The moment Uchiha Makoto stepped into the Hyuga compound, he felt a pressure that could only be called suffocating.
The Hyuga clan's rules were severe.
Even on a grand day like the New Year, the compound was quiet. Unlike other Konoha clans whose grounds rang with laughter and noise, the Hyuga felt like a cage imprisoning birds who longed for freedom, where even singing freely was a luxury.
The Branch House members sweeping snow at the gate quickly noticed Uchiha Makoto's party. The elders said nothing. The iconic Uchiha fan on their robes already declared their identity—they were honored guests.
Mechanical, respectful greetings followed one after another.
Makoto noticed the gaze of a girl among those greeters.
She was small, quite young.
Her eyes weren't as numb as the others'. She looked newly branded with the Caged Bird mark, and in those white eyes fixed on Makoto's group there flickered a longing. Two clans both bearing powerful eye arts, yet the way they treated their own could not have been more different.
She quickly lowered her eyes, because Makoto, out of curiosity, had stared directly at the green pattern on her brow. It was rude.
The little episode ended quickly.
Before long,
a Branch House member led the group to the Hyuga reception hall.
"Honored guests, please wait a moment. The clan head will be here shortly."
After a brief wait,
a white-robed Hyuga clan head appeared—Hyuga Shinkyō.
"Elders of the Uchiha, this sudden visit... I fear we have failed to greet you properly."
"Lord Light Shadow, you as well... you truly grace our humble hall."
There was no doubt.
Hyuga Shinkyō knew the weight of those before him—a Light Shadow from Akatsuki Village, a heavy hitter from outside; and the Uchiha elders who ran daily clan affairs, local power-brokers within Konoha.
All coming together at this moment could not simply be New Year's calls.
So the ever-diplomatic Hyuga leader chose to lower his posture from the start.
Especially before Uchiha Makoto.
Hyuga Shinkyō even avoided meeting Makoto's eyes a bit too deliberately.
There was a history between them.
The classic tale of fortunes turning, never belittle the poor youth.
When Makoto had swindled the feudal lord for seed capital and was founding Akatsuki Village, he had repeatedly invited the Hyuga to join.
The Hyuga even sent a Main House representative to meet Makoto in Akatsuki Village.
Although Makoto packaged the village attractively enough to catch the Hyuga's eye, back then Akatsuki was just an empty shell, not much different from a fly-by-night pyramid scheme.
The Hyuga were an old noble house, not some obscure small family. A fallen Uchiha who had left his clan under unclear circumstances, trying to woo the Hyuga to join Akatsuki, was a toad lusting after a swan.
Naturally, the Hyuga flatly refused.
Makoto was not reconciled. He kept writing letters, like a penniless boy confessing to a rich beauty again and again, begging for one chance, a chance to prove himself.
But the humble youth found no pity. In the end the Hyuga didn't even reply.
Now,
Makoto's Light Shadow ceremonial robe drew every eye.
He was no longer the boy with nothing. He was the Light Shadow who had built Akatsuki into strength.
He returned to the Hyuga like a king.
The Kaguya clan head, Kaguya Masao, had come to Konoha with Makoto as part of the delegation. Since the Kaguya and Hyuga were close, he had already met Hyuga Shinkyō privately the night before with Makoto's mandate.
This was both to cultivate ties between Akatsuki and the Hyuga and to soothe that old sting in Makoto's heart. You all looked down on me, did you? I hold grudges. That little notebook I kept wasn't for nothing.
"I have my principles. A favor may go unreturned, but a slight must be repaid. I'll win back some pride. If I must prove I'm exceptional, then I'll also take back what I lost."
The best revenge on the Hyuga would be to make them regret.
Carrying Makoto's instructions, the Kaguya leader talked up his clan's standing in Akatsuki.
Makoto might be born Uchiha, but he had parted from the clan; and the Uchiha were all in Konoha. In Akatsuki, the Kaguya's position was comparable to the Senju or Uchiha—compete for first, secure second.
Makoto's financial backing of the Kaguya made Hyuga Shinkyō maintain a strained smile while weeping inside.
What does it mean to have so much funding you can't spend it all?
What does it mean that being a ninja is far too slow a way to make money?
It means you must go invest with Lord Light Shadow to make real profits.
Facing Hyuga Shinkyō's present goodwill,
Makoto only smiled and said slowly, "Clan Head Hyuga, you're too polite. Akatsuki and the Hyuga share quite a fate, after all. Only, fate without union. A pity."
"I hear the Kaguya are close with the Hyuga... they joined Akatsuki back then. They're doing rather well now."
Hyuga Shinkyō laughed awkwardly. He understood exactly what Makoto meant between the lines.
Makoto was saying the Hyuga had no eye for talent.
Regret stirred in Hyuga Shinkyō's heart.
Who could have known Makoto would truly build Akatsuki into power?
The Hyuga's standing in Konoha versus what it could have been in Akatsuki—worlds apart.
Had the Hyuga seized the chance to join Akatsuki then, their position would hardly be beneath the Kaguya's. They could have competed for first, secured second, even had a chance to produce a Kage. In Konoha, before the overwhelming Senju and Uchiha, the Hyuga had no such chance.
And the delicious funding...
Though Kaguya Masao hadn't shared exact figures—village secrets—his smug face said enough. You can't even spend it all.
"It was indeed the Hyuga who slighted Lord Light Shadow back then."
"Come now, Clan Head. I hold no grudge over that. We all had our difficulties."
Makoto's lips curled into a smile, and he even hummed softly.
Since the Hyuga had bowed their heads, he would offer a step down. There was no need to keep teasing Hyuga Shinkyō.
There would be plenty of opportunities to work together.
The Uchiha elders at his side hadn't known at first, but from their exchange they pieced things together.
Their feelings were similar. They too hadn't believed in Makoto back then. Fortunately, no matter what, Makoto was Uchiha.
Bones may break, but the sinew still binds.
After rounds of pleasantries
both sides put past unpleasantness aside.
Hosts and guests were all smiles, joy filled the room.
Seeing the mood was right, the Hyuga leader asked the purpose of their visit.
"Clan Head Hyuga, the Uchiha are about to form the Konoha Military Police. The Uchiha hope the Hyuga will lend support and assign some of your people to the Police."
"All for Konoha."
"For the Will of Fire."
Makoto spoke before the Uchiha elders could, every bit the Uchiha spokesman. Yet as the Light Shadow of Akatsuki, he declared with upright fervor, "It's all for Konoha," "for the Will of Fire."
From start to finish, it struck Hyuga Shinkyō as deeply, absurdly strange.
But for the Hyuga this was a boon regardless. The Police's functions were vast, its power great. If the Uchiha were willing to share that power with the Hyuga, all the better.
The Uchiha elders kept silent and let Makoto perform. It was for the Uchiha after all.
And Makoto had put up real money behind them.
"Thank you for the Uchiha's trust. Thank you for Lord... ahem... Light Shadow's confidence. The Hyuga will not shirk."
Hyuga Shinkyō raised his teacup and downed it like wine.
Makoto was not fussy. He took a cup and drained it as well, and the elders followed suit.
After several rounds of tea,
the group relaxed. With the partnership agreed, both sides discussed details.
Not just anyone could join the Police. The Hyuga would have to assign strong members.
The freeloaders were not wanted.
And the Police had ranks.
The Minister would certainly be Uchiha Madara, but merely as a figurehead. Real power rested with the captains and sub-captains.
These were matters to negotiate well.
"Lord Light Shadow, let me put it this way. If the Police fancy any particular Hyuga, whoever you want, the Hyuga will provide."
"Now that's more like it. That's a good Konoha clan head."
"But... Lord Light Shadow, I would like to recommend a Main House member... for, say... sub-captain."
"Sub-captain?"
"A captain."
"Lord Light Shadow, are you giving me a surprise today?"
Hyuga Shinkyō stood and tossed back another cup.
There were only three captain posts in all. In Hyuga Shinkyō's mind, the Police encompassed independent force, finances, personnel... power so great the Uchiha could build a new Konoha within Konoha.
And this was the first cooperation between Uchiha and Hyuga.
He hadn't expected the Uchiha to give the Hyuga a seat.
But Makoto had already coordinated with the Uchiha elders to pull the Hyuga in against the ascendant Senju Tobirama. The Uchiha still dominated the Police and weren't afraid of Hyuga ambitions. A single captain seat was nothing.
And small favors alone would never buy the Hyuga.
"Come now, Clan Head. In Konoha, you a shinobi, I a Hokage—titles differ, but aren't we both serving Konoha?"
"No need for such fuss."
"If Senju Tobirama heard this, he'd think I was using the chance to build an Akatsuki clique in Konoha."
Makoto's face was solemn.
"It was my thinking that was shallow. This is all for Konoha, for the Will of Fire."
"Exactly. Konoha cultivates, individual merit shines."
"Lord Light Shadow speaks with depth. It's all for Konoha, for the Will of Fire."
Hyuga Shinkyō knew exactly what Makoto was doing.
Perhaps there had been no Akatsuki clique in Konoha before. Now... in theory none, but objectively it exists.
The Hyuga did not mind.
Senju Tobirama might be the long-reigning shadow Hokage with towering power in Konoha, but he was still not the Hokage. If the Uchiha sought the Second Hokage's seat with Akatsuki's external backing, who could say the outcome? The Hyuga could navigate and profit.
After the Police matters were settled,
Makoto raised the Study-Abroad Ninja Project.
"Clan Head Hyuga, to strengthen the alliance among Akatsuki, Konoha, and Whirlpool Village, I have already arranged with the Uchiha and the Uzumaki to create a Study-Abroad Ninja Project. I sincerely hope the Hyuga will participate and send clan youths to study in Akatsuki Village."
"I hope for Main House members."
Hyuga Shinkyō's first instinct was to refuse.
Even the Uchiha elders saw Makoto's aim—to expand Akatsuki's influence in Konoha—so of course Hyuga Shinkyō saw it too.
And
Makoto wanted Main House members.
That touched the White Eye bloodline.
To protect it, the Hyuga had devised the grotesque Caged Bird curse seal and were ruthless even to their own.
Sending Main House members to Akatsuki—while Akatsuki coveting the White Eye was unlikely,
what if?
But Makoto's groundwork had done its work.
Hyuga Shinkyō did not refuse at once.
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