Chapter 161: Kaguya Clan, Times Have Changed!

In Kyoto, the capital of the Land of Fire, within a secret room of a mansion, Danzo slowly walked in. "Danzo-sama, is there something urgent?" Maruichi Kyu’s expression was solemn. Danzo smiled and said, "I know, Ryoho Kyohiko has entered the Daimyo’s mansion! He poses no threat to us, and currently, his focus isn’t on the Land of Fire." "Not the Land of Fire? Why are you so certain?" Maruichi Kyu frowned. He felt Danzo was being too arbitrary; he had met that young man, and he wasn’t the type to play by conventional rules. Danzo’s gaze turned cold, but his face still bloomed into a smile. "Because recently, he’s been researching how to throw the Land of Water into chaos. Although I don’t know how he managed it, the effect is excellent." Speaking to this point, a genuine smile appeared on his face. "I’ve said it before, he’s the one most like me. Indeed, in terms of methods and operations, we are very similar." "A pity. He cannot be used by me." Touching upon this, Maruichi Kyu also couldn’t help but show deep regret. He too had a very favorable impression of Kyohiko. If they could recruit Ryoho Kyohiko, even losing Danzo would be acceptable. After all, that young man was so young, with a great deal of time ahead of him. Once that person matured... his value would far exceed what Danzo could compare to. Furthermore, some of Danzo’s methods indeed left him unsatisfied, but currently, Danzo was the only one he could rely on, so he couldn’t say much. "Although his target is the Land of Water, you still need to pay more attention and prevent him from shifting his focus onto us." As he spoke, Maruichi Kyu paused. "Let’s halt the recruitment for now. Your recruitment of two major clans at once is a bit too conspicuous. Even I am under a lot of pressure." "Understood." --- The Daimyo’s Mansion was different from how it used to be. When Kyohiko had come before, he was just a Jounin. Although his status in Konoha wasn’t low, it hadn’t reached the current level. Now, he was a figure of power in Konoha, a true captain with real authority, naturally commanding a different level of respect. Meeting the Daimyo again, Kyohiko maintained his courtesy. The Daimyo also wore a smile. After a few words, the Daimyo dismissed the surrounding guards and maids, saying, "Kyohiko-kun, this is our second face-to-face meeting, and the first time we’ve truly been alone." "I am honored that Daimyo-sama remembers my name," Kyohiko said respectfully. The Daimyo smiled, stood up, and said, "I have a rough idea of your purpose in coming. I’ve also spoken with Hiruzen. I didn’t give explicit support, but I didn’t explicitly oppose it either." Kyohiko nodded. The Daimyo’s attitude had been made clear before. He wasn’t opposed. In fact, he felt the Daimyo’s approach was correct. Matters don’t become clear without debate. Without trying, how would one know if a method wouldn’t work? This applied to both the Hidden Village system and the Guardian Shinobi. Kyohiko smiled. "I do not oppose the Guardian Shinobi." "Oh?" Hearing this, the Daimyo was genuinely surprised and taken aback. He had been pacing but stopped abruptly. He lifted the beaded curtain and looked at Kyohiko outside, as if wanting to scrutinize his face and expression carefully. After a long moment, the Daimyo lowered the curtain. "Then what do you mean?" "The existence of the Guardian Shinobi can indeed protect you and the safety of Kyoto. I believe it is meaningful," Kyohiko stated. The Daimyo couldn’t help but chuckle. "Kyohiko-kun, I’m afraid you’re not being entirely truthful, are you?" He walked out from behind the beaded curtain, a fan waving gently in his hand. "The current Guardian Shinobi, while called guardians, are in reality starting a new kitchen. This is definitely a fatal threat to Konoha." He waved his fan. "The system of country and hidden village has been tested for decades and has proven feasible and effective. I don’t believe the Guardian Shinobi can replace it, which is why I haven’t supported it. But your statement..." "...is a bit self-deceiving." The Daimyo chuckled lightly, clearly unsatisfied with Kyohiko’s answer. Kyohiko smiled. "Daimyo-sama wishes to hear the truth?" "Yes. I have already dismissed the servants. Only Chiriku is nearby, and he is the only one I recruited myself, so you need not worry," the Daimyo said faintly. Kyohiko nodded. "The Daimyo and Kyoto are the heart of the nation. In this increasingly chaotic shinobi world, a force is indeed needed to protect Daimyo-sama and the safety of Kyoto. Therefore, I believe the Guardian Shinobi are meaningful. It’s just that they should be selected by Daimyo-sama, and trained and taught by Konoha." Kyohiko finished speaking and paused. The Daimyo appeared contemplative. Selected by him, taught and trained by Konoha. He pondered for a moment and smiled. "Indeed, that is so." The process couldn’t be discarded. Konoha providing the effort, him selecting the people—it was better than the current process and plan. The Daimyo’s eyes gleamed. He looked Kyohiko up and down, unable to hold back his admiration. "A hero emerges from youth!" Then, the Daimyo smiled. "Did you know? The first time I met Senju Tobirama, he was just like you, eloquent and full of spirit." "Nidaime-sama was indeed a heroic figure, one I greatly admire," Kyohiko smiled. The Daimyo chuckled. "Good, ambitious! I look forward to the day I personally approve your application for Hokage." "Thank you, Daimyo-sama." Kyohiko bowed slightly. As Sarutobi Hiruzen had said, this Daimyo was indeed intelligent and wise; he knew very well where to draw the line. In comparison, his son was far inferior. Kyohiko said, "I came this time mainly to report to Daimyo-sama that Konoha will be entering a state of combat readiness." "I understand. You may proceed. I will support Konoha as always." --- Outside Kyoto. "Finished?" Hizashi was somewhat surprised. In and out, it took less than an hour in total, and the matter was settled. So quickly? Kyohiko nodded. "It took half an hour just to see Daimyo-sama; otherwise, it could have been even faster. Let’s go, I’ll escort you to the border." "Is that really necessary?" "It’s fine, I’m just taking you to the Land of Water’s border," Kyohiko said. The Kaguya clan wasn’t just the Hyuga family’s business; it also concerned his own pursuits. He spread out his senses. Confirming no one was around, he then said, "Hizashi-senpai, if possible, it would be best to bring over some ordinary adult clansmen as well. After all, it takes too long for children to grow up." "Difficult." Hizashi shook his head. Adults were generally unwilling to leave their homeland, and they had already formed their own ways of thinking, making it hard to change. Even if brought to Konoha, they might not be able to adapt to Konoha’s life and pace. "I mean, ordinary members of the Kaguya clan," Kyohiko replied. Ordinary people too? Hizashi was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood Kyohiko’s meaning. It took too long for children to grow from childhood to adulthood, but adults marrying and having children could yield results quickly. However, the Hyuga clan itself didn’t have a clear plan yet and hadn’t decided whether to intermarry with the Kaguya clan. Still, bringing people back first was indeed a more prudent consideration. Hizashi nodded. "I will do my best." --- In Kirigakure, the Village Hidden by Mist, in the Land of Water. Elder Genji stood before the Fourth Mizukage, his brows nearly knitted together. "Mizukage-sama, this strategy is too radical! If things truly escalate like this, it will be impossible to resolve later!" "Resolve?" Yagura turned his head, his gaze indifferent and filled with killing intent, sending a chill down Genji’s spine and making him tremble. What terrifying eyes! He lowered his head, shocked and fearful, but out of loyalty to the village and his own position and responsibility, Genji knew he couldn’t back down. "An arrow, once shot, cannot be recalled, Mizukage-sama..." "Strength is key." Yagura stood up, his face impassive. "As long as we have sufficient strength, even the Land of Water’s Daimyo will have to defer to us. Without them, we can still go to other countries." Genji was dumbfounded. His lips moved, but he couldn’t utter a word for a long time. "Our hidden village and the Land of Water have always had a cooperative, mutually beneficial, win-win relationship. There is no distinction of superior or subordinate." "However," "Now, in the eyes of the Land of Water’s nobles, we are supposed to be their subordinates. Elder, is this also correct?" Yagura expressed his thoughts. Genji was speechless. He understood Yagura’s thinking and knew there was no room for turning back on this matter. Their considerations were different. He was thinking of the bigger picture, but the other was thinking of the status of the hidden village and its ninjas—they were simply incomparable. What was lamentable was that most in the current Kirigakure would agree with Yagura’s viewpoint. Genji lowered his head. "Understood." "Go and attend to your duties. I will handle this matter. It won’t cause too much of a stir. The Yuki clan, the Kaguya clan—however they were before, they will remain so in the future," Yagura said indifferently. Yet, from his tone, Genji could already sense intense killing intent. This dispute would likely not end simply. Internal strife was about to erupt! Genji took a step, about to leave, when Yagura suddenly called out to him. "By the way, does Konoha have a hand in this?" "It’s hard to tell. We haven’t found any signs of their activity." "It doesn’t matter. They are the ones who benefit if we fall into chaos. Just assume they did it. We’ll make a note of this for now," Yagura said faintly. Genji didn’t speak, merely nodding slightly before turning to leave. Konoha? He hadn’t found any trace of Konoha’s Anbu activity, but as Yagura said, if you weren’t sure who was responsible, look at who benefited. Currently, Kirigakure and Konoha were still hostile. If Kirigakure fell into chaos, Konoha would certainly be the beneficiary. Moreover, Konoha and the Land of Fire had similar problems. Genji was lost in thought, yet helpless. So what if he knew? Based on the combat strength displayed previously, Konoha had already far surpassed Kirigakure. Even if they were truly involved, there was nothing they could do. They couldn’t win! --- Several days later, at the Kaguya clan’s territory in the Land of Water, the sounds of clashing bones and weapons were incessant. Hizashi, relying on his map and Byakugan, had finally found the place. At the entrance. "Members of the Kaguya clan, the Hyuga clan has come to visit!" Hizashi shouted loudly. Inside the clan grounds, there was a moment of silence, then several figures emerged. One of them looked Hizashi up and down, then the leader nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Please come in." He led Hizashi into the clan grounds, then said, "We just met at sea earlier. I thought you weren’t planning on coming this year." "The times are chaotic. I wasn’t originally planning to come, but I heard you’ve become the Land of Water’s Guardian Shinobi?" Hizashi carefully remembered his identity—he was now "Hiashi," not the head of the branch family, so his tone and posture had to be different. The Kaguya clan head nodded. "Yes, you heard so quickly?" A proud smile appeared on his face. "Compared to Kirigakure, the Land of Water nobles offer more. Since we’re risking our lives anyway, why not work for them?" Hizashi was speechless for a moment. This was truly something the Kaguya clan would do. Though powerful, the Kaguya clan’s thinking and intellect had never been their strong suit; they were very single-minded. Their population in the Land of Water had been dwindling over the years. On his way here, he had scanned the area with his Byakugan. The Kaguya clan now had only a few dozen members left. If this continued, they were probably not far from extinction. However, the most terrifying thing was—the Kaguya clan itself was completely unaware of the impending crisis. Hizashi glanced at Kaguya Raizo. If this Kaguya clan head had even half of Hiashi’s cunning, he couldn’t possibly have led the Kaguya clan to such a state. At this moment, he suddenly felt fortunate that the Hyuga clan had someone like Hiashi... At least the family’s lineage would definitely be passed down. After chatting for a while, Raizo invited Hizashi to sit indoors, from where they could see the clansmen training in their dojo. The Kaguya clan was extremely fierce. Even the children wielded bone blades in combat, not wooden swords or kendo sticks. Hizashi said, "Raizo, your clan is now at the center of a storm. Any misstep could mean disaster for your entire clan." "Hahaha, we Kaguya fear battle the least! Battles of blood and fire only excite us more!" Kaguya Raizo was completely unconcerned, his gaze still fixed on his clansmen. "I know what you’re worried about, but Kirigakure is just a bunch of petty cowards, no match for us at all." "You and the Yuki clan?" Hizashi looked around, a sorrowful expression in his eyes. "Raizo, you are indeed strong, but what is too rigid is easily broken... Think about it, how many people did you have before, and how many are left now?" Raizo fell silent. He looked into the distance, not answering. The Kaguya clan of a bygone era was glorious and powerful. Though still strong now, it was a far cry from its former grandeur. He looked at Hizashi and sneered, "So? You want us to learn from you? To be cowards for a lifetime?" "Not cowardice, but for the sake of continuation." "You haven’t produced a strong individual for a long time. Generation after generation, you talk about surpassing the Ancient Glory, but to this day, you don’t even have a decent one." Kaguya Raizo showed no courtesy, his attitude extremely blunt. Hizashi wasn’t surprised. He had long known from Hiashi about the personalities of Kaguya Raizo and most of the Kaguya clan. The other’s reaction was entirely expected. However, he smiled. "Yes, so our clan is also seeking change. Our situation is different now." "Oh?" Raizo chuckled, his gaze sharp. "Why don’t we let battle do the talking? Prove yourself with your fists." "That can be arranged." Hizashi stood up. Although he didn’t know the main family’s Rotation or Vacuum Palm, he had figured out the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms himself. Moreover, the focus of this battle was on something new. He rose. Raizo said, "Then let’s go outside and fight!" With that, he vanished with a body flicker. In an instant, both he and Hizashi were in the outdoor dojo. "Everyone, spread out! I’m going to spar with Hiashi." "Alright!" Cheers erupted. The Kaguya clan loved to fight; every battle made their blood boil. In comparison... the Hyuga clan was much lacking in this aspect. At least, that’s how they saw it. As a result, this time, the Hyuga clan actually agreed to a challenge. Unbelievable! Everyone gathered around, faces filled with anticipation. Hizashi landed opposite Raizo. "Please!" "Please." Both formed the "Seal of Confrontation," and then, in an instant—Hizashi activated his Byakugan. Around Raizo, bones erupted. A slight smile appeared on Hizashi’s face. "Raizo, you’ve already entered my domain." "You can say that after you defeat me!" Raizo smiled confidently. He and "Hiashi" had sparred before and had some understanding of each other. Gentle Fist... it was just so-so. As long as they didn’t let them land a hit! "Be careful," Hizashi warned. Raizo nodded lightly, drawing a bone blade. The next second, Raizo sensed a powerful surge of chakra from Hizashi, and then his figure flickered... Raizo immediately sensed trouble. The next second—Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch! Bones erupted from his body. This was the Kaguya clan’s defense, tried and true against taijutsu users. But what Raizo hadn’t expected was that Hizashi did indeed get close. But... the method of attack was different from what he imagined. Strands of hair grew wildly from Hizashi’s head, rapidly engulfing Raizo. The hairs quickly pierced into his body’s chakra points. Rampaging Lion’s Mane Technique! Thwack, thwack, thwack. All sixty-four tenketsu points were quickly attacked and hit. Hizashi had temporarily sealed Kaguya Raizo’s chakra. Kaguya Raizo’s face turned crimson. He had lost. But he was extremely unconvinced inwardly—who would have thought the Hyuga clan would use ninjutsu instead of taijutsu! A frustrated feeling welled up in his chest, making him want to vent on someone. After holding it in for a long time, Raizo said, "No, this is..." "Raizo, times have changed!" Hizashi withdrew his hand, exuding the air of a master. "Again, again! I was careless this time. Otherwise, even if you could attack with your hair, I could still defeat you." Kaguya Raizo was very unconvinced. Hizashi smiled faintly. "Then let’s go again." After a dozen seconds, Raizo’s mentality changed slightly. He had lost again! This time, he had been wary of Hizashi’s hair ninjutsu, but the opponent condensed chakra and directly struck his chakra points through his muscles from a distance. This temporarily immobilized his arm. As a clan excelling in taijutsu, having his muscles compromised naturally put him at a disadvantage. What shocked him even more was the opponent’s speed. Had he used some secret technique? After failing again, Raizo had to admit—the Hyuga clan had truly changed!