A few days later.
Land of Fire, Hyuga Clan grounds.
Located deep within a dense forest.
There were no tall towers or pavilions, only a simple, Village-style outpost.
Generally speaking, Ninjas were not a group fond of luxury; their pursuit of power far exceeded everything else.
Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan had a strict Family ethos.
Under this top-down influence, the entire clan lived very frugally, spending the resources they obtained only where it mattered most.
Developing the country was the business of feudal lords and nobles; Ninjas only needed to wield their blades.
Even the Hyuga Clan, which appeared relatively gentle to outsiders, adhered to this philosophy in such chaotic times.
One could sense that every member of the Hyuga Clan patrolling the forest on the outskirts of the Village was surrounded by a dense aura of Killing Intent and bloodlust.
In these chaotic times, the Hyuga Clan had to adapt to the era, which led to the birth of many radical factions within the clan.
Therefore, there was no need for pleasure or leisure here; it was a highly militarized Village.
Ordinary clansmen raced against time to handle logistics, forge weapons, manage food supplies, and process other resources needed by the Ninjas.
The children in the clan were also centrally managed.
From the age of three or four, they had to learn how to use Kunai, how to mobilize Chakra, and how to kill enemies.
At this moment, near the center of the Village stood a somewhat upscale, tall wooden building with a large courtyard, spacious enough for over a dozen people to live in.
Compared to the rest of the Village’s houses, this could already be considered luxurious.
This signified that the Hyuga clansman living here held a core position within the Family.
This was indeed the case; the Hyuga Clan Elder of the Main Branch—Hyuga Shuzen—resided here.
Although he was not yet fifty, Hyuga Shuzen was already one of the Elders of the Hyuga Clan Main Branch.
Unlike those Elders who rested on their laurels and refused to step down even when walking with canes to meetings, he had earned his place among the Elders through his formidable strength, honed on the battlefield.
The most dangerous instance occurred two years ago when he encountered a roaming Two-Tails at the border of the Land of Fire.
Even though he was no match for the Two-Tails at the time and was once driven into a desperate situation by its Tailed Beast Ball, he ultimately succeeded in leading his clansmen to retreat unscathed.
“Kicho, after the high-level meeting, it has been decided that you will marry the Puppeteer General of the Land of Night.
You should possess the bearing and wisdom of a daughter of the Hyuga Clan Main Branch, right?” Hyuga Shuzen, with his middle-aged male appearance and a slightly cold expression, announced the highest directive that the Family had fully implemented to his daughter, Hyuga Kicho.
“Naturally, Father.
Kicho has no objections.” Wearing a white kimono embroidered with red leaf patterns, the young girl named Hyuga Kicho knelt before her father, Shuzen, in an impeccably disciplined posture, a smile on her face.
She possessed fair, delicate skin that most female Ninjas lacked, and her slender, callus-free fingers also did not fit the identity of a Ninja.
Her pure white pupils were devoid of Impurities, revealing only a pure, lively smile, as if they could speak.
Her long, smooth, jet-black hair draped over her shoulders to her waist, and her bangs, cut straight, fell on both sides of her face, making her look like a noble princess raised in a deep boudoir.
Only the thick, bloody scent constantly emanating from her body revealed that this girl, who resembled a beautiful princess, was an executioner who had long since killed countless people.
As one of the leading figures of the new generation of the Hyuga Clan, the eighteen-year-old Hyuga Kicho already had countless amounts of blood on her hands.
Her Byakugan ability had also been trained to a Realm that many adult clansmen had not reached.
Yet, even so, she had no dissatisfaction with the Family’s marriage arrangement, simply smiling and complying with the clan’s rules.
Even if this order meant she was to marry a man she didn’t know, nearly ten years her senior, and bear his children.
As a woman of the Main Branch, she had long ago prepared herself for this realization.
Either marry a powerful man within the clan or become a tool for political marriage to seek new support for the Family in the outside world.
Hearing his daughter’s sensible reply, Shuzen’s serious face softened considerably.
He had known for a long time that his daughter Kicho was a girl with a strong will, and therefore he had been worried that hearing such an order might lead her to do something irrational that would be detrimental to the clan’s growth.
Fortunately, she did not commit any foolish acts that violated the Hyuga Clan’s Family ethos.
“Rest assured, although the man you are marrying is much older than you, Father can guarantee that he is an excellent man who will not disgrace your Bloodline or status.” ‘Yes, an excellent man, but will he be a husband who can cherish me?’ Kicho felt no joy or excitement in her heart; she simply smiled like an exquisite doll, respectfully listening to her father Shuzen’s instruction.
“Not long ago, I heard that the Puppeteer General subdued the Seven-Tails…
That is a Tailed Beast; even in the Hyuga Clan, I am afraid only the Clan Chief could accomplish such a thing.” Shuzen sighed as he spoke.
Tailed Beasts…
those were existences that ordinary Ninjas would surely die upon encountering.
Previously, when he encountered the Two-Tails, although he wasn’t entirely without the power to resist, he knew it wasn’t something he could manage.
Being able to bring his clansmen back unscathed was his limit.
He was nearly fifty years old, his strength was basically set, and in a few years, he would enter a period of decline due to old age.
And his son-in-law…
was only twenty-seven, far from the Peak of a Ninja’s life.
Looking at the carefully maintained smile on his daughter Kicho’s face, he had to admit that his daughter was very beautiful; if she weren’t a Ninja, she would be a peerless beauty capable of bringing ruin to a country.
However, she was a Ninja, and although beautiful, she lacked the things ordinary women had.
The bloody scent on her was proof that she had killed many people.
She could wear the kindest and gentlest smile while mercilessly killing enemies, regardless of their age or gender.
Thinking of this, Shuzen felt satisfied.
His daughter was just that cold and excellent.
Thus, Shuzen walked to the side, took out a katana with a blue hilt, and handed it to the girl.
“Father, this is…” Kicho tilted her head, somewhat confused by her father Shuzen’s intention.
“This is a trophy I seized in the past after wiping out a samurai Family—Kumokiri.” “Is it a Chakra Blade?” Kicho took the sword, held the blue hilt, and gently drew out a portion of the blade.
A chilling light gleamed; just by looking at it, she could feel a daunting aura that made her skin sting.
She immediately felt that this was different from an ordinary Chakra Blade.
Ordinary Chakra Blades contained very little Chakra metal, but this sword was crafted entirely from precious special Chakra metal, supplemented by top-tier craftsmanship.
“This is a spirit sword.
In the past, in the Ninja World, besides Tailed Beasts, there were some monsters composed of resentment and Chakra.
Top swordsmiths at the time crafted spirit swords to counter these monsters.
In addition to superior Chakra conductivity, these spirit swords also produce a suppressing effect on evil spirits.
My ability to retreat unscathed from the Two-Tails back then was partly thanks to this spirit sword, Kumokiri.” Tailed Beasts were different from monsters, but they still contained negative energy.
With this spirit sword Kumokiri in hand, facing a Tailed Beast would be much easier.
“Now I am entrusting the spirit sword Kumokiri to you.
If your husband ever loses his value in the future, use this Kumokiri to end him, let the Land of Night become our Hyuga Clan’s backyard, and replace him.
Therefore, you must use your beauty to your advantage to deceive him into winning his favor, and then…” Shuzen’s words were cold and he did not continue, his eyes filled with extreme cruelty and calculation.
“Is that so?” Kicho carefully stroked the blade of the spirit sword, her eyes unreadable for a moment, and her smile became meaningful: “Perhaps one day, this sword will pierce Father as well.” Shuzen was startled, then his expression turned unpleasant.
“Kicho, don’t say such treacherous jokes.
I know very well that you are not the kind of foolish woman who would throw herself away for love.” “Yes, Father.
As for emotions, Ninjas do not need them.” Kicho smiled and put away the spirit sword Kumokiri.
“You may go now.
Once the betrothal gifts from the Land of Night arrive, the clan will arrange for you to head to the Land of Night.” Shuzen waved his hand, feeling there was nothing else to tell his daughter, so he let her stay at home during this time and wait for the wedding day.
“Yes, then I will return to my room to rest, Father.” Kicho rose, turned, and left the room.
◎ Both Yayoi and the Hyuga Clan were satisfied with each other’s conditions.
Therefore, the marriage arrangements were settled smoothly after about a month of discussion, without any resistance.
The Hyuga Clan naturally would not move to the Land of Night; they couldn’t let go of their ancestral property in the Land of Fire, nor did they like leaving their homeland—that was a fate reserved for losers.
Upon this, Yayoi also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Unlike the Aburame Clan, the Hyuga Clan was powerful and had deep roots; if they decided to merge into the Land of Night, he would be the one with the biggest headache.
Whether he could sit firmly in his position as General would be a problem.
He could suppress the Aburame Clan, but a powerful Family like the Hyuga Clan would definitely be a calamity for the current Land of Night.
Therefore, marriage was the best outcome.
The Hyuga Clan gained resource channels from the Land of Night, and Yayoi gained the Hyuga Clan’s Bloodline and established an alliance with them; it was a win-win situation.
Although Yayoi did not like Bloodline theory, in the world of “Naruto”, even if one refused to admit it, Bloodline was synonymous with power in this Ninja World.
Because Bloodline Limits could truly be inherited by the next generation through reproduction.
Yayoi hoped his next generation would have a higher starting point.
Excellent offspring were a top priority for a ruler, not something optional.
In short, the marriage between the two forces was unstoppable.
In addition to marrying off a daughter of the Main Branch, the Hyuga Clan also provided two daughters of the Branch Family as maids for the Main Branch daughter, to be sent to the Land of Night together.
Naturally, there were also some guards from the Branch Family and their families who followed the Main Branch daughter into the land of the Land of Night.
These were both the Hyuga Clan’s support for the Land of Night and represented that this portion of the Branch Family would be the strength and Foundation of the Main Branch daughter in the Land of Night.
This was the support in terms of manpower.
Aside from this, the Hyuga Clan also provided some Ninjutsu documents, including the Yin-Yang Release that Yayoi valued most.
However, this was still an Incomplete Manual of Yin-Yang Release.
A complete Yin-Yang Release, in the entire Ninja World, was probably only something the Senju and Uchiha Clans could piece together.
The Yin-Yang Release Incomplete Manual provided by the Hyuga Clan was more complete than the one Yayoi obtained from wiping out the Hagoromo Clan.
In return, Yayoi was not stingy and gave the Hyuga Clan the Yin-Yang Release he had obtained from the Hagoromo Clan and partially improved as a betrothal gift.
There were also some unique Medical Ninjutsu and knowledge created by Yayoi through his special Chakra.
Although it was difficult to fully replicate these medical techniques without special Chakra, they could still alleviate much of the medical pressure on the Hyuga Clan.
Moreover, the betrothal gifts included many precious medicinal herbs.
Yayoi also did not skimp on large quantities of Ninja tools and money.
Yayoi did not value these material things; the economy of the Land of Night was currently taking off.
He wouldn’t dare say it changed every year, but in terms of economic and resource development, it was catching up to those great powers.
Land of Fire, Hyuga Clan.
After more than ten days of waiting, the wedding procession sent by Yayoi was lined up neatly.
Led by Kakuzu, the Minister of the Military Combat Execution Department, it was equipped with twenty elite Ninjas and two hundred elite samurai skilled in Chakra swordsmanship.
Their Ninja outfits and armor were embroidered with patterns of spider lilies.
In addition, several Ninjas wearing black high-collared trench coats and sunglasses also appeared in Kakuzu’s team.
They appeared cold and silent, giving off a sense of mystery and coldness that made people feel unapproachable.
As the leader of the Hyuga Clan’s escort team, Hyuga Shuzen stared in astonishment at these Ninjas in black high-collared trench coats.
On the high-collared trench coats, a clan crest was embroidered.
This clan crest resembled a simple drawing of a bug.
Each of them had a very thick aura, proving they were not ordinary Ninjas.
Placed in a powerful clan like the Hyuga, they could be called elite forces.
Especially the man in sunglasses leading them gave Shuzen a dangerous feeling.
Shuzen knew this person; he had even fought him in the past, and his strength was roughly on the same level as his own.
Aburame Yorochi.
The new Clan Chief of the Aburame Clan.
Only around thirty years old, he had quickly succeeded to the position after the previous Clan Chief died in battle a year ago, stabilizing the internal crisis of the Aburame Clan.
The bugs he controlled were of a bizarre and unpredictable type, which had caused Shuzen a lot of trouble in the past.
He didn’t expect the other party to appear in the Land of Night’s wedding procession.
Thinking carefully, Shuzen understood what was going on.
When the Hyuga Clan and the Land of Night were discussing the marriage, the Aburame Clan had quietly joined the Land of Night.
At this moment, the Aburame Clan’s grounds in the Land of Fire were probably already abandoned, in a no-man’s-land.
Shuzen took a deep breath; he hadn’t expected his son-in-law to give him such a surprise at this time.
“Long time no see, Yuroxue.” Shuzen greeted Aburame Yorochi.
They were enemies in the past, but now they were allies; the world was truly unpredictable.
“Long time no see.” Yuroxue also nodded slightly.
His entire body was hidden in the black trench coat, revealing only the upper half of his face and the sunglasses on his eyes, leaving people unable to know what he was thinking.
Like a snake hidden in the dark, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
“I didn’t expect your Aburame Clan to leave the Land of Fire.” Shuzen was deeply moved.
The Aburame Clan could be considered an old Ninja clan of the Land of Fire, having existed in the Land of Fire for over two hundred years.
Although they were not a strong clan in the Land of Fire, they were not something to be trifled with by just any small fry.
The Ninjas of the Aburame Clan generally lacked distinct traits, but their strength was very balanced.
Once they grew up, their abilities were stable, and with mutual cooperation, they had made many Ninja clans suffer greatly.
“The General gave us terms we couldn’t refuse.
Besides, the Land of Fire is too dangerous here.” Yuroxue’s tone was indifferent, but anyone could hear the gravity in his words.
Shuzen nodded.
He knew Yuroxue was referring to the alliance between the Senju and Uchiha, which indeed made many Ninja clans in the Land of Fire anxious.
The Aburame Clan’s strength was far lower than the Hyuga Clan’s, and they had no decent allies; facing such a situation, leaving might be the best choice.
In contrast, the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, which were also secret-technique Ninja clans like the Aburame, were much luckier.
The secret techniques of these three clans could complement each other, and since the founding of their clans, they had always been on friendly terms; the three clans had already formed a single entity.
Especially decades ago, when the Sarutobi Clan also joined the alliance system of these three clans, they advanced and retreated together.
Later, the Shimura Clan, Utatane Clan, and Mitokado Clan, through the communication of the Sarutobi Clan, also began to lean in.
Facing these Ninja clans that had formed an iron-clad block, except for the Senju and Uchiha, any Ninja clan would find it difficult to ignore this powerful force.
Therefore, facing the current tense situation in the Land of Fire, these Ninja clans were not as fearful as the isolated Aburame Clan, and could calmly stay behind to observe the situation.