Inaba Hyuga soon got an answer regarding his questions about Captain Tomoe.
To his surprise, the one who answered him was little Anko.
It turned out the young girl hadn’t really minded his slight offense from earlier.
“You’re asking about the captain and Lady Tsunade?
Ha, they have quite a deep history!
You probably don’t know, but the captain is actually a descendant of the Senju Clan—they belong to the same clan.
It’s just that back then, his father answered the First Hokage’s call and voluntarily relinquished their surname to assimilate into the village, so the captain never inherited the Senju name.” Unable to keep quiet, little Anko eagerly shared more gossip with Inaba.
“Let me tell you, even though the captain looks all washed up now, back when he saw the Senju Clan fall into decline and Lady Tsunade leave the village, he actually tried hard for a while!
Unfortunately, middle age caught up with him—the spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.
After working hard for several years without showing a single sign of awakening Wood Style, he slunk right back into being a lazy, shameless middle-aged uncle.” Inaba Hyuga didn’t dare chime in.
He kindly signaled to Anko with a series of frantic winks, but the talkative girl was way too absorbed in her gossip.
Even though Inaba’s cheek muscles were twitching to the point of cramping, Anko didn’t catch on at all.
The result, naturally, was a fist the size of a sandbag descending from the sky, thumping hard against Anko’s skull.
“Ow!” Little Anko cried out in pain and spun around to retaliate.
Instead, Captain Tomoe pinned her forehead with one hand, leaving her short arms flailing helplessly, unable to touch a single thread of his clothing.
Furious, Anko pulled her hands back into her sleeves.
But the captain reacted even faster.
Seeing her gesture, he pulled his hand back instantly and took a relaxed step backward, letting the venomous snakes she summoned from her sleeves strike empty air.
One snake leaped upward, missed its bite, squirming midair before slapping right onto Anko’s own face.
“Pfft.” Inaba Hyuga couldn’t help snickering at the side.
Total toy-around play.
*This new captain is clearly no pushover,* he thought to himself.
He also got a good sense of the team dynamic: little Anko was the group’s mood-maker.
Although she puffed up easily, she was like an angry kitten—acting fierce, but scaring absolutely no one.
That put his mind at ease.
He had originally worried that putting a blade to Orochimaru’s disciple’s neck right off the bat would get him targeted for petty revenge, but it turned out he had worried for nothing.
However, while he wasn’t targeted with petty office revenge, his shin was immediately dealt a sharp kick.
“Ow, what was that for?” He looked down at Anko innocently.
“You laughed the loudest just now!” Little Anko glared at him furiously, her face practically screaming: *I can’t beat the captain, but I can certainly beat you!* “…” Inaba Hyuga could only shrug helplessly.
*I gave you a look to warn you, but you missed it yourself.* As for the final teammate, Rinfu Gekko, he stood off to the side the whole time, arms crossed, watching in silence.
His personality traits were crystal clear.
Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Inaba Hyuga had already figured out the distinct quirks of his new teammates.
To be honest, he rather liked this squad’s atmosphere.
In the past, whether teaming up with fellow clan members or following his former squad leader—the privileged prince of the Sarutobi Clan—he had to wear a mask of deception at all times, treading cautiously just to survive.
Who would have thought that now, loaded with debuffs and teetering on the edge of life and death, he would unexpectedly find a team where he could comfortably be himself?
The feeling wasn’t half bad~ However, the dark clouds hanging over his head remained, refusing to dissipate.
That afternoon, Gyoketsu Hyuga, having packed his things, was preparing to return to the village.
Having finally ascended to the Head House, he didn’t want to stay on the front lines for another second.
Yet soon enough, a few of his lackeys returned to report: “Master Gyoketsu, that Inaba Hyuga refuses to come!” The sentence made Gyoketsu halt mid-motion, his brow furrowing instantly.
“Did you not convey my orders to him?” “We did!
We definitely did!” “Heh, then what is this Inaba playing at?
A mere Branch House member—does he really not know his place?” Promoted to the Head House just a few days ago, Gyoketsu Hyuga had not only completely forgotten his own past as a Branch House member, but had also adapted to his new identity with flawless arrogance!
At the end of the day, he hadn’t hated the Head House itself—he had simply hated that he wasn’t part of it.
And now, he was!
Some people who get caught in the rain want to hold an umbrella for those who come after; While others, having been soaked in the rain, spend the rest of their lives ensuring nobody else gets an umbrella!
The present Gyoketsu Hyuga fell squarely into the latter camp.
After being promoted to the Head House, his attitude toward the surrounding Branch House members was even harsher than that of the clan’s veteran elders!
Inaba Hyuga was a primary target of his attention.
Because back at the Ninja Academy, the two of them had once been hailed as the twin prodigies of the Hyuga Clan.
Back then, he had felt a mutual respect for Inaba.
But now, he only felt disdain: *What status do you have to stand alongside me?* He urgently craved seeing the person who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him kneeling before him to offer greetings.
The mere image of it gave him a thrill that sent shivers down his spine.
Unfortunately for him, Inaba Hyuga simply refused to show up.
“Where is that fellow right now?” Gyoketsu Hyuga asked coldly.
A lackey answered cautiously, “In…
Akatsuchi Town.” “Akatsuchi Town?
Isn’t that where Orochimaru is stationed?” “Yes, Young Master.” “…” This left Gyoketsu Hyuga feeling a long-lost surge of frustration for the first time since his promotion to the Head House.
“How could he be over there?!
Why isn’t he staying at the clan compound?!” …
At the same time, a Root ninja on the front lines suppressed his rage, asking sinisterly, “Why did that Inaba Hyuga suddenly join Orochimaru’s direct squad?!
Shouldn’t his unit assignment be arranged by the Hyuga Clan?!” The ordinary Konoha ninja responsible for providing intelligence to Root looked innocent.
“I don’t know.” “If you don’t know, go investigate!
Ask around!!
Do I really need to teach you that?!” “But sir, if I may speak freely, is there really any point?
This arrangement was made by Lord Orochimaru.
What is there to—” The ordinary ninja’s words were cut off before he could finish.
“You don’t need to question the reasons!
All you need to know is that everything we in Root do is for Konoha!
For the village!
You have no right to question Lord Danzo’s decisions—just do as I say!” Root was as brazenly tyrannical as ever.
Yet from the low, frustrated growl of this Root operative, it was clear that Inaba Hyuga’s move had thoroughly disgusted and frustrated them.
Their entire plan had been thrown into chaos.
Moreover, there was absolutely nothing they could do against Orochimaru’s direct squad.
On the battlefield, that cold ruler showed respect to no one—not even if the Third Hokage himself came.
And this was precisely what Inaba Hyuga had hoped for!
From this perspective, he had unquestionably succeeded.
Still, Inaba knew all too well that this was only temporary, and as expected, it would not come without a price!