Chapter 54: The Night Before Departure
Yuto returned to the Senju clan grounds and didn't see Tsunade until dusk.
—After the war mobilization, Hiruzan called another brief meeting with the village leaders.
"The old man is getting a bit senile, isn't he?" Tsunade plopped down on the tatami mat, her tone tinged with a sigh. "He's getting more and more long-winded… Sigh."
"Sensei, will you be going to the battlefield this time?"
"It depends on the situation. Most of the time, I'll be forming and training the medical corps in the rear. But if the situation becomes dire, I'll definitely go to the front lines. After all, I am a shinobi of Konoha."
The blonde woman rubbed her neck and lay down, stretching like a cat, pointing her toes towards a certain spot in the room. "My dear disciple, that package is for you."
Yuto picked up the package and found it was full of clothes, embroidered with the crests of the Senju and Hyuga clans.
"Custom-made for you, using the finest materials from the Land of Lightning... Oh, and I left a box in your room. It's filled with a thousand explosive tags. Practicing great-uncle's technique consumes quite a lot."
"Thank you, Sensei," Yuto expressed his gratitude.
"Mm," Tsunade paused for a moment before continuing. "You're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes, I've been assigned to the Konoha reconnaissance unit, directly under Minato-senpai. We'll be heading to the Land of Hot Water in the morning."
"Although Minato is young, he's capable of handling things on his own. Yuto, remember, once you're on the battlefield, you can't treat him like the gentle senpai who guides you in ninjutsu. You must absolutely obey his orders... Of course, don't be a fool either; it's not bad to keep an eye on things..."
Tsunade shared her wartime experiences, and Yuto listened intently. Time passed slowly, and soon it was completely dark.
"...Alright, that's about it. Yuto, don't let the village down."
"Yes, Sensei." The branch family boy bowed solemnly. "I should get going now. Hiashi-sama asked me to come by tonight."
Tsunade grunted noncommittally, then softly said, "Wait a moment."
She hesitated for a while before turning away from Yuto. "The last time the world fell into war, two men very important to me left me forever," the blonde woman's voice was soft. "Don't die, Yuto."
...
Yuto knelt silently before Hiashi Hyuga, quiet and still.
"Ah, Yuto-kun, no need to be so formal," Hiashi sighed. "Now, you are an outstanding shinobi, a Jonin at the age of thirteen... I've heard that in the Warring States period, people your age could already get engaged," he joked.
"Do you have any girl in mind within the clan?"
"Hiashi-sama," Yuto's voice was calm. "I haven't considered such matters yet."
"You young people are too tense, no vitality at all." Hiashi shook his head, then his tone turned serious. "Yuto-kun, you've been assigned to the reconnaissance unit?"
"Yes, Hiashi-sama."
"You are a Jonin, so you will either act as a lone hawk responsible only to Minato Namikaze or lead a team. Either way, the responsibilities are significant." Hiashi took a sip of tea, speaking each word clearly. "Yuto, Vice Commander Namikaze is exceptional, but he doesn't have a kekkei genkai and doesn't understand the Byakugan. Therefore... sometimes, our own people are more trustworthy."
"You're right, Hiashi-sama. In critical moments, I will prioritize the interests of the Hyuga clan."
"Good, it's excellent that you have this awareness. Your parents were the same, understanding the greater good and willing to sacrifice for the clan. This is the secret to the prosperity of the Hyuga clan..."
Hiashi expressed a few sentiments, then clapped his hands. "You all, come out... Yuto-kun, raise your head."
Several young figures emerged from hidden doors within the room, all young Hyuga without forehead protectors, proudly showing their unmarked foreheads.
—They were all from the main family.
Shinosuke Hyuga and Meiko Hyuga were among them.
Hiashi's voice rang out again. "The delicate sapling grows into a towering tree because of its strong trunk!"
"The branch family is the twigs and leaves; the main family is the trunk."
"Yuto, these young members of the main family will also go to war with the unit."
"Like all Hyuga shinobi, you must protect them with your life, acting as the shield and sword of the main family, maximizing your abilities!"
"Oh, this is Shinosuke and Meiko. You've met them at the Hokage's residence... Say hello, you should all get to know each other better."
Shinosuke approached Yuto and extended his hand. "The Jewel of the Hyuga, Yuto-kun, we meet again. I hear you're a Jonin now... Haha, I'll be counting on you for my safety."
Yuto stood up, his face expressionless. "I will stake my life on it."
"Good, with that promise, I'm reassured." Shinosuke patted Yuto's shoulder, the atmosphere amicable.
But then, Shinosuke suddenly reached up and lightly touched his own forehead, a faint, mocking smile on his face.
—You haven't forgotten that pain, have you, Yuto?
Yuto silently stepped back, greeting each of the main family youths, memorizing every detail of their faces.
"Alright," Hiashi waved his hand. "Yuto-kun, you may leave now. Rest well; I remember you leave the village tomorrow."
"Yes, Hiashi-sama."
Yuto left the hall, the expressions of the main family members inside unchanged.
That night, they would remind and suppress many branch family members. Yuto was just one among them.
Suppress, recruit, warn, punish, reward—these methods of controlling the branch family were something the main family had perfected, more so than their Gentle Fist technique.
After all, the main family had been doing this for a thousand years.
Whenever they heard others praise the Inuzuka clan as the number one dog-taming clan in the shinobi world, the Hyuga main family found it amusing.
Taming people was far more technically demanding than taming dogs.
...
Yuto walked through the night in Konoha.
This was the night before departure, a time for older shinobis to give earnest advice, and for spouses to hold each other tightly. Even someone as high-ranking as Hiruzan probably wouldn't sleep well tonight.
However, Yuto's steps were light and brisk.
Inside, he felt an unparalleled joy, as if he'd won the lottery.
"Though, something is a bit lacking..." Yuto muttered to himself.
He reached into his pouch, feeling and tapping it lightly.
Ding—
A crisp sound echoed at his fingertips, the sound of a small glass bottle shaking, slightly muffled by the preserving liquid inside.
A grin spread across his face, tinged with a bit of madness.
"It seems I didn't buy enough."
(End of Chapter)
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