Three months had passed since Takeshi took up the position of Acting Hokage.
In those three months, the methods Takeshi displayed far exceeded the expectations of the council.
Not only did he swiftly stabilize the hearts of the people in Konoha, but he also ferreted out a large number of spies who had been lurking in the village and crushed them all with the bloodiest means.
Sarutobi Hiruzen once tried to advise his disciple that doing this could very likely affect how the villagers and the Daimyō's court viewed him.
After all, as Hokage, one needed to show their people strength, or steadiness, or even boldness—but never bloodthirstiness and cruelty.
But Takeshi refuted him with a single line.
"Didn't the Second Hokage-sama also embody both strength and cold ruthlessness? Hiruzen-sensei, cherishing one's reputation too much only makes others think you're weak."
Hiruzen fell silent at these words. He thought for a long time, then finally sighed, rose, and left the Hokage's office.
From then on, the longest-serving Hokage, who had even acted as an advisor during the Fourth's era, gradually faded from the public eye.
...
Night, Hyūga residence.
Lately, Hyūga Hiashi found himself standing in the courtyard, staring blankly into space more and more often.
If it weren't for Hizashi, who stood behind him and used the Byakugan to see what was happening outside their compound, he might have thought his brother had fallen into senility at such a young age.
"The number of Internal Affairs Division shinobi gathering outside the clan compound is increasing."
Hizashi spoke aloud the thought weighing on his heart.
"I don't understand. No matter who serves as Hokage, the Hyūga clan has always unconditionally obeyed the commands of the leadership. So why has this young Acting Hokage set his sights on us?"
This time, Hiashi didn't rebuke his younger brother for overstepping. Instead, he spoke with a somewhat sorrowful tone about the Hyūga's current predicament.
"Could it be for our clan's assets? During the Fourth's reign, the village's economy did encounter some issues."
Hizashi suggested a possibility.
"This Acting Hokage isn't as simple-minded as he appears. His vision is far-reaching. We've been underestimating him all along. Or rather, before he reached that position, he never revealed his true ambition."
Hiashi shook his head, turned to face his brother, and looked at him seriously.
"I have a premonition. The Hyūga clan—or rather, the entire Konoha—will soon undergo a great transformation."
"This Acting Hokage seems to hold great resentment toward the Main Family. Fortunately, toward the Branch Family, he's always shown goodwill. Hizashi, if something happens to the Main Family in the future, the Hyūga clan will be entrusted to you."
There were no elders present in this conversation, so Hiashi shed his usual façade and looked at his brother with a complex expression too difficult to describe in words.
"Brother..." Hizashi was stunned.
It had been many years since he last saw Hiashi show such an expression.
"That's enough. You may leave." Hiashi suddenly shifted his expression, and with a stern tone, ordered Hizashi to go.
As his words fell, a short, skeletal Hyūga elder, little more than skin and bones, hobbled over with the aid of a cane.
"Hizashi? As one of the Branch Family, it would be better if you stayed away from the Main Family's quarters—even if you are Hiashi's brother."
The Hyūga's Grand Elder, Hyūga Sōkata, swept his eyes over Hizashi with a look devoid of emotion, making it clear he didn't see him as worth acknowledging.
"Yes, Clan Head-sama, Grand Elder."
Hizashi bowed his head respectfully and withdrew.
Hearing him place the Clan Head before himself, Sōkata's eyes flickered with dissatisfaction, and he voiced it outright.
"It seems this Branch Family head still doesn't know his place."
"My deepest apologies, Grand Elder. I'll be sure to discipline him properly."
Hiashi's expression didn't change, as if the person being spoken of wasn't his own younger brother.
"Hmph. The reason I came is to ask: when will those Internal Affairs people finally leave our clan's gates?" The Grand Elder nodded with satisfaction, then revealed his true purpose.
"I've already sent people to contact the head of the Internal Affairs Division, but I haven't yet received a reply."
"Tch. The Aburame clan's lackeys, clinging to Danzō, now don't even put the Hyūga in their eyes? Do they not know of our ties to the Daimyō's court?"
The Grand Elder snorted coldly, raising his cane and slamming it hard into the ground.
The Sarutobi clan, the Hyūga clan, and the Nara clan all had people serving in the Daimyō's administration, and their interests were tightly intertwined with his authority.
"Yes, I'll be sure to—" Hiashi began to offer a perfunctory answer, but suddenly paused, as if realizing something. He carefully recalled the Grand Elder's words.
The relationship with the Daimyō's court...
Combined with the recent letters from Hyūga officials serving in the Daimyō's court, Hiashi seemed to understand why the Internal Affairs Division had fixed their gaze on the Hyūga.
...
Meanwhile, several dark figures crept toward the small town, using the cover of night.
"Who?!"
Just as they were about to enter the town, the leader suddenly stopped, halting the group.
"Hm? Not bad—you actually noticed me."
A woman's voice rang out. Accompanied by the nauseating stench of burning flesh, the leading shinobi withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Before him, a fireball floated in the air, which then returned under the control of Pakura.
"Scorch Release Pakura—you're supposed to be dead!"
One of them recognized her and quickly drew a kunai, holding it in front while watching her fireball warily.
"Eyes fixed ahead, but not looking beneath your feet. Is this really the level of the Daimyō's shinobi?"
Pakura balanced one of her fireballs in her palm, looking at them with mocking amusement.
"Nani?"
The group froze, then suddenly found themselves entangled in countless black threads. Two of them had their throats tightly gripped by hands that appeared out of thin air.
"Who... who are you people..."
Struggling to stay conscious as he was strangled, one shinobi rolled his eyes back.
"Integration Movement. Though honestly, why did the leader give us such a weird name?"
Pakura tossed her fireball, grumbling with irritation.
Once they were all dealt with, Kakuzu finally stepped out from the shadows, personally looting the corpses.
"Names don't matter. What matters is that the Daimyō's court knows these acts aren't Konoha's doing."
Seeing that no survivors had been left, Obito, who had been watching the whole time, marveled at the strength of Takeshi's subordinates as he revealed his figure.
"It's not much trouble. Still, your friend is bold—striking directly at the Daimyō's men. I'm starting to like that kid more and more."
Pakura clapped her hands and teased Obito with a grin.
Obito didn't reply. Instead, he gestured with a wave of his hand, and soon a squad of Internal Affairs shinobi emerged from the darkness at high speed, erasing all traces of the battle with expert precision.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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