The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

At the entrance of Konohagakure village.

After getting out of the carriage, the Land of Fire Daimyo, who had been flattered by Sarutobi Hiruzen, finally couldn't hold back and shouted out loud.

You wouldn't believe what he, the ruler of a great nation, had been through recently.

Yes.

To outsiders, as the ruler, his trip to Konohagakure to host peace talks seemed like a responsible move, showing that he was personally handling matters.

But if all this was his own choice, it would have been fine, but he didn't want to come at all!

Being on the losing side was already humiliating enough, and then he was mocked by the Daimyos of the Land of Earth and Land of Thunder, followed by threats, forcing him to come to Konohagakure.

That wasn't all. On the way here, he even encountered the Kage from Iwagakure Village and Kumogakure Village!

Heh, to outsiders, it looked like a safe and secure group, but he felt like he was in a cage!

The Tsuchikage and Raikage were watching him the whole time, and he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, as if he were being coerced by other countries.

Unfortunately, his own bodyguards were no match for them, and they didn't dare to speak loudly to the Tsuchikage and Raikage, so the Daimyo had to endure it on the road.

Finally, when he arrived at Konohagakure, the Land of Fire Daimyo wanted to point his finger at Sarutobi and scold him, then finish the peace talks as quickly as possible and leave.

He really couldn't afford to lose face!

He couldn't accept the fact that, despite being the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, the country with the best location and resources among the five great nations, he had to sign a treaty of defeat!

It's all Konohagakure's fault!

It's those useless ninjas in this worthless village that have shamed him, the brilliant and mighty Daimyo of the Land of Fire!

What's worse, that man, who was way more handsome than him, actually made the Raikage kneel in public, using nothing but a look!

What does he want?

What is he trying to do?

Wasn't he embarrassed enough by Konohagakure and the Land of Fire?

As these thoughts raced through his mind, a wave of similar ideas flooded his brain, and naturally, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire completely lost his temper. He shouted loudly, clearly enraged.

Shouting was not enough for him. He wanted to continue pressuring Hyuga Hitoshi, at the very least forcing this rude person to apologize to Raikage and pay for the damages!

"You—"

But when the Daimyo tried to yell again, he found that the man's gaze had already shifted. The pure white eyes, shining with a deep blue light, instantly ensnared him.

Suddenly, terrifying, almost tangible killing intent swept over him. It felt as though he was facing a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. With just one glance, his face turned pale, and he stumbled backward a few steps, collapsing to his knees with a thud. His posture was identical to that of Raikage.

But he clearly lacked Raikage's strong willpower.

When his spirit was shattered and his soul seemed to be torn apart, the pain made him scream in agony. In his shock, he lost control of himself, and an awful smell began to fill the air, showing that he had literally been scared out of his wits.

"Boring. This is the ruler of a country?"

Patriarch Hitoshi withdrew his gaze, shaking his head slightly at the Daimyo's performance.

This was just an ordinary person.

Bullying an ordinary person didn't bring him any sense of accomplishment. The Land of Fire's Daimyo didn't have the commanding presence of a ruler, the kind of strength that one would expect from someone who controlled an empire. Instead, he seemed more like a useless person just waiting to die.

"That's enough, Patriarch Hitoshi," came a hoarse voice from the kneeling Raikage.

"I apologize for my previous rudeness."

This was completely different from what he and Oonoki had expected to test! 

But the good news was that Patriarch Hitoshi showed no respect for either the Land of Fire Daimyo or Konohagakure's Hokage!

The bad news? After just a little test, Raikage felt as though his leg bones and knees might be permanently ruined. He even feared for his future.

For a Taijutsu ninja, this was worse than being killed!

"I still prefer the rebellious attitude you had before."

Hyuga Hitoshi patted Raikage on the shoulder, then casually released his pressure and smiled, looking harmless.

But to the onlookers, his smile looked completely villainous.

Especially since he then offered Raikage a cheerful blessing.

"You were rude, but I won't hold it against you. Quite the opposite."

"You've come from afar, and I don't have any gifts. But let me wish you success in your martial endeavors. This is my blessing to you, please accept it."

Gulp.

Everyone's eyes turned to Raikage's legs, pierced by bone spurs and with his collapsed knees.

martial endeavors?

It was nothing less than a psychological attack.

Today, Patriarch Hitoshi seemed very different. He looked more like a radical Uchiha than Patriarch Fugaku.

But at the entrance to the village, only Hyuga Hitoshi knew that, just a few days ago, both Raikage and Tsuchikage, along with the peace-loving envoys, had been the ones who had killed his friends and family.

And it was these so-called peace-seekers who had brought about the war.

They started the war, and now they also wanted peace.

In all of this, Konohagakure appeared to be the passive one, easily controlled.

But they forgot that Hyuga Hitoshi was not.

He still remembered that the first enemy the Hyuga clan faced in this war was Kumogakure Village, led by the AB duo. He had also clearly stated in the meeting that the Hyuga clan did not lose—Konohagakure did.

Patriarch Hitoshi was not like Fugaku. He had been a bystander, quietly watching the show, observing how the third Hokage flattered the Land of Fire's Daimyo. He had no intention of hindering the peace talks.

But if someone were to act recklessly, the Raikage was going to face the consequences.

May your martial endeavors be prosperous.

Unfortunately, the Raikage wouldn't be able to find a medical ninja like Tsunade, nor use Orochimaru's dark technology to heal his injuries. He would quietly become a useless person, a mere witness to Hyuga's rise.

After watching the show for long enough, the seeds of hatred, planted while waiting for the right moment, began to take root.

Ignoring the curious looks from the Konohagakure ninja at the village gate, Hyuga Hitoshi turned around leisurely and left.

Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing by the Land of Fire's Daimyo, watched everything unfold without intervening. However, the joy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

He even took a deep breath, savoring the charming scent radiating from the Daimyo, then eagerly moved closer to support the emperor, who was still dazed with fear.

This was an opportunity!

It was the perfect chance to suppress the Hyuga clan!

He believed that the Daimyo would surely remember the name Hyuga Hitoshi.

If this was used well, perhaps with the Daimyo's help, the rude Hyuga clan could be expelled from Konohagakure?

If this succeeded, the only remaining threat to the Hokage position would be the Uchiha clan!

This was a huge opportunity!

From a distance, Danzo exchanged a look with Sarutobi, both of them sharing the same thought.

So naturally, when the Land of Fire's Daimyo recovered from his fear and began furiously venting his anger at Sarutobi, the third Hokage not only didn't resist but actually felt that the Daimyo's insults weren't harsh or cruel enough.

The more the Daimyo despised Hyuga, the more opportunities he had!

Well said!

Please, keep going!

In the end, this unusual reception ended with the Raikage seriously injured and paralyzed, the Daimyo enraged, and the third Hokage overjoyed.

In the distance, the goddess of the moon, watching everything from the top of a building, nodded in satisfaction.

Yes.

Otsutsuki Kaguya was very pleased with the heretic's performance this time.

As someone who might one day become the goddess of the moon's protector, how could he ignore a mortal's provocation?

The heretic's display of arrogance just now reminded her of her own past, and it made her feel a sense of pride.

The reception quickly ended, and the Raikage was rushed to Konohagakure's hospital for emergency treatment.

But the consequences of this event had only just begun.

People often overlook the cause of an incident, instead judging its right or wrong based on the consequences it brings.

For example, Hatake Sakumo was judged in much the same way.

The mission to bring back White Fang failed. What exactly was the "huge loss" caused to the village? So far, only bits and pieces have been passed down by the higher-ups, but those self-righteous people believe they were harmed too, and even the teammates who were rescued seem to be using this to attack Hatake Sakumo, as if simply surviving was a great humiliation.

For example, right now.

They habitually overlooked Raikage's provocation, only thinking that Patriarch Hitoshi had gone too far, possibly affecting the peace talks between the Land of Thunder and Land of Earth. 

Many people thought it was just a small matter, that Patriarch Hitoshi could have endured it, but instead, he didn't consider the village and just vented his emotions by injuring Raikage badly.

Some even felt that Patriarch Hitoshi should apologize to Raikage seriously, or else he would be a traitor to Konohagakure.

They only believe what they want to believe. Looking at the result, the Fourth Raikage's test succeeded and failed.

Late into the night.

"The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Konohagakure higher-ups has always existed. You don't even need to ask about it."

"But the Hyuga clan is strange. Before Hyuga Hitoshi rose to power, the Hyuga clan was clearly a firm supporter of the Hokage faction, but under Hyuga Hitoshi, they became very close to the Uchiha, often seen with Uchiha's Patriarch's wife and her sister visiting the Hyuga estate, showing a close relationship with Patriarch Hitoshi."

"And since Hyuga Hitoshi went against the previous Patriarch's ways and showed resistance to the higher-ups, conflicts have happened frequently. Not long ago, he even openly humiliated the Third Hokage and made the Third Hokage personally execute his two old friends."

"So, based on this information, we suspect that there's a possibility of conflict between the Hyuga clan, Konohagakure's higher-ups, and the Land of Fire's Daimyo. It fits the conditions for your plan. If the plan succeeds, there's a high chance of gaining the support of the Third Hokage and the Land of Fire's Daimyo, greatly increasing the likelihood of obtaining the Byakugan."

After a pause, Mabui closed the file and looked at Raikage on the bed, her face full of concern.

"Also, I actually think that if it weren't for the previous war or the conflict at the village entrance, Kumogakure Village would have a better chance of attracting the Hyuga clan."

"Even now, if there was a place willing to accept the Hyuga, they would probably go there."

That's impossible.

Raikage on the bed shook his head, interrupting Mabui.

"I've dealt with him for so long, and I've long seen that he's not someone who would willingly be controlled by others. The best offer from Kumogakure Village is just letting him into the higher-ups, but I'm afraid only the position of Raikage could move him. So sending him to Kumogakure Village is impossible."

Besides, he's not a man who would settle down. With his temper, more explosive than Uchiha's, even having the Hyuga clan join Kumogakure Village might not be a good thing.

So, the true Byakugan Kekkei Genkai should be cultivated by ourselves.

"What did Oonoki said?"

Raikage frowned, grabbed the railing next to him, and sat up.

His lower body was practically useless, but his will wasn't broken. If he didn't have legs, he would use his hands. However, even if he recovers, he'll probably need a wheelchair to move around in the future.

"Tsuchikage said the plan has changed and there's something important he wants to discuss with you in person."

Mabui was speechless. Who in Konohagakure didn't know that Raikage was paralyzed? Isn't this just making things harder for him?

And didn't Oonoki's words basically mean that Raikage's subordinates weren't trustworthy?

Raikage fell silent upon hearing this.

Looking at his immobile legs and his collapsed knees, he realized that his Raikage Bomb might never be usable again. No one would even offer him a consolation, like sending some duck necks.

After a long while, he struggled to do an unexpected handstand with his strong arms.

"Get me a wheelchair. No, make that a cart!"

As night fell, Hyuga Hitoshi's bold actions continued to stir up trouble. His unusual behavior didn't go unnoticed by the major clans, and they all began speculating about his reasons for acting this way.

Konohagakure.

In the Uchiha clan's territory, Uchiha Itachi gently placed the sleeping Sasuke down and adjusted his appearance before leaving the room.

He stared at the sky for a moment, lost in thought, then sighed softly.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but it felt like the moon was especially large tonight.

Of course, that wasn't the main issue.

After checking the time, Itachi walked toward the Uchiha clan's shrine.

Today was the day of the Uchiha clan meeting.

And he, Uchiha Itachi,

had graduated from the ninja academy at the age of seven, becoming a noble ninja. As the son of the Patriarch, he was naturally qualified to attend the meeting.

With deep, determined eyes, Itachi moved forward.

Today, he had to present the right opinions to his father and his clan!

He made his way through the residential area of the clan and entered the inner region, finally reaching the shrine.

However, to his surprise, the clan's elders had not made a grand entrance. Instead, the meeting had already begun, and the shrine was noisy.

"Why is he more radical than Uchiha?" 

This came from the conservative elder, Uchiha Nanko, as Itachi frowned and listened.

"Really? Why do I feel like Hyuga Hitoshi isn't radical enough? If it were me, I might have killed Raikage on the spot!" 

That was the third elder, Uchiha Reika, the representative of the hawkish faction.

"Heh, stop bragging. Raikage could kick you to death with both hands, do you believe that?"

Of course, such extreme language was quickly mocked.

"Do you want to fight?"

The third elder was furious.

"Come on! Bring it on!" 

The conservatives also lost their composure, starting to act up.

"Don't stop me, damn it!"

"Enough, enough. We're not here to debate whether it's radical or not. We need to discuss whether the Uchiha clan should continue to support the Hyuga clan, given Hyuga Hitoshi's extreme leadership."

Yes, there were neutral members within the clan, clearly not supporting anyone, but still enjoying the benefits of being a fence-sitter—these people were even more detestable.

"Of course, I'm not suggesting we sever ties with the Hyuga clan. I'm just saying we should distance ourselves a little. We can still cooperate, but when it comes to fully supporting them in the future, I'm against it. Just like I said before... Why should the Hyuga clan, a mere Hyuga clan, be more extreme than Uchiha?"

"You're talking nonsense! The Hyuga clan has helped us a lot. If it weren't for Patriarch Hitoshi, we'd have already been driven out to the outskirts!"

"Heh, how do you know if their help was genuine? It's all part of a plan! It's clear they want Uchiha to take the pressure for them, and here you are, acting like a dog licking up to them. It's disgusting!"

Alright, things got pretty chaotic up there, but it's clear that the last comment was made by someone from the neutral faction, trying to stir things up.

"Alright, everyone, calm down."

Finally, his father spoke up!

Itachi let out a sigh of relief and stepped into the shrine.

Fugaku, his father, still commanded respect. After all, he had led the Uchiha clan to clear their names after the Nine-Tails incident and had distinguished himself on the battlefield. Officially, Fugaku was the strongest member of the Uchiha clan.

"The Patriarch believes your concerns are unfounded. Although Brother Hitoshi may sometimes act erratically, he would never do anything to ruin the Hyuga clan."

Fugaku clearly still supported maintaining ties with the Hyuga clan. Moreover, he had confidence in Hyuga Hitoshi. If one day it seemed like Hitoshi wasn't acting normally, it would surely be because he was planning something.

At that moment, as the Uchiha clan's Patriarch, all Fugaku needed to do was support him.

Of course, this support had its limits.

It was fine to show support, but if it involved the Uchiha clan's interests, even if he, as Patriarch, agreed, it would be impossible to convince the entire Uchiha clan to unconditionally back Hyuga.

This was the downside of not managing the Elder Council properly. Unlike the Hyuga clan, where Patriarch Hitoshi had full control, if Fugaku were to act recklessly, the Elder Council would likely impeach him.

The war had lasted a long time, and Fugaku had used up a lot of his Sharingan's energy. Now, he could barely tell people from animals at a distance of five meters, let alone have the strength to manage internal matters within the Uchiha clan.

He had been focusing more on training his son.

For example, Uchiha Itachi.

At this moment, Fugaku eagerly looked at his son, hoping to hear the answer he wanted.

"For this matter, I have a few thoughts."

Itachi stepped forward into the room, showing no signs of fear even in front of the clan elders and higher-ups.

"I believe Patriarch Hitoshi's actions completely disregard the village's interests. He hasn't considered the village's or the Hokage's perspective, nor does he seem to respect the seriousness of the war."

His words were clear and his tone calm.

No wonder he graduated from the ninja academy at just seven years old—a genius!

But as soon as he finished speaking, Fugaku's face turned pale with anger.

What nonsense about considering the village's perspective! Has this kid forgotten that he's an Uchiha?

Why doesn't he think about what his father would do if he were the one being provoked?

"If it were Father here, facing the Raikage, I believe Father would approach it from a practical standpoint, giving the Raikage enough respect to ensure smooth communication for peace talks."

"Not because of personal interests, almost ruining the peace efforts of three countries!"

Itachi shook his little fist, subtly putting down Hyuga Hitoshi by comparing him to his father.

And he naturally believed his own thinking was correct.

What's wrong with sacrificing a little for the village?

Is the Hyuga clan's dignity more important?

If it were my father, he'd take the loss and still smile!

My father has such a strong heart that he can laugh while being ntr'ed Can you guys do that?

"Am I right, Father?"

After saying this, Itachi respectfully approached Fugaku.

He wasn't seeking praise, he was just sharing his simple thoughts for his father's feedback.

He believed his father would surely support his view for the sake of the village. Then, the best course of action would be to visit the Hyuga clan's territory, have a good talk with Patriarch Hitoshi, and eventually persuade him to apologize to the Raikage. Peace would be within reach!

I'm truly a genius!

"My son is truly a genius."

Fugaku's face darkened with an intimidating expression.

"Father..."

Itachi's face brightened, but before he could finish, Fugaku raised his hand high and slapped him hard across the face!

Slap!

The tremendous force caused the seven-year-old Itachi to stagger and fall to the ground.

He looked up and saw Fugaku's enraged Three Tomoe Sharingan. It was a clear sign of anger.

Clearly, Fugaku had not gotten the answer he wanted from his son, and now he was furious.

"What about the prefix?"

Prefix? 

What prefix? 

Itachi froze for a moment, then was confused for a second, before reflexively starting to mumble, "The esteemed founder of Konohagakure, the great Uchiha Patriarch, Konohagakure's Mangekyou Sharingan Fugaku, the third wielder of power, the great father and hero of Konohagakure."

"Mm, go sit over there."

With a slap, Fugaku nodded, hoping to wake Itachi up. He pointed to a distant corner, deciding that Itachi would only be a spectator in this meeting, not someone with a voice.

He wanted his son to see what it meant to be the Patriarch.

"We'll discuss this later. This Patriarch has plans of his own! As for the Hyuga clan, our attitude remains unchanged for now!"

"Let's move on to the next topic."

Fugaku's gaze turned cold, and his overwhelming presence exploded without warning.

"Regarding the compensation mentioned by Hokage, will the Uchiha pay it?"

Pay what, damn it!

In an instant, nearly everyone in the hall voiced their opposition. The entire Uchiha clan became united like never before!

The Hyuga clan already said they weren't the losers, so why should the Uchiha admit defeat?

Pay compensation? No way!

With the Hyuga clan leading the charge, the Uchiha had nothing to fear!

See, even the Uchiha weren't exempt from the trend.

Watching the Hyuga charge forward, they were eager to take the benefits but didn't want to bear any risks.

The small hall displayed human nature in full force, but only the man, who some called Itachi the god, showed a worried look. Wasn't losing and paying compensation just the natural thing to do? He never imagined the clan would have sunk so low.

But clearly, this wasn't the whole picture of human nature.

Under the night sky.

Raikage, pushed forward by his subordinates, finally arrived at the place where Oonoki was staying.

But what surprised him was that, besides Raikage, there was another figure there as well.

A knowing look flashed in his eyes as Raikage nodded slightly and wheeled himself inside.

From the looks of it, this was going much more smoothly than he expected.

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