"Kiyo, shall we go have a drink?"
At the sound of that seemingly gentle yet secretly sly voice, Kiyo Hyuga shivered instinctively.
Since she rarely activated her Byakugan within Konoha, she could hardly ever sense when Kurenai Yuhi appeared behind her. It wasn't that her vigilance had dulled, but rather that Kurenai excelled at concealing herself.
Kiyo turned and frowned slightly at Kurenai's fitted outfit and distracting curves. Her face darkened as she refused, "I just finished dealing with Police Force matters today, so I'm a bit tired."
"That's exactly why you should relax with a drink. Besides, I have something to ask you." Kurenai dismissed her excuse entirely. If she gave in every time, Kiyo would never join her.
Why hadn't reform softened that stiff personality even a little?
Kurenai swiftly looped her arm through Kiyo's, pressing her into her own cleavage, and then admired the way Kiyo's face grew darker. It was one of her rare amusements.
"I still need to train."
"Kiyo, if you come drink with me, I'll share a few special methods—ones you'll definitely want to know…" Kurenai cut her off with a sly smile, her gaze flicking toward Kiyo's slightly rounded belly.
That look was always Kiyo's taboo, but this time she held back her anger after hearing the mention of "methods."
"…Two drinks, then."
Just two to relax and leave after getting the information—Kiyo reassured herself with this thought. Soon, Kurenai had her by the arm, pulling her toward an izakaya.
Over the past two years, both Kiyo Hyuga and Kurenai Yuhi had gained great renown in Konoha. Beyond their strength and positions, their beauty drew constant attention.
Kiyo's long hair tied at her back, her fair skin, delicate features, and dignified yet distant air made her seem untouchable. Were she not clan head of the Hyuga, suitors would surely be many. Because no one dared, she became known in whispers as Konoha's unreachable flower.
But her title didn't overshadow her strength. In a sparring match against Tsunade, she and Kurenai even forced her to use Wood Release. Word of their power spread widely through the village, no longer limited to the upper ranks.
Kurenai's name rivaled Kiyo's. With her beauty, her popularity even surpassed it. Many had pursued her after Sarutobi Asuma, but she rejected them all.
Some even ranked them directly beneath Tsunade, with titles already circulating: the Byakugan Princess and the Genjutsu Sunset.
"Boss, the usual."
At the izakaya, Kurenai greeted the owner, an old acquaintance by now. Thanks to her, even the owner recognized Kiyo well.
In the innermost booth, sake and appetizers soon arrived, with an extra plate of grilled chicken skewers. The owner smiled, "On the house. Please enjoy, ladies."
"Thank you," Kurenai said with a bright smile. After he left, she picked up a skewer and took a bite.
"Out with it. What's the matter this time?"
Kiyo took the initiative, pouring for Kurenai and only half-filling her own cup. If she let Kurenai pour, she'd be forced to finish nearly a whole bottle before being let off. Since that day, she always poured herself.
"It's because of you. I planned to take Neji Hyuga and another graduate, plus Yakumo—just enough for a team. Who knew your clan's situation would suddenly blow up? I thought long and hard to make that lineup…"
Kurenai sighed after downing a cup.
As for rumors outside—that Neji refused to abandon his hatred and even eloped with the former clan head's daughter—Kurenai didn't believe a word.
If Neji still carried such hatred, how could Kiyo, who'd mentored him for six or seven years, have missed it?
"Drink. Don't pry further into that matter."
Kiyo's words told her enough—there was more to Neji's defection, but she didn't wish to reveal it.
"As for your new team, the next graduating class should have some promising talents."
Kurenai waved it off. "Even the next Hyuga was taken away! Were you mocking me when you asked me to take care of them, Kiyo?"
"It was unexpected."
Kiyo shook her head. She truly hadn't thought Hinata and another would defect as well. The day after Neji left, rumors spread throughout the village.
With the Hyuga suffering defections right after the Uchiha, clan members pressed Kiyo to pursue Neji and brand him with the Caged Bird.
But she refused, saying she would discuss the matter with the Hokage, and forbade anyone from acting on their own. She even visited the long-reclusive Hiashi Hyuga, after which the matter was quietly dropped.
Kiyo's authority in the clan was absolute—no one dared defy her orders.
"What a headache. I envy you, Kiyo. At least your clan helps you. I can only stumble along alone." Kurenai raised her cup, inhaled the aroma, and went on, "Tsunade-sama drank that sake again yesterday. Just the smell was divine—I wish I could try it once."
"Then ask for a little taste."
"Don't be ridiculous. How could I even bring that up?"
They chatted idly. Investigating the Hokage in Konoha was nearly impossible, but fortunately, Tsunade's carefree nature kept their private meetings from being noticed.
The day before graduation exams, Neji defected with no warning, along with the former elder's grandson and Hiashi's daughter Hinata. The incident shook both the Hyuga and all of Konoha.
Two Byakugan without the Caged Bird seal and one genius of the younger generation defecting together forced Tsunade to call a high-level council. But afterward, Kiyo met with her privately as clan head, and Tsunade suppressed the matter.
Beyond this, what shocked Konoha most was the rapid rise of the Sand Federation over the past two years.
Near its capital, they built a satellite city called Shōto, only ten kilometers away. It drew merchants from across the shinobi world to trade and exchange goods.
Had it stopped there, it would only have earned mild attention. But what enraged the Land of Fire's Daimyo was when a noble of a border district with the Land of Rivers declared allegiance to the Federation.
Soon after, the Land of Tea followed. With this, the Federation's territory became the largest in the shinobi world. Under the Kazekage's rule, even its deserts had been reclaimed. Spies sent by other villages were stunned at its transformation.
That once-poor Sunagakure had turned into a land richer than Konoha.
With shinobi—especially puppet masters—driving construction, progress outstripped ordinary labor many times over.
Rains from the Land of Rain ensured water supply, and transplanted greenery completed seventy percent of oasis reclamation within six months. Only mineral-rich or oil-bearing lands remained untouched.
Every move by this "outlier" Federation shook the other villages. Even distant Kumogakure sent spies continually.
But the Federation guarded its secrets well. The Police Force grew to five hundred, with strict control zones. Foreign agents rarely made it far before being caught.
An even stricter identity and electronic recognition system applied to its own citizens. Without the proper electronic tag, even a Transformation Jutsu would trigger alarms.
Seventeen spies from Kumo and Iwa were captured. Afterward, Pakura often demanded heavy ransom. If unpaid, their identities were leaked and they were sent to work the mines.
This was shameful—being caught, refusing ransom, and letting comrades suffer. Once the Federation spread word of this, both Ōnoki and A eventually relented and paid.
In Konoha—
Tsunade had lived comfortably these past two years. She learned how to handle Hyuga Mirai—complain a little, share valuable intel, and in return, receive benefits.
Her power had also grown. With Kabuto, Shizune, and Kimura handling paperwork, she only needed to set direction—though in truth, even that was guided by Mirai. She played her role as messenger perfectly.
Her greatest personal achievement was refining her techniques in the electromagnetic field, developing them almost into a Bloodline Selection.
She had mentioned it to Mirai, but he seemed occupied with greater matters, merely encouraging her to continue.
"Tsunade, a message from the Daimyo's mansion. He invites you to discuss something important."
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the office door, only to find the Hokage asleep on her desk.
"Eh, old man, what did you say?"
Tsunade groggily lifted her head.
"The Daimyo sent word," Hiruzen repeated after clearing his throat. When she heard, she clicked her tongue. "You go in my place."
But Hiruzen shook his head firmly. "No. The Daimyo specifically summoned you, the Fifth Hokage."
"…Tsunade, the Daimyo hasn't been stingy with funding these past two years. You can't refuse this time."
"I get it, such a pain… endless chores every day."
She scratched at her twin ponytails and grumbled.
Everyone else in the office exchanged looks. Clearly, she had no sense of self-awareness.
(End of Chapter)