"Patriarch, it seems you've forgotten what the Hyuga clan has always relied upon to remain above the fray."
Hiashi looked toward his elder brother's forehead. There, he lacked something that Hiashi himself bore.
If only…
The thought arose briefly but was quickly extinguished by Hizashi himself. In the end, everything was for the Hyuga clan.
Hiashi didn't notice his brother's inner conflict. Instead, he continued, "Because of certain events two nights ago, I was forced to take the Fourth Hokage's side."
Hizashi paused. "So you've made your choice?"
Hiashi nodded. "With Danzo's death, Konoha is now heading into an era of the Fourth Hokage's rule. The Third is old now, a gentle and passive man who merely hopes to maintain peace…"
Before he could continue, his Byakugan caught movement outside the door. A moment later,
Knock knock knock.
"Patriarch."
"Come in."
A branch family member, Tokuma, entered with his head bowed and presented an envelope with both hands.
"Patriarch, this is an invitation from Uchiha Yun. He and Uchiha Shisui plan to visit our clan tomorrow."
Hiashi received the letter, his expression growing more serious. He looked at Tokuma again.
"You were in the same year at the Academy as Uchiha Yun, weren't you?"
Tokuma nodded. Honestly, if Shisui's name hadn't been on that letter, he would never have delivered it to the clan head. A current Academy student wanting to visit the Hyuga patriarch? Absurd!
"Tokuma, was there anything unusual about Uchiha Yun at school?"
Tokuma thought for a moment. "He was… a little different. Over two years ago, when we first entered the Academy, he made an effort to approach me and Inuzuka Hana. At the time I didn't understand why, but now I think I get it."
"Looking back, Uchiha Yun tried to make contact with most of the clans with unique jutsu or bloodline abilities. But if someone rejected him on the second day, he wouldn't approach them again."
…..
After answering, Tokuma left.
Hiashi handed the invitation to Hizashi. "From the reaction of a younger generation member, we can see how the major clans in the village view the Uchiha. And now, with the Mangekyō Sharingan… this boy is no ordinary child."
Hizashi examined the letter. "He had Tokuma deliver it… even Shisui seems to defer to this Yun."
Hiashi replied, "Their visit stems from my decision two nights ago. Since they're coming so formally, I must treat this seriously. And if I do, the Third Hokage will become more certain of where I stand."
"There's no room for indecision. Send that intel… to the Uchiha."
After the discussion, Hizashi stepped outside and saw his niece, his brother's daughter and future heiress of the main family.
That smooth forehead… In a year, she would face a fate entirely different from his own son's.
For a brief moment, a killing intent rose in Hizashi's eyes. But he quickly suppressed it and walked away.
.....
At the Konoha Barbecue Shop
Fresh off a mission, Itachi looked down at his meal. "I still prefer dango."
Yun grumbled, "It's always dango with you. I'm sick of it. You used to argue when we teased you about your sweet tooth. Now you've just given up completely?"
Shisui chuckled. "Let's just eat barbecue this time to celebrate. We'll go to the dango shop next time."
That worked. After the mission, Itachi had learned from Shisui that Danzo had died. With him gone, Yun's earlier killing of Root agents wouldn't cause any further trouble.
That alone was worth celebrating.
"I could always feel his covetous gaze on my Sharingan," Itachi said, clenching his fist. "If I hadn't been on a mission, I would've confronted that Uzumaki Ku."
Shisui sighed. "He disappeared suddenly using the Flying Thunder God technique. No one could stop him, not even the Fourth."
Then he turned to Yun. "We're visiting the Hyuga tomorrow? Isn't that a bit abrupt? Sending an invitation just a day ahead, isn't that rude?"
Yun shook his head. "The Hyuga have no choice now. Hiashi must meet us. If he hadn't taken sides two nights ago, he could have ignored the invitation, or just sent a branch family member to greet us."
"But now, after what happened, the Third will already believe that the Hyuga and Uchiha have aligned behind the Fourth. Hiashi can only choose a side."
Shisui nodded. "So what's the point of us visiting?"
"To send a signal," Yun smiled. "To every clan with bloodline or secret techniques in the village."
"Besides the Senju and Uchiha, Konoha has two other representative clans, the Hyuga with their Byakugan-led Search Division, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio with their secret techniques. We can't touch the trio yet, the Sarutobi act as their guarantor. That must be handled later."
"But the Hyuga, who control the Search Division, are just one step away from being tied to us."
Then Yun turned to Shisui. "Even if we succeed at the clan meeting the day after tomorrow, with the Fourth's support, we still won't be able to fully manage the Police Force right away. That supposed authority is a slow-acting poison, one our clan won't easily abandon."
"We also need greater say in high-level meetings, proper internal systems for managing affairs, and, most importantly, money."
Yun looked at Itachi. "The Police Force is under Uchiha control, but the funding has never been adequate. You know that, right?"
Itachi nodded. "When Father was alive, he mentioned how tight the department's finances were."
"After becoming ninja, most Uchiha aren't well-received in mission squads, due to their personalities or… their talent. I've felt it myself."
Shisui laughed. "Still that guy Tenma? Even someone as kind as you couldn't get along with him? Looks like I underestimated the problem."
Then he turned back to Yun. "If we lose the Police Force and can't integrate into mission teams, what then?"
Yun shook his head. "The Uchiha have always been the most emotionally driven clan. The Sharingan awakens through love, and loss."
"Proud, yet deeply attached to bonds. If they no longer return to the Police Force, over time those bonds will form in other ways."
"I think Itachi already understands that."
.....
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