Kurenai and Anko quickly got dressed and prepared to head home.
Looking at the two red stains on the white bed sheet, the two women tore the sheet in half and each took a piece.
After watching them leave, Uchiha Hikaru changed the bedding and lay down again, recalling the events of the previous night. Including his past life, it had been over fifty years since he'd last had that kind of "bedtime exercise." He didn't expect that after all these years, he'd actually stay up all night. What a sin.
He lay on the bed to rest, replenishing his strength.
…
The sun slowly descended in the western sky.
Uchiha Hikaru sat up from the bed, prepared a simple meal, and was eating in the living room when—
Boom boom boom!
Another knock came at the door. He slapped his forehead in frustration.
"No way… again? I can barely walk right now…"
Opening the door, he was greeted by a pair of pale white eyes.
So, it was someone from the Hyuga Clan. But wait—why would the Hyuga Clan be looking for me?
"Deputy Clan Leader Uchiha Hikaru, this is a letter from our clan head. You are invited to the Hyuga compound tonight to discuss some matters."
The messenger handed him the letter and left without another word.
The man's cold, expressionless face reminded Hikaru of a machine. If not for the unmistakable Byakugan, he might have mistaken him for one of Danzo's Root operatives.
It seemed the internal conflict between the Hyuga main family and the branch family had worsened since Hyuga Hizashi's death.
Returning to the living room, Hikaru sat down, continued eating, and opened the letter from Hyuga Hiashi.
"Deputy Clan Leader Uchiha Hikaru,
The Uchiha and Hyuga are Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans. There are important matters to discuss tonight. Please join us for dinner."
That was all it said.
But Hikaru immediately understood what Hiashi was trying to convey.
…
That evening, Uchiha Hikaru arrived at the Hyuga Clan's territory dressed in a dark blue kimono with the Uchiha fan emblazoned on the back.
He hadn't wanted to wear something so formal—it made him look like an old man. But when he mentioned it to Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head insisted. Hikaru was representing the Uchiha clan in an official capacity and needed to dress accordingly. He even had Uchiha Mikoto prepare one of his own formal kimono sets for Hikaru.
Hikaru had tried to refuse, but with Fugaku insisting, he had no choice but to comply.
A maid from Hiashi's household was already waiting at the Hyuga gates. When she saw the young man approaching in full Uchiha dress, her eyes widened slightly. At first, she didn't believe that this youthful-looking man could possibly be the Uchiha Clan's deputy leader.
But when he stopped before her, she realized the truth.
She quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Deputy Clan Leader Uchiha Hikaru, I am Hyuga Sayuki, maid to the Clan Head. Please follow me."
Following behind the girl, Hikaru couldn't help but reflect on the difference between her and the emotionless messenger earlier. Unlike the cold, mechanical face of the letter-bearer, Sayuki was lively and expressive. She seemed… human.
He shook his head quietly.
How ironic. These were Konoha's two most powerful dōjutsu clans. The Uchiha were oppressed and resisted, while the Hyuga were oppressed and surrendered. The result? The Uchiha were driven toward rebellion, and the Hyuga split their own clan into main and branch families. Ridiculous.
The so-called "Will of Fire" had long since become nothing more than a tool for Sarutobi Hiruzen to maintain control…
Inside the Hyuga residence, Hyuga Hiashi sat calmly at a low table, waiting for his guest.
"Clan Head, the Deputy Leader of the Uchiha Clan has arrived," Sayuki said, bowing. She served tea, then respectfully withdrew.
"I must admit," Hikaru said, "I didn't expect the Hyuga clan head to invite me so openly. Aren't you afraid of how the higher-ups in Konoha might react?"
Hiashi gave a bitter smile and replied with a hint of self-deprecation:
"The Uchiha still have the courage to resist the village leadership. But we Hyuga… we've already compromised."
Hikaru was a bit taken aback by the bluntness. It had been years since Hyuga Hizashi was forced to commit suicide by the Konoha leadership. Other than that, and the incident involving the Kumogakure delegation, there hadn't been any major threats to the Hyuga in recent years.
Was there more going on beneath the surface? Had Sarutobi and Danzo turned on Hiashi too?
Hiashi's next words confirmed Hikaru's suspicions.
"Just like how Danzo orchestrated the death of your clan member, Uchiha Shisui, by making it look like a suicide last month."
Ah. So that was it.
Hiashi was using this meeting to share information, to draw the Hyuga and Uchiha closer together. And Hikaru realized once again: Danzo was never one to play fair.
"It's true—Shisui's death is a tragic loss," Hikaru replied, his expression calm, voice composed. "But some things are best left unsaid, Clan Head."
He gave Hiashi a small smile, concealing his thoughts behind diplomacy.
Hiashi blinked, then nodded, understanding the message.
"There's no need for concern, Deputy Clan Leader. Our clan compound is protected by a shielding barrier. The Third Hokage's Telescope Jutsu can't see inside. Ironically, this barrier technique was only approved by the Sandaime shortly before my brother's death… supposedly to protect us."
As he spoke, Hiashi's composure cracked. He slammed his fist down on the coffee table, trembling with emotion. Pain and resentment flickered in his eyes as he recalled his brother dying in his place. He hated his helplessness, the weakness of his clan, and most of all—Sarutobi Hiruzen's failure as Hokage.
Looking at Hiashi now, Hikaru couldn't help but think of Shisui. Back then, he hadn't awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and didn't have the power to stand against the village leadership. Now, all he could do was look after his own.
Accepting this invitation tonight had already been part of his long-term plans. But thanks to Danzo's latest mistake, the timetable had accelerated.
Hiashi finally calmed himself and spoke again.
"Danzo came to our compound last night," he said, voice low and bitter. "He brought Root operatives with him—said he wanted to take my daughter Hinata for training. He even presented a warrant from the Third Hokage to back it up. The elders and I argued, and in the end… we gave them my brother's son, Neji."
Hiashi clenched his fists.
"I couldn't bear to let them take my daughter. I sacrificed my nephew instead. I've failed Hizashi…"
The grief overwhelmed him. He collapsed into his seat, tears streaming down his face, his voice thick with hatred and sorrow.
Hikaru studied Hiashi's broken expression in silence. Perhaps this, too, was the butterfly effect—caused by his own presence in Konoha. But it was Danzo's recklessness that was driving a wedge into the village's foundation—and that worked in Hikaru's favor.
"Uchiha Hikaru," Hiashi said, his voice hardening, "if your clan chooses to launch a coup, I will lead my clan and stand with you. This village has rotted. Corruption and greed infest the leadership. They're forcing us into rebellion!"
Hikaru was momentarily stunned.
My god… Hyuga Hiashi, you really mean business.
Danzo… you old bastard. You've truly outdone yourself. Even someone as upright as Hiashi has been pushed this far.