The Hyūga brothers understood the implication immediately.
The Byakugan was the Hyūga clan's bloodline limit—peerless in perception across the shinobi world.
Yet Shuoye Uchiha had detected them with ease.
That alone forced them to reassess him.
"Shuoye," Hiashi began, voice measured, "your sensory ability is remarkable."
There was respect there—tempered with caution.
"To what do we owe this visit?"
Shuoye smiled faintly.
The rumored coldness was nowhere to be seen.
"I came simply to pay my respects."
His tone was steady.
"The Hyūga and the Uchiha are the two great bloodline clans of the Hidden Leaf. We should stand in mutual regard."
He paused.
"The situation is complicated. I wished to extend goodwill—and a reminder."
A subtle shift in the air followed.
"If the Hyūga encounter difficulties in the future," he continued, "you may seek the Uchiha. We will assist where we can."
He inclined his head.
His purpose delivered.
Then he turned to leave.
The Hyūga elders exchanged glances.
Surprise.
Suspicion.
A trace of warmth.
Such harmony between the two noble clans was rare.
And yet—
No one believed Shuoye acted without calculation.
Hiashi and Hizashi remained silent, watching his retreating figure.
Every move the young Uchiha clan head made carried weight.
Every word held layered meaning.
—
Shuoye stepped beyond the compound gates.
A faint smile lingered at his lips.
The visit itself had achieved nothing tangible.
But it had planted something far more valuable.
Doubt.
He imagined Hiruzen Sarutobi learning of it.
Let the Hokage wonder.
Let him weigh possibilities.
That uncertainty would be more destabilizing than any open confrontation.
—
Meanwhile—
The Hidden Cloud delegation had begun formal negotiations inside the Hokage Tower.
"This conflict was instigated by the Hidden Leaf," their representative declared coldly. "You unlawfully captured the Eight-Tails. You will compensate us—or prepare for full war."
The temperature in the room dropped.
Their demands escalated rapidly.
Heavy financial compensation.
Unconditional release of the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.
The arrogance was blatant.
Yet the Hidden Leaf could not simply overturn the table.
Hiruzen sat at the head of the chamber, expression grim.
He had anticipated hostility.
Not this degree of aggression.
"Your proposal requires consideration," he replied evenly. "We will discuss this further at a later date."
Behind him, Danzō Shimura's jaw tightened.
If weakening the Uchiha were not his priority, he might have expelled the delegation outright.
Even war seemed preferable to this humiliation.
Once the delegation departed, murmurs filled the chamber.
The younger shinobi bristled with anger.
The veterans spoke in low tones, calculating risk.
War with the Hidden Cloud would be catastrophic.
—
Outside the tower—
A subordinate approached the Hidden Cloud's lead envoy.
"Sir… were we too forceful? The Hidden Leaf remains the strongest of the Five Great Nations."
The envoy wiped sweat from his brow, though his voice remained calm.
"Whether they agree is irrelevant."
The subordinate blinked.
"Then… what is our true objective?"
The envoy's gaze sharpened.
"We are here to create distraction."
His voice dropped.
"Our real mission is to seize the Byakugan heir of the Hyūga—and promising heirs of the Uchiha."
A chill spread among those listening.
"What the Hidden Leaf will not give…"
He finished coldly.
"We will take."
One shinobi hesitated.
"Why target the Uchiha? They have no direct conflict with us."
The envoy's eyes hardened.
"Do not question orders. This is the Raikage's command."
Silence followed.
The plan was deeper than it appeared.
After a moment, someone asked quietly—
"When do we act?"
The envoy turned toward the window.
His gaze drifted in the direction of the Uchiha compound.
"Another unit has already arrived."
He spoke without hesitation.
"We move immediately. While we stall Hiruzen Sarutobi, they will strike."
"And once they succeed—"
"We withdraw."
Orders spread swiftly.
Figures melted into the night.
Like ghosts.
Unseen.
Unheard.
The Hidden Cloud's blade had already begun its descent.
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