~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter! Your votes keep this climbing. Thanks!
Hizashi Hyuga listened. Heard every word of Qianyu's persuasion.
Then he lowered his head. A heavy silence filled the room.
Moments later, he looked up. His Byakugan eyes were calm, resolved. "The Leaf's barrier won't let intruders in so easily," he stated.
"And if they don't intrude?" Qianyu countered.
Hizashi tilted his head. "Not intrude?"
"What if they come in with permission?" Qianyu pressed. "As guests. As diplomats."
He had to admit, the village's barrier was decent. Without Obito Uchiha's Kamui phasing—and the knowledge of how to bypass the seals—that whole plan would've failed. The Cloud ninja who'd try to kidnap Hinata? They'd come under the banner of an alliance. Official visitors.
But that was years away. Even if he said it outright now, Hizashi wouldn't believe him.
Hizashi took a deep, slow breath. Let it out. "I'm sorry, Qianyu. I can't join your organization."
Qianyu stared. Didn't get it. "Hizashi, this is real. It could happen. And you've seen the truth of the Main Family now. Their selfishness. They aren't worth your loyalty. So why refuse?"
A small, tired smile touched Hizashi's lips. "I believe you. I do. Call it blind loyalty if you want. I hate the system. The cage. But… I love the Hyuga clan. I am proud to be one of them."
He placed a hand over his heart. "All I want is for Neji to have a choice. A real one. Not for me. What I'm doing now… it's rebellion enough for my lifetime. Asking me to leave the clan?" He shook his head. "I can't. I'm sorry."
"Neji's future, whatever he chooses—to stay or to go—I'll respect it. But me?" Hizashi's voice was final. "Let it be."
Qianyu heard it. Sighed. A deep, resigned sound. "I understand. Your choice is yours."
Hizashi stood. "I should go. I'll likely be confined to the compound after this. We probably won't meet again for… a year and a half."
Qianyu nodded. "I'll be here. If you change your mind, Hizashi. The offer stands. Sometimes… bending a little lets you breathe easier. We only get one life. No need to chain yourself so tight."
Hizashi's smile was genuine this time. "If I change my mind, I won't hold back. You're Neji's master, after all. Practically his second father."
He left. The door slid shut with a soft click.
Kushina Uzumaki stepped out from the bedroom, little Cang M cradled in her arms. "He really loves his clan, doesn't he?"
"Yeah," Qianyu exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "A sense of honor, I guess. But still… doing all this for Neji? He's a good man."
"Qianyu," Kushina's voice was soft, worried. "Is he… going to be okay?"
He looked at her, surprised.
"You sounded so certain earlier. Like you knew something bad would happen. That's why you were trying so hard to convince him."
Qianyu pressed his lips into a thin line. "He said no. And his last words… I can't force help on him. That would disrespect his will. His choice."
He sighed again, the weight of it settling in his bones. "Forget it. We'll deal with the future when it comes. As for Neji… I'll train him well. His father's already given everything for that chance."
Time passed.
Days bled into weeks.
Kakashi, now in the ANBU, occasionally sent updates via snake summons.
Orochimaru remained buried in his lab, research consuming him.
Qianyu, having told the Third Hokage he was taking a break, had no missions. His world shrank to his home, to Kushina, to their son.
Yahiko, Raiga Kurosuki, and Pakura had wandered to the Land of Bears last he heard, taking odd jobs for cash.
Minato Namikaze still hadn't woken up.
Miyuki Uzumaki and Naruto rarely left their house now. Only when necessary.
The rumors about Naruto… Hiruzen Sarutobi had moved to control them the moment he learned. But control was a slippery thing. Whispers in shadows, stories passed behind hands. There was little he could truly stop.
And the Uchiha Clan… they had it worse.
With Hiruzen's tacit approval, Danzō Shimura went to work.
First, the whispers. Spread deliberately: During the Nine-Tails attack, not a single Uchiha lifted a finger to help.
The village's grief curdled into suspicion, then anger.
The Uchiha couldn't say the truth—that they'd been ordered to stand down by the Hokage himself. It would be their word against the Hokage's. A political suicide.
So they swallowed the bitterness. A silent, festering poison.
Then, Danzō's next move. A proposal to the Hokage and his advisors, Koharu and Homura. A "reorganization" of the clan districts. For "better village cohesion and security."
The Uchiha were to be relocated. Pushed to the village's edge. Surrounded by other clans who would, knowingly or not, become their watchers.
The project was underway. It would take a year.
The clan seethed. Complaints poured into Fugaku Uchiha's office. Do something. Get us justice.
Fugaku went to the Hokage Tower. Demanded an audience.
Hiruzen Sarutobi met him with vague platitudes and political fog. For the stability of the village. A necessary adjustment. Fugaku, cornered by the bigger picture, had to agree.
Shisui Uchiha watched it all, helpless.
He'd been Minato's guard. Now he served on the Third's protection detail. He'd thought… with Minato in charge, things would get better for his clan. Now their best hope was comatose.
The tension in the Uchiha compound was a live wire. Only Fugaku's stern authority kept it from sparking.
And Shisui felt it—the distance. The coldness from his own clan head. Fugaku didn't trust him.
Why? Shisui thought, lost. I've done nothing but try to bridge the gap. For the clan. For the village.
The confusion was a stone in his gut.
Three months slid by.
Then, one afternoon, Miyuki Uzumaki arrived at Qianyu's door. Naruto was in her arms, quiet for once.
She sat down. Her posture was rigid, her expression grave.
"Qianyu. Kushina." Her voice was low, urgent. "I need your help."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!