"Cough… hehe…" Hyūga Hiashi gave an awkward laugh at the scene before him. He had originally intended to scold Shigeo for being rude, but when he thought about how the Hyūga clan had neglected him all these years, he realized he had no right to reprimand him.
Being able to sit here and act as a bridge between the two today was already the limit of what he could do.
If he were to press down on Shigeo just because of his identity as the head of the Hyūga clan, that would be far too tactless.
"Haha, it's fine, it's fine. I actually don't mean anything else—I just really like you. You know, I've gone to the Third many times asking for you, wanting you to join Root, but you've always refused.
I know we have misunderstandings between us, but they're really just misunderstandings. I truly have nothing to do with Orochimaru. Yes, I used to know him, but I didn't know about the things he was doing.
I've always been loyal to Konoha—how could I ever support such inhuman experiments? Shigeo, you must believe me…"
Danzō spoke while laughing and sipping tea, but inwardly he was already furious. In all his years, when had he ever lowered himself to speak so humbly to someone? Not even to the Third Hokage would he act this way.
If this boy still refused to join him today, then he wouldn't hesitate to use force. His visit here was the final chance for a peaceful resolution!
Hyūga Hiashi's smile had already faded. No wonder Danzō had come to him, asking him to arrange a meeting with Shigeo.
So there was such a deep connection between them?
"Lord Danzō, is there something between Orochimaru and Shigeo?" Hiashi couldn't hold back and asked aloud.
After asking, he realized he'd spoken out of turn and shut his mouth.
As the clan head, how could he not know why one of his clan's children had gone missing, nearly died, and then spent half a year away from the village? He had no right to question others.
"Ahem, it's fine, it's fine, all just misunderstandings. Let's not talk about the past. Shigeo, I've explained everything I came to explain. What I want to ask now is—do you believe me?"
Danzō had practiced this speech countless times before coming. He believed in his own acting skills.
"I don't believe you!" Shigeo turned his head to look at him. In the night, his deep blue eyes shone even more profound, as if they could pierce through everything.
Those eyes were truly too beautiful. In the daytime, when his pupils lacked focus, there wasn't much impression—but as night fell and he could see, it was as if his whole being radiated vitality because of them.
"You…" Danzō slammed his teacup onto the table, barely managing to suppress the rage that Shigeo had provoked.
"Shigeo, why are you so stubborn? You are part of Konoha. Isn't it your duty to enter Root and protect the village? Don't you agree, Clan Head Hiashi?"
Suddenly, Danzō turned his gaze on Hiashi. Wasn't that why he had come here, to have him persuade the boy? Why hadn't he said a word?
This old fox just sat there smiling, drinking tea, not speaking at all. Couldn't he even handle a six-year-old child?
"Hehe, how should I put it… I think the child is still too young, lacking ability. Matters like joining the ANBU should wait a few years," Hiashi replied smoothly.
As a clan leader, he could read the situation. If the Third had approved Shigeo's entry into Root, would Danzō have needed him to step in? Clearly, the Hokage had already refused him.
If Danzō were truly capable of taking Shigeo by force, would he be here trying to persuade him politely? Obviously not. He had weighed the risks and knew he couldn't overpower Shigeo—so he wanted Hiashi to offend him instead.
Hiashi had no intention of doing that. The Hyūga had neglected Shigeo for years. Why should he now step in to provoke someone who had already defeated Ōnoki?
Still… was Shigeo really that powerful?
Hiashi glanced curiously at him, wanting to use his Byakugan to inspect his chakra. But since Danzō was sitting right there, he refrained.
"You… fine. Seems I came for nothing today. Shigeo, you really won't join Root?" Danzō stood up. This was his final attempt at persuasion.
"No. Never!" Shigeo's suppressed anger burst forth in his voice. Who did Danzō think he was?
"Fine, just you wait…" Snapping out the words, Danzō stormed out of the house, leaping away into the night.
Shigeo bowed slightly to Hiashi, then turned and left as well.
As he left, Hiashi secretly activated his Byakugan to inspect his chakra. What he saw shocked him—only fine threads of chakra moved weakly through his meridians. It wasn't even at the level of a genin. So the rumors were false after all? Then why was Danzō so insistent on having this boy? It was baffling.
That night, Shigeo returned home. His friends had already left, and the courtyard was dark. He lit a lamp, washed up, and went to sleep.
In the middle of the night, suddenly a pair of arms reached for his bed. With a "bang," a puff of white smoke rose—the person in bed was just a log.
Shigeo was already in the courtyard, where five or six ANBU had surrounded him.
Danzō stood in the shadows. He had truly lost his mind—daring to make a move inside the village itself.
"Capture him! Alive or dead!"
At his command, the Root ANBU charged.
Shigeo leapt to meet them head-on.
In the darkness, another pair of eyes observed through a crystal ball—the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Beside him stood a masked youth, short in stature, with clean white hair. It was young Hatake Kakashi.
"My lord, should we intervene?" Kakashi asked quietly.
The Hokage shook his head. "Not yet. Let's see his abilities…"
"He's fast…" Kakashi remarked.
Even as he spoke, Shigeo had already thrown off several Root members, appearing above Danzō. "Tonight, it's either you or me!"
With a leap, lightning crackled in his hand, and he slashed down at Danzō.
Danzō dodged aside. "Fūton: Shuriken (Wind Release: Shuriken)!"
He infused wind chakra into his shuriken, sharpening them to the point they could slice through solid rock with ease.
(End of Chapter)
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