Chapter 108: Uchiha Akira accepts Hinata as his disciple!
Konoha Village, the 2 oldest and strongest Dōjutsu clans, the Uchiha and the Hyūga, were about to join forces. This signal was too clear. So clear that it made everyone uneasy.
Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the chair symbolizing the pinnacle of power, and overnight, he seemed to have aged another 10 years.
"Hyūga… Hiashi…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi kept muttering the name. How dare he! How dare he betray him! Had all the support and preferential treatment he had given the Hyūga Clan over the years been for nothing? Although he had lost face by making the Hyūga hand over Hizashi before, hadn't he already explained to Hiashi? At that time, Konoha was indeed plagued by internal and external troubles, and simply could not afford a war with Hidden Cloud Village.
"Hiruzen," the remaining Hokage Advisor, Homura Mitokado, also looked extremely grim.
"We must find a way to stop this apprenticeship ceremony. Once they successfully form an alliance, Uchiha Akira's prestige will reach its peak. At that time, your authority in the Village will be completely gone. We will truly have no chance to turn the tables."
Turn the tables? A trace of bitterness flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. With what would he turn the tables? With those Anbu under him who were intimidated just by hearing Uchiha Akira's name? His authority had already been shattered by Uchiha Akira at Naka Shrine.
"It's too late." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
"Since Hyūga Hiashi dared to announce it publicly, it means he has made up his mind. Trying to stop it now will only make us look more like a joke."
Homura Mitokado fell silent. Yes. What authority did a Hokage who couldn't even suppress the prominent families in his own Village have left?
"Are we… just going to watch?" Homura Mitokado said unwillingly.
"Watch Uchiha Akira, step by step, steal the Village we have painstakingly guarded our entire lives?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer. He merely cast his gaze out the window. Outside the window was the prosperous scene of Konoha Village. But beneath this prosperity, undercurrents surged.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly remembered his unaccomplished student, Orochimaru. Back then, when Orochimaru defected, he had also felt this sense of powerlessness. But that time, he could at least control the situation. This time, his chessboard was about to be overturned.
"Go and call Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Chōza Akimichi." Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly spoke.
"I want to know what their 3 clans think."
Ino–Shika–Chō. This was the last card he had that still held some weight.
...
Inside the Nara Clan territory, Shikaku, Inoichi, and Chōza sat together.
"That old fox, Hyūga, moved fast," Chōza Akimichi said in a muffled voice, breaking the silence.
"He was the first to kneel, and he knelt so decisively."
"That's not kneeling," Shikaku Nara rubbed his temples, a look of "this is so troublesome" on his face.
"That's investing. At the clearest moment of the situation, exchanging the smallest cost for the greatest return. Hyūga Hiashi has actually won the gamble. With Uchiha Akira, the rise of the Uchiha is unstoppable!"
Inoichi Yamanaka sighed.
"What about us? Lord Third has already sent someone to deliver a message. This is forcing us to choose a side."
Shikaku Nara picked up his teacup and drank it in one gulp.
"Choose a side? Do we still need to? On one side is the setting sun, on the other is the rising sun. Although the Ino-Shika-Chō trio are not as strong as the Uchiha and Hyūga, we never play games with losers."
Shikaku Nara looked at his 2 old friends.
"Reply to Lord Third. Just say that the deer in the Nara Clan's deer farm have been sick recently, and I can't leave."
Chōza Akimichi immediately understood: "Our Akimichi Clan's food has had some problems recently, and our clansmen are suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, so we are truly unable to attend the meeting."
Inoichi Yamanaka also nodded: "My flowers need fertilizing."
The 3 reasons were more absurd than the last. But their attitude was extremely clear.
...
At this moment, Uchiha Akira was standing in front of Naka Shrine, watching his clansmen busily setting up the venue for the apprenticeship ceremony 3 days later. A red carpet stretched from the shrine entrance all the way to the main road. On both sides, banners with the Uchiha and Hyūga family crests would be hung.
The display was grand. This was the effect Uchiha Akira wanted. The reason he chose Hinata instead of Hanabi, Akira naturally had his considerations.
Hinata, in Hyūga Hiashi's eyes, was a "failure." But here with Akira, she had immense potential and would make an excellent disciple. Extreme Yin Release Chakra, and a Byakugan of extremely high purity. The Hyūga Clan could not develop Hinata's potential; only by becoming his disciple could Hinata truly unleash her potential.
"Lord Clan Head."
Fugaku, in a wheelchair, was pushed over by Mikoto. His complexion had improved greatly, but his legs would probably never be able to stand again.
"Everything for the ceremony has been prepared."
Fugaku looked at Uchiha Akira, his eyes filled with relief and admiration. He had now completely let go of everything from the past. He was willing to handle the family's trivial matters for this young man.
"Thank you for your hard work, Elder Fugaku." Akira nodded.
"How is Sasuke doing?"
At the mention of her younger son, a trace of sorrow flashed in Mikoto's eyes.
"Still the same, he locks himself in his room and refuses to see anyone. However, he's eating now. This child has suffered too much."
Akira was silent for a moment.
"Time will be the best healer; Sasuke will slowly get used to it."
...
3 days later, Uchiha Clan territory, Naka Shrine.
It was still dark, but the place was already bustling with people. Hundreds of Uchiha clansmen, dressed in unified black formal attire, stood solemnly in rows along both sides of the road. Making every guest who came to observe the ceremony feel a chill in their hearts.
Today's Uchiha was completely different from the arrogant and disorganized Uchiha of the past. Their sharpness was fully revealed, and their killing intent was contained.
Hyūga Hiashi, accompanied by a group of elders from the Main Family and Branch Family, and his 2 daughters, arrived first. When Hiashi saw this scene, he was inwardly shocked. The Hyūga clansmen behind him subconsciously slowed their steps.
Is this the current strength of the Uchiha? It was terrifying.
Hanabi Hyūga, the genius girl hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Hyūga Clan, curiously surveyed her surroundings. And Hinata, clinging tightly to her father, was so nervous she was almost walking with her arms and legs moving in unison.
She secretly, with the corner of her eye, stole a glance at the man who was about to become her teacher.
Uchiha… Akira.
Today, he wore an extremely luxurious, black robe with gold trim, befitting a clan head. He simply stood quietly on the steps of the shrine. He wasn't doing anything. Yet everyone's gaze was involuntarily drawn to him.
Hinata became even more nervous. Her little face was flushed, looking incredibly cute.