Chapter 18 - Dealing with Hyuga, First Meeting with Hinata
"You actually..." Hyuga Hiashi shot up from his seat, then gazed at the black pupils that had transformed from Mangekyo to Three Tomoe and then disappeared, muttering, "Is this your trump card?"
How much of a genius was this?
Bai Ye was only a teenager, yet he already possessed the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power, the Mangekyo. Hyuga Hiashi now understood why Bai Ye had the confidence to go against Konoha.
And this also made Hyuga Hiashi begin to re-evaluate Bai Ye.
Indeed, as Bai Ye said, this land was actually of little use to their Hyuga Clan. The most central locations were all taken by the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mito, and Utatane Clans.
They had only acquired the fringes, and these were even on the edge near their original Hyuga Clan territory, tasteless to eat and a shame to discard.
Ultimately, returning it to the Uchiha Clan would cause no loss to the Hyuga Clan.
However, they would lose face. If word got out, people might think the Hyuga Clan was afraid of the Uchiha Clan.
"Hiashi, what exactly is going on?"
The elders looked at Hyuga Hiashi and noticed that he seemed to have changed slightly compared to before.
They instinctively glanced at Hyuga Hiashi's eyes, and after confirming that he had not been controlled by the Sharingan's genjutsu, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's nothing, I just feel we really need to have a good talk."
"Then, let's talk, just the two of us."
The extra people could leave.
Hyuga Hiashi pondered for a moment, then finally nodded, agreeing to Bai Ye's request.
He now acknowledged that Bai Ye could communicate with him on equal footing.
Initially, he had thought Bai Ye was just a puppet pushed forward by the Uchiha's radical faction, but now, it seemed the other party genuinely had the power to change the current situation.
After all, it wasn't their Hyuga Clan that was currently at odds with the Uchiha Clan, so why should they become pawns for Hiruzen Sarutobi and his allies?
"Clan Head, you can't!"
As soon as Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, the expressions of several elders immediately changed.
This Uchiha had directly used his Sharingan to control Hyuga Clan members along the way to get in.
Now, if Bai Ye and Hyuga Hiashi were left alone, they couldn't help but suspect that Bai Ye might make a move.
"You all go out and release those guys from the genjutsu. Also, tell them to train their genjutsu resistance properly in the future. You are not needed here. He won't attack me. You can leave!"
A hint of anger flashed across Hyuga Hiashi's face. Within the Hyuga Clan, although many matters were decided by the elders of the Main House, as the Clan Head, he had the absolute right to make final decisions.
Back then, when the Cloud Ninjas demanded the culprit, he only wanted to protect his daughter. He had expected Konoha to stand by him, but instead, Konoha weakly chose to back down. In the end, Hizashi died for him. Even after Hizashi died, he actually didn't want to hand over Hizashi's body, but he couldn't withstand the pressure from Konoha, the Cloud Ninjas, and a portion of his own clan.
He could only hand over Hizashi's corpse in the end. This incident, even now, he still couldn't let go of.
The Clan Head, in such a class-divided clan, was clearly the highest authority.
Therefore, after Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, the other elders simply opened their mouths, said nothing more, and then left the room.
Once only Bai Ye and Hyuga Hiashi remained in the reception room, Hyuga Hiashi finally spoke, "So, this is your confidence? Do you really think your abilities are enough to sweep through Konoha?"
Hyuga Hiashi admitted that Bai Ye's Mangekyo had indeed surprised him, but after calming down, Hyuga Hiashi immediately poured a bucket of cold water on him.
If Bai Ye intended to rely on the Mangekyo to deal with Konoha, it was simply impossible!
"I've always said that our Uchiha Clan and most of Konoha's families are not enemies. Why do you think our Uchiha Clan wants to fight against the entire Konoha?"
Bai Ye asked curiously, as if in everyone's impression, everything the Uchiha Clan was currently doing was to oppose the entire Konoha.
Even people within the Uchiha Clan thought so.
But Bai Ye didn't think that way, nor had he ever intended to do so.
What's the point of killing everyone in Konoha?
Then wouldn't the Village only have people from your clan?
Would that still be considered a Village?
"If you want to become Hokage, you will inevitably make enemies of most people. Konoha's pie has already been mostly divided."
Hyuga Hiashi lowered his gaze towards Bai Ye, then slowly explained.
Who among them didn't know that the Uchiha Clan wanted to become Hokage?
They even shouted that the Senju Clan, who founded Konoha with the Uchiha, had a Hokage, but the Uchiha Clan did not, and they also wanted a Hokage!
Konoha was like a very large pie. Although it looked big, there were many people eating it, so naturally, everyone wouldn't get much. Now, this pie was already nearing saturation.
If the Uchiha Clan came to power, this was definitely not what the other ninja clans of Konoha wanted to see.
The Uchiha were already Konoha's largest clan. If a Hokage also emerged from them, their position would definitely become unshakeable.
Wouldn't everyone be ridden over by the Uchiha Clan in the future?
"I have never thought about the Uchiha Clan becoming Hokage. That position isn't suitable for us Uchiha. All we want is fairness. Given the current situation where we are targeted by the Hokage, if it were your Hyuga Clan, you would probably do the same as us, wouldn't you?"
"Therefore, I came to you, because if we fall, you are next. If we cooperate, we can even draw fire for you."
Bai Ye had never considered becoming Hokage. That Hokage thing was not as important as his own strength.
If you had the power of the Six Paths Sage, would you still care about that position?
Moreover, once he became Hokage, his training would definitely be delayed. Even if he didn't work himself to death like Naruto, he would certainly be bothered to death by political affairs every day, like Tsunade, yet unable to shirk them.
So from the very beginning, Bai Ye hadn't thought about the Hokage position. Besides, there were other suitable candidates in Konoha for Hokage.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi absolutely had to step down. If he stayed in that position, the Uchiha Clan would never have peace.
"So, if you want them to step down, what can we gain?"
If someone other than the Uchiha Clan came to power later, this matter could actually be accepted.
Hyuga Hiashi was actually very dissatisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the few people around him. If it weren't for them, Hizashi wouldn't have died. It was impossible for him not to have other thoughts in his heart.
However, even if he really wanted to, there had to be benefits, right?
Otherwise, how could he explain it to his clan?
"Eliminating those four families, isn't that enough for you to divide? You Hyuga Clan don't even need to exert yourselves. Just don't interfere when I deal with them!"
Bai Ye immediately drew a grand vision for Hyuga Hiashi.
Anyway, he hadn't succeeded yet, so they could wait. Once he succeeded, everyone would share the spoils from those guys.
And in exchange, the Hyuga Clan only needed to remain neutral.
"But now you want me to return the land to you. Our Hyuga Clan can't just give it back like that!"
Hyuga Hiashi stared intently at Bai Ye. In his heart, he was already leaning towards cooperating with Bai Ye.
Because it wouldn't be a big loss for the Hyuga Clan.
In the early stage, they only needed to give the Uchiha Clan the land that was originally of little use to them.
Later, they wouldn't need to take sides or do anything. If Bai Ye won, they would share the fruits of victory. If Bai Ye lost, their Hyuga Clan would also be fine and would instead become Konoha's number one clan due to the Uchiha Clan's decline.
So, no matter how he looked at it, he wouldn't lose out.
Watching Bai Ye annoy Hiruzen Sarutobi, he also felt a secret pleasure in his heart.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him plenty of grief in the past.
But there was still one problem before him, and that was the Hyuga Clan's face!
"We'll just buy it. If I take it back for free, you'll lose face, but if we buy it back, then it's just a transaction."
Bai Ye had thought this through before coming. If they paid for it, the meaning would naturally be different.
"Alright!"
Hyuga Hiashi pondered for a moment, then agreed: "However, I have one condition. You cannot speak of this currently. You must first deal with Ino–Shika–Chō before you can reveal this matter!"
"Okay!"
Bai Ye thought for a moment, then also agreed to Hyuga Hiashi's request.
Still about face, huh?
"Then let's draft an agreement. Later, I will compensate you with a portion of the current clan land, and the rest will be made up with money!"
With the most difficult Hyuga Clan dealt with, Bai Ye was in a great mood.
The Uchiha Clan was never short of money. Things that could be settled with money were not problems at all. Before coming, Bai Ye had even prepared for a fight.
After both parties signed the agreement, Hyuga Hiashi prepared to escort Bai Ye out. After what had just happened, he didn't dare let Bai Ye leave alone.
At a corner, a figure suddenly appeared, and the next second, directly bumped into Bai Ye: "S-sorry..."
"Hinata, why are you so clumsy?"
Hyuga Hiashi recognized the person who bumped into Bai Ye, frowned, and looked at her with some displeasure.
At this moment, Hinata was no longer favored in his heart. A daughter with a timid personality and less talent than his younger daughter, he was starting to think of giving up on her.
Looking at her stern-faced father and the stranger she had just bumped into, Hinata's heart raced. Her small face was anxious, wanting to explain, and tears seemed ready to burst from her eyes at any second.
But in her panic, the more anxious she became, the more she struggled to speak. Hyuga Hiashi, who was watching, saw this, and his dissatisfaction became even more apparent.
"Is this Clan Head Hiashi's daughter, Hinata? She's quite pretty, and seems quite nice. That bump just now was my fault for not paying attention. Don't blame her."
A gentle smile flashed across Bai Ye's face. He raised his hand and gently patted Hinata's head, then took out a candy from behind his back and placed it in her palm, saying, "Don't cry, okay? Little kids who cry too much will get big noses."
"You've seen me at my worst."
Hyuga Hiashi glanced at Hinata, then at Bai Ye, and spoke indifferently.
"It's fine, I think she's quite cute. The little girl is good. Speaking of which, your Hyuga Clan's family discipline is truly strict. Well, I'll be going now, Clan Head Hiashi."
"Then I won't see you out."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded, watching Bai Ye's retreating figure, lost in thought.
And Hinata, who had been timidly lowering her head, also looked up at Bai Ye's departing back, her hand holding the candy unconsciously tightening.
"Let's go back."
"Yes, Father."
Hinata followed Hyuga Hiashi's steps, carefully tucking the candy into her pocket. This scene was caught by Hiashi's glance, and his disappointment grew even more.
His daughter was already grown, why was she still the same as before?
"Troublesome! This is truly too troublesome!"
"I say, Shikaku, if Bai Ye comes to us later, should we return that to him or not?"
The heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Inoichi Yamanaka, were discussing upcoming matters at the Nara residence.
Although they were staunch supporters of the Hokage, given the current situation, if they clashed with the Uchiha Clan, it seemed they would be the ones to suffer losses!
"That's why I said it's troublesome. If we give it, it'll be hard to explain to that side. If we don't give it, it'll be hard to explain to the Uchiha side!"
Nara Shikaku felt that he shouldn't have taken over this area in the first place.
Their family didn't actually need this part, but it was because Hiruzen Sarutobi had split up the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan originally occupied a large area in the center of Konoha.
So, after the split, Hiruzen Sarutobi also made the edges of this area border some ninja clans, and it was also a way to win them over. This naturally included the Hyuga and Ino–Shika–Chō.
Nara Shikaku had originally thought that if the Uchiha Clan asked for it back then, he would have just given it to them, as their Nara Clan was quite satisfied with their original clan territory.
But so many years had passed, and he had thought the matter was settled.
However, after a change in clan head, the matter was brought up again.
"We can't give it, right? After all, it would be hard to explain to Hokage-sama later, especially since the relationship between the Village and the Uchiha is very tense right now!"
Inoichi Yamanaka frowned and looked at Nara Shikaku, then expressed his worries.
In his opinion, if they chose to give it now, it seemed impossible to explain to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"What about the Uchiha side then? If he can do this, he must have come prepared. Looking at Bai Ye, although he hasn't done much since taking office, every action has been purposeful. He will definitely take it back!"
"So, our stance is actually what Hokage-sama wants to test. If we don't give it, then we must stand firmly with Hokage-sama from now on, but the price is that we might have to join in fighting the Uchiha Clan later.
If we give it, then this matter has nothing to do with us. In essence, this is a problem between the Uchiha and the higher-ups, not a feud with us. We have quite a few businesses cooperating with the Uchiha Clan, so why do you think it's troublesome?"
It was rare for Shikaku to say so much at once, precisely because this matter was truly very troublesome!