Lanterns lined the polished corridors of the Hyūga compound, their light casting soft gold against white paper walls. Servants moved silently between the guests, pouring sake and replacing dishes with practiced grace. The evening was quiet, formal, yet something beneath the stillness felt taut. Raven crouched unseen in the rafters above, her Rinnegan glinting faintly, watching every motion below.
At the center of the room, Hiashi Hyūga sat in rigid composure at the head of a long table. Beside him, his twin brother Hizashi watched the proceedings with a calm that masked quiet vigilance. Across from them sat the delegation from Kumogakure—five men dressed in layered robes of dark blue and white. Their leader, Renga Sazanami, was broad-shouldered and stern-faced, his weathered features softened by the polite smile of a diplomat. The younger shinobi at his back sat too still, eyes measuring every movement of the Hyūga.
Hiashi raised a porcelain cup, his tone perfectly even. "We are honored by Kumogakure's goodwill in seeking peace with Konoha. May this night mark the beginning of understanding between our nations. The Hyūga clan is pleased to extend its hospitality."
Renga's deep voice filled the chamber as he inclined his head. "The pleasure is ours, Lord Hyūga. The Byakugan's reputation reaches even our mountains. The Raikage insisted we come to witness such nobility firsthand. To see eyes that can pierce all deception—what a gift."
Hiashi's expression didn't waver. "We bear it as a responsibility, not for pride."
Renga's fingers traced the rim of his cup, his tone smooth but probing. "Then perhaps, as one who admires excellence, I might be allowed to see that clarity in action? Surely a brief demonstration would honor both clans."
Hizashi's eyes flicked toward his brother, but Hiashi gave a single nod. "Very well." His pupils shifted, veins bulging faintly at his temples. "Byakugan." His gaze swept the hall and then turned toward the distant corridor. "One of your men stands concealed outside the wall—thirty feet to the east, behind three partitions. He's watching this room."
Renga's cup paused midair, a flicker of surprise quickly masked by a smile. "Astounding. You are correct. I'd forgotten my fifth escort stationed outside. Your precision is… truly remarkable."
He laughed, loud and genial, and raised his drink. "To the Hyūga clan—the eyes that see through all things." The others followed, their laughter polite, but Raven's gaze sharpened.
From her vantage point in the rafters she could feel it—chakra signatures pulsing low and steady, far too focused for mere diplomacy. "A performance," she thought. "Every smile rehearsed. Renga's here for more than peace. Hiruzen must know, and Danzo's fingerprints are all over it."
Below, conversation resumed. Hiashi discussed trade routes and border patrols; Renga replied with feigned humility, each word weighed like a stone. At the edge of the table sat two children. Neji, silent and still, mirrored his father's composure, his pale eyes observing everything. Across from him sat little Hinata, three years old, shifting anxiously in her lavender kimono. Her small hands fidgeted with the fabric in her lap.
Raven's gaze softened as she watched the girl. "There she is… the seed of what's to come."
Hinata leaned toward her father, voice a whisper. "F-Father, are these the guests you told me about?"
Hiashi looked down, his stern expression easing slightly. "Yes, Hinata. These are our visitors from the Hidden Cloud. Be polite."
Hinata stood, bowing awkwardly, her tiny voice trembling. "Y-Yes, Father."
Renga's eyes gleamed. "Such grace at so young an age. Truly, the future of the Hyūga is bright."
Hinata flushed red and sat quickly, bumping her elbow on the table. Hizashi hid a faint smirk behind his cup; Hiashi maintained his stoicism. Raven, high above, pressed a hand over her mouth, suppressing a quiet laugh. "Still clumsy even now," she thought. "She hasn't changed a bit."
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