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Chapter 41: Hyūga and Yamanaka
🕑 Added 2025-05-12 17:12:18 +0000 UTCHyūga, Main Family Estate
Early morning.
Inside a simple yet elegant tatami room, the Hyūga clan’s elder and the head of the family, Hyūga Hiashi, sat facing each other in discussion.
"It’s been four days since the disappearance, and there’s still no trace of the culprit?"
Hiashi frowned as he pressed the question.
For a clan possessing the Byakugan, the fact that their gate guards had vanished without a single clue about the perpetrator was nothing short of humiliating.
This was a blow to the Hyūga’s reputation.
Hyūga Kei, his expression grim, had wrinkles at the corners of his eyes that fanned out like folded paper.
"The ones who placed the Caged Bird Seal on the Hyūga brothers confirmed it—their seals were triggered, though the exact timing is unclear."
"There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, no bodies, weapons, or bloodstains. They had no known enemies either. And of all times, it happened during the hottest part of the day, in a secluded area of the compound where there were no witnesses."
Hiashi rubbed his chin in frustration.
The killer was proving difficult to catch.
The Hyūga clan was large, and their estate was one of the most expansive in Konoha. Naturally, it wasn’t located in the bustling heart of the village. People often said the Uchiha lived in the outskirts, but the Hyūga were only slightly better off.
"At least it wasn’t a member of the main family who disappeared."
Kei offered some consolation. "Don’t worry, Clan Head. I’ve already reinforced security around the main family’s quarters to ensure nothing like this happens to them."
"Hn."
Hiashi nodded in approval.
"If we still can’t find the culprit, we’ll have to notify the ANBU."
He had made up his mind.
The Hyūga’s pride was important, but two lives had been lost—both from the branch family.
Dead men were a small matter, but the tension between the branch and main families was not. This couldn’t be allowed to spark something worse.
"Last night, I already sent someone to inform them."
Kei’s face darkened further.
Hiashi didn’t even need to ask—he could guess the outcome wasn’t favorable.
"The ANBU said that unless there’s a mass disappearance or a missing shinobi with a registered Konoha ID, it’s outside their jurisdiction."
"The Hyūga brothers were private family shinobi. They never attended the Academy and had no official registration, so they’re classified as civilians."
Hiashi didn’t need to hear the rest.
If this was treated as a civilian disappearance, they’d have to involve the Uchiha Police Force.
For the Hyūga—who had always been at odds with the Uchiha—to go begging for their help would be an unbearable loss of face.
"The ANBU are being this uncooperative?"
Hiashi sensed something amiss.
Strict protocol was one thing, but given the Hyūga’s standing, the ANBU should’ve at least offered some flexibility. Why were they being so rigid?
Kei shook his head.
"The ANBU are critically understaffed right now. According to our messenger, their headquarters only had two people present—one of them a Shadow Clone. Everyone else is out on missions."
"It’s not that they’re refusing to help. They genuinely don’t have the manpower."
As for why they were stretched so thin, Hiashi and Kei exchanged a glance. Some things went without saying.
"Given the current climate, we can’t afford to get entangled with the Uchiha. Compensate the branch family and drop the matter."
"Understood."
Konoha Commercial District
At the end of a street still veiled in morning mist, a copper wind chime swayed gently beneath the eaves.
Dew dripped from the honeysuckle vines hanging over the entrance of Yamanaka Flowers, staining the wooden sign with uneven patches of moisture.
Hikari looked up.
On the left side of the sign was the distinctive emblem of the Yamanaka clan.
She was on her way to Konoha Hospital to visit Kazami Koshī. As the one responsible for his injuries, it was only polite to bring a gift.
But nutritional supplements were expensive.
Fruit baskets and snacks weren’t cheap either.
A bouquet of flowers?
Affordable and thoughtful.
More importantly, she knew the shop’s young heiress—maybe she could even get a discount.
Sigh…
All this mental effort just to save a few coins.
Damn you, Gai.
"Your hair’s a mess. Fix it."
"Ugh, I know, Mom! I’m gonna be late for school!"
Hikari pushed open the door.
Inside, a dignified woman with her hair elegantly pinned up was fussing over her classmate, Yamanaka Ino. The resemblance between them was striking, especially in the shape of their faces.
"Welcome."
The woman greeted her warmly, her eyes flickering only briefly with surprise at Hikari’s eyeless cloth wrap. Her poise was a stark contrast to Ino’s restless energy.
"K-Hikari?! What are you doing here?"
Ino hadn’t expected to see her this early. She’d spent all night agonizing over yesterday’s proposal.
Clan secret techniques were absolutely off-limits.
But the foundations of Yin Release? That wasn’t classified.
The Yamanaka had no strict rules against sharing such basic knowledge. In fact, some clansmen had even taught it to close friends before. It wasn’t like this was some irreplaceable secret—you could probably dig it up elsewhere if you tried.
Which made Ino’s dilemma even worse.
She really liked Sasuke. If Hikari could help set up a match between them, it’d be a huge boost to her chances.
But sharing Yin Release knowledge wasn’t something she could decide alone. She’d have to discuss it with her family first.
"Ino, is this your classmate?"
"Good morning, ma’am. I’m Hikari, a friend of Ino’s."
Friend?! Since when?!
Ino barely held back a scoff, but with Yamanaka Riya present, she couldn’t exactly say that out loud.
Riya glanced at Hikari’s empty hands.
"Did you two… plan to walk to school together?"
"No, I’m here to buy flowers."
"For who?"
Ino’s guard shot up instantly.
Don’t tell me it’s for Sasuke?!
"For Kazami-sensei."
Hikari had no interest in teasing Ino. Her main goal was still securing Wind Release training.
Of course, she wasn’t about to pass up Ino’s Yin Release either.
One of her "Academy Hikari" missions was to milk the school’s resources dry. Handling Ino and the others via Shadow Clone was the perfect solution.
She had too much on her plate to waste time on childish school games.
The Uchiha massacre was looming.
With only five years until the original story’s timeline began, she couldn’t afford to squander her growth period on something as trivial as classroom life.
Ino let out a relieved breath.
"Auntie, what kind of flowers would be good for a patient? Any recommendations?"
"Hmm… How about lilies?"
After a moment’s thought, Riya plucked a single white lily and handed it over.
"Could you pick the cheapest one, please? Thanks."
Hikari’s bluntness made Riya chuckle behind her hand.
"Since you’re Ino’s friend, consider this one a gift."
"Thank you very much."
Hikari clasped her hands together without hesitation—this was exactly why she’d come.
Watching Hikari walk away with a free flower, Ino couldn’t help feeling cheated again.
First, she tried to weasel Yin Release knowledge out of her. Now she was scamming free flowers?!
This girl was unbelievably greedy.
"Goodbye, Auntie."
"Take care."
Riya watched the small, blind girl disappear down the street, then turned back to Ino, who was sulking. She sighed.
Kids these days…
A six-year-old who could defeat a jōnin? A friend like that was priceless.
The moment she heard the name "Hikari", she’d recognized her. The adopted daughter of Might Gai, the Hokage’s protégé. The girl who’d humiliated an instructor on her first day and crushed an Uchiha prodigy in combat drills.
Unmatched talent. Solid connections. Unshakable loyalty.
Her future was blindingly bright.
"You should get along well with Hikari, understand?"
"Yeah, yeah~"
Ino waved dismissively, her already messy hair bouncing as she dashed out the door.
Riya could only sigh again as she watched her daughter’s hair unravel within seconds.
Some things never changed.
(◕‿◕)
