"The Hyuga clan has no intention of having any conflict with the village."
"If the village's leadership thinks the Hyuga clan's system poses a danger to the village, the Hyuga clan can undergo reform. However, the reform proposed by Kagura-sama is still too advanced for the Hyuga clan."
Hyuga Hizashi earnestly finished expressing his viewpoint.
Akihara Kagura was constantly placing labels on their heads, seemingly hoping that such designation would lead to changes in the Hyuga clan, but Hyuga Hizashi couldn't agree with his advanced ideas.
"I should go visit the Hokage."
Hyuga Hizashi bowed and bid farewell to Akihara Kagura, still displaying polite demeanor, knowing he could no longer continue the conversation with Kagura.
Hyuga Hizashi still believed he could use the influence of the Third Hokage to persuade Akihara Kagura to abandon the idea of reforming the Hyuga clan.
This notion of Hyuga Hizashi's was like those who find themselves at a dead end, clamoring to see the top person, hoping that person could change their unfavorable situation.
"Suit yourself."
Akihara Kagura bid farewell to Hyuga Hizashi, opened his palm in a very negotiable stance: "I hope next time you won't want to come see me."
"…"
Hyuga Hizashi turned and left without looking back.
"Kagura-sama."
Karin watched the departing silhouette of Hyuga Hizashi, furrowing her brows: "This clan leader possesses the Super Vision Byakugan capable of seeing through all enemies within a kilometer. Why can't he see the future of this world?"
"Perhaps the beauty of the future is too distant!"
Akihara Kagura sighed, clasping his hands against his chin: "To embrace a brighter future, one needs to go through a hardship to reach it… However, don't worry, in a month he will understand which direction he should head towards."
"Won't the Hokage blame you?"
Karin was somewhat worried about the reproach from the Third Hokage.
"You…"
Akihara Kagura shook his head, patted Karin's little head: "Have you forgotten the meaning of Root's existence? The Third Hokage will play the good guy."
"Good guy…"
"Precisely requires the contrast of villains to be more conspicuous."
"However, no matter what kind of promise the Third Hokage makes to him, it will disperse like the breeze turning the windmill in a month."
"Alright."
Akihara Kagura pondered for a while and said: "For this month, just train well, don't let anything go wrong during the third exam…"
Only a month remained until the third exam of the Chunin Exam.
This month made all the candidates participating in the third round tense, every student had to strive hard to train.
Team 3's Might Guy continued to accompany the only participating student in the third exam, Hyuga Neji, alongside Lee Rock and Tenten, training together with Neji.
Team 7's Kakashi Hatake was diligently training Uchiha Sasuke, entrusting Naruto Uzumaki to Ebisu, hoping Ebisu could teach him about Chakra control.
Team 8's Aburame Shino had his own training method, while his companion Inuzuka Kiba could only help him find bugs and whatnot, with Hyuga Hinata still recovering at home.
Team 10's Nara Shikamaru, being a member of the Nara Clan, naturally had someone to teach him how to use the family Secret Technique, Shadow Possession Jutsu.
These little guys were very hard-working.
Even Karin was striving to explore the intricacies of Sage Mode training, accompanied by a group of Root Ninjas. The surviving Uchiha in the group believed it unlikely for Karin to greatly improve, so she might as well try human transplant techniques.
As for Gaara of the Hidden Sand Village and Chojuro of The Hidden Mist Village, they represented their villages' sole hope, also aware of how troublesome Konoha's opponents could be, naturally not willing to give up the effort.
On the other side.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen drank leisurely afternoon tea with Hyuga Hizashi.
Due to the Hyuga clan's former sacrifices, he gave the village's leadership absolute promises that the Hyuga clan would not be pressured into reform, nor would their loyalty to the village be doubted, easing Hyuga Hizashi's mood considerably.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, seeing Hyuga Hizashi leave, solemnly instructed the Dark Department: "Go and tell Akihara Kagura to warn him not to speak recklessly, threatening the village's comrades, nor incite internal conflict at this critical juncture."
"Yes."
"And, what about Jiraiya's whereabouts?"
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled another matter he was concerned about: "Did the Dark Department send the information? When did Jiraiya say he'd return last time?"
"Jiraiya-sama initially didn't want to return, but we informed him about Orochimaru's appearance during the Chunin Exam, and he didn't express his stance…"
In fact.
Jiraiya has already returned.
These years, Jiraiya had been out searching for Nagato and traces of the Akatsuki Organization, discovering that he seemed to have been deceived by Nagato.
The Akatsuki Organization wasn't a group aimed at peace in the Ninja World, constantly recruiting S-Class Traitorous Ninja, even taking S-Class war commission missions.
However…
Upon further reflection…
Nagato seemed not to have deceived him either.
Because when Jiraiya met with Nagato initially, Akihara Kagura's behavior was too extreme, leading Jiraiya not to clearly question Nagato's and the Akatsuki Organization's motives, even considering Nagato's intentions relatively normal.