"Big brother, what did Father say to you alone at the end?"
Hanabi clung to Kimimaro's arm, her curiosity overflowing.
Kimimaro gave a dry chuckle. "Not much. Just told me to look after you. Said if you misbehave, I should discipline you properly."
"Eh?!" Hanabi squeaked, covering her backside reflexively, cheeks tinged pink.
Kimimaro's smile twitched. Truthfully, he hadn't expected Hiashi Hyuga to go that far—essentially proposing to hand over Hanabi's guardianship to him. Hiashi had solemnly said, "I entrust my daughter to you. Treat her well, as if she were your own sister. Perhaps… when she's older, we can speak again."
It was all too much.
He had no such intentions toward Hanabi—how could he? She was only eight. What intentions could he possibly have toward a child?
Still, Hiashi seemed to see value in forging an alliance between the Hyuga and what remained of the Kaguya clan. The Hyuga and Kaguya had once shared a distant blood connection—two divergent evolutions of the Ōtsutsuki lineage. And now, Hiashi Hyuga, always the strategist, seemed to view this as a way to secure both political and genetic strength for his clan.
"Of course," Hiashi had added, "she's still young. For now, you are simply her elder brother in spirit. But treat her well. And if you lack funds—"
Kimimaro had been handed a scroll sealed with the Hyuga clan crest, heavy with stored ryo and supplies. "So she doesn't suffer while she's with you," Hiashi had said. "And if you ever need more, write. The Hyuga will answer."
Kimimaro had stared at the scroll, torn between exasperation and disbelief. What am I now, a foster son-in-law? A child groom?
Watching Hanabi now, still clinging to him innocently, made him feel oddly self-conscious.
Back in Konoha, Hiashi Hyuga returned with a rare lightness in his step. His typically stern face held a ghost of a smile. Clan members whispered, but Hyuga Kobayashi, his aide, remained tight-lipped as instructed.
Later, Hiashi met privately with the Fifth Hokage.
"You're saying… there's no need to search for Hanabi anymore?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"That's correct. Have the shinobi you sent returned?"
"They came back with injuries, but nothing life-threatening. Reports say their opponent used Shikotsumyaku. And… there may have been a jinchūriki involved."
Hiashi's eyes flickered. He hadn't known about a jinchūriki among Kimimaro's companions, but the thought only reassured him. Someone able to command a jinchūriki's loyalty was not ordinary.
"Yes. The kekkei genkai you heard of was indeed Shikotsumyaku."
"You knew? Were you involved?"
"I wasn't part of the pursuit. I traveled ahead and intercepted them before they left the Land of Fire."
"Hanabi was recovered?"
"No. I let them go."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "You what? You let someone take your daughter and didn't stop them?"
"I didn't let them take her. I entrusted her to someone—Kimimaro of the Kaguya clan."
Tsunade was visibly stunned. "Kimimaro… Orochimaru's former subordinate?"
Hiashi nodded. "He no longer follows Orochimaru. That life is behind him. I believe this is an opportunity for Konoha to eventually absorb him as an ally."
Tsunade leaned back, skeptical. "That's a big ask. He fought against Konoha. He was on the front lines during the Sasuke Retrieval Mission."
"I know. But you also know the kind of man he is. Loyal to death, even when his body was failing him. That kind of resolve doesn't vanish—it just needs direction."
Tsunade was silent for a while, then sighed. "If he keeps his distance from Konoha and doesn't bring harm to it, I won't pursue him. But I can't promise anything if he crosses paths with Naruto. As for bringing him into Konoha—that will depend on his future actions."
"Good enough," Hiashi said, bowing slightly before taking his leave.
After he left, Shizune stepped in, confused. "Lady Tsunade… did the Hyuga head just hand Hanabi over to Kimimaro?"
Tsunade smirked. "That fox. Hiashi Hyuga's ambitions run deep. Everyone saw Hinata's feelings for Naruto, and he never opposed them. Now Hanabi's with Kimimaro. It's clear what he's doing."
"What do you mean?"
Tsunade steepled her fingers. "Think. What do Naruto and Kimimaro have in common?"
"They're both orphans?" Shizune guessed.
"Exactly. Or more precisely, they're the last heirs of powerful bloodlines. Naruto, the last direct Uzumaki in the village, host of the Nine-Tails. Kimimaro, the final descendant of the Kaguya clan. Both have no family obligations. From Hiashi's perspective, marrying his daughters to men like that means their children would inherit incredible bloodlines—and their loyalty could be folded into the Hyuga clan."
Shizune's eyes widened. "That's… devious."
Tsunade chuckled. "It's smart. And dangerous. Hiashi might not look like it, but he plays the long game very, very well."
"Hmph, if he hadn't encountered Kimimaro, Hiashi might have eventually considered the Taketori clan for an alliance. The Hyuga and Kaguya were never direct allies, but both are noble clans with powerful bloodlines. Hiashi Hyuga has always had a long-term vision. Internally, he's already begun reforming the Caged Bird Seal system, which was a deeply controversial topic among the branch family. His goal is to strengthen unity within the clan. Externally, he's quietly seeking capable allies to ensure the Hyuga lineage remains prominent in future generations."
"Is his ambition really that great?" Shizune asked.
Tsunade shook her head slightly. "Not the way you're thinking. This isn't about personal power or political dominance—Hiashi does everything for the sake of the clan. It's a common mindset among Konoha's noble families. As long as it doesn't threaten the village, it's tolerated. After all, Konoha's stability partly depends on the strength of its major clans. And unlike the Uchiha, the Hyuga know how to keep a low profile."
"But... are Naruto and Kimimaro really the type to be tied down by the Hyuga?"
Tsunade gave a faint smile. "You're thinking too rigidly. Who said the Hyuga have to control them? Sometimes, quiet support is more effective. Naruto is someone who values bonds deeply. If the Hyuga stand behind him in times of need, he will never forget it. As for Kimimaro... if Hiashi is willing to entrust his daughter to him, that means he sees something worthy in the boy. The Hyuga don't need to dominate—they just need to endure. Their style has always been more reserved. Silent strength, not flashy power."
Shizune's expression softened. "So... the Uchiha were too high-profile?"
"They were proud," Tsunade said. "They believed their power put them above the rest. With the Sharingan and their history on the battlefield, they became blind to the village's changing dynamics. During wartime, they were heroes. But in peace... they were feared. Resentful. Isolated."
She paused, folding her arms. "I don't condone the choices my granduncle made, but I can't deny his insight. Even while my grandfather—the First Hokage—was still alive, Tobirama probably foresaw the threat. He created the Konoha Police Force to keep the Uchiha busy, yes, but also to keep an eye on them. Danzo, Hiruzen, even the ANBU—it's all part of a long chain of contingencies. My teacher was burdened by that legacy."
Tsunade let out a weary sigh. "Being Hokage... is exhausting."