From entering Kumogakure to leaving it, the Konoha group stayed for four days total.
During that time, they never got to see the young Raikage make an appearance.
Yugito stood by the tall window of the Raikage Tower, watching the Konoha group disappear into the distance.
Expressionless, she left the Raikage Tower and entered the Yeyue clan compound.
Many Yeyue clansmen couldn't hide their unease at her arrival.
Hearing reports from subordinates, Yeyue Ibuki strode out with a smile, his face showing hearty amusement. "Raikage-sama, regarding this negotiation with Konoha—"
Yugito, who had been facing away from him, turned around abruptly and cut him off. "Ibuki Elder... Senior Ibuki, now that you've seen me again, are you feeling particularly nervous? Disappointed in your heart?"
"Raikage-sama, what exactly are you saying?" Yeyue Ibuki first showed confusion, then replied with a dry chuckle.
"Last week, someone attempted to assassinate me."
"It seems someone wants to throw Kumogakure into chaos," Ibuki mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"The one who attacked me was Kakuzu from the Akatsuki Organization."
"Him?" Ibuki raised his head, his face showing clear surprise.
Yugito let out a quiet laugh. "I just wondered—who could be so considerate as to have him fight our war before making his own move..."
"That indeed sounds quite strange," Ibuki nodded.
Yugito exhaled slightly; she no longer wished to keep up this pretense. "Senior Yeyue Ibuki, please stop pretending. Just tell me—is attempting to kill a village Kage considered high treason?"
"Raikage-sama, are you suspecting me?"
"Isn't it you?"
"Raikage-sama, I think you must be mistaken. How could I possibly have such thoughts? I—"
"Enough."
Feeling the Tailed Beast chakra surrounding her, Ibuki paled. Nearby, other Yeyue clansmen felt their hearts sink and gathered closer.
Back on a street in Konoha, Tsunade sat outside a shop near the Hyuga clan compound, watching Hyuga members come and go.
When she saw Hiroki Hyuga return, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"Hmph, it's really you, kid!"
Kaguya Palace.
Seeing Hiroki Hyuga appear before her, Kaguya gave an inexplicable sigh, her eyes flashing with complicated emotion.
He comes here once every day to train his spiritual body—that itself wasn't a problem. What troubled Kaguya wasn't that.
What frustrated her was how recently, the boy seemed to enjoy physical contact with her.
Was he seeking comfort from her, or had he simply started noticing the opposite sex as he got older? Kaguya didn't understand.
This brought back an old, painful memory.
Back then, Hayato had betrayed her over a woman.
The woman Hayato loved had been sacrificed to the God Tree by Kaguya and died soon after—from that moment on, everything changed between them.
Women...
If such betrayal were to happen again... what would she do...
Staring at Hiroki Hyuga's face, Kaguya pondered.
Unconsciously, Kaguya began considering how to maintain long-term relationships.
Should she bind them tightly like the Otsutsuki Clan did, through layers of oppression?
That could lead to rebellious individuals — like herself.
Should she rely on human emotions? Kaguya scoffed inwardly.
Feelings like that would be compared to all sorts of things, and even discarded outright.
Over the years, she had seen this far too often.
Before Hiroki Hyuga could speak, Kaguya slightly shifted her expression and spoke indifferently, "Tsunade has arrived."
After he left, Kaguya remained alone and silent for a long time.
Then, she took over Yugito's body, blocking the perception abilities of Yugito, Two-Tails, and Eight-Tails.
On the surface, she released her own chakra.
Black Zetsu sensed it and instantly traveled from afar.
"Mother."
"How much longer until we capture the tailed beasts?"
"We don't have enough manpower yet," Black Zetsu carefully replied, worried about angering her.
"I've already captured two. Isn't that sufficient?"
"Nagato, Obito Uchiha, Konan, Sasori of the Red Sands, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, and myself — only seven people total. Our combat strength is insufficient. During previous times, I was focusing on synthesizing the Rinnegan." Black Zetsu explained.
"...Hurry up."
"Yes." Black Zetsu solemnly nodded, then asked, "Mother, what are your plans regarding Two-Tails and Eight-Tails?"
"They will walk into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path themselves."
"I understand." Black Zetsu said knowingly.
In Konoha, Hiroki Hyuga opened his eyes, seeing nothing but a blonde woman furiously barging into his house.
He twitched the corner of his mouth, at a loss for words.
With their age gap, no one would get the wrong idea anyway.
But couldn't she at least dial it down and avoid drawing so much attention?
Besides, how many people would this attract here?
Hiroki Hyuga gazed at her coldly. "I know what you want to ask, and who you're looking for."
"I can only tell you that everything you're doing now is permitted by her."
...
Upon hearing this, Tsunade momentarily froze.
All the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.
"Kid, by that logic, you clearly know a lot, but you won't tell me any information."
Saying this, Tsunade easily grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Tsunade, put me down."
"So you do recognize me."
"The infamous gambler's best friend, the walking gold mine who always loses — who wouldn't know Lady Tsunade?" Hiroki Hyuga's words carried sharpness.
Tsunade let out a scoff.
"If you don't let go right now, I'll get serious."
"What kind of serious could that be?" Tsunade's voice contained slight amusement along with disdain. "What methods do you have?"
Hiroki Hyuga gave a calm, knowing smile.
Chakra gathered at his fingertips, forming a small sword-like finger projection. At the area just below his collarbone, he slashed himself.
A shallow wound appeared, blood flowing out from beneath his neck.
This glaring red entered Tsunade's sight, and the smell of blood flowed into her nose.
At this moment, Tsunade seemed to lose all her strength.
Her hand holding onto Hiroki Hyuga loosened, and he fell to the ground.
Tsunade-sama was sitting on the ground, trembling all over, her eyes vacant, hands clutching her head as if trying to curl her body inward.
Hiroki Hyuga stared coldly before taking a few steps forward, prompting Tsunade-sama to scramble back in fear.
The once mighty woman now looked frail and close to tears—like a delicate flower drenched in rain.
At that moment, footsteps echoed. Hiashi Hyuga arrived with several clan members, Hinata trailing behind.
"What's wrong with her?" Hiashi frowned, asking with concern upon seeing the shivering Tsunade-sama.
"I'm not sure either," Hiroki Hyuga shrugged.
"Aniki, Hiroki, why is your neck hurt?" Hinata spoke up.
Following where she pointed and glancing again at Tsunade's fragile state, Hiashi sighed deeply.
"Tsunade-sama's blood phobia has flared up again."
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