could only experiment with voice commands. Fortunately, every member's terminal had a simple AI. It only connected to Unit 18 when it involved Mirai.
Naturally, the first thing she tried to search for was information about Hyuga Mirai.
The ring projected a large archive of Mirai-related data. Kiyo immediately noticed the wedding details among them and, unable to resist, opened it.
"Three people!? Damn it—where did this woman come from? And what kind of outfit is that? So bold!"
The more she watched, the angrier she became. The angrier she became, the more she wanted to keep watching. Then she lowered her head, glanced at her own slightly flat chest… and fell silent.
She dismissed the projection, stood up, and rushed to Hyuga Yuu's room, waking her immediately.
"Yuu—about what you mentioned last time… is there any other method?"
"Huh?"
Still half-asleep, Yuu stared blankly. She had no idea what had shocked Lady Kiyo in the middle of the night this time.
"The Hyuga clan is settled. Now it's your turn."
Mirai told Tsunade. The Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans now showed signs of aligning closely together—and two of Kiyo's disciples were from the Aburame and Inuzuka families.
For something as major as merging Konoha, with the Hokage leading above and the Hyuga pushing from the center, the Aburame and Inuzuka had no choice but to follow.
With these three clans' support, plus the various forces Tsunade had built—the Root remnants, the Medical Division—even if some clans resisted, they had no chance to fight back. Especially with many Konoha shinobi still captured at the frontlines, most of the village's power was under Tsunade's control.
The merger between Konoha and the Sand Federation was already a foregone conclusion.
And during the negotiations, Tsunade had subtly persuaded the other three Kage. To take down the Sand Federation in one strike, Iwa, Kumo, and Kirigakure had each sent elites to the front.
If those units were captured, the three great villages would not have anyone suitable to handle village affairs—not after something so major occurred on the battlefield.
"As expected of you. You convinced Kiyo Hyuga this fast."
Tsunade clicked her tongue. She found this blue-eyed brat extremely annoying now—after saying something so misleading last time, he could still talk calmly about unifying the shinobi world.
(End of Chapter)