"Orochimaru-sama, what do you think about this matter?"
Hyuga Hizashi kept a straight face, looking at Orochimaru with hope, as if he wanted Orochimaru to say no.
He couldn't resist the main family, but those people were just a bunch of scared birds in front of Orochimaru.
If that wasn't the case, why would he, a branch family member, be sent to ask Orochimaru about such an important matter? They were afraid of losing the family's face and wanted to test the waters first.
"Heh..."
Orochimaru played with the teacup, glancing at Hyuga Hizashi, "Whether or not I agree to this matter, what do you think?"
After talking in circles, the problem was kicked back to him.
Hyuga Hizashi watched the teacup spinning in Orochimaru's hand, following it with his eyes, his expression changing.
Of course, he didn't want Orochimaru to agree, but could he say that directly?
If he did, it wouldn't just be a matter of not handling things well, but openly going against the main family.
He would be blamed, suppressed, and punished... Not to mention himself, Neji would have no place in the family either.
Hyuga Hizashi raised his head, about to say something against his will, but he was startled by Orochimaru's playful gaze.
If Neji followed Orochimaru, would he not be excluded by the family for being a branch family member without the 'Caged Bird' curse mark? It would just be sooner or later. What was he hesitating about now? Was he afraid that Neji didn't have the talent?
Hyuga Hizashi denied it in his heart. Although Neji was only two years old, his bones and posture were very pleasing to him.
Even if he didn't look at it from a father's point of view, he had to admit that he was an excellent ninja in the making, and he would definitely gain Orochimaru's approval.
If Neji could become Orochimaru's student, he could get rid of the branch family's restrictions. What was he afraid of? Was he afraid of Orochimaru going back on his word, or afraid of the main family's blame?
Hyuga Hizashi gritted his teeth, following his heart, and said, "Orochimaru-sama, I think..."
"Oh, no need to say anymore, I understand."
Orochimaru put the empty teacup down on the table with a 'clack', smiling,
"I agree to this matter, just to give you face, to meet the Hyuga clan's leader."
"This, I... Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."
Hyuga Hizashi was stunned for a moment, then raised his hand, belatedly making a show of gratitude, his eyes clearly dimming a bit.
Orochimaru shook his head slightly at Hyuga Hizashi's performance.
As the leader of the Hyuga branch family, his emotions were obvious, and his expressions were so exposed, it was really unprofessional.
However, he couldn't be completely blamed. When playing chess with a bad player, one's skills would naturally become worse.
After a pause, Orochimaru spoke again, "Please invite Chief Hiashi over. I want to talk to him about this matter in person."
"Yes," Hyuga Hizashi replied stiffly.
Soon, not long after, Hyuga Hiashi arrived. Besides the fact that this was in the Hyuga clan's territory, it was also because he was waiting not far away.
Also coming with him were Neji and Hinata. The two children were holding hands, one with a calm face, the other timid, following Hyuga Hiashi, giving a not-so-standard hand salute.
Orochimaru smiled, extending his arm in a 'please' gesture, acting like the host even though he was at Hizashi's house.
Hiashi didn't feel anything was wrong. After sitting down, a trace of eagerness appeared on his serious face, "Orochimaru-sama, do you find these two children pleasing to the eye?"
Logically speaking, Neji and Hinata were too young. The older one was only two years old. Unless they really had extraordinary talent, it wouldn't be easy to see it.
But this matter was truly unavoidable.
As the two major eye technique families of Konoha, the Uchiha Clan had recently shown an energetic spirit that was truly frightening.
Almost every member of the clan was working hard to improve themselves, wanting to replicate the legend of the 'Blood Wheel Eye'.
Hyuga Hiashi and the main family elders were originally not worried, but the more they learned about this Uchiha Jinsuke, the more secretly alarmed they became.
The Byakugan might be comparable to the Sharingan, but compared to the Uchiha's new bloodline eye technique, it was clearly a level lower.
And this point, with Uchiha Jinsuke's activity, was being recognized by more and more people.
Of course, the Hyuga clan wasn't hoping that Orochimaru would use that forbidden surgery to develop a new bloodline for the Hyuga's Byakugan. If that were the case, it wouldn't be two children who came, but other main family members.
What the main family wanted was just for their reputation not to fall. Although this was empty, it was actually the most useful thing for them.
Orochimaru's disciple, this clearly met their requirements.
"Heh..."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly, looking up and down at the two children.
Under this somewhat dangerous scrutiny, Neji's little face turned pale, and he struggled not to back down, while Hinata was so frightened that she closed her eyes, clutching Neji's sleeve tightly.
Hiashi frowned slightly, very dissatisfied with Hinata's performance. Seeing Orochimaru shake his head, his frown deepened even more.
Orochimaru looked away, and the two children almost fell to the ground at the same time, covered in sweat, and were taken out by Hizashi.
"Neji is alright, but Hinata... she's too young."
Orochimaru then spoke, looking at Hiashi with a playful tone,
"However, I'm sure Chief Hiashi doesn't want me to teach her anything, after all, I don't know any Gentle Fist, and my specialty isn't body techniques."
"Let's be direct, I can take her as a student, what is Chief Hiashi planning to give in return?"
Exposed for what he was thinking, Hyuga Hiashi wasn't embarrassed. He looked serious,
"I heard Hizashi say that he wants to pay a student acceptance gift for Neji..."
"Heh... Chief Hiashi, don't misunderstand. The thirty-five million Ryo is true, but..."
Orochimaru smiled, "Hizashi really intends for me to train his son, but you want to take advantage of me."
"Orochimaru-sama, don't misunderstand. My Hyuga clan definitely doesn't mean that, and won't mess around."
After explaining anxiously, Hiashi hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Also, the money for Hinata can be increased."
Was it a matter of money?
Orochimaru's eyes were like lightning, he sneered twice, and suddenly thought of something, his expression becoming playful again,
"There's no need to increase the student gift. It can be the same as Neji's, as long as you agree to one condition."
"Whatever condition, Orochimaru-sama, just say it."
Hyuga Hiashi agreed readily, but he soon realized that something was wrong. Orochimaru was staring straight at her, or rather, staring straight at his eyes.
The Byakugan.
Hyuga Hiashi's heart tightened, and the voice he heard was indeed what he had expected.
"It's just a small request."
Orochimaru licked his lips, "Sharingan, Blood Wheel Eye, I've tried them all. Now I want to experience the feeling of the Byakugan."
"I wonder what Chief Hiashi thinks?"
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