In warfare, speed is of the essence. While undercurrents surged through the entire Konoha, Hiashi couldn't possibly wait until the next day to leave.
He was only in his thirties now and could be considered in his prime.
Although he hadn't taken action in a long time, he still maintained his training habits.
After quickly changing his clothes, he took advantage of the night to head out.
With the Byakugan, it was easy for Hiashi to avoid patrolling ANBU.
However, he couldn't avoid members of the Hyuga clan who also had the Byakugan.
Given the tense situation, near the Uchiha compound, surveillance personnel were most numerous.
Hiashi could not enter the Uchiha compound without alerting his clan.
"Clan Head? What are you—?"
Sota happened to be on duty tonight. After reporting to Koshin, he returned here.
Seeing the clan head appear on his own was a bit surprising.
Hiashi only slightly nodded to the clansman, "You didn't see anyone tonight, understood?"
Sota lowered his head in response, "This area is under my surveillance. Please rest assured, Clan Head."
After giving instructions, Hiashi's figure flickered and he directly infiltrated the Uchiha compound.
Sota raised his head and looked at the disappearing Hiashi, a thoughtful light flashing in his eyes.
———
[Uchiha Compound]
[At Rengoku's House]
Lying on the bed, Rengoku had just checked on Naruto's situation.
As his consciousness returned, he was about to sleep when he sensed someone landing in the yard.
Immediately after, he heard knocking from outside.
"Who is it?", Rengoku wasn't too nervous; the way the knock was made, it should be a clansman.
"Rengoku, it's me. The Clan Head wants to see you," Yusuke's voice came from outside.
"You go on ahead. I'll be there shortly."
Yusuke responded from outside and then disappeared.
After changing clothes, just as Rengoku opened the door, a door at the end of the corridor also opened.
In pajamas, Kaori peeked out, "Rengoku, what's going on?"
Rengoku slightly shook his head, "It's nothing. The Clan Head needs me for something. You take Ryuri to sleep first."
Kaori usually still had to buy groceries and cook. She even wanted to return to active duty, so she understood the tense atmosphere in the clan.
Her face also looked slightly worried.
Kaori had little experience, and Rengoku's recent changes made him feel a bit unfamiliar to her,n"Rengoku, will we win?"
Hearing Kaori's words, Rengoku understood that she also thought the Uchiha were going to war with Konoha.
He comforted her, "Don't worry. I still have Ryuri. If there's danger, I'll tell you first."
Still the same Rengoku who took care of his little sister Ryuri.
Kaori slightly relaxed, but thinking about her own dilemma, her heart felt complicated, "Then come back early."
Rengoku responded, his figure flickering and disappearing.
Kaori sighed with some frustration.
Then she returned to the room, where Ryuri was sleeping soundly.
But her gaze shifted to the combat uniform. It had been many years since she last went on a mission.
———
The light in Fugaku's room was on.
The clan heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans were sitting and waiting for someone.
There was a hint of puzzlement on Hiashi's face, 'Who is Fugaku waiting for?'
But now that he was here, he kept calm.
Soon, the door opened, and Rengoku walked in.
Seeing Hiashi's presence, he roughly guessed his purpose.
But he didn't expect the timing to be this quick. According to his estimation, the Hyuga should've come after someone from outside the village tested the waters.
"Elder Koshin didn't come?", Rengoku asked Fugaku calmly.
Fugaku shook his head, "The elder said he was feeling a bit tired, so he left this matter to you."
Rengoku chuckled silently, 'What an excuse.'
But it didn't matter; he hadn't planned to stay in the shadows for long.
"This is the Hyuga Clan Head."
"This is the Uchiha's Fourth Elder, Uchiha Rengoku."
Of course, Hiashi and Rengoku knew each other. Even if they didn't before, after the events of the past two days, they had become acquainted.
Now Fugaku was formally introducing them, allowing them to talk directly.
The three sat around a square table. Rengoku and Hiashi faced each other, while Fugaku sat to the side.
Rengoku directly spoke across Fugaku, "Lord Hiashi's late-night visit, what might it be for?"
Hiashi glanced at Fugaku and saw him calmly sipping tea.
Then he looked at Rengoku, a look of realization appearing in his eyes.
He didn't expect that the one facing off in this political confrontation with the Third Hokage would be this boy under twenty.
'The Uchiha has actually produced such a clever man.'
But since he had come all this way late at night, Hiashi didn't waste time and asked directly, "I want to know, what is Uchiha's goal this time?"
This confrontation, the standoff between Uchiha and Konoha, and the bounty on Danzo, were all just methods, not the goal.
Only by understanding Uchiha's true demands could Hiashi choose whether or not to cooperate.
Rengoku poured himself a cup of water and, as thoughts spun, he already had a draft in mind, "Sarutobi Hiruzen has held the power of Hokage for too long."
"Absolute and prolonged power…"
Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly in thought.
Rengoku paused for a moment before continuing, "The Third Hokage's strength is not just what's seen on the surface."
"If we shinobi clans don't unite, then in the future, Konoha will belong only to Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Although Rengoku hadn't directly answered Hiashi's question, his words aligned with Hiashi's thoughts.
Hiashi thought for a moment, then pulled out a piece of paper and placed it on the table, pushing it toward Rengoku.
Rengoku opened the paper and raised an eyebrow slightly, "There are this many?"
Rengoku hadn't expected that the Third Hokage had mobilized over a thousand people back.
He even suspected that this was the entirety of the Sarutobi clan.
After all, it takes time to rotate personnel.
The Sarutobi clan likely didn't have three thousand people now.
"Since Lord Hiashi is showing such sincerity, we'll also share some critical intel."
Rengoku folded the paper and straightened up, "On the streets of Asazumi, Kanro, Obimichi, Sawayu, and Yokotsu, all the properties there belong to Kushina."
Hearing the name Kushina, Hiashi also paused for a moment before recalling.
That was the former Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and she was already dead.
'Which means, this inheritance…'
'Hiss—'
Hiashi suddenly furrowed his brow and asked, "Five streets? All of them?"
Rengoku confirmed, "All of them. Everything on those five streets belonged to Kushina."
"The clan leader's wife had a close relationship with Kushina. The information is reliable."
Hiashi slightly leaned back.
In his view, it was normal for the Third Hokage to abuse power for personal gain, but the scale of this embezzlement shocked him.
Rengoku tapped the paper on the table, "So, the people who returned, it's not just about the Third Hokage's side."
"They are all members of the Sarutobi clan."
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