The next day.
After seeing Uchiha Kai, Rin Nohara spoke to him openly and laid everything on the table.
Uchiha Kai was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected this pure and kind girl to come to terms with everything so quickly. And even after learning about Hyuga Aya, she still cherished him and was willing to become his girlfriend.
This… was a blessing!
Who would be foolish enough to refuse such good fortune?
So, after that heartfelt talk, their relationship advanced rapidly.
Of course, during this time Rin also mentioned Obito, hoping Kai might grant him some Uchiha-exclusive techniques.
Kai did not hesitate.
Obito, as a member of the Uchiha, was naturally opposed to Sarutobi Hiruzen from the start. As an ally, Kai wouldn't be stingy.
Techniques like Izanagi and other Mangekyō secrets — he almost tossed them all in a bundle for Rin to pass along to Minato.
He hadn't considered giving them directly to Obito, because he knew the boy's temperament. Having just stolen away his beloved, if Kai also handed him scrolls, Obito would surely think it was mockery.
So better to let Minato handle the matter.
He even reminded Rin to tell Minato on his behalf: Obito's body had been infused with White Zetsu cells and Hashirama's cells, which meant he was eligible to use Wood Release. Minato should reach out to Jiraiya, and through him, get in touch with Tsunade for Wood Release techniques.
Rin was shocked at first, but soon felt genuinely happy for Obito.
When she relayed everything to Minato, Minato was equally astonished.
Wood Release!
Within Konoha, it carried special significance.
After much thought, he contacted the wandering Jiraiya through the toads of Mount Myōboku.
A day later, Jiraiya replied.
He would return to the village as soon as possible!
Minato knew very well.
If Jiraiya was coming back because of Wood Release, then Tsunade would most likely return too.
And that would surely have a huge impact on the balance of power within the village.
But… So what?
It wasn't really his problem, and he had no intention of getting involved.
…
Time flowed by.
Unknowingly, a month passed.
Perhaps to Konoha, today was just another ordinary day.
But for the Hyuga clan, it was of great importance.
Hyuga Yū, the eldest son of Elder Hyuga Yotai, was holding his coming-of-age ceremony today.
Because of the clan's insular ways, the Hyuga rarely interacted with others outside.
Friends? They had virtually none.
Unless it was for Jounin council meetings or times of war, they hardly ever communicated with the rest of the village.
The Hyuga clan preferred to close their gates and play their own internal games.
In their vast compound, lanterns hung everywhere, and the grounds bustled with activity.
And yet.
Despite the decorations, the atmosphere was hardly festive.
The branch house members who worked tirelessly looked dead-eyed, like walking corpses.
And even the main family members seated high within the great hall bore severe, arrogant expressions.
That was the Hyuga way.
To the village leadership, they were submissive, even groveling like dogs.
But inwardly, they were harsh, rigid, and obsessed with hierarchy.
In the great hall.
Hyuga Hiashi sat at the head, the main family arrayed to his left, and just below them sat Hyuga Yotai — the host of today's event.
The right side held the branch house elders, with Hyuga Hizashi seated at the lower end.
"Everyone…"
"Thank you for coming today to witness Yū's coming-of-age ceremony. I sincerely appreciate it."
"Of course, there is another matter I must share with you all."
"I have arranged for Yū to take Aya, that maidservant of ours. You should all know she has some connection with Uchiha Kai."
"The rise of the Uchiha is not exactly good news for our Hyuga clan."
"But I'm not suggesting we submit to them. I simply intend to turn this connection into tangible benefits — at the very least, securing a few key positions for our clan."
"As you know, the Uchiha have already drawn the support of the Aburame, Inuzuka, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. In all likelihood, they will control half the village's power."
"Once Sarutobi Hiruzen steps down and the Fourth Hokage rises, the village leadership will undergo drastic changes."
"Whether Uchiha wins or loses in that struggle doesn't concern us."
"But even if they lose, the Uchiha will still secure positions in the reshuffle."
"Through Aya's connection with Kai, we can trade for a few of those positions, and perhaps a share in some industries. In my view, that's entirely achievable."
"Do not worry that the Uchiha will refuse. After all, our clans have been rivals for so long that we understand them well."
"Yes, the Uchiha are prone to madness, but when it comes to bonds, they are deeply serious."
"And Aya is only a branch member. As Yū's maid in the future, she herself won't benefit from this connection. Kai, however, will value it."
"At such a discount, there's no way the Uchiha would refuse."
"This way, the Hyuga don't have to pledge ourselves to them, yet we still gain concrete benefits. And who knows — if the Uchiha and the village elders tear each other apart, perhaps we can swoop in and seize an even bigger prize."
"Of course, to make this work, I alone am not enough."
"We need everyone's collective effort, and the clan head's presence, to maximize our advantage!"
"Still, since Aya is from my household, my branch must receive at least one-third of the benefits in this exchange."
"So, what do you all think?"
Hyuga Yotai looked supremely proud.
Yes.
He was very pleased with himself.
While no one else had noticed Aya's value, his sharp eyes had spotted this golden opportunity.
If his plan succeeded, the rewards would be immense!
The others began murmuring among themselves.
The looks they gave Yotai were full of envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Yes.
Now that they'd heard it, they realized he was right.
That was indeed the Uchiha.
A clan of madmen, perhaps, but ones who valued bonds above all else.
Aya and Kai had once been comrades-in-arms. Even if that bond wasn't especially deep, it was still precious.
Trading on that bond for benefits? Hardly an issue.
Even if the Hyuga's behavior looked ugly from the outside, compared to the concrete benefits at stake, dignity and appearances hardly mattered.
The Hyuga main family had long been cultivated into a herd of fools.
Their vision was narrow — shortsighted, to say the least.
So long as profit was involved, they cared about little else.
After all.
So what if others despised them?
They would never leave the clan, and it was the branch house that bore the burden of fighting.
Even if outsiders sneered, their scorn would fall on the branch members.
And to the Hyuga main family — did the branch even count as people?
No. They were nothing more than property. Slaves.
With that thought.
The main family elders could no longer hold back.
"This clansman speaks the truth!"
"I agree — let's do it!"
"Support!"
"…."
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