Chapter 152: Hizashi –

The next day, at Konoha Hospital. "How did it go?" Not only Gekko Buraku but also high-ranking hospital officials like Utatane Koharu and Sarutobi Biwako were deeply concerned. This was the first-ever lung transplant surgery. If this surgery succeeded, it would mean that similar cases in the future could be treated the same way—previously incurable conditions would no longer be hopeless. Yuuhi Kurenai quickly spoke up: "The Hokage hasn’t slept all day. Let’s move to the office, and I’ll relay the details—" Just then, the door opened. "It’s fine. Official matters come first." Tsunade rubbed her temples. "There’s been almost no rejection reaction, and the patient’s condition is improving rapidly. However, they’ll need to remain under observation to prevent any sudden complications." "Wonderful!" The group was overjoyed. If the patient showed improvement within just one day, it could be considered a safe success. This proved that Kyohiko’s proposal of "blood-relative organ replacement" was highly feasible, and similar treatments could be attempted for comparable conditions in the future. "Amazing, truly amazing!" Sarutobi Biwako murmured to herself. Tsunade massaged her forehead, pausing briefly before asking, "Kurenai, are you free today?" "Of course!" "Then work with Shizune to help me sort through some documents. I’m a bit exhausted today." "Yes!" —— Inside the office, Tsunade closed her eyes to rest—but soon, an ANBU operative arrived. "Shusaku? Huh, you came yourself?" Tsunade opened her eyes, immediately perking up. Kyohiko entered with a notebook in hand. Noticing Kurenai and Shizune handling paperwork nearby, he nodded politely in greeting. Tsunade really had worked hard. Monitoring a patient’s condition wasn’t like staying up late for ordinary tasks—especially when detecting subtle signs of rejection required absolute focus. However. Given Tsunade’s physical stamina and abilities, exhaustion wouldn’t leave her completely bedridden. Kyohiko’s lips twitched slightly. He had a rough idea of what was really going on. After a moment of silence, he chose not to expose her. Tsunade felt a little awkward—only those close to her knew just how tough she was. Realizing Kyohiko had seen through her act, she waved him over. "Let’s talk next door!" "Sure." Kyohiko obliged. It wasn’t a big deal, after all. Knowing Tsunade’s personality, either Shizune or Kurenai would eventually take over her administrative duties—she was never one to sit still for long. As he left, Kurenai glanced up and winked at him. Kyohiko smiled. Kurenai, skilled in sensory and genjutsu, understood Tsunade’s emotional state far better than Shizune did. He followed Tsunade into the neighboring room. She exhaled. "I finally got a chance to slack off—don’t ruin it for me!" "Kurenai already figured it out. She just didn’t say anything." Kyohiko handed her a scroll and a written report. Tsunade skimmed through them. Soon, a look of delight spread across her face. "Excellent! This is fantastic!" Research on tenketsu for muscles and limbs showed minimal side effects, and its therapeutic applications were well-documented. Moreover, the idea of using monkeys for experimentation was viable—this was even more significant than the tenketsu research itself! "Kyohiko, I wish you’d grow up faster." Tsunade sighed. "Soon enough." Kyohiko took a seat across from her. "Being Hokage isn’t so bad, is it?" "Boring." Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. She narrowed her eyes and grumbled, "Every morning, I have to think about what needs doing, whose problems to solve, whether new policies will make everyone happy..." She sighed again. "Since when does anything please everyone?" "Come on, sis, stay strong. You can’t afford to slack off now." Kyohiko quickly cheered her on. If she gave up, things would go back to how they were before. Tsunade shot him a sidelong glance and waved him off. "Just venting." She picked up the notebook. "With your past achievements and this new contribution, who could ever challenge your claim to the next Hokage position?" "I just want to serve Konoha. Whether I become Hokage or not—well, you could always take the seat again!" Seeing Tsunade’s dry chuckle, Kyohiko grinned and stepped closer. Tsunade raised a hand. "You must have something else to discuss, right?" She knew Kyohiko well. While acupoint research was important, it wasn’t urgent enough for him to deliver personally—normally, he’d have sent Gekko Shusaku to earn some goodwill. Kyohiko nodded and handed her an intelligence report. Thanks to the diligent efforts of Gekko Shusaku and Yakushi Nonō, Konoha’s intelligence network was gradually expanding again. Additionally, Sarutobi Hiruzen still had some operatives under his command. Though not officially part of the ANBU, certain intelligence was shared between them. Thus, this report was most likely accurate. "Civil unrest in the Land of Water?" Tsunade’s expression immediately sharpened. The first line of the report was eye-catching, written in bold letters. She quickly grew serious. But as she read further, she couldn’t help but frown. "This is a bit..." "Clickbait?" Kyohiko chuckled, then grew serious again. "Calling it clickbait isn’t wrong, but the situation is real. And if things keep escalating, full-blown civil unrest is highly likely." Tsunade understood. He wasn’t just talking about the Land of Water—he was also hinting at the current state of the Land of Fire. In the Land of Water, the Yuki and Kaguya clans had long been funded by the daimyo and nobles of the capital, essentially serving as their private armies. As a result, neither clan obeyed Kirigakure’s orders. This situation was strikingly similar to Konoha’s—with Danzō’s Root operatives and the current political climate in the Land of Fire. After a few seconds of contemplation, she set the report down. "What are you planning?" "Right now, tensions between the two factions in the Land of Water are escalating. It won’t be long before open conflict breaks out." Kyohiko sat down. "If Kirigakure moves to exterminate the Kaguya and Yuki clans, shouldn’t we send people to retrieve a few promising talents?" Bloodline limits like theirs— A few gifted children could ensure the continuation of a powerful kekkei genkai. Especially the Shikotsumyaku and Ice Release—both were formidable abilities. If awakened, they’d at least grow into elite jōnin. Tsunade was tempted. But... "Could it cause diplomatic issues?" "I’ve heard the Hyūga clan has some ties to the Kaguya clan," Kyohiko said. Tsunade nodded. Though she wasn’t deeply familiar with the Hyūga, she knew they periodically visited the Kaguya for joint rituals and ceremonies. So, there was likely some truth to it. Using blood relations and ancestral rites as a pretext to bring back a few children? Tsunade considered it carefully. "It’s possible. But the Hyūga might refuse to cooperate." As for war— If Konoha didn’t provoke Kirigakure, would Kirigakure leave them alone? There was no permanent peace between villages—only shifting interests and circumstances. That was why Kumogakure dared to kidnap Kushina and still maintain relations afterward. The same applied to Konoha and Kirigakure. What she was worried about... "Will the Hyūga agree?" "Both Orochimaru-senpai and I suspect that the Hyūga and Kaguya clans may have been one family in ancient times. Their ancestors likely possessed the strengths of both bloodlines. So, a union between Kaguya and Hyūga might produce even more powerful descendants." Kyohiko answered. Tsunade froze for several seconds. A fusion of the Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku? That sounded terrifying! If true, how formidable would such offspring be? And why hadn’t the Hyūga and Kaguya clans intermarried all these years? At first, Tsunade was puzzled. But soon, she understood the reason. The two clans had diverged into separate families. If they intermarried—who would take the dominant role? The Hyūga were not the type to submit, and they thrived in Konoha. There was no reason for them to merge with the Kaguya. Meanwhile, the Kaguya clan in the Land of Water was notoriously warlike. They would never willingly bow to the Hyūga. Tsunade immediately stood up. "Fine. If the Hyūga clan agrees, Konoha will fully support this!" "Thank you." Kyohiko rose, feeling a touch moved. A decision like this—one that the Third Hokage would never have made in his lifetime. Tsunade chuckled. "What’s there to thank me for? Whether the Kaguya and Hyūga’s kekkei genkai can coexist or not, Konoha only stands to gain from adding the Kaguya bloodline. I’m not like the old man." —— Hyūga Clan, Main House Hall. Hiashi and Hizashi sat facing each other. They had been discussing the future rules of the main family for a long time. Yet, even after days of debate, no perfect solution had been reached. Hiashi sighed. "Ensuring the clan’s longevity while also caring for the branch family... It’s truly not easy." Hizashi nearly lost his composure at this. However, having spent years with his brother, he knew exactly what kind of person Hiashi was. He lowered his head and nodded in agreement. Just as he was about to offer some comforting words— Footsteps echoed from outside. A guard hurried in. "Lord Hiashi, Lord Kyohiko has arrived." "Hm?" Hiashi was momentarily surprised before glancing at Hizashi. Hizashi quickly shook his head, signaling that he had no idea about this visit. After a brief pause, Hiashi turned to the guard. "He is an honored guest of the Hyūga. Next time, there’s no need to stop him—bring him straight in." "Understood. Then I—" "Lord Hiashi, let me greet him." "Very well." Hiashi nodded. Hizashi, inwardly bewildered, strode quickly toward the entrance. He hadn’t spoken to Kyohiko about clan matters—what was the guy here for today? At the gate, he found Kyohiko standing there, calm and composed. "Kyohiko-kun." "Hizashi-senpai, you’re here with Hiashi-senpai too?" Kyohiko feigned surprise, though inwardly, he had already pieced things together. Hizashi had been troubled by clan affairs lately. What terms had Hiashi offered him? He pondered silently. "Yes, just discussing some matters with the clan head. What brings you here?" "I’ve received intelligence that concerns your clan. I wanted to consult with you both. Since you’re here, this works out perfectly." Kyohiko smiled as he explained. Hizashi exhaled in relief and led him inside to meet Hiashi in the main hall. After briefly stating his purpose, Hiashi’s expression brightened. "The Kaguya clan does share blood ties with us. Even now, our two families maintain some contact—though it’s limited to joint rituals every few years. There’s no deeper collaboration." "Have your clans ever considered intermarriage or alliance?" Kyohiko asked. Hiashi shook his head. "Our families have been separated since ancient times. Though we’ve maintained ties, intermarriage was never pursued. As time passed, the idea faded entirely." He paused, then added, "Why do you ask?" Kyohiko wanting the Hyūga to recruit the Kaguya was understandable—but what did that have to do with marriage? Had this kid uncovered something? Hiashi silently speculated. "I was thinking—the Shikotsumyaku is a physical kekkei genkai that enhances the body. It wouldn’t conflict with the Byakugan. In fact, the two might complement each other." "Why haven’t your clans ever considered intermarrying?" After hearing Kyohiko’s reasoning, Hiashi fell silent for several seconds, exchanging glances with Hizashi. Two bloodlines of the same origin, mutually reinforcing each other. This possibility had never crossed their minds. After a long pause, Hiashi looked at Kyohiko. "Your theory..." He trailed off, hesitant. He had to admit—Kyohiko’s idea was unorthodox, but it struck a chord deep within him. Hiashi had always longed to restore the Hyūga to their ancient glory. Yet the more he strived, the clearer it became: relying solely on the Hyūga’s legacy, reaching that level was nearly impossible. But with the Shikotsumyaku—or if the Hyūga’s physical prowess were enhanced... "Kyohiko, I understand your intent now." Hiashi took a deep breath. After a moment’s thought, he said, "If such an opportunity arises, I can send representatives to the Land of Water on behalf of the Hyūga." "This concerns all of Konoha. We’ll all contribute—but the key lies with your clan." Kyohiko reiterated his stance. Hiashi nodded. With their agreement settled, further discussion was unnecessary. Some things were better left unsaid in person. After Kyohiko left, Hiashi remained silent for a long time before finally sighing. "Hizashi... did you ever meet the Nidaime?" "I have some vague memories, but not many." Hizashi replied. Hiashi murmured, "I once thought Kyohiko resembled the Nidaime. But now, I believe even the Second in his youth couldn’t have matched Kyohiko’s caliber." Hizashi agreed with his brother’s assessment. However, he hesitated before asking, "Are we truly going along with this plan to bring the Kaguya into the fold?" "His reasoning isn’t unfounded." Hiashi sighed. The possibility was simply too tempting! "Then... let me go in your stead, brother." Hizashi volunteered. Hiashi’s face flickered with surprise. But he quickly schooled his expression. "Unnecessary. We can just send a few retainers." "Brother, the Kaguya are not ordinary allies. Sending a random envoy would only insult them—and likely fail. But I can pass as you, with minimal adjustments." Hizashi spoke solemnly. Hiashi fell silent. He could tell—his brother genuinely wanted to take this risk for him. If things unfolded as predicted, venturing into Kaguya territory would be perilous. Even with Kyohiko’s ANBU protection, survival was far from guaranteed. A pang of guilt struck Hiashi. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. "Brother, next time you visit the Kaguya clan... dress as me." Hizashi said firmly. Hiashi studied his brother. They were nearly identical—the only difference being Hizashi’s Caged Bird Seal, which he concealed under a forehead protector. "...Very well." After a long silence, Hiashi finally agreed. Then, his voice low, he vowed: "Hizashi, I swear—your son will enter the main family." Hizashi’s throat tightened. "That’s not... why I’m doing this." "I know."