Chapter 30 – An Uncle
As expected of one of Konoha's top-tier great clans.
The moment Izaya brought Tenten and Hyūga Neji to the entrance of the Hyūga clan's residence, a vigorous aura instantly appeared before him. A half-open wooden door stood right in front, yet the aura leaking from it was intimidating. The plain white walls immediately made Izaya feel the deep-seated tradition within this clan…
"Is this the place?" Looking at the door before him, Izaya went straight up to Hyūga Neji and asked. However, Neji remained silent at this moment. He merely gave a slight nod and slowly walked into the Hyūga residence.
Watching the somewhat aloof Hyūga Neji ahead, a helpless, wry smile appeared on Izaya's face. Compared to Uchiha Sasuke, the current Hyūga Neji seemed more like a cold, edgy teenager…
"Big Brother Izaya, I don't like the atmosphere here…" Little Tenten, closely following Izaya's side, was extremely nervous. Tenten was usually exceptionally lively, but now she resembled a timid little kitten. Her face also showed clear discomfort…
"We'll leave soon." Seeing that Tenten wasn't suited to the Hyūga clan's atmosphere, Izaya immediately patted Tenten's small head to comfort her and said lightly, "We'll leave as soon as we send this little guy inside."
"Okay…" Tenten looked at Izaya, then at Hyūga Neji, who was already walking ahead, feeling somewhat displeased. She never expected a little boy would live in such a place. At the same time, she secretly vowed to look after him next time…
"Let's go." Simultaneously, as Hyūga Neji slowly pushed open the Hyūga clan's door, Izaya brought little Tenten and followed.
In truth, Izaya could have let Neji return on his own once they reached Konoha's main street. But… Izaya's real purpose wasn't just to bring Hyūga Neji home. Instead, he wanted to use this opportunity to make contact with the Hyūga clan's leadership…
"Who are you?!" Unfortunately, the very next second after Izaya followed Hyūga Neji inside, a majestic, middle-aged voice instantly sounded around them. This was followed by a sharp shout!
A tall, stern-faced uncle directly appeared before Izaya and the others. He first glanced unhappily at Hyūga Neji behind him, then focused his attention on Izaya and little Tenten.
"The little girl from the ninja tool shop…" After a moment's scrutiny, the middle-aged man first recognized little Tenten, who was standing behind Izaya, but he didn't recognize Izaya… He then walked up to Izaya and said in a calm tone, "This is the Hyūga clan's residence. Outsiders are not permitted to enter. Please leave."
After speaking, the middle-aged uncle directly blocked Izaya outside the door, simultaneously casting an unpleasant look at Hyūga Neji, who was now standing just inside the doorway.
"Uncle, we don't want to go in anyway." Just as Izaya was about to speak, Tenten suddenly rushed out. Waving her little hands, she said, "This place is so boring and deserted. And the uncle is so fierce. If it weren't for Big Brother Izaya sending him back, I wouldn't even follow…"
Izaya: "…"
Middle-aged Uncle: "…"
"Little girl, didn't anyone tell you the Hyūga clan doesn't allow outsiders here?" As Tenten finished speaking, a dark line seemed to form on the previously majestic middle-aged uncle's face. He continued, "Only members of the Hyūga clan may stay here. Today, I'll let it slide since you're just a bunch of kids. Otherwise, I would have taken action!"
"Big Brother Izaya, he wants to bully me!" The moment the middle-aged uncle spoke, Tenten immediately rushed behind Izaya and said in a wronged tone, "Big Brother Izaya, this uncle is really scary!"
"Uncle, we actually didn't mean any harm. We just met this lost little guy on the road and sent him back." Patting Tenten's head, Izaya explained their reason for being here to the middle-aged uncle.
In fact, Izaya had already guessed who this person was the moment the middle-aged uncle appeared. Around thirty or forty years old, no Caged Bird Seal on his forehead, wearing an off-white robe… and exuding an inexplicable aura… Other than the current head of the Hyūga clan—Hyūga Hiashi—it couldn't be anyone else.
"Neji, is what he said true?" As Izaya spoke, the expression on Hyūga Hiashi's face grew even more displeased. He directly questioned Neji behind him.
At this moment, Neji didn't know how to explain. After a moment's hesitation, he simply nodded…
"Hmph, useless!" As Neji admitted to the incident, a flash of anger crossed Hyūga Hiashi's face. However, because Izaya and Tenten were still present, he didn't immediately lose his temper. Instead, after temporarily suppressing the anger in his heart, Hyūga Hiashi spoke faintly to Izaya, "Since Neji has returned home, let this matter end here."
After speaking, Hyūga Hiashi immediately turned to leave. But how could Izaya let Hyūga Hiashi leave just like that!
As the most rigid character among Konoha's clans—or even in the entire original Naruto story—Izaya could naturally guess what Hyūga Hiashi was thinking. It was nothing more than feeling that Hyūga Neji getting lost had embarrassed the Hyūga clan. He wanted to drive Izaya and Tenten away before disciplining Neji…
But Izaya wasn't here just for that matter. In other words, in this affair, Neji was merely a tool, a stepping stone… (I can't help but shout here: Neji, you really have it rough!)
In truth, Izaya hadn't initially intended to do this. But… there was no other way. Aside from this opportunity, Izaya truly couldn't think of any other way to make contact with the Hyūga clan's leadership…
So how could Izaya let Hyūga Hiashi leave just like that?
"Uncle, wait a moment." The moment Hyūga Hiashi turned around, Izaya spoke.
"What business could a kid like you have with me?" Hyūga Hiashi stopped and looked back, his expression unreadable.
"Dare I ask, Uncle, have you heard of the Uchiha clan…" Although Hyūga Hiashi didn't appear much in the original story and didn't leave a very sharp impression, someone who could become the head of a clan… surely possessed a certain degree of wisdom…
Therefore, Izaya didn't beat around the bush. He went straight to the point, first testing Hyūga Hiashi's attitude towards the Uchiha clan…
"You, kid…" Hearing Izaya unexpectedly mention the Uchiha clan, an inexplicable smile appeared on Hyūga Hiashi's face. He then said slowly, "Interesting…"