The cheers from the daytime had long since faded. Only a few scattered lights still swayed in the wind along the streets.
A black shadow moved like a fish between rooftops, agile and soundless. If not for the Kumogakure forehead protector on his head, it would've been hard to imagine he came from that village known for its domineering style.
He tapped a toe lightly on the tiles, slipped into Hyuga Hiashi's estate, and crouched outside the window of Hinata's room.
Then he took out a specially made thin iron pick, slid it into the gap along the window frame, and gently pried.
Click.
The latch popped open. He held his breath, pushed the window, and slipped inside.
A faint lavender scent filled the room. Several scrolls lay on the desk, but the bed was empty—cold and neatly made, the blankets arranged perfectly.
She's not here?!
His heart hammered, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly checked the wardrobe, under the bed… nothing. No sign of the girl anywhere.
Damn it. Did the intelligence leak? Or was she just not in her room tonight?
He ground his teeth, weighing his options at lightning speed. Plan A had failed. If he withdrew now, this infiltration would be meaningless.
So he could only execute Plan B!
A flash of resolve passed through his eyes. If he couldn't seize the target, he would bring the Byakugan to Kumogakure another way.
From his chest he drew a pill—Kumogakure's specially developed poison. Once taken, it would kill without leaving any detectable toxic residue in an autopsy. Combined with the traces he would stage on his own body, anyone who found his corpse would believe he had been killed by Gentle Fist.
He quietly withdrew from Hinata's room, moved along the corridor toward the main building, and arrived outside Hyuga Hiashi's quarters.
Sitting down cross-legged, he looked up at the sky, the pill pinched between his fingers.
For Kumogakure's glory… for the Raikage's plan… my sacrifice is worth it.
With a swallow, the pill slid down his throat, and bitterness flooded his mouth at once.
His body began to spasm. Pain surged like a tide, but he clamped down hard, refusing to make a sound. His vision blurred. Breathing became harder and harder.
At last, he slumped against the wall, maintaining a posture as if he had been "struck down."
"Raikage-sama… my mission… is complete…"
…
Meanwhile, the "missing" Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hinata were inside Tsunade's estate.
That afternoon, Tsunade had suddenly announced she would take a student and hold a formal apprenticeship banquet. She had even sent a special invitation to Hiashi himself. The meaning couldn't have been clearer.
Tsunade was backing Hyuga Kiyonari.
She was telling the Hyuga clan head—and the other main family elders—that Kiyonari was hers.
From this day onward, Hyuga Kiyonari's status would change dramatically. Generally speaking, the main family wouldn't want to see that.
But out of personal interest, Hiashi welcomed it. No matter what, he didn't want Hinata to marry an ordinary branch family member. If she did, then after she became clan head, she would inevitably be restrained by the other main-family elders.
When Uchiha Fugaku arrived with Uchiha Itachi, it caused quite a stir. The Uchiha rarely attended gatherings like this, and they were being pushed to the margins of Konoha these days.
Were they here to use Tsunade's influence to break the deadlock?
People couldn't help thinking so.
"Clan Head Fugaku, welcome," Tsunade greeted.
Even she felt a little surprised. She was a Senju, and this had once been Senju clan land. She hadn't expected the Uchiha to show up uninvited one day. It seemed they really were having a hard time.
"Tsunade-sama, congratulations on taking an outstanding student," Fugaku replied politely, then had Itachi present the gift they'd brought.
There weren't many guests inside the estate. In all of Konoha, only a handful of people were truly worthy of an invitation from Tsunade. The rest had simply caught wind of it and come on their own.
After presenting their congratulatory gift, Fugaku and Itachi didn't step forward to exchange pleasantries like the other guests. They found a quiet corner and sat down instead.
They didn't welcome the Uchiha—and the Uchiha hardly welcomed them either.
Fugaku calmly poured himself a cup of tea, showing no discomfort at the cold looks around him. His gaze passed over the courtyard and settled on Tsunade.
"Itachi," Fugaku spoke softly, keeping his voice low so only the two of them could hear. "Look. That's the true 'main character' of this banquet."
"I know him—Hyuga Kiyonari. He'll definitely become an excellent ninja."
"No," Fugaku said. "I don't mean him. I mean Tsunade."
Itachi paused, slightly taken aback.
Fugaku continued, "I don't know why that child caught Tsunade's eye, but compared to Tsunade, he isn't qualified to be the 'main character' yet."
"Even if the child is talented, he's still only branch family—his ceiling is locked. Tsunade is making such a big show of this apprenticeship banquet, even inviting the heads of the great clans. On the surface it looks like she's backing her student… but in truth?"
Itachi was silent for a moment, then answered, "I don't know."
"Think about who she is," Fugaku's voice carried a hint of wistfulness. "Princess Tsunade—one of the Three Sannin, the First Hokage's own granddaughter. If she hadn't disagreed with the Third and left the village, the Fourth Hokage wouldn't have been Namikaze Minato."
"I once thought she'd never return. But now she's back—and she even took a student. What that implies… heh."
Itachi understood. "She wants to become the Fifth Hokage?"
"In all of Konoha, no one is more suitable to become the Fifth Hokage than she is." Fugaku let out a long sigh.
Once upon a time, Konoha had been so glorious—back then, Hokage candidates were truly one in a hundred.
"Then what is the Third Hokage's stance?" Itachi asked suddenly.
Fugaku shook his head. He didn't know. Then he gestured toward the others in the hall. "Look at them… Ino–Shika–Cho, the Hyuga, and the other clan heads. Their purpose is the same as ours."
"No one knows what the Third is thinking. No one knows what Tsunade is thinking. But one thing is beyond doubt—the Third is old. And ever since the Fourth died, he only returned to the seat as an 'acting Hokage.'"
"No one dares to say Tsunade will definitely become Hokage. But no one dares to bet that she definitely won't. As long as she stays in Konoha, everyone has to give her face."
Just then, a commotion suddenly rose from outside the hall. The two of them looked over.
It was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He wore plain everyday clothes, a pipe tucked at his waist, hands clasped behind his back—like an old man paying a casual visit.
And his presence made the guests at the banquet feel instantly reassured, as if they'd just swallowed a calming pill.
~~~
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