The next afternoon, Senju Mori arrived right on schedule. He brought no attendants or guards—he came alone to the Hyūga compound.
Unlike his previous visit to Uzumaki Mito, his appearance this time was more subdued. His black hair was simply tied back with a plain white ribbon, the rest falling naturally down his back.
He wore a dark inner robe beneath a light green haori. On the front, sleeves, and center of the back were emblazoned the crests of the Senju clan.
This was already the highest form of ceremonial attire.
Because he had sent his visiting card in advance, the Hyūga had prepared a very formal welcome ceremony. Nearly all members of the Main Family participated in receiving him.
Although such an extravagant welcome could easily be interpreted as taking sides early, the Hyūga's deep-seated pride and rigid traditionalism ultimately led them to proceed this way regardless.
At the main gate of the Hyūga compound, two Branch Family jōnin—dressed in traditional white kimono with white bandages tied across their foreheads—had been waiting for who knows how long. When they saw Senju Mori approach, they immediately bowed deeply.
"Lord Mori."
The form of address made Senju Mori raise an eyebrow slightly, though the two Branch Family jōnin seemed perfectly accustomed to it.
For them, this was normal etiquette—not only for distinguished guests like Senju Mori, a powerful shinobi from a noble clan, but even toward a Hyūga Main Family member of chūnin or genin rank, they were expected to bow and address them as "lord."
Mori said nothing, merely nodding slightly before following the two Branch Family shinobi into the compound.
After all, he wasn't a Hyūga Branch member himself, and from his perspective, the Hyūga's Main and Branch Family system was actually quite an efficient one.
It ensured that the Byakugan—considered a "vital asset of Konoha"—would not be easily lost in battle or on missions, while also effectively preventing the rise of an uncontrollable, overly powerful individual within the Hyūga clan.
Furthermore, because the Main Family held nearly all decision-making authority, the entire Hyūga clan remained docile and easily contented, never making excessive demands for power or resources.
If there was any cost to this system, it was merely that the Branch Family lived under restraint and servitude.
But since they themselves had never sought to resist it, Senju Mori—an outsider—naturally had no intention of interfering.
Once inside the Hyūga grounds, the first sight that greeted him was a long, straight pathway bordered on both sides by immaculately maintained trees and flowers.
The foliage was pruned daily to ensure that every single plant grew in identical shape and height.
When they reached a middle gate leading into the Main Residence area, the two Branch Family guides stopped in unison.
Waiting for them was a middle-aged man dressed in a more formal montsuki haori hakama. His calm, dignified presence clearly set him apart from the earlier escorts—he was a senior elder of the Hyūga Main Family.
"Lord Mori, you've had a long journey. The clan head is waiting for you in the tea room."
The elder offered a perfectly measured, courteous smile and stepped aside to lead the way, taking over from the two Branch Family jōnin.
At last, Senju Mori stepped into the Hyūga Main Residence itself. Guided by the Main Family elder, he passed through corridor after corridor.
To an outsider, the compound's architecture would seem like a labyrinth, but the elder moved through it with practiced ease.
Finally, after crossing the last carefully maintained walkway, the tea room came into view.
Its sliding doors were open. There, waiting at the entrance, stood the current head of the Hyūga clan—Hyūga Sōgo—personally leading several Main Family elders to greet Senju Mori's arrival.
"Lord Mori, it is our great honor to receive your visit," said Hyūga Sōgo, bowing slightly. Unlike the deep, almost ninety-degree bows performed by the Branch Family members, his gesture was one of formal etiquette.
Senju Mori stopped at the edge of the veranda and returned the bow politely. "I am humbled that Lord Sōgo would personally come to greet me."
"The tea room is ready. Please, this way."
——
The two entered the tea room one after the other. The interior was austere, furnished with only a single hanging scroll bearing the character "Silence (静)", and a lone, withered chrysanthemum set diagonally in a narrow-necked vase.
"Please, take the upper seat," Hyūga Sōgo invited.
After a brief exchange of courteous insistence, Senju Mori—being the guest of honor—naturally took the seat with his back to the alcove, while Hyūga Sōgo sat opposite him.
Several Main Family elders quietly entered as well, sitting along the sides toward the back. Their status granted them the privilege to silently observe.
Neither Sōgo nor Mori began speaking immediately. A young Main Family girl moved gracefully between them, preparing and serving tea. The entire process unfolded in ritualistic silence.
Senju Mori leaned forward slightly in thanks, taking the tea bowl with his right hand and setting it on his left palm.
He rotated the bowl twice clockwise, avoiding drinking from its front, then sipped the tea in three measured mouthfuls.
When he finished, he turned the bowl counterclockwise, admired its craftsmanship before Hyūga Sōgo, and then gently set it back down.
Every movement Mori made followed the most precise and proper etiquette.
Through this, he meant to convey to Hyūga Sōgo that he was one of their kind—a well-bred shinobi from an old, noble family, disciplined and respectful of tradition—not some reckless, arrogant youth.
Throughout the ceremony, Hyūga Sōgo mirrored Mori's every motion. When they set their bowls down almost simultaneously, a faint glimmer of approval passed through Sōgo's eyes.
Only after the young attendant silently refilled their tea, bowed, and slid the heavy paper door closed behind her, did Hyūga Sōgo finally break the long silence—turning the topic toward the past.
"I remember when Lord Hashirama, the First Hokage, founded Konoha—it was in a season much like this one, clear and crisp under an autumn sky."
"The glory of those days remains vivid in my memory," Senju Mori replied naturally. "Lord Hashirama built Konoha to protect his clansmen, his comrades, and his loved ones. Lord Tobirama inherited that noble ideal."
"Indeed," Sōgo sighed softly. "Lord Tobirama was without question a great Hokage. Under his leadership, the village flourished. It is only a pity that his death in battle has left us all uncertain about Konoha's future path…"
Both men knew perfectly well what the other was truly concerned about—but neither chose to pursue the subject of the Third Hokage. With a shared sense of tact, they avoided mentioning the succession altogether.
For an old-fashioned man like Hyūga Sōgo, dignity was paramount. His conversations valued subtlety and restraint; to speak too bluntly of power or bargains at the start would only provoke distaste.
Senju Mori, on the other hand, had patience to spare. So instead of forcing the topic, he smoothly shifted direction and posed a question of his own:
"Lord Sōgo," he asked calmly, "what do you believe to be the true essence of a clan?"