Chapter 108: Father-in-Law, Marry Your Daughter to Me
Hanabi stared at Akiyama Makoto, trying to judge if he was lying.
But how could a small scene like this possibly fluster him?
"Hinata is such a kind and thoughtful girl," he said with a serious expression. "How could a simple chakra thread technique ever be enough as a bride price?"
"When I become a powerhouse like the Sage of Six Paths in the future, I'll use the entire moon as a betrothal gift."
"...Wow."
Hanabi exclaimed with a deadpan expression. "Moegi told me you were amazing, that you could spout nonsense with a straight face. Now it seems she was right."
"But don't say I didn't warn you. No one from the Hyūga clan has ever married an outsider."
"It doesn't matter if it's my sister or me, we will only marry someone from the Hyūga clan. Are you devastated to hear that?"
He feigned surprise. "Why would I be devastated that I can't marry you?"
Hanabi's carefully crafted blank expression shattered. She clenched her little fists and waved them. "My sister, I meant!"
He laughed and patted her head. "Didn't you just say you wanted to join your sister in breaking the fate that one of you must be branded with the Caged Bird Seal?"
She nodded.
Neither Hanabi nor Hinata knew that Hyūga Hiashi would end up not branding either of them, even years later. So, for now, the Caged Bird Seal was a sword hanging over their heads, forcing them to give it their all. It was just that in the past, Hinata had given up, willing to sacrifice herself for her sister's sake.
"In that case, I will join you two sisters and we will work together to break the curse that a Hyūga cannot marry an outsider."
A flicker of emotion flashed in Hanabi's white eyes.
Her sister fighting side-by-side with her to face their destiny... this was already a beautiful future Hanabi hadn't dared to imagine. And now, she could have one more partner? Could today be her lucky day?
But for some reason, she felt that what he said was a little... off.
"Isn't this a matter between you and my sister? Why are you dragging me into it?"
"Don't you want to fight for your sister's happiness?"
"Well, that's true, but—"
Hanabi's young mind couldn't quite wrap around his logic. No matter how smart or hardworking she was, she was still just a kid.
But Hyūga Hiashi was the head of a clan who had weathered many storms. Tricking him wouldn't be so easy.
"Lord Father!"
Hanabi, who had just led Makoto out of the courtyard gate, froze. Seeing the expressionless Hiashi, she subconsciously took a step back, shielding Makoto behind her.
"Please let me explain—"
She wracked her little brain, trying to find a reason for him to be here.
But he gently patted her head from behind. "Let me handle this."
Under her confused gaze, he walked up to Hiashi and said, "Hello, Lord Hiashi."
He wasn't surprised to see him. In fact, after being in the Hyūga compound with his daughters for so long, it would have been stranger if he hadn't seen him. Although Hinata had said that no one would dare to spy on them, it was perfectly reasonable for their father to pay attention to their movements.
In the eyes of his daughters, Hiashi was stern and valued the clan's rules above his love for them. But he knew very well that this guy was a complete daughter-con. He was just trapped by the system. The fact that he had managed to delay branding his daughters until they were adults was the limit of his resistance.
Makoto could even guess his purpose for being here: most likely to warn him away and tell him not to bother his daughters anymore.
"Since you've come, how can you leave without having a cup of tea? Follow me."
Hiashi turned calmly, and he immediately followed.
Hanabi tugged on his shirt from behind, signaling for him to run. He just gave her a reassuring smile and followed his "father-in-law."
As for Hanabi, she bit her lip for a few seconds and decided to go find her sister to discuss a counter-strategy.
Makoto followed him for a while, arriving at an indoor training hall. Hanabi's servant, Natsu Hyūga, had already prepared tea, clearly having been waiting here. He had been wondering just now why she, the branch family member who was always in charge of Hanabi, was absent. Now the answer was clear. She had been here all along and had reported his arrival to Hiashi.
"Please, sit." Hiashi's attitude was calm, not showing any rage at him getting close to his daughters. This was obviously because his reputation in Konoha was soaring, and Hiashi didn't want to make an enemy of him.
But his daughters were the bottom line. Allowing both of the Hyūga main family's daughters to mix with an outsider male was absolutely unacceptable.
"Lord Akiyama, please have some tea."
After accepting the tea from Natsu and taking a sip, he took the initiative to speak. "Lord Hiashi, if you have something to say, please just say it."
In a confrontation, the side that speaks first usually weakens their own momentum. But this was not the case for him, because he held too many cards. Hiashi's only card was that he was their father, and Makoto wouldn't want to rashly make an enemy of him.
"Very well. I will be direct."
"I am grateful that you have guided the conflict between my two daughters, and that you have guided Hinata in developing a new ninjutsu technique. For this, the Hyūga clan can give you a sufficient reward, and even help you sell your books."
"But I hope that from now on, you will keep your distance from my daughters."
Hiashi finished, looking down at him with his Byakugan.
Makoto, undaunted, said, "And the reason?"
"They are both busy with their studies and their Gentle Fist training. They truly do not have time to play ninja games with you."
"Makoto-kun, you are an outstanding young commoner, but you are destined to have no connection with a great clan like ours. I hope you can understand this."
Hiashi felt he had made himself clear enough. Makoto wasn't a fool; how could a fool write such a brilliant book?
But Makoto deliberately chose not to understand. "Lord Hiashi, do you remember what I said at my book signing?"
"Which part?"
"I hope that one day, there will no longer be a class gap between the great clans, ordinary families, and common people. I hope everyone can be integrated into one big family, and the barriers between people can be completely eliminated."
An expression finally appeared on Hiashi's face: a faint, mocking smile. He had thought this boy was different, but in the end, he was just a young man full of overly naive ideas.
Hiashi shook his head. "Makoto-kun, you are not even a ninja. On what basis do you demand that the great clans of Konoha give up their status and interests?"
"If you intend to rely on your books—while that is a fine ideal, it is not a feasible method."
"Then what about a political marriage?"
The hand Hiashi was using to hold his teacup trembled slightly. He felt he had just misheard. Did the young man in front of him say "political marriage"? Even Natsu stared at him, stunned, also thinking she had misheard.
Hiashi felt the words were so insane that he began to wonder if he was using some kind of rhetorical metaphor.
But Makoto's next words nearly made him explode with rage.
"What I mean is, why don't I marry into all the great clans and form a new, unified family? That way, everyone can just—"
Hiashi threw a punch at him. The speed was so fast it created a sonic boom. If this punch had landed, it would have broken at least a few of his ribs.
But Makoto dodged it with a speed that was not much slower, without even putting down the teacup in his hand. This wasn't because his speed was on par with Hiashi's, but because he knew he would be furious and had already prepared himself.
Hiashi stared at him in shock, then said grimly, "You are not Akiyama Makoto. Who are you? A spy from some other village?"
He slowly rose to his feet, his aura rising, clearly intending to capture him and present him to the Hokage to claim the credit.
Faced with all this, Makoto remained calm. He had already treated Danzō and even the Hokage as potential enemies. Why would a single Hiashi Hyūga make him nervous? He was actually happy to see him emotionally unstable. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to convince him.
"Of course I am Akiyama Makoto, Lord Hiashi. Just not the one you are familiar with."
With a thought: "Yin Seal: Release!"
The next second, dense curse marks appeared all over his body, and a powerful chakra burned like a flame, making Hiashi's robes whip around him.
Hiashi's pupils constricted. In disbelief, he activated his Byakugan and immediately saw the bizarre flow of chakra.
He cried out in shock, "What is your relationship with Lady Mito Uzumaki?!"
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