"Oh? Is he some young noble out on a wandering journey?"
"Don't use such a rude word as 'wandering.' It's called experiencing life."
"He's carrying a sword. Looks like a samurai."
"A noble from the Land of Iron, perhaps?"
"If he really traveled from the Land of Iron all by himself, he must have some skill to his name."
Many people in the caravan began to whisper and discuss amongst themselves after hearing Diarmuid speak.
It couldn't be helped; Diarmuid's presentation was top-tier. With a bright smile on his face, he radiated an aura of warmth, kindness, and sunshine. No one would ever link him to an S-Rank international criminal and outlaw at first glance.
Even Hiashi Hyuga, the "big boss" of the Hyuga Clan, was no exception. He only felt that Diarmuid looked a tiny bit familiar, but he didn't dwell on it.
In truth, Hiashi had been busy traveling back and forth for Konoha recently and hadn't stayed in one place long enough to care about the news of the Earth Daimyo's death. Due to internal clan issues, the Hyuga's participation in the Third Shinobi World War wasn't particularly high, at least, Hiashi himself hadn't been on the front lines much.
However, the Hyuga Clan had recently faced a crisis: a Jonin's Byakugan had been stolen by someone despite the protection of the Caged Bird seal. That perpetrator was Ao, a Jonin from Kirigakure in the Land of Water. Because of this, the Hyuga had put pressure on Konoha, landing Ao on the village's "Gold" Wanted List.
A Gold Listing was high-tier, but it was fundamentally different from the S-Rank bounty on Diarmuid. Diarmuid's bounty was for a criminal with no village to claim him. A "Gold" listing was usually part of the inter-village Bingo Book system; the target wasn't necessarily a "criminal" in the traditional sense. Ao was a fugitive in Konoha, but in the Hidden Mist, he was a high-ranking official and a hero.
These bounties were generally divided into four grades: Gold, Silver, and Copper are self-explanatory, while the highest was "Jade." Currently, no one had been assigned a Jade bounty. During wartime, these listings were often used as a point of pride. If someone said, "So-and-so from our village is on Konoha's Gold list," people wouldn't look down on them; instead, they'd give a thumbs up and say, "Impressive!"
That was the primary distinction between them and an S-Rank global criminal like Diarmuid.
As for Hiashi, the reason the head of the prestigious Hyuga Clan was personally escorting cargo was that he had only recently taken over the leadership. Although his authority as the sole heir of the Main House was unshakeable, Hiashi wanted to lead the clan more effectively.
Lately, he had been doing everything personally to gain first-hand knowledge. He believed that to manage the clan's affairs from afar later on, he needed to know the reality on the ground. A "Young Master" who never left his house and tried to lead based on imagination alone seemed unreliable to him.
Practice brings true knowledge.
Thus, he took on everything from cargo escorts to administrative tasks. As a noble house of Konoha, and one of the top clans in the entire shinobi world, the Hyuga was a vast family tree with immense expenses. Shinobi taking missions only covered part of the costs; a clan of that scale had numerous businesses backing them, including their own merchant caravans.
Upon seeing Diarmuid, a gentle smile appeared on Hiashi's face. Born into nobility, he had his own way of reading people. From a brief observation of various subtleties, Hiashi judged that this handsome young samurai was certainly from a prestigious background; every movement carried the air of a leader.
Furthermore, the Hyuga were famous everywhere. It was impossible for his Byakugan not to be recognized. The fact that this man could greet them so naturally and ask for a ride while knowing they were Hyuga meant he lacked any "fear" of the clan, which suggested his own status was no lower than Hiashi's!
Connections were vital for great clans. Deciding that Diarmuid's background was likely distinguished, Hiashi approached him with a friendly attitude.
"Are you also heading to Konoha, sir? If you don't mind, feel free to join the Hyuga caravan," Hiashi offered.
He spoke casually but subtly emphasized "the Hyuga family." It was a slight test, just in case this guy truly hadn't noticed who they were and that was the source of his calm.
But Diarmuid remained nonchalant, laughing as he said, "I saw the Hyuga crest from a mile away and came running! Hahaha! I assume you must be the head of this generation's Hyuga Clan... Hiashi Hyuga, correct?"
Hiashi kept the smile on his face and nodded. "It is I. I didn't realize I was so famous, hahaha."
Regardless of how Hiashi's character would develop years later, right now, he possessed the grace of a great clan member. He wasn't like the Uchiha Clan, who looked down their noses at everyone; his speech actually had a touch of rugged boldness.
"The Hyuga are Konoha's strongest, after all," Diarmuid said with a chuckle.
You said it yourself, Hiashi, even if it won't be for many years.
Hiashi blinked, then quickly waved his hand. "You flatter us. I wouldn't dare claim we are the strongest."
In the future, the Hyuga would say those words because the times had changed. By then, the Hyuga were effectively the number one clan in Konoha. The Senju Clan had essentially faded from the public eye to pursue other interests, and the Uchiha Clan had been completely wiped out, leaving only "Sasuke the Second Son." Under those circumstances, calling the Hyuga the strongest was arrogant, but... technically true.
After a brief pause, Hiashi asked, "And may I ask your name?"
The name "Rodriguez Diarmuid" definitely couldn't be used openly. Hiashi might not recognize his face yet, but he certainly knew the name. The moment he heard it, he might not attack immediately, but he would definitely turn hostile.
Diarmuid grinned. "I am Fujitora Issho, a ronin. The world is my home."
"Fujitora Issho?" Hiashi mused, searching his memory for the name "Fujitora." He had no recollection of it. However, since the man claimed to be a ronin, he was clearly a samurai. Most samurai hailed from the Land of Iron. While they also used Chakra as their power source, their concepts were fundamentally different from those of shinobi.
The Hyuga weren't very familiar with the Land of Iron; their professions simply didn't overlap much. Hiashi figured perhaps the "Fujitora" family was a prominent house in the Land of Iron.
Hiashi didn't overthink it. He was interested in befriending the man "Fujitora Issho" himself, rather than trying to network with a family he didn't know. Currently, the Land of Iron was a neutral nation. Ever since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, it had severed all allied or hostile ties with other nations.
During the Second War, they weren't neutral and had fought fiercely against the Land of Rain. Afterward, they realized samurai should stay out of shinobi wars. Simultaneously, the international community needed a neutral ground where everyone could sit down and talk. Thus, the Land of Iron declared permanent neutrality.
"So, it is Fujitora-dono. I have heard much of you," Hiashi said with a polite smile.
Diarmuid didn't call him out on the obvious lie; it wasn't hypocrisy, just standard etiquette.
"I've long heard the Hyuga are generous and bold. Seeing you today proves the rumors true. Much appreciated, Hiashi-dono," Diarmuid laughed, solidifying his spot on the trip to Konoha.
The two of them talked as if they were old friends meeting again, chatting about everything under the sun. Hiashi, being from a noble house, was well-traveled and knowledgeable. Diarmuid, however, feared no one when it came to "shooting the breeze." After a while, both were genuinely impressed by the other's wit and insight.
Hiashi became even more convinced that Diarmuid was from a great family. If "Fujitora" wasn't a famous name, then he was likely hiding his identity, which made sense. If a noble was traveling as a ronin to "experience life," they wouldn't want their real identity causing a scene or attracting old enemies.
As the caravan began its steady trek toward Konoha, Diarmuid and Hiashi sat inside a carriage, drinking tea and discussing various topics.
"Is that so? You actually know our Konoha Sannin?" Hiashi asked, intrigued.
"Yeah. I'm pretty close with Orochimaru, and I've got a bit of history with Jiraiya. Though I haven't met Tsunade-hime yet," Diarmuid said, rubbing his chin.
Seeing how confident Diarmuid sounded, Hiashi believed him. There was no reason to lie about such a thing; if they bumped into each other in Konoha and didn't recognize him, Diarmuid would look like a fool.
"So, your visit to Konoha is to see your friends?" Hiashi probed slightly.
Diarmuid didn't mind. He nodded, then shook his head. "Not exactly. Orochimaru did invite me to visit Konoha when I had the chance, but I'm not just here for him. I've admired Konoha for a long time; I've always wanted to see the Number One Ninja Village. So, you could say the village itself is my destination."
"I see," Hiashi nodded.
As the topic settled, Diarmuid asked with a smile, "I'm actually surprised. As the head of the Hyuga Main House, you'd personally come to Tanzaku Quarters to escort wagons?"
Hiashi smiled. "I haven't been Clan Head for very long, so there is much I don't understand. I feel that precisely because I am the leader, I should walk the path myself."
"Admirable," Diarmuid said sincerely.
After a short pause, Diarmuid suddenly asked, "Are you married, Hiashi-dono?"
Hiashi: "???"
Why the sudden jump in topic? We just met, is it appropriate to talk about this? Wait... does he think I'm so handsome he wants the Fujitora family to marry into the Hyuga? But... it's too late!
"Ahem." Hiashi coughed awkwardly, sounding a bit bashful. "I was married a short while ago."
"Is that so?" Diarmuid's eyebrows shot up, a smirk playing on his lips. "Congratulations."
I wonder how long it'll be before the cute, strong, and hard-working Hinata is born...
Thinking this, Diarmuid scrutinized Hiashi's face. Honestly, the guy was quite good-looking. No wonder he'd have such a beautiful and cute daughter...
Hiashi felt a bit strange under Diarmuid's gaze and quickly turned the question back. "And you, sir?"
Diarmuid's gaze turned distant for a moment, then he shook his head. "Just a ronin, wandering the world. I have a few 'fair lady' acquaintances, but it's been a long time since we've seen each other. Now that you mention it, I really do miss them..."
"Hahaha! I didn't realize Fujitora-dono was such a romantic at heart!" Hiashi laughed heartily.