Chapter 226: Recruiting Various Countries
"During the meeting in the Land of Rain, the delegation from the Land of Wind and Sand Village suddenly walked out after receiving word that their tailed beast had been captured by the Akatsuki."
"Following their departure, we proceeded with the parliamentary session as proposed by Kusanagi, the newly appointed monarch of the Land of Rain."
"During the session, representatives from different nations once again raised Kusanagi previous proposal to sell off resources and land in bulk at low prices. However, this time, Kusanagi displayed a completely different attitude. He suggested reopening discussions and renegotiating the terms from scratch!"
"And the reason for his newfound confidence? The Land of Rain has successfully secured the allegiance of the Hyuga Clan—once one of the core noble families of Konoha."
...
In the Daimyo's Mansion, the heart of the Land of Iron—the land of samurai—a middle-aged man with a full beard and lean frame listened intently to his subordinate's report. His expression remained severe.
"Send word to Okisuke immediately," he ordered coldly. "Do everything you can to win over the Hyuga Clan in secret."
Then, turning to another aide, he added, "Riku, form a diplomatic team and head to the Land of Fire at once. Seek out the head of the Hyuga Clan before Konoha makes a move. Express our goodwill clearly."
...
That same afternoon, under the cover of night, a messenger arrived in the daimyo's mansion.
Within the lavish daimyo's mansion in this country of entertainment, a slightly overweight, bald man sat calmly, rolling a cigar between his fingers.
"Hyuga..."
He murmured the name with uncertainty, then made a firm decision. Turning to a Jonin from beside him, he gave a quiet but decisive order.
"Approach the Hyuga Clan carefully. Conceal your identity. Present the terms we can offer, but don't overstep."
He paused, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"If they show interest and are open to relocating, then disclose who we really are. But if they decline, do not reveal anything. We are officially a neutral country, and we won't be drawn into ninja world disputes."
...
Once the news of the Hyuga Clan's potential move to the Land of Rain was confirmed, it stirred significant waves across the ninja world.
Not just the Fire Nation, but many other countries reacted strongly.
Of course, the first to be informed were the allied nations already sending representatives to the Land of Rain.
These delegates had discreetly relayed the information back home even before any formal confirmation was announced.
Monarchs, daimyo, and generals from several nations—including the neutral Iron and Hot Spring Countries—issued nearly identical directives: recruit the Hyuga Clan at all costs.
Diplomatic teams were assembled in record time and dispatched to the Land of Fire, aiming to negotiate directly with Hyuga Hiashi, the clan's leader.
Among them, the fastest to act was the daimyo of the Snow Country.
He personally traveled from the Land of Snow to the Land of Rain to attend the ongoing summit.
After the meeting concluded, he went straight to the Hyuga contingent stationed in the Land of Rain, where he met with Hyuga Iroha.
Unfortunately, Iroha's response was straightforward and unshakable.
"I'm merely a soldier following orders. If you wish to discuss matters like these, you'll have to speak with the clan head in Konoha."
Dato, a decisive man, didn't hesitate. After entrusting the remaining affairs in the Land of Rain to his Snow Ninjas, he immediately formed a new team and set off for Konoha. As a result, he became the first foreign leader to arrive there and meet with Hyuga Hiashi.
"I'm sorry," Hiashi said calmly in the Hyuga Clan's main estate. "But we have already reached an agreement with the Land of Rain. If we were to change our stance now, it would damage our credibility."
It was a swift and firm rejection.
After all, reputation and honor meant everything for a noble clan.
To back out of an agreement at the first sign of a better offer would render Hyuga's promises meaningless.
Had the discussion involved Konoha directly, there might have been room for maneuvering—perhaps an apology and proper compensation to the Land of Rain.
But to pivot entirely to a different partner? That would leave the Land of Rain in a diplomatic mess and make the Hyuga name synonymous with betrayal.
Moreover, the Land of Snow was far from the ideal destination.
"Please reconsider, Lord Hiashi," Dato urged, showing a rare moment of humility. "We of the Snow Country possess the most advanced ninja technology available. If the Hyuga Clan desires it, we can provide state-of-the-art armor for every combat-ready member."
"Terribly sorry," Hiashi replied, unmoved.
Even this generous offer didn't stir the slightest hesitation in his voice.
Combat-enhancing ninja tools? The Hyuga Clan had long been investing in their own research in that field.
Everyone in Konoha knew about the Snow Country's advancements in chakra armor.
Years ago, Kakashi had ventured into the region and clashed with its former ruler, who wielded chakra armor with considerable power.
The technology was impressive—no doubt about it. But it wasn't exclusive to the Snow Country. Other nations had the talent and resources to develop similar tools.
Hiashi's stance was unshakable, leaving Dato with no choice but to retreat with regret.
Still, before leaving, Hiashi offered a diplomatic promise: "As allies, there will be future opportunities for cooperation."
Following Dato's visit, a steady stream of envoys from other nations arrived, all seeking to court the Hyuga Clan.
From the Land of Iron, to the Craftsman Country, to the Land of Springs—one after another, they came.
But Hiashi declined them all with the same polite firmness.
Some envoys even chose to remain anonymous, offering only vague terms in an attempt to test the waters.
Yet, Hiashi treated them no differently.
Just as nations sought to win over the Hyuga Clan, the clan itself was making efforts to build its own alliances.
"I'm truly sorry, Ryosuke!"
With his bowl-cut hair and sincere expression, Rock Lee bowed deeply, nearly 90 degrees.
"Although I'm grateful for your guidance and kindness all these years, it's impossible for Guy-sensei to leave Konoha. So I..."
His voice trembled with internal conflict.
On one side was his deep bond with Ryosuke—a friend who had guided him and ensured he received medical support and equipment over the years, all thanks to Hyuga connections.
But on the other side was Might Guy—his mentor, his role model, his reason for walking the path of the ninja.
It was Might Guy who chose the path of a ninja even though he couldn't use ninjutsu.
Both of these facts were extremely important to Rock Lee, which made his decision all the more difficult.
"You don't have to do that, Lee."
Ryosuke smiled helplessly. "I just mentioned it casually. You don't need to feel guilty even if you refuse."
"No one wants to leave Konoha for no reason. I'm the same."
"But young birds always leave the warmth of their nest one day. They spread their wings and soar into the skies. We Hyugas are simply doing what we must at this stage."
As he spoke, he waved at Rock Lee and added, "We agreed to share a meal before we left. If you're going to act like this, I might miss out on that meal."
In his heart, Ryosuke wasn't surprised by Rock Lee's rejection. On the contrary, he truly meant it when he said it was just a casual suggestion—a shot in the dark.
That's the nature of investing. You never know whether it'll pay off.
When he was younger, his words and small favors to Rock Lee and others in the village were done casually, without expectations.
In truth, Ryosuke couldn't predict whether those gestures would ever bear fruit. Neither the investors nor the investment targets could be predicted with certainty.
Life is full of change. If everything followed a neat plan, it wouldn't be life—it would be a script.
"Ryosuke…"
With his thick eyebrows trembling, Rock Lee was already moved to tears.
He felt even more guilty now, unsure if he would ever get the chance to repay Ryosuke's kindness after they parted ways.
In fact, there were quite a few people like Rock Lee in the village.
Over the years, the Hyuga clan had built a vast network of connections throughout Konoha. Their ties extended beyond the major clans to include ordinary ninja families and even civilians.
During this migration, they carefully selected those worth recruiting from that web of relationships and quietly extended invitations.
Hyuga Hiashi handled those who responded publicly, while Ryosuke, Hinata, and others were in charge of discreetly reaching out to personal connections to see who might be willing to leave with them.
But not many responded.
The decision had been made hastily, and many things were still unprepared.
Part of the reason was that Konoha's upper echelons—including Jiraiya—had anticipated this move. They expected the Hyuga clan wouldn't abandon years of accumulation without doing something, so they acted early.
Meetings were held to stabilize morale and stop a larger exodus.
Both the Hyuga clan and the Konoha leadership tacitly agreed not to interfere too heavily with each other.
This was a peaceful solution, one that only worked because of a relative balance of power between both sides.
"But it's great that it went smoothly."
That night, after a long day, Hinata relaxed at home, exhausted.
"I was a little worried there'd be conflicts with certain people in the village," she murmured.
"It's kind of like a husband and wife divorcing. The wife takes the kids and a chunk of the money, leaving the husband alone and broke."
If a weaker family had attempted this kind of exodus, they would've paid a heavy price—possibly even facing annihilation.
For families still on good terms with Konoha, like the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, such migration might have come with secret missions—like developing a Konoha branch in the Land of Iron.
But if the departing clan had been the long-exterminated Uchiha, there would've been no room for friendly negotiation. The village would've labeled it open rebellion.
The Hyuga clan's peaceful exit and their ability to quietly recruit others had been expected—but not to this extent.
Things had gone so smoothly that many of their backup plans weren't even needed.
"But when I think about actually leaving... I really feel reluctant."
Soon, Hinata's voice grew soft and sentimental. "We've already moved in phases, just like the plan."
"At this pace, in about two weeks, our entire clan should be able to leave Konoha smoothly."
As she spoke, she stood up and stepped into the courtyard, gazing at the star-studded sky.
Two weeks from now… she would be standing in a different place, looking at a different night sky.
Ryosuke stood and joined her.
"You're feeling melancholy, aren't you? That... hollow feeling?"
Hinata nodded. "It's really uncomfortable. I feel a sense of panic."
That emotion hadn't surfaced in a long time. Since the age of four, when she decided to change herself, cowardly feelings like this had rarely found space in her heart.
"You've spent ninety-nine percent of your life in Konoha," Ryosuke said gently.
Without hesitation, he reached out and took her cold hand, wrapping it tightly in his own. "Life moves in phases. The roads we travel through each stage are always different. When you grow used to saying goodbye, you won't feel so lost."
"And besides… I'll be with you. So will Father, Hanabi, and the others."
Unlike Hinata, Ryosuke was well-acquainted with the feeling of departure.
For someone young and unfamiliar with the world, stepping into an unknown environment naturally brought hesitation and unease.
Even he had felt that fear at the beginning.
But once you grew accustomed to stepping out of your comfort zone, you eventually became like a seasoned traveler—able to adapt quickly, no matter the surroundings.
Whether it was leaving a school you'd grown used to or quitting a job where you'd been thriving, facing new challenges head-on was a kind of growth—sometimes forced, sometimes chosen, but growth nonetheless.
"Mm…"
Hinata gave a soft response, moving closer and leaning gently against Ryosuke.
Feeling his familiar scent and warmth, she tightened her grip on his hand.
But the comfort didn't bring her peace. Instead, it made her thoughts drift even further toward the future.
Just like she was about to leave Konoha to pursue greater growth, one day—sooner or later—she would also have to leave Ryosuke's protection and face the world on her own.
But… was she really ready? Could she truly stand on her own?
That nagging self-doubt began to rise inside her, reminding her of the person she used to be before she turned four.
It was Ryosuke who changed her personality, Ryosuke who gave her confidence.
Now that she was older, she could look back and clearly see that many things were deliberate choices made by him.
But… they were still not steps she took on her own. That made all the difference.
Compared to the weak, ignorant girl from back then, she had changed. Though she still wasn't strong, she had grown. She could think for herself now—rationally, clearly.
Which made her wonder:
Where did Ryosuke's confidence really come from?
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