In the eyes of most ninjas, the head of the Hyuga clan is often seen as a stern, unsmiling figure, and his demeanor is regarded as stubborn and unyielding. Among the heads of the many clans, he is often considered an anomaly. Even when he learned of his younger brother's death on the battlefield, there was no visible reaction on his face.
Therefore, when the Hyuga clan head's face appeared unusually grim, many ninjas couldn't help but gossip about it, discussing the matter during casual gatherings or while relaxing in their spare time.
Ordinary ninjas did not know the full story, but recently, the Anbu black ops had been surprised to discover that many members of the Hyuga clan had joined their ranks. Each of these Hyuga clan members possessed at least the strength of a Special Jonin.
In addition to the Anbu, Danzo's Root division also gained a number of Hyuga ninjas.
However, compared to the elite Hyuga who entered the Anbu, the Hyuga joining Danzo's Root were far less skilled, most having only the strength of a Chunin.
Although Danzo was somewhat displeased by this outcome, the Byakugan's primary utility was for reconnaissance. Thus, he reluctantly accepted the situation.
The Hyuga clan's cooperation with both the Anbu and Root divisions remained a secret, known only to the ninjas within those two departments. Very few outside of those circles were aware of it, and thus it did not make waves in the broader ninja community.
However, another matter was already well-known throughout Konoha, and even Kawaki Aoba, who was currently recuperating and training in peace, had heard of it.
Inside the barbecue restaurant owned by the Akimichi clan, Kawaki Aoba and Yuhi Kurenai sat enjoying a leisurely meal of grilled meat.
It should be clarified that this was not a heartwarming moment for two; rather, it was a well-deserved break after intense training.
The two had just completed a rigorous morning training session, and after expending a considerable amount of energy, they had come here to refuel.
Though the Akimichi family's barbecue was expensive, Kawaki Qingyu, as an orphan, received a bereaved family allowance from the village every year until his graduation. Combined with his parents' savings, he could afford the occasional luxury meal.
As for Yuhi Kurenai, who had a Jonin father with an overwhelming affection for his daughter, there was no need for further explanation.
Moreover, it was worth noting that the barbecue had been paid for by Yuhi Kurenai.
"Aoba, I didn't expect you to be quite suitable for cultivating sensory ninjutsu. You've already recovered your perception of the outside world so quickly. My father said that even if you rely solely on your sensory abilities, you could be promoted to Chunin, and in the future, you might become a Special Jonin specializing in sensing."
While it appeared to be a casual comment, Yuhi Kurenai was subtly trying to reassure Kawaki Aoba, suggesting that his future still held potential.
Kawaki Aoba, however, was not so fragile as to need comforting words from a girl. Nevertheless, he understood her intent, so he responded appropriately. He had long noticed that he was being targeted—more specifically, by the Hyuga clan. Whenever he walked through the streets, his encounters with members of the clan were marked by heightened scrutiny, and the gazes directed at him often carried various emotions that made him feel deeply uncomfortable.
He popped a piece of grilled meat into his mouth, dipped in sauce, chewed thoughtfully, and swallowed. After a moment, he shook his head. "I do have some talent in sensory ninjutsu, but sensory techniques primarily focus on detecting chakra fluctuations from other ninjas. In daily life, it's not very useful. As for me, I am simply adapting to the darkness and using my other senses to perceive the world around me."
Though his words hinted at some sadness, Yuhi Kurenai felt that something was amiss. It reminded her of when Aoba had created Seal-less Ninjutsu just before graduation. His understated tone felt strangely similar.
At that moment, a low conversation from the table next to theirs reached their ears.
"You've heard about it, right? Lingzi seems to be getting the Caged Bird Seal branded onto her by the Hyuga clan."
"Caged Bird Seal? What's that?"
"I asked Lingzi about it before. She said it's a sealing technique used by the Hyuga Main House to control the Branch Family. It's a matter for the higher-ups, really."
"But Lingzi doesn't have a surname, does she? And she's not a ninja."
"Even though Lingzi doesn't have a surname, her mother is from the Hyuga clan. So, she's going to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal. It's said that she'll also be trained to become a ninja. If she succeeds, she'll get the Hyuga surname."
"What? Lingzi has the chance to join the prestigious Hyuga clan? That's incredible!"
"Yeah, if she can really become a ninja, next time we meet, do we call her Miss Lingzi or Lady Lingzi?"
The two girls at the neighboring table were whispering excitedly. But with the sharp hearing of ninjas, Kawaki Aoba and Yuhi Kurenai could overhear the conversation clearly.
As they listened, they both felt that something was wrong. Why were these two girls chatting with such envy?
Kawaki Aoba, using his keen Observation Haki, not only detected envy but also noticed a hint of jealousy in their voices.
While these commoners did not know the darker side of the ninja world or the Hyuga clan's dirty deeds, to them, being able to join the Hyuga clan or become a ninja was seen as a great achievement.
In their eyes, receiving the Caged Bird Seal as part of the Hyuga family was a sign of privilege. But for those who truly understood the Hyuga clan's inner workings, this was a tragic mark of control and oppression.
At that moment, Kawaki Aoba thought of a phrase: "What's wrong with being a dog? So many people want to be one, but they don't have the connections."
In addition to the two girls, Kawaki Aoba overheard many others discussing the same topic, with feelings of envy, jealousy, and admiration dominating the conversations.
The Hyuga clan's influence was palpable. Their methods were so effective that even the Uchiha clan couldn't compare, no matter how hard they tried to ingratiate themselves.
It was clear that there must be some cooperation from Konoha's higher-ups. The wind was clearly blowing in the Hyuga clan's favor, but why?
Kawaki Aoba couldn't help but wonder what benefits the Hyuga clan had offered to curry favor from those in power.
---
Crisis Approaches
That evening, after finishing their illusion training, Yuhi Kurenai happily returned home, having safely escorted Kawaki Aoba to his house.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Asuma, the son of the Third Hokage, had his own home tutor—an elite Jonin from the Sarutobi clan who was skilled in teaching. Though Asuma had been reluctant to follow his tutor in the past, since Kawaki Aoba had gouged out his eyes, Asuma had grown more serious about his training. He now worked diligently alongside his tutor.
Yuhi Kurenai, who had been personally guided by Yuhi Shinko in the past, was used to receiving individual instruction. But lately, Yuhi Shinko had been absent, busy with unknown matters.
Kawaki Aoba, on the other hand, practiced alone. Despite his recent disability, he still continued training on his own.
Yuhi Shinko, though, had not given up on him. If anything, he valued Kawaki Aoba more than ever. After all, if Kawaki Aoba hadn't shown such incredible ninja talent, Yuhi Shinko would have long since taught him advanced techniques.
Recently, Yuhi Shinko had gone to great lengths to find training materials on sensory ninjutsu, which he had passed on to Kawaki Aoba.
While Yuhi Shinko's relationship with Kawaki Qingyu was one of genuine mentorship, his thoughts about his daughter, Yuhi Kurenai, and her growing feelings for Kawaki Aoba caused him some frustration.
"Father, I'm home," Yuhi Kurenai said, entering the house and seeing her father sitting cross-legged at the low table, reading something.
Without disturbing him, she quietly slipped into the kitchen, trying to be considerate.
What she didn't know was that her father, Yuhi Shinko, was studying something related to Kawaki Aoba, the boy she had been thinking about for days.
---
The Hidden Truth
Genin Miyamura Ayano had recently excelled in her missions, and due to her performance, she had been promoted to Chunin. The Hokage granted her the right to accept independent missions and gave her access to A-rank and B-rank ninjutsu training.
Miyamura Ayano was the one who had reported Kawaki Aoba possession of the Byakugan to the Hyuga clan.
Thus, the series of events—from Kawaki Aoba gouging out his Byakugan, causing the Hyuga clan to lose face, to their subsequent compromise with the Hokage to send ninjas to Root and Anbu—had all been set into motion by this one small Genin.
Although she had been promoted, Yuhi Shinko knew that Miyamura Ayano's life was now on a countdown.
As for Kawaki Aoba, his time was also running out.
In the past few days, besides running around trying to find a solution, Yuhi Shinku had also been contacted by the Hyuga clan's ninjas.
The Hyuga clan's intention was clear: they wanted him to abandon his disciple, Kawaki Aoba. The solution they proposed was simple: either Yuhi, as a Jonin, would approach the Hokage and request that Kawaki's ninja career be terminated, or he would help Kawaki apply for special approval to become a Chunin, much like Miyamura Ayano.
Yuhi Shinku wasn't from a large clan and didn't want to risk offending a millennia-old, powerful family like the Hyuga. He knew deep down that handing over Kawaki Aoba would be the most pragmatic choice—this would not only earn the Hyuga clan's favor but also bring significant benefits to him.
But then again, how could he make such a decision with a daughter like Yuhi Kurenai?
The two had been on the same team for a year, spending day and night together. Even someone as dense as Yuhi Shinku could see that his daughter had feelings for that kid.
So, despite the Hyuga clan's power, Yuhi, as a father, couldn't just give in.
In the end, it was a bargain for Kawaki Aoba—no, it was a gamble.
Yuhi Shinku wasn't blind, though. He still saw a glimmer of hope.
Sarutobi Asuma!
That's right, the hope Yuhi Shinku had pinned on was Asuma.
While Asuma's involvement in the matter was minimal, his special identity gave him leverage. As the Hokage's son, as long as Asuma hadn't left his team, the Hyuga clan wouldn't take immediate action. That meant the Hokage hadn't fully given up on Kawaki yet.
Of course, "not giving up" could also be interpreted as being on the verge of abandonment.
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had just received a significant benefit from the Hyuga clan. It was unlikely that he would take any direct steps to protect Kawaki Aoba.
Therefore, Yuhi Shinku had to find an opportunity himself. As for where this opportunity would come from, well, he didn't know.
But not having a solution didn't mean resigning to defeat. So, Yuhi Shinku decided to stall—stall until he either found a way or until Kawaki had the strength to stand on his own.
This method might seem foolish, but it was the only one Yuhi Shinku could think of.
As for how to stall? Well, he'd look at long-term missions.
Yuhi Shinku had already applied to the Hokage for a long-term mission away from the village. The Hokage hadn't rejected it, but he also hadn't agreed to it yet.
So, now, Yuhi Shinku waited.
---
At the Third Hokage's residence, Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to the report from one of the clan members and couldn't help but smile with gratification.
"Is that so? It seems Asuma has really matured this time." He had never expected that Kawaki Aoba, of all people, could influence Asuma so much. This was a pleasant surprise.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Asuma-sama has been practicing incredibly hard these past few days. In terms of ninjutsu alone, he's already on par with a regular Chunin. If he continues at this rate, he's bound to become an amazing ninja." The tutor Sarutobi Hiruzen had assigned to Asuma replied respectfully.
What father wouldn't be proud of such praise for their child? Sarutobi Hiruzen was no exception, even if there was some flattery involved.
"You should go and rest. You've worked hard these past few days." Sarutobi Hiruzen dismissed Asuma's tutor, then looked out the window thoughtfully. He turned to an empty room and asked, "And what about Kawaki Aoba? What's he been up to lately?"
As soon as the question was asked, an Anbu wearing a mask appeared from the shadows. "Reporting to Hokage-sama, that Genin Kawaki Aoba is exceptionally talented in sensory ninjutsu. His ability to perceive his surroundings has far exceeded that of others who've lost their sight. After several days of observation, we've found that he has adapted to the darkness and it doesn't seem to affect his daily life. He's resumed his training, and judging by his sparring with his teammates, he doesn't seem like a ninja who has lost his sight."
"Is that so?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said thoughtfully. "Even losing his sight can't hide the brilliance of his talent. This adaptability, his potential—it would be a shame if it were lost."
The Third Hokage turned away from the window as if a decision had been made. "Go, inform Yuhi Shinku to report to the mission hall early tomorrow morning. Perhaps he will find a suitable mission."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." The Anbu nodded and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.
After the Anbu left, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned back to the pile of mission reports in front of him. While he had already made the decision to try to protect Kawaki, he couldn't just let Yuhi Shinku's team leave the village. That would be a waste of ninja resources, and Asuma needed to continue training as well. Besides strength, experience from missions was equally important for a ninja.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sifted through the reports, weighing his options. A large-scale mission escorting a caravan to the Land of Lightning? No, the Lightning Country's people were unpredictable, and it would be risky to send Asuma there.
Wiping out spies within the Land of Fire? The spies had already been largely dealt with, and the mission was too short-term. Not suitable.
Investigating a mysterious organization in the Land of Rain? Hanzo's territory was too dangerous at the moment.
Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen found something interesting: a mission to infiltrate the Land of Wind to meet spies returning from the Sand Village.
Ah, that's right—the situation in the Sand Village had been strange recently, so he had arranged for spies to gather intelligence from within. This could be a useful mission.
With his decision made, Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to act on it.