Hyuga Clan Reception Room.
"I never expected this generation of Uchiha to produce so many geniuses. Whether it's Shisui or Yuno, they are both… impressive." Hyuga Hiashi remarked, his voice steady but laced with a subtle undertone of envy.
It was a rare admission for the Hyuga clan head.
Across from him, Uchiha Shisui responded with equal politeness, offering a modest smile. "Hyuga's Byakugan has long been the cornerstone of Konoha's search units. They also have geniuses in their own right. But this time, Yuno and I have come not just to offer compliments—but to understand Hyuga's stance."
There it was.
Hiashi's fingers paused mid-pour as he poured tea, the motion freezing briefly before he resumed with practiced calm. "And what stance are you hoping for?" he asked, tone carefully neutral.
Shisui didn't hesitate. "The fact that today's host is you, Hyuga Hiashi-dono, is already an answer in itself."
A ripple of silence passed. Then Yuno, who had until now been toying idly with a ceramic teacup, finally spoke—his words sharp, direct, and impossible to ignore.
"There's no need to veil the matter." Yuno said. "Because of policies enacted by the Second Hokage, the Uchiha were politically isolated. The Sharingan was both feared and coveted, its power forcing us into a role that made us easy targets within the village. I believe you witnessed that power firsthand the other night."
He raised his gaze to meet Hiashi's. "And you know Shisui has stood loyally beside the Fourth Hokage."
"So the question is," Yuno leaned forward slightly, "having already chosen sides that night—will the Hyuga support the Uchiha's return to the village's core? Will you stand beside us when it matters?"
His tone wasn't antagonistic, but neither was it pleading. It was a challenge, plain and honest.
Hiashi was silent for a moment, unreadable.
This wasn't just about clan politics—it was about decades of mistrust. From the founding of the village, to Uchiha Madara's clash with Senju Hashirama at the Valley of the End, and later the Third Hokage's administration carrying forward the Second's cautionary policies. Suspicion had followed the Uchiha like a shadow.
And the Police Force—a responsibility none but the proud Uchiha would accept—had only deepened the divide.
Finally, Hiashi exhaled, placing his cup down with deliberate care.
"Now that it's been laid bare, I do have something I believe suits the Uchiha."
He gave a small signal, and Hyuga Hizashi—his younger twin—stepped forward with a scroll and placed it respectfully on the table.
Hiashi continued, "Since the death of Captain Fugaku, the Uchiha have been leaderless. While I respect the two of you and the power you wield… this is a meeting between the Hyuga leader and Uchiha youth. It's not a dialogue between equals—between clan heads."
His gaze was calm, but direct. "Two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan may be enough to strike fear in enemies, but not to sway the Council. As it stands, neither of you can claim to represent your entire clan."
Shisui quietly unsealed the scroll and scanned the contents. His eyes narrowed slightly. Without a word, he passed it to Yuno.
After a brief glance, Yuno rolled the scroll back up and stood with a small, knowing smile. "Just some desperate worms trying to jump the chasm... Still, I appreciate the intelligence, Hiashi-dono."
He looked back toward Hiashi. "I hope that next time we visit, your answer to the Uchiha will be clearer. That said... this visit hasn't been wasted."
Without waiting for Hiashi's response, Yuno and Shisui both rose. As expected, Hiashi stood to formally see them out.
Once outside the Hyuga compound, Yuno paused just beyond the entrance and turned back. His sharp eyes settled on Hizashi, who had followed them out silently.
"I once said this to Tokuma." Yuno said. "The Caged Bird Seal is a protection for the weak, but a shackle for the strong."
His words cut through the night like a blade.
Turning to Hizashi, Yuno added, "I saw it—hatred in your eyes. You don't need to deny it. I have no plans to share it."
Then, with a flick of his cloak, Yuno followed Shisui into the night.
Behind them, Hizashi stood rooted to the ground, his entire body trembling. The veneer of Hyuga discipline cracked ever so slightly.
'Even an outsider Uchiha could see it... Then what about nii-sama?'
'Forgive me, Neji…'
…
"Why did you say that to Hizashi?" Shisui asked once they were alone.
Yuno chuckled, the corners of his lips tugging upward. "I'm just planting seeds. You never know what kind of tree might grow in the future."
Shisui shook his head with a light laugh. "This visit ended too... softly. We started with strength, and then—just a few polite exchanges, and we left?"
Yuno stopped walking, turning toward him with a serious expression.
"In truth, what we say doesn't matter. What matters is that we came. That the head of the Hyuga family personally received us. That his brother saw us out. These details... they're signals. To the entire village."
He tapped the scroll that now sat in his pouch. "And that scroll? That's the bonus."
Shisui sighed. "Do we act on this immediately? If Uchiha Setsuna appears at tomorrow's clan assembly, the hardliners will become even more unstable."
Yuno's expression hardened slightly. "Konoha's maximum security prison isn't something anyone can breach easily. Whoever released Uchiha Setsuna is already telegraphing their agenda—likely one of the radicals."
He paused, then added, "They want to use Setsuna to scare the moderates. Force a choice. And then elevate a puppet to clan leadership. But Shisui... your eyes?"
"I can use my ability now." Shisui said quietly.
Yuno smiled. "That's good. After tomorrow, Shisui, you will be the new head of the Uchiha clan."
"All that remains is requesting formal recognition from the Fourth Hokage…"
…
As night fell, outside Konoha's prison complex, Yun and Shisui observed the looming walls from a distance.
Suddenly, a wild roar shattered the silence.
"BROTHER! THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY RICE BALLS!!"
"BROTHER! THE SEAWEED ONES! THEY'RE GONE!"
*ROOOAAARR!!!*
The rumbling continued, shaking the ground beneath their feet. In the distance, Uchiha Yashiro could be seen charging forward, accompanied by four other clan members.
Moments later, Yashiro and his team emerged, dragging out a frail, skeletal figure—Uchiha Setsuna.
But that wasn't all.
Behind them lumbered two enormous figures—massive, grotesque men with a presence that couldn't be ignored.
Yuno's eyes narrowed. "Ah... them. The so-called Famous Idiot Brothers –Fujin, Raijin."
He remembered them from an old Root mission. Their first fear was Tsunade, calling her "Big Sister". The second fear was hunger.
Letting these two monsters out first, using them to muddy the waters—that was a smart move. It made the real instigators harder to trace.
"Let's go."
In a flash, Yuno and Shisui dropped down, landing in front of the fleeing group.
"Shisui!?" Yashiro exclaimed, caught off-guard.
"You know about today's operation?" he asked, wary.
But before he could get an answer, Yuno had already moved—appearing behind Yashiro in an instant. His target wasn't the others.
It was Setsuna.
The elderly Uchiha, now emaciated and fragile, looked up—confusion dawning in his fading eyes.
'When did he?'
'So fast!'
*****
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