Yunchuan Hyuga stopped on the open ground in front of the Hokage Building.
Behind him, the people of the Branch Family halted at once, and the entire group fell silent except for the sound of breathing. The stillness made the space feel heavier than before.
Yunchuan Hyuga turned around and swept his gaze across faces filled with expectation and tension, before it settled on Iroha Hyuga in the front row.
"Iroha," Yunchuan said in a clear, steady voice. "You come in with me."
Iroha Hyuga had recently become a Jonin and was one of the standouts among the younger generation of the Branch Family. Taking him into the meeting was the most suitable choice.
"Yes." Iroha Hyuga's eyes lit up as he answered without hesitation.
Beside him, Takao Hyuga showed a trace of envy that he could not quite hide.
His talent was actually good, but he was still too young, seven years younger than Iroha, and was still hovering between Chunin and Special Jonin. The distance to becoming a Jonin was still very far.
Iroha Hyuga keenly noticed Takao Hyuga's mood and patted his shoulder, lowering his voice with a grin. "Takao, work harder and become a Jonin sooner."
"The next time you attend a meeting with Lord Yunchuan, the one standing behind him might be you."
Hearing this, Takao Hyuga perked up, but Iroha Hyuga quickly changed his tone and laughed. "But right now, you are still a long way off."
After the low laughter, Iroha reined in his smile, his expression turning serious again, and he quickly followed Yunchuan Hyuga, who had already turned and walked toward the building entrance.
"The rest of you wait here," Yunchuan Hyuga said without turning back. "After the meeting, there will be other tasks for you."
"Yes!" the Branch Family responded in unison, their voices low but firm, as they watched the two figures enter the building.
Other clan ninja waiting outside saw this scene and could not help but form strange thoughts.
This Jonin known as "Takemikazuchi no Otoko" seemed to hold an unusually strong authority within the Hyuga Branch Family.
Inside, Iroha Hyuga followed closely behind Yunchuan Hyuga as they stepped into the meeting room that symbolized the core of power in Konoha. His heartbeat sped up without him noticing.
This was his first time attending a formal Jonin Council.
There were many Jonin in Konoha, but not all of them were qualified or required to attend every Jonin Council. The meeting room also could not hold that many people.
Usually, those who could attend such meetings fell into two groups. One was elite Jonin from civilian backgrounds, often representing their own departments.
The other group consisted of representatives from various clans, with clan heads typically bringing one or two of their most trusted Jonin. As a Branch Family Jonin, he had previously only learned about these meetings through internal briefings.
Iroha Hyuga quickly scanned the room, which was spacious and solemn, with a huge oval table in the center polished to a shine that reflected the morning light from the windows. Portraits of past Hokage hung on the walls, and dark leather chairs surrounded the table.
The meeting had not yet begun, but many Jonin were already seated and speaking in low voices. There were only a few dozen attendees, yet the atmosphere felt heavy and pressing.
Iroha could hear several Jonin quietly exchanging the latest intelligence about Xu activity, their faces showing varying degrees of worry, fatigue, and seriousness.
The bloodshed of the Uchiha night, the rampage of Espada, and the Xu incidents that affected the entire Ninja World all weighed on Konoha and beyond. Every Jonin present felt pressure they had never experienced before.
This serious mood extinguished the excitement Iroha Hyuga had felt about attending for the first time.
"Whew..."
He let out a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, his expression becoming just as serious as the others.
Yunchuan Hyuga looked as composed as ever and walked straight to his seat. Iroha followed closely and, after Yunchuan sat down, took his place standing behind him.
However, when his eyes landed on the opposite side of the table, his body stiffened slightly.
Directly across from them sat two people.
Hiashi Hyuga sat upright, his face calm and unreadable. Beside him was Hizashi Hyuga, whose expression was much darker, and when he saw the two of them, a faint, cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Behind Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga stood two Jonin wearing Hyuga clan attire.
They were Hyuga Himori and Hyuga Tokuma.
Both were members of the Branch Family, but the former had long been valued by the Main Family for his talent and strength and had been drawn in by various means. As a result, he had become a loyal supporter of the Main Family.
When he saw Yunchuan Hyuga and Iroha Hyuga, his mouth turned down, openly showing dissatisfaction and hostility, especially toward Yunchuan Hyuga.
As for Hyuga Tokuma, not long ago he had only been a Special Jonin within the Branch Family. His strength was decent and he specialized in tracking and reconnaissance, but he had still been some distance from a true Jonin.
Yet now, he had become a Jonin as well and stood behind Hizashi Hyuga.
"..."
Seeming to notice Iroha's gaze, Hyuga Tokuma raised his head slightly, and their eyes met briefly in the air. Tokuma's eyes quickly shifted away, his expression tight and uneasy.
Clearly, he understood the questionable weight of this "Jonin" title and the delicate position he now stood in.
After all, in the recent conflict between the Main Family and the Branch Family, he had once stood on the side of the Branch Family.
"Tokuma, you..."
Iroha Hyuga opened his mouth to speak, but Yunchuan Hyuga interrupted him with a light remark.
"Iroha," he said.
Though anger burned in him over Tokuma's betrayal, Iroha obediently closed his mouth when he heard Yunchuan Hyuga.
Hizashi Hyuga had also noticed the exchange and curved his lips into a cold, mocking smile, his dark gaze sweeping over Yunchuan Hyuga and Iroha like a snake.
Yunchuan Hyuga seemed not to notice the looks at all. He calmly sat down, clasped his hands on the table, and looked toward the main seat at the front of the room.
That seat, belonging to Hiruzen Sarutobi, was still empty.
Yunchuan Hyuga knew very well that the rift between the Main Family and Branch Family was deepening, and that the Main Family was running short on Jonin they could directly control and rely on. They had clearly spared no expense, using resources and connections to promote Hyuga Tokuma from a Special Jonin into a full Jonin to strengthen their faction.
It was a statement that the Main Family still controlled resource distribution and could still "create" the strength they needed. The appointment of a Jonin required approval from Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, which was also a means for him to balance the Hyuga Branch Family.
Because of this silent confrontation within the Hyuga Clan, the atmosphere in the room grew even more oppressive and delicate.
"Hm?"
"Interesting."
"So the Hyuga Clan is already..."
Jonin from other clans had also noticed the unusual tension and quietly let their gazes wander between Yunchuan Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga.
Had the opposition between the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family really reached this level?
It had not been long since the last Jonin Council, and at that time Yunchuan Hyuga had only just become a Jonin. Now he was not only a war hero of Konoha with an excellent reputation among the villagers, but also the leader of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family.