Several days later — Hyuga Main Family.
Land of Fire, Hyuga clan territory.
It was located deep within a dense forest.
There were no tall buildings or pavilions, only simple village-like settlements.
Generally speaking, ninjas were not a group that particularly enjoyed life.
For them, the pursuit of power far surpassed everything else.
Furthermore, the Hyuga clan had strict family traditions.
Under this top-down influence, the entire clan lived very frugally, using all acquired resources wisely.
Developing the nation was the job of daimyos and nobles — ninjas only needed to wield their blades.
Even the Hyuga clan, which was considered relatively gentle from the outside, upheld this philosophy in this chaotic world.
Those from the Hyuga clan patrolling the forest surrounding the village all exuded a strong presence of killing intent and bloodshed.
In this chaotic world, the Hyuga clan had no choice but to adapt to the times, resulting in the emergence of numerous radical factions within the clan.
Therefore, entertainment and leisure were unnecessary here.
This was a village operated under a highly militarized system.
Ordinary clan members were forced to race against time to handle logistical tasks such as forging weapons, transporting food, and procuring other supplies needed by ninjas.
The clan’s children were also placed under centralized management.
From the age of three or four, they were required to learn how to use kunai and how to manipulate chakra to kill enemies.
At that time, near the center of the village, there was a tall, somewhat luxurious wooden building with a wide courtyard outside that could accommodate more than ten people.
Compared to other houses in the village, it could be called a luxurious residence.
This indicated that the Hyuga clan members living here held a central position within the clan.
In fact, Hyuga Hiden, an elder of the Hyuga clan, lived here.
Although Hyuga Hiden was not yet fifty years old, he had already become one of the elders of the Hyuga main family.
Unlike other clan elders who relied on seniority and refused to yield their positions even when attending meetings with canes, he had become an elder through the overwhelming power he had honed on the battlefield.
The most dangerous moment was two years ago, when he encountered a wandering Two-Tails at the border of the Land of Fire.
At that time, they were no match for the Two-Tails and were pushed to the brink of defeat by its Tailed Beast Ball, but in the end, he successfully led his comrades to a safe retreat.
“Kichou, after the high-ranking officials’ meeting, you will marry the puppet master Shogun of the Night Kingdom.
As the principal wife of the Hyuga clan, you must possess generosity and wisdom.”
Hyuga Hiden, a middle-aged man with a somewhat cold expression, informed his daughter, Hyuga Kichou, that the clan’s highest directive had been fully executed.
“Of course, Father.
Kichou will not object.”
Hyuga Kichou, a girl dressed in a white kimono embroidered with red maple leaves, knelt before her father Hiden with perfect posture and a smile.
She had translucent, delicate skin that ordinary female ninjas did not possess, and her fingertips were smooth without calluses — this was also far from the image of a ninja.
Her pure white eyes contained no impurities, and only an incomparably pure smile floated on her face, as if it could speak and breathe life.
Her long, smooth black hair flowed down to her waist, and sharply cut bangs hung on both sides of her face, making her look like a noble princess raised in an environment isolated from the world.
Only the strong scent of blood emanating from her revealed that this beautiful princess-like girl was actually a cold-blooded executioner.
As one of the figures leading the new generation of the Hyuga clan, the eighteen-year-old Hyuga Kichou had already taken countless lives.
Her ability to use the Byakugan had also helped train many adult members of the clan to levels they had not yet reached.
Even so, she held no dissatisfaction with the marriage decided by her family and simply smiled and followed the clan’s rules.
Even if that order was to marry a man she did not know and who was nearly ten years older than her, and bear his children.
As the daughter of a prestigious family, she had long prepared for this situation.
They either married a powerful person within the clan or became tools for political alliances, seeking new support for the clan from the outside world.
Hearing his daughter’s understanding answer, Hiden’s serious expression softened slightly.
He had known for a long time that his daughter Kichou was a very assertive child, so he had been quite worried that upon hearing such an order, she might take irrational actions that would negatively affect the family’s development.
Fortunately, she had not done anything foolish that went against Hyuga clan tradition.
“Don’t worry.
The man you are marrying is much older than you, but he is an excellent person and will never tarnish your family background or status.
You can rest assured.”
“Yes.
He may be an excellent person, but will he become a husband who cherishes me?”
Kichou did not feel joy or excitement.
She simply smiled like a delicate doll and listened devoutly to her father Hiden’s teachings.
“I heard recently that the puppet master Shogun suppressed the Seven-Tails… The Seven-Tails is a Tailed Beast.
Even within the Hyuga clan, only the clan head could do something like that.”
Hiden sighed as he spoke.
Tailed Beasts… they were beings that could kill any ordinary ninja.
Previously, when he had encountered the Two-Tails, although he had not been completely unable to resist, he had known there was nothing he could do.
Guiding people to safety had been his limit.
He was almost fifty years old.
His abilities had nearly reached their limit.
In a few more years, he would enter a period of decline due to aging.
His son-in-law… was still only twenty-seven and far from the peak of a ninja.
Looking at his daughter Kichou’s carefully maintained smile, he had to admit that she was very beautiful.
If she were not a ninja, she would have been a peerless beauty capable of toppling a nation.
However, she was a ninja.
The scent of blood emanating from her body was proof that she had killed many people.
She could mercilessly slaughter enemies regardless of age or gender while wearing an incomparably gentle and calm smile.
Thinking this, Hiden could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
His daughter was such a cold-blooded and outstanding person.
So Hiden walked to the side, took out a sword with a blue hilt, and handed it to the girl.
“Father, this is…”
Kichou tilted her head, slightly not understanding the meaning of her father Hiden’s words.
“This is a trophy I took when I destroyed a samurai clan in the past — Beast Cutter.”
“Is it a chakra blade?”
Kichou took the blade, gripped the blue hilt, and gently drew part of the blade.
Its cold light was piercing, and just looking at it made one feel a terrifying aura that made the skin tingle.
She immediately sensed that this was no ordinary chakra blade.
Ordinary chakra blades contained very little chakra metal, but this blade was made entirely of extremely rare special chakra metal and crafted with the highest level of craftsmanship.
“This is a spirit sword.
In the past, in the ninja world, besides Tailed Beasts, there were also demons composed of grudges and chakra.
First-rate swordsmiths of that time forged spirit swords for these demons.
In addition to excellent chakra conductivity, these spirit swords also had the effect of suppressing evil spirits.
The fact that I was able to escape the Two-Tails unscathed was largely thanks to this spirit sword, ‘Beast Cutter.'”
Although Tailed Beasts were different from demons, they still possessed negative energy.
With a spirit sword like Beast Cutter in hand, fighting Tailed Beasts would become much easier.
“Now I hand over the spirit blade Beast Cutter to you.
If your future husband becomes useless, use this Beast Cutter to dispose of him and make the Night Kingdom our Hyuga clan’s backyard.
So use your beauty to the fullest to capture his heart, and then…”
Hiden spoke coldly and said nothing more.
His eyes showed an extremely cruel and calculating expression.
“Is that so?” Kichou gently stroked the blade of the spirit sword, and suddenly her eyes became unreadable as a meaningful smile appeared on her face.
“Someday, this sword might be used against you, Father.”
Hiden’s face showed surprise and displeasure.
“Kichou, stop with such foolish jokes.
I know very well that you are not a foolish woman who would jump into love without thinking.”
“Yes, Father.
Ninjas do not need emotions.”
Kichou smiled and sheathed the spirit sword “Beast Cutter.”
“You may go now.
Once the betrothal gifts from the Night Kingdom arrive, the clan will arrange your departure.”
Hiden felt there was no need to explain to his daughter and waved his hand, telling her to stay home and patiently wait for the wedding day.
“Yes.
Then I will return to my room to rest, Father.”
Kichou stood up, turned around, and left the room.
…
Both Yayoi and the Hyuga clan were satisfied with the conditions presented by both sides.
Therefore, the marriage arrangements were discussed for about a month and were smoothly settled without any resistance.
It was natural for the Hyuga clan to migrate to the Night Kingdom.
They could not bear to give up their ancestral land in the Land of Fire and did not want to leave their homeland.
The countryside was the fate of the defeated.
Upon hearing this, Yayoi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike the Aburame clan, the Hyuga clan was large and powerful.
If they were to be annexed into the Night Kingdom, the one with the biggest headache would be him.
At that time, whether he could maintain his position as Shogun would be questionable.
He might have been able to suppress the Aburame clan, but a powerful clan like the Hyuga would be a disaster for the Night Kingdom.
Therefore, a marriage alliance was the best outcome.
The Hyuga clan would gain the resources of the Night Kingdom, while Yayoi would receive the Hyuga Bloodline Limits and form an alliance with them.
It was truly a win-win situation.
Yayoi disliked the concept of bloodlines, but in the world of Naruto, no matter how much one denied it, Bloodline Limits were still synonymous with power in this ninja world.
Bloodline Limits could be passed on to the next generation through reproduction.
Yayoi hoped that his next generation would start from a higher point.
For a monarch, having excellent descendants was a top priority, not an option.
In other words, the union of these two forces could no longer be stopped.
The Hyuga clan not only married off one of the main family’s daughters but also sent two daughters from branch families to the Night Kingdom as maids to the main family’s daughter.
Naturally, the guards selected from branch families and their relatives also followed the main family’s daughter into the Night Kingdom.
This symbolized that the Hyuga clan was supporting the Night Kingdom and that this branch family would become a source of power and foundation for the main family’s daughter in the Night Kingdom.
These were human resource supports. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
In addition, the Hyuga clan also provided information on ninjutsu, including Yin-Yang Release, which Yayoi valued most highly.
However, this was still only a fragment of the Yin-Yang Release scroll.
The complete Yin-Yang Release technique was probably something only the Senju and Uchiha clans possessed in the entire ninja world.
The Yin-Yang Release fragment given by the Hyuga clan was more complete than the fragment Yayoi had obtained after destroying the Hagoromo clan.
In return, Yayoi generously gifted the Yin-Yang Release technique he had received from the Hagoromo clan and improved upon as a betrothal gift to the Hyuga clan.
There were also several unique medical ninjutsu and knowledge he had created through his special chakra.
Although these medical techniques were difficult to fully reproduce without his special chakra, they could significantly reduce the Hyuga clan’s medical burden.
Furthermore, the betrothal gifts included many precious medicinal herbs.
Yayoi also provided a large amount of ninja tools and money.
Yayoi did not value such material possessions.
The Night Kingdom’s economy had developed by leaps and bounds and was changing every year.
Although it could not be said to be rapid, it was catching up to the major nations in terms of economic power and resource development.
…
Hyuga Clan, Land of Fire.
After waiting more than ten days, the marriage procession sent by Yayoi was neatly arranged.
Leading the unit was Kakuzu, the head of the Military Department’s combat execution division, composed of twenty elite ninjas and two hundred elite samurai skilled in chakra swordsmanship.
Their ninja attire and armor were printed with spider lily patterns.
Furthermore, several ninjas wearing black turtlenecks and sunglasses appeared in Kakuzu’s group.
Their aloof and taciturn demeanor exuded a mysterious and cold atmosphere that kept people at a distance.
Hyuga Hiden, the leader of the Hyuga clan’s marriage procession, looked at the ninjas in black turtlenecks with a slightly surprised expression.
The trench coats worn by the elders were embroidered with the crest of a ninja clan.
This crest was a simple design resembling an insect.
They each exuded a strong aura, proving they were no ordinary ninjas.
Even among prestigious clans like the Hyuga, they would be considered an elite unit.
Especially the man wearing sunglasses gave Hiden a sense of danger.
Hiden knew this person.
He had fought him before, and their strengths were almost equal.
Aburame Yurō, the Clan Leader of the Aburame clan.
He had just turned thirty and had quickly ascended to the position a year ago after the previous clan head died in battle, resolving the crisis within the Aburame clan.
The insects he manipulated were all strange and unpredictable types that had caused him a lot of trouble in the past.
Unexpectedly, the other party had appeared in the Night Kingdom’s marriage procession.
After thinking carefully, Hiden understood the situation.
While the Hyuga clan and the Night Kingdom were discussing marriage, the Aburame clan had quietly joined the Night Kingdom.
At this point, the Aburame clan’s territory in the Land of Fire had probably been abandoned and become undeveloped land.
Hiden took a deep breath.
He had never imagined that his son-in-law would have such a surprise at this timing.
“It’s been a while, Aburame Yurō.”
Hiden greeted Aburame Yurō.
Former enemies were now allies.
Life was truly unpredictable.
“It’s been a while.”
Aburame Yurō nodded lightly.
His entire body was covered in a black trench coat, with only the upper half of his face and sunglasses visible, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.
He was like a snake lurking in the darkness, always ready to deliver a fatal blow.
“I never thought the Aburame clan would leave the Land of Fire.”
Hiden was deeply moved.
The Aburame clan was considered an old ninja clan that had existed in the Land of Fire for over two hundred years.
Although they were not considered a powerful clan in the Land of Fire, they were not to be underestimated by anyone.
Aburame ninjas generally did not possess outstanding abilities, but their power was very evenly distributed.
As they grew, their abilities stabilized, and through coordinated actions, they posed a significant threat to many ninja clans.
“The Shogun presented conditions we could not refuse.
Besides, the Land of Fire is too dangerous right now.”
Aburame Yurō spoke flatly, but his words carried a heavy weight that reached everyone’s ears.
Hiden nodded.
He knew that Aburame Yurō was referring to the Senju-Uchiha alliance.
It had certainly made many ninja clans in the Land of Fire uneasy.
The Aburame clan was much weaker than the Hyuga clan and had no reliable allies.
In such a situation, leaving might be the best option.
In contrast, the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans — which, like the Aburame clan, were secret ninja groups — were much more fortunate.
The secret techniques of these three clans could be combined, and they had always maintained harmony since their origins, forming a unified whole.
Especially several decades ago, the Sarutobi clan had also joined the alliance system of these three clans and supported each other.
Subsequently, the Shimura, Koharu, and Mitokado clans also connected with the Sarutobi clan through exchanges.
Except for the Senju and Uchiha clans, it would be difficult for any other ninja clan to ignore this formidable force built by these powerful ninja clans.
Therefore, even when facing the current tense situation in the Land of Fire, these ninja clans — unlike the isolated and vulnerable Aburame clan — could calmly stay put and observe the situation.