Chapter 134: Moving To The Southern Sunagakure Front (2)
As they convened in the cave, Hikari's eyes quickly assessed the figures before him. Fugaku stood as he had during their last meeting, still in his prime years, robust and authoritative, his presence enhanced by the Konoha Division Commander uniform that adorned his usual, more traditional, Uchiha garb, symbolizing his enduring prowess and leadership within the clan, now perhaps even exhibiting a way more confident aura, unlike his previous, slightly indecisive self back then either due to the war or dojutsu upgrade, or both, in Hikari's view.
Kiyomi, on the other hand, presented an even more noticeable change to him. Though still relatively young, passing only her seventeenth birthday, she had an unmistakable maturity about her that transcended time since their last encounter, only adding to her overall charm.
Her transformation into a young woman was underscored not only by her physical appearance, which balanced both grace and strength but also by an air of confidence that seemed to radiate from her constantly.
As Hikari managed a rare smile, his usual stoic demeanor softened momentarily, "Uchiha Patriarch, Kiyomi, nice to meet you again...", He began, extending the customary formalities.
However, before he could continue, be greeted back by Fugaku, or hear others on his side speak, Kiyomi suddenly closed the distance with surprising boldness and a warm and happy look on her face. She immediately embraced him in full view of the others without saying anything first, letting her actions speak.
Hikari was caught slightly off guard but not entirely displeased. She noted the contrasting softness of her frame against his taller, leaner figure. Now, he was also 15 and much taller than her very petite frame, way more than before.
'This girl seemingly not only failed to become more reserved in the slightest, but she grew even bolder after awakening her Mangekyo, heh...', Hikari thought as he felt her shorter but way 'cushier' body pressing on his own.
Kiyomi's choice of attire was as striking as her entrance. She wore a sleek, sleeveless black shinobi uniform that clung to her form, accentuating her silhouette. The outfit was tactically chosen for mobility yet did not shy away from making a statement with its bold design. It included visible mesh armor on her arms, which added a layer of both protection and style.
"It's okay, Kiyomi. Weren't we constantly in communication during all these months like I promised before we parted last time? Stop this. Everyone is looking. Let's get down to business...", Hikari maintained an expressionless face as he whispered to her, aware of the slightly awkward atmosphere exhibited by the other three males in the room at this time.
Kiyomi, realizing the eyes on them, paused for a few seconds before responding positively and stepping back, "Seeing you in person is much different from writing. I'm sorry, I just missed you so much and went through a lot on this front...", Her mood seemed to dip as she recalled the challenges she faced all these months leading to her awakening of Mangekyo.
Hikari, observing her change in demeanor, reassured her right away: "Everything will be alright now that I'm here. Don't worry from now on. I will make sure to force the enemy into the wall and make them stop going against us, just like I did in Kirigakure...", His firm voice aimed to bolster her spirits and refocus on the strategic tasks at hand.
After hearing Hikari's reassurances, a spark of her usual fiery spirit returned to Kiyomi's eyes. She smiled slightly, a mix of challenge and amusement crossing her features as she looked at Hikari,
"Huh, like I would need your help, Hikari. We are, at worst, equal in strength now. I have a Mangekyo Sharingan fully awakened today, the pinnacle of our Uchiha clan's power!",
"Don't get ahead of yourself just because you defeated the Mizukage, cleared the Eastern Front, and brought down Kirigakure.",
"The situation here is much more complex. We just lacked some numbers, that's it...", She retorted in her characteristic tsundere manner.
However, despite her outward bravado, Kiyomi internally felt a deeper sense of relief and security with Hikari's arrival, as if a stone had been lifted from her heart as if he were her pillar.
Internally, she was profoundly grateful and happy for his presence, not only as a protector but also as a confidant truly this time around.
She also admired and respected his strategic acumen, which had become renowned everywhere, and his strength, which had increased following his successes at the Kirigakure front.
Even though she teased him and asserted her independence, his presence bolstered her confidence in facing the looming challenges. She knew she was nowhere near him in terms of his schemes and brains.
However, Kiyomi's playful tone still carried a hint of teasing as she continued her response to Hikari, her eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and challenge,
"And besides, everyone's been talking about the 'Byakugan Sage' lately. It's hard not to hear about your newfound fame. It seems you've become quite the legend while you were away...", She said, her voice laced with sarcasm but not without a genuine undertone of admiration.
Hikari, momentarily caught off guard by the mention of his new nickname for the first time today, allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to play on his lips before retorting smoothly,
"And what should I say about the 'Uchiha Princess'? It seems your own legend is growing just as rapidly, if not more...", He replied with a light, teasing tone, reflecting her own playful challenge.
Kiyomi's cheeks tinged with a slight blush, caught between embarrassment and amusement, "That title is more about flair than function...", She quipped back, her competitive spirit flashing in her eyes.
"Well, 'Byakugan Sage' or not, I'm glad you're here. With your strategy and my Mangekyo Sharingan, we make a formidable team...", She added, clearly wanting to change topics now due to embarrassment, to which Hikari just nodded plainly next.
Additionally, when Kiyomi mentioned her Mangekyo Sharingan, Hikari then, however, reflected on its significance a bit more internally.
The Mangekyo represented an advanced evolution of the Sharingan, featuring unique, intricate patterns that replaced the basic tomoe and enhanced the doujutsu's abilities.
This included sharper pattern recognition insight and more realistic illusions, along with two potent, 'hax-like' new abilities for each eye—abilities that remained secret to him for now.
Fugaku and Kiyomi had kept these powers closely guarded, known only to the highest elites of their clan, maintaining a strategic advantage by ensuring no one outside their closest circle, not even Hikari, was aware of their specific capabilities.
The secrecy was crucial, as it protected them from potential threats and strategic planning by their adversaries, including the Hokage's faction and Sunagakure.
Hikari hadn't pressed Kiyomi for details so far, trusting she would share in due time. He was also surprised by their awakenings; Fugaku had the genetic potential for it, as seen from his awakening in the original, and Kiyomi had been doing his Yin Release practice already for years, providing the necessary foundation for this powerful evolution to suddenly occur one day as it did.
They both needed just the right 'catalyst' to happen, and they clearly got it soon after this war started.
However, even though he didn't know their unique abilities in detail, judging by his memory of the original series and some sparse reports he got on their actions, they were probably both around the Middle Kage level of strength presently, around his own.
Just the Susanoo awakening they both unlocked was a big factor of their power on its own.
Meanwhile, Takumi and Hiashi, who had observed the entire exchange between Hikari and Kiyomi with slight amusement and pride in their eyes, obviously happy for the potential pairing, also stepped forward to greet Fugaku and Kiyomi at this time.
They offered respectful nods and brief smiles, acknowledging the importance of unity and cooperation in the face of the impending challenges.
"It's Good to see you both in good health, Uchiha Patriarch, Kiyomi-san...", Hiashi commented warmly, his voice carrying the weight of his experience and his unspoken understanding of the stakes involved.
Takumi, always more reserved, simply nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the group, reinforcing the silent vow of support and vigilance that the Hyuga clan was known for.
Fugaku, in response, returned the greeting with a nod, his expression serious but with a hint of appreciation for the gathered allies,
"The situation requires all our focus...", He said, his tone businesslike as he gestured towards the maps and documents laid out, ready to dive into the strategic planning that awaited them.
Fugaku had obviously also noticed the small display of affection between Hikari and Kiyomi right upon their reunion, yet he chose to ignore it, deliberately turning a blind eye.
In these challenging times, he recognized his own helplessness in influencing their relationship, whether he liked that relationship or not, for various reasons beforehand.
It was true that he and Kiyomi had both awakened their Mangekyo Sharingan recently, a few months after this war started. This development was triggered by the profound losses they had endured since the onset of the war.
The deaths of their fellow clansmen, many of whom were personally known to them, had not only been a painful experience but also a necessary condition for the awakening of their powerful Sharingan abilities under extreme grief after being helpless and watching that happening day over a day and that due to their perceived powerlessness as the leaders of the clan and that front against Sunagakure in general.
However, the stark contrast in the outcomes of their respective war fronts was precisely what forced him to turn a blind eye just now.
The Hyuga-led Eastern Front, under Hikari's astute leadership, had consistently achieved victories with minimal casualties from the beginning of their deployment, a stark contrast to the experiences of Fugaku's own Uchiha-led division, which now also needed to be helped by Hikari and his Hyuga forces if they wanted to survive.
From the beginning, the Uchiha division faced severe setbacks against Sunagakure, suffering significant losses among both seasoned and newly awakened Sharingan users in far greater and unimaginable numbers.
This continual defeat had also skewed the power balance significantly towards the Hyuga clan more than ever, who emerged as victors in seemingly impossible scenarios, and finally securing a rare and first victory for Konoha against a major village amidst the broader turmoil of the Third Shinobi World War.
This shift solidified the Hyuga clan's preeminence within the Anti-Hokage coalition, with Hikari's strategies and leadership elevating his clan to a position of undisputed leadership.
The Hyuga clan was stronger now, even with various Uchihas' high self-esteem; they all admitted that same fact nowadays, even the most arrogant of them all.
Meanwhile, Hikari's personal renown had also grown not just within the confines of the Konoha shinobi broad shinobi force but on other fronts as well, across the world, marking him as a war hero and a figure of significant influence.
Acknowledging these dynamics, Fugaku, as the Uchiha Patriarch, found himself in a position where asserting his views on Kiyomi and Hikari's matters now seemed both futile and potentially harmful to their interests for various reasons.
This does not exclude Kiyomi herself, who, due to their similar awakenings, has the same position as him in the clan nowadays.
But most of all, he recognized the importance of maintaining a strong alliance with Hikari and the Hyuga clan, which now held more leverage within the coalition.
In light of these realities, Fugaku concluded that preserving a harmonious relationship with Hikari to perfection was far more beneficial than intervening in personal affairs.
Reflecting on the evolving relationship between Hikari and Kiyomi more, Fugaku suddenly realized his previous instinctive negativity might have been misplaced,
'Why have I always viewed this development with such trepidation? If Kiyomi marries Hikari, wouldn't that enhance my status as clan head and stabilize it considerably? Her marriage to someone from another prominent clan would essentially remove her and her descendants from contention for leadership within our clan...', He reasoned.
'Moreover, considering the Hyuga clan's current dominance within our faction, it seems highly unlikely that Kiyomi could pursue, much less secure, the Hokage position as we had once hoped...',
Fugaku contemplated further, thinking out of the box, 'Isn't it more preferable for us that she marries the clearly more likely next Hokage, Hikari, then, instead of holding out for such a diminishing prospect for herself? Better to secure a significant alliance than nothing...',
With this realization, Fugaku felt a sense of relief wash over him. As they gathered around the strategy table to focus on the maps and the pressing matters at hand, he found himself internally reconciled with the situation, feeling more content than before in front of Hikari.
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