The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

On the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.

Ignoring Orochimaru and Kakashi's complicated expressions, Hyuga Hitoshi calmly stepped back into the Land of Fire, glancing at the goddess Kaguya as if she were garbage.

Finding two Uzumaki clan members by chance naturally put the pursuit plan on hold. Kakuzu might have value, but in the end, he was still not as important as the people beside him. It was more important to get them back to Hyuga and drop Orochimaru at the Moon Gateway so he could get to work quickly.

Unfortunately, people often can't help but view others through colored glasses.

Patriarch Hitoshi acknowledged that his reputation in Konohagakure wasn't great, especially with the young girls always around him and having put a hat on Fugaku.

But this time, Hyuga Hitoshi felt no guilt.

Actually, when Kakashi and Orochimaru saw the grateful expression on the red-haired woman holding the baby, they realized they had misunderstood.

Their complicated feelings stemmed from not expecting someone like Hyuga Hitoshi to sometimes stand up for others and do things that didn't fit his usual character.

Who knows what they thought of Hyuga Hitoshi? Anyway, feeling compassion for others shouldn't be something he was known for.

However, as Orochimaru carefully sensed the powerful life force of the woman and the baby in her arms, a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Red hair, strong life force.

The identities of these two were becoming clear.

They were from the Uzumaki clan!

Were they A natural Jinchuriki?

He heard that recently Hitoshi captured the Two-Tails Jinchuriki from Kumogakure. Was he planning to create his own war machine?

As expected of you, Hitoshi.

Smiling, Orochimaru felt he had seen through Hyuga Hitoshi's intentions. 

But the real reason was something only Hyuga Hitoshi knew.

He didn't plan to raise any Jinchuriki. Patriarch Hitoshi never thought of himself as a good person, but that didn't mean he couldn't do a little good.

Bringing back the Uzumaki mother and daughter could be seen as doing good, but not entirely.

There were many people in the world with tragic fates. Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't a saint and couldn't save everyone he encountered.

Unless they had their own value.

These two were genuine Uzumaki orphans, and after chatting, Hyuga Hitoshi learned about the woman's past.

Her name was Uzumaki Reina, and she had escaped with her sister, Uzumaki Nanako, during the massacre of the Uzumaki clan.

The two sisters were lucky to find a family willing to take them in, and the older sister fell in love with the family's son. As her younger sister, she gave them her blessing.

But sadly, the good times didn't last long. When the Third Shinobi World War broke out, their village couldn't escape the devastation.

At first, it wasn't too bad. They could have survived the war if they stayed low. But the wild Uzumaki clan members were too attractive to any ninja village.

Disaster eventually struck. Uzumaki Nanako sacrificed herself to protect her sister, allowing her to escape with the newborn baby. She fled all the way to Kusagakure Village.

Just when she thought she could use her Uzumaki clan's special constitution to strike a deal with Kusagakure for a safe place to live, she ran into Hyuga Hitoshi, who was pursuing her.

"You'll be very grateful for your choice in the future."

Orochimaru said calmly after listening to Uzumaki Reina's story. He was always good at assuming the worst in people.

As a scientist who had studied the Uzumaki clan, Orochimaru's words carried weight.

"You're underestimating how much the Uzumaki bloodline attracts people and how war tests human nature. If you try to make a deal with Kusagakure, you'll end up getting devoured by desperate people."

This wasn't just fearmongering.

It was, in fact, what happened to Karin's "mother" in the original story.

In Karin's memory, her already overburdened mother had to once again "treat" the villagers. But that time, she never came back.

"Sir, I haven't underestimated that."

Not all Uzumaki women had fiery tempers. The red-haired woman in front of him was gentle but had a firm resolve in her eyes.

"After all, that's how my sister died."

A flash of sorrow crossed her face as Reina remembered how her sister and she had been thrown out by her brother-in-law, who had once seemed so familiar. The family's eyes were filled with hatred, even though the baby in her sister's arms was that man's own daughter.

But neither she nor her sister hated them. If not for them, they might have died somewhere else much earlier. The sisters had brought disaster to that family and the village, and this was the price they had to pay.

"But Karin is innocent."

Looking at the baby in her arms, Uzumaki Reina's expression softened. This was the child her sister had left behind.

She had already made up her mind. She would use the limited healing skills she had to become a medical ninja for Kusagakure. At least this way, Karin could grow up safely. Once Karin was strong enough to protect herself, they could leave the village, which could turn into a living nightmare at any time. This was the firm belief of an ordinary woman.

"Your courage is admirable."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, and there was a hint of respect in his eyes when he looked at Uzumaki Reina.

But why did Uzumaki Reina trust Hitoshi? Why did she believe that Hitoshi wasn't a bad person?

Because Konohagakure was once an ally of the Land of Whirlpools?

No, no, no.

Anyone who thinks that way is truly laughable.

When the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, many Uzumaki clan members fled. Even Uzumaki Kushina didn't go to Konohagakure by choice—she was brought back by Konohagakure ninja. There's a hidden, unspeakable secret behind it all.

Besides, Hitoshi made it very clear just now: starting today, Uzumaki Reina and Karin are under the protection of the Hyuga clan, not Konohagakure.

It seems Hitoshi knows a few things that aren't widely known.

Hyuga Hitoshi never expected that doing a simple good deed would lead to others overthinking things. But even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

From what Uzumaki Reina said, she shouldn't be treated as a widow. She's actually Karin's aunt.

This is different from the original story, but that's fine—there are plenty of differences between this world and the original.

In the original story, Fugaku still had his Sharingan, and Sasuke couldn't activate the Sharingan, so it's not a big deal.

The journey was mostly quiet.

In the end, Hyuga Hitoshi dropped Orochimaru off with the group transferring the clan members. From that day on, Orochimaru officially took up his position as the leader of the Snake Division. Before he left, Orochimaru shared information about Ryuchi Cave with Hyuga Hitoshi and left behind a scroll that provided direct access to the cave.

The return trip was noticeably more silent.

Kakashi had also received some information about his father and was still processing it.

But bringing Kakashi along wasn't just about asking Orochimaru about Hatake Sakumo. Hyuga Hitoshi had been fishing for something more.

And during the pursuit of the Akatsuki, he had indeed spotted the man he was after.

However, something seemed to be wrong with his body.

Obito had grumbled for a while before leaving. He hadn't bothered to greet Kakashi, which was a bit disappointing. But there would be more chances. Hitoshi didn't mind.

As they continued on, Hyuga Hitoshi, Uzumaki Reina, Karin, and Kakashi eventually arrived at the gates of Konohagakure.

After all, Hitoshi was still a part of Konohagakure, so it would be best to get identification papers for Reina and Karin to make their presence official.

However, the matter of identification needed to be handled carefully. He intended to integrate them into the Hyuga clan rather than register them as regular villagers of Konohagakure.

What he didn't realize was how much of an impact it would have on certain people when someone like him brought an Uzumaki clan member back to the village.

When Shimura Danzo, who was still under house arrest, received the news, he rushed straight into the Hokage's office, kicking open the door without hesitation.

In the office, two figures quickly separated upon hearing the noise, moving as swiftly as ghosts. Danzo glanced around and was surprised to find Utatane Koharu also in the room. Her wrinkled old face was unnaturally red, and as she noticed him enter, she adjusted her clothes.

Sarutobi, sitting in the chair, was full of anger. He was about to throw them out with pure-blooded Hokage authority, but Danzo acted first, snapping him out of it!

"Hiruzen! He brought back an Uzumaki!"

The atmosphere in the office changed abruptly as Danzo spoke with urgency.

"Wait a minute, explain this clearly. What Uzumaki?"

Sarutobi's mind was still a little foggy after a recent struggle, and since he'd been occupied, he had sent his loyal subordinates away, missing the news. He stared at Danzo for a long moment.

"It's Hyuga Hitoshi. He brought back a woman from the Uzumaki clan, along with a child."

Danzo's face was serious, and he didn't even bother to give Utatane Koharu a scornful glance. He thought to himself that everything about her was nonsense. She claimed only her late husband had touched her, but who knows what she's really been up to.

"The information is reliable?"

Sarutobi frowned as he habitually lit his pipe, also questioning Danzo's news out of habit.

He had no choice.

After all, Danzo's last plan almost sacrificed the entire village, so Sarutobi couldn't fully trust his old friend anymore. Moreover, his current situation was delicate, and he didn't have the strength to openly oppose Hyuga Hitoshi. Especially after the war, Sarutobi had realized he couldn't control the battlefield like before, and his pride had vanished. Now, he was just a politician, long past the boldness of his younger days.

"What's there to confirm? He's already brought them back to the village!"

Danzo, dissatisfied, slammed his hand on the table, realizing that his old partner's mind was a bit foggy.

Yes.

This is what Tobirama-sensei had once called balance!

Now, it was time for him to turn the tide!

Bang!

Danzo slapped the table again, this time with more force, startling Utatane Koharu, whose already worn face looked even older. 

Seeing this, Sarutobi instantly became displeased, as if some switch had been flipped, and he was about to scold Danzo. But his old friend leaned in close to his face.

"If you still want to be Hokage, wake up!" 

Danzo's eyes were filled with a burning urgency.

Maybe the days without power had made Danzo see things more clearly.

He realized that the influence he relied on came from being tied to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. If someone else became Hokage, especially now that Sarutobi had completely lost his authority, Danzo might not even be able to keep his position among the higher-ups!

So, Danzo's limited intelligence suddenly seemed to wake up, allowing him to assess the situation better than usual—smarter even than Sarutobi in this case. Of course, this was also because Sarutobi had lost his will to fight. After regaining his position in the original story, the once-mighty ninja had also lost his edge. He chose to consolidate his position instead, acknowledging that Konohagakure had become incredibly weak under his leadership. The events that happened after his return to the Hokage position reflect this change in his mindset.

Exposing Orochimaru's human experiments, pressuring the Hyuga clan which led to Hizashi's death, wiping out the Uchiha clan—each event marked the shift in his approach.

Right now, the only thing Sarutobi cared about was keeping his Hokage position!

And Danzo had clearly picked up on this!

"Hiruzen, look at the Hyuga clan now! Look at the cards Hyuga Hitoshi is holding!"

Facing Sarutobi's increasingly serious expression, Danzo drove home the severity of the situation.

"The Senju clan's descendant, direct bloodline Tsunade—your student—she's practically drooling over that man! If it weren't for the fact that he already has a young wife, I'd bet she'd already have taken on the Hyuga name by now!"

This is the foundation of political power!

"The Uchiha clan's Patriarch—he has a strong personal bond with Hyuga Hitoshi! Uchiha Fugaku has long openly aligned himself with the Hyuga clan. On the surface, the two of them look like brothers, but in reality, I can see that Fugaku is being used as a tool to control the Uchiha clan—a dog under his command!"

This is his right-hand man!

Danzo's words were fierce, practically spitting in Sarutobi's face, but he wasn't finished yet.

"He even has a Tailed Beast! And he's openly declared that it belongs to the Hyuga, not Konohagakure!"

This is a strategic weapon!

"And now, he's brought back a member of the Uzumaki clan! What more is he planning to do?!"

He even has control over a strategic weapon's safety mechanism!

With just a few words, Danzo left Sarutobi completely stunned. By the time he came to his senses, he was drenched in sweat. A massive mountain called the Hyuga clan now weighed heavily on all of Konohagakure's higher-ups.

"Don't forget, he's still one of the most prominent figures in Konoha right now!"

This was fame.

Danzo didn't say the next sentence, but Sarutobi Hiruzen knew it well.

If Hyuga Hitoshi called for action now, it seemed like all Sarutobi could do was step aside and pass the Hokage position to him.

Indeed.

This information was all public knowledge, but they hadn't pieced it together before. Now, summing it all up, it left them with a sense of helplessness.

In fact, this was part of the first of two paths Hyuga Hitoshi had mentioned. Patriarch Hitoshi had always been a man with a plan. Once he confirmed that most of the village could be saved, he would naturally take the first path, whether that meant supporting Tsunade as Hokage or taking the position himself. It would just happen naturally.

He didn't even have to worry about the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction. Everything was carefully laid out. Whether they would follow the first path depended entirely on how Konoha itself reacted.

Patriarch Hitoshi was waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to see the true nature of this village. If it was worth it, he would step in. If not, he wouldn't hesitate to walk away, leaving behind a gift in the form of a Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.

That opportunity was approaching as the war neared its end. He was curious to see how many would step forward to speak for him, being part of a clan that had earned merit. Patriarch Hitoshi was fair—his attitude would be based on their numbers.

Either way, the enormous force known as the Hyuga clan couldn't be dealt with in secret anymore. Unless they fully turned against them and triggered a civil war, the higher-ups had no chance of winning.

"Hyuga, huh."

Thanks to Danzo's reminder, Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly realized the gravity of the situation.

He furrowed his brows, his face grim, taking deep drags from his pipe. Before long, the room was filled with a strange atmosphere. Utatane Koharu stood nearby, dazed but silently impressed.

This was the feeling.

"But now, Hyuga isn't something that can be dealt with easily."

After a long pause, a hint of frustration flashed in Sarutobi's eyes.

He admitted it—he saw how serious the problem was but felt powerless.

The Hyuga issue wasn't new to him. Even at past meetings, Hyuga Hitoshi had sent someone who wasn't the Patriarch, showing no respect for him at all.

"Don't worry."

Danzo sneered coldly. "Since I'm here, of course, I have a plan to break this deadlock!"

He was going to offer his strategy!

He was going to prove he wasn't just pretending to be smart!

He's not that useless fool who let trouble into the house!

"You're at it again?!"

Sarutobi froze, looking at his old comrade with uncertainty.

He just couldn't bring himself to trust Danzo's plan. It seemed way too extreme!

"I know what you're thinking, but—"

Danzo's face showed clear frustration.

"But the way things are now, the situation can't get any worse. If we don't strike back soon..."

He pointed out the window, through the swirling smoke. Even now, the face of the Third Hokage on the mountain wasn't fully repaired!

"If we keep sitting here waiting for disaster, the next thing to blow up won't be a statue!"

In other words—

"Was that just a statue?! That was your face that got blown up!!"

Can you seriously stand for this?!

Bang!

This time, Danzo slammed both palms down on the table.

His weathered face showed deep sincerity as he spoke from the heart.

"Hiruzen, trust me one more time!"

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