Chapter 83: They're All Old Acquaintances
Surrounded by a group of low-level ninja, Ryosuke and his companions were led through the tense stares of the villagers of the Land of Waves to an ancient castle.
Ryosuke could tell the castle was old just by glancing at the weathered stone walls. Its architecture reminded him of the noble residences from medieval Europe in his past life—very different from the elegant, Japanese-style pavilions of the Fire Nation's Daimyo. Clearly, cultural heritage shaped aesthetics and architecture in vastly different ways.
Once inside, the castle's grand interior was lit up by brilliant chandeliers. A vibrant red carpet—bold and regal—stretched from the entrance all the way up a wide staircase.
Lining both sides of the carpet were beautiful maids in loose kimonos, standing in perfect formation.
"This way, my lords," said one of the small-time ninja—the apparent leader of the group.
Only he was permitted to escort them into the castle. The rest of the group stayed outside, not allowed past the massive wooden doors.
The leader bowed deeply as he gestured for the maids to show their respect. The women mirrored him perfectly, bowing in unison.
A soft, harmonious welcome echoed through the ornate hall.
Their kimonos, loose by design, revealed just enough skin when they bowed to stir the imagination. The whole setup was obviously arranged to impress—or perhaps seduce—the visitors.
"Quite the grand ceremony," Ryosuke muttered under his breath.
Hyuga Hizashi, however, who walked at the front of the group, didn't so much as flinch. His expression was stern and focused, eyes fixed straight ahead.
The Hyuga clan members behind him mirrored his demeanor: composed, silent, indifferent to the spectacle.
"M-Master... This, uh, this setup was prepared especially because of your arrival," the group leader stammered, attempting to explain. "Normally it's nowhere near this extravagant."
Inside, he cursed the Hyuga clan's stiff attitudes. Not real men, he thought bitterly.
Hizashi ignored him completely, offering not even a glance in response.
With the air of silent authority hanging heavy, no one dared to speak further. The group ascended the staircase in quiet unison.
Ryosuke, bringing up the rear, said nothing. He followed silently like a shadow, trying not to draw attention.
The leader of the escort was drenched in sweat. He didn't dare look back. His steps were stiff, his movements jerky, like a man on the verge of breaking.
Finally, at the top of the stairs, light flooded down like a sunrise through ornate stained glass windows, offering a momentary sense of hope.
But just then, three tall figures appeared at the landing, blocking the light entirely. Their imposing presence immediately shifted the atmosphere.
Three jonin.
They weren't ordinary ninjas—these were fearsome rogue shinobi, hired at a steep price by Gato through black-market channels.
Ryosuke and the others halted, all eyes calmly fixing on the three figures.
"A-Akutagawa-sama, Kinoshita-sama, Atami-sama..." the leader of the escort stuttered. His face twisted into a miserable expression. He looked like he was about to cry.
Caught between two terrifying forces, he had no idea what would happen next. Would he get skewered by a stray kunai, or decapitated mid-sentence?
But what shocked him most was the jonin's reaction.
The three rogue ninjas—usually cocky and brimming with arrogance—took a cautious step back. None of them dared speak.
"No way… It's you… Hyuga Hizashi?!" one of them exclaimed, his tone full of disbelief.
Neither Hizashi nor any of the Hyuga showed any emotion. It was as if they already knew the top floor of this castle housed three A-rank missing-nin, each with strength equal to that of a jonin.
Which, in truth—they did.
Long before arriving, Hizashi and the others had already scoped out the castle from a distance. Every room, every guard, every chakra signature—they knew it all.
"Fancy meeting you two here," Hizashi said coldly, narrowing his eyes. "Kinoshita from Iwagakure… Akutagawa from Sunagakure."
Then his gaze shifted to the last one. "And you… You're Atami, aren't you?"
He paused, clearly trying to recall more. Then shook his head.
"Sorry. I really don't remember ever hearing your name mentioned in any of the wars."
It was a direct insult—one that didn't even sound forced. As a veteran of countless battles, Hizashi had faced many elites from enemy villages. These three? Old acquaintances from past skirmishes.
Kinoshita and Akutagawa had both been well-known elites in their respective villages before they defected.
"Did Gato send you here to intimidate us?" Hizashi asked, voice like ice.
Though he stood on the lower steps, his presence made it feel like he was the one towering over them.
"No, no, Hizashi-sama—you misunderstand!" Akutagawa said quickly, waving his hands.
Whatever their original plans were, the moment they saw Hyuga Hizashi among the guests, those plans were abandoned.
The last thing they wanted was a direct confrontation with a Hyuga elder.
"You—get out," Akutagawa ordered, glancing back at the sweating group leader. "We'll take it from here."
"Y-Yes, of course!"
The leader nearly tripped over himself in relief. He bowed repeatedly and scampered past Ryosuke and the others, fleeing down the stairs like a man who'd just escaped a death sentence.
"Everyone, this way please," Akutagawa said, polite but not groveling, gesturing for them to continue up the stairs.
Kinoshita and Atami flanked him closely, shoulders almost touching.
Though they were technically leading the way, their bodies remained tense. They maintained a significant distance from the Hyuga group, every move dripping with caution.
It was obvious to Ryosuke, and likely to everyone else, what was happening.
The three rogue jonin weren't hiding their fear.
Their rigid body language and nervous pacing were less about diplomacy and more of a silent message: We're not here to start a fight—but if you push us, we'll respond.
As experienced jonin—two of them ex-elites from major villages—they understood full well what it meant to face a Hyuga with active Byakugan.
The Hyuga could see through their intentions just as clearly as they could see the chakra flow in their bodies.
Soon, they reached the top floor.
The space here was even more lavish than the lobby below. Gold trim lined the walls. Velvet curtains hung from the ceiling, and the floor was polished to a mirror finish. It reeked of wealth and extravagance.
Before anyone could speak, a gentle, respectful voice greeted them.
"Welcome, esteemed shinobi of Konoha."
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