Satoshi was seated comfortably in the main guest seat, slowly sipping tea.
Hiashi quickly gave a look to his wife, who was standing beside him, signaling her to leave. She looked at him with concern and silently withdrew.
Hiashi said, "What important matter brings Hokage-sama to my humble abode? Had you sent word, I would have immediately gone to the Hokage Building to receive orders."
Satoshi's gaze did not fall on Hiashi's face, but rather looked with interest at the bag of pastries.
He put down his teacup and casually pointed. "Please give me a pastry. I woke up late this morning and didn't have time for breakfast."
Hiashi respectfully offered several exquisitely presented pastries. "I just bought a few on the way back. I don't know if they suit Hokage-sama's taste."
"They're quite good, sweet and delicious."
Just as Hiashi slightly relaxed, Satoshi suddenly changed the topic, looking at Hiashi with a smile. "But I remember that you don't like sweets."
Hiashi's heart felt as if it had been clutched by an invisible hand. His dislike for sweets, while not a great secret, was certainly not common knowledge.
How would Hokage-sama know?
Could it be that the Hokage had always sent people to secretly watch him, which is why he knew such details about his life?
Then, last night's secret meeting...
Terrifying thoughts, like venomous snakes, slithered into his mind, instantly drenching his back in cold sweat, and his fingers, gripping the teacup, turned slightly white.
Questions swirled in Hiashi's mind, refusing to leave.
Unexpectedly, Satoshi suddenly slapped his forehead. "My apologies, I misremembered. It's Jiraiya-sensei who has a toothache recently, so he's not eating sweets."
"I've been so busy lately with so many things that I've become muddled."
Hiashi nodded, forcing a few awkward laughs.
If you say so, then so be it.
Satoshi seemed to genuinely enjoy the pastries, eating several more before picking up his teacup and taking a sip of hot tea to wash them down.
"Very delicious, thank you, clan head Hiashi, for your hospitality."
"Not at all, they're just a few pastries. If you like them, I can send some to Hokage-sama."
Satoshi shook his head. "No, thank you. You are busy with clan affairs. I won't trouble you with such a small matter. You should rest more."
He put down his teacup, his gaze finally settling on Hiashi's face, with a hint of scrutiny.
His tone was still gentle, yet it was like an invisible blade. "Seeing you look so tired, one might think you haven't slept all night and were building snowmen in the back mountains in the middle of the night."
Crack.
The teacup in Hiashi's hand fell and shattered instantly, and the hot tea splattered a small area. The crisp sound of shattering was particularly jarring in the quiet living room.
"Slippery hands..."
Hiashi's voice trembled noticeably.
He tried to compose himself, but his right hand couldn't stop shaking slightly. He fumbled to take out a new teacup and carefully placed it on the table.
"Recently, the situation in the Ninja World remains unstable, the Ōtsutsuki threat has not been eliminated, and now the Kage from the Four Great Ninja Villages are residing in the village."
Hiashi started to boast with a straight face, "The Hyuga clan has taken on the important responsibility of security for the outer and some core areas, daring not to be negligent in the slightest. The pressure is quite high, and I haven't been resting well."
"Is that so."
Satoshi nodded. "It must be tough."
Hiashi slightly relaxed and quickly picked up his own teacup.
"Not tough at all. It's my duty. Come, have some tea."
Just as Hiashi picked up his teacup, he heard Satoshi speak again, "Your tireless dedication to Konoha is truly a blessing for the villagers."
He paused. "Especially at times like these, you must pay attention to your own safety. Do not go to places you shouldn't. It's best not to meet people you shouldn't. Safety first."
Crack.
The second teacup again slipped from Hiashi's uncontrolled hand, shattering into pieces. Tea splattered once more, creating a mess.
Hiashi's face completely lost its color, turning ashen white.
If the first time was a warning, this time was a blatant showdown.
Hokage-sama not only knew, but knew perfectly well.
Satoshi blinked. "Are you trying to get a new set of cups, but your wife keeps disagreeing?"
Hiashi's voice trembled slightly. "Just a slip of the hand."
He looked up, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and asked in a dry voice, "W-what did Hokage-sama mean by what he just said?"
Satoshi looked at Hiashi and said, "We still don't know what Jigen looks like. Perhaps he has been hiding around us, intending to destroy the Ninja World."
"His power is too dangerous. I am also considering your safety."
Hiashi wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I understand."
At this point, the two of them were basically playing with open cards.
Satoshi stood up and said, "It's still the same thing. No matter who it is, no matter where they come from, or what banner they fly under, as long as they threaten Konoha's safety, every villager here, I will never let them go."
Hiashi slumped in his seat, his body cold. This was no longer a hint, but the most severe warning and a final ultimatum.
After speaking, Satoshi turned and left.
As Satoshi was about to walk out the door, Hiashi suddenly shouted, "Hokage-sama, please wait!"
After saying that, he bowed his head to Satoshi. "It was my momentary confusion. Please forgive me, Hokage-sama."
Satoshi turned his head, looking at Hiashi with surprise. "What's wrong? It's not New Year's or a festival. I don't have a gift for you. Besides, the seniority isn't right."
Faced with Satoshi's teasing, Hiashi couldn't bring himself to smile.
He knew that if he waited a few more seconds, once Satoshi walked out of this door, the nature of the situation would change.
"This is all my fault. It was my unauthorized action, and it has nothing to do with my clan members. Please investigate, Hokage-sama, and do not implicate the innocent Hyuga clan members."
Satoshi feigned bewilderment. "What exactly happened?"
Hiashi sighed deeply.
Satoshi was truly a master of playing dumb. He was indeed a ninja who had inherited the will of Second Hokage Tobirama.
"Hokage-sama, this is what happened."
He propped himself up and stood, then recounted without reservation the details of his meeting with Toneri last night, Toneri's identity, his purpose, his accusations against Satoshi, and the temptation of the Byakugan's true power and the New Pure Land.
"Perhaps there's some misunderstanding here."
"Misunderstanding? He's trying to destroy the Ninja World, and you call it a misunderstanding?" Satoshi's voice suddenly rose.
"What Ancestor Hamura's descendant? I think he's just Orochimaru in disguise."
"Huh?"
Hiashi nearly jumped.
No way.
This could be linked to Orochimaru too?
But...
Hiashi was a very smart person, and he quickly reacted.
Hokage-sama was giving him, and the entire Hyuga clan, a way out. A perfect opportunity to clear his name and re-align.
Immediately, he played along. "I saw his suspicious behavior and mad words. He must be that insidious and despicable Orochimaru in disguise, without a doubt. This is all a conspiracy by that despicable Orochimaru."
"Please rest assured, Hokage-sama, the Hyuga clan will do everything in its power to apprehend Orochimaru."