Chapter 22: The Protagonist
The day's cheers had long since faded. Only scattered lanterns remained on the streets, swaying in the wind.
A black shadow wove between rooftops like a swimming fish, movements so agile they produced no sound. If not for the Cloud Village headband, it would be hard to believe he came from that notoriously aggressive village.
His toes lightly touched roof tiles as he vaulted into Hyuga Hiashi's estate, crouching outside Hinata's window.
He pulled out a specially made thin iron strip, sliding it along the window frame's gap and gently lifting.
Click.
The window latch opened. He held his breath, pushed open the window, and slipped inside.
The room carried a faint lavender fragrance. Several scrolls sat on the desk, but the bed was completely empty—bedding cold and neatly arranged.
She's not here?!
His heart pounded violently, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly checked the wardrobe, under the bed... nothing. No trace of the girl anywhere.
Damn! Had intelligence leaked? Or did she just happen to be out tonight?
He ground his teeth, mind racing through calculations. Plan A failed. If he retreated now, this infiltration would be meaningless.
So only Plan B remained!
Resolve flashed through his eyes. If he couldn't capture the target, he'd bring the Byakugan to the Cloud Village another way.
He pulled a pill from his clothing—poison developed by the Cloud Village. After death, no autopsy could detect any toxic components. Combined with the false injuries he'd create on his body, anyone seeing his corpse would believe he'd been killed by Gentle Fist.
He quietly withdrew from Hinata's room, creeping along the corridor toward the main house, arriving outside Hyuga Hiashi's quarters.
He sat cross-legged, looking at the sky, the pill held in his hand.
For the Cloud Village's glory, for Lord Raikage's plan... my sacrifice is worthwhile.
With a gulp, the pill slid down his throat. Bitter taste instantly spread through his mouth.
His body began convulsing. Pain crashed over him like waves, but he bit down hard, refusing to make a sound. His vision started blurring, breathing growing more difficult.
Finally, he collapsed against the wall, maintaining the posture of someone "struck down by another."
"Lord Raikage... my mission... is complete..."
...
Meanwhile, the missing Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hinata appeared at Tsunade's estate.
This afternoon, Tsunade had suddenly announced she'd take a student and hold an apprenticeship banquet, even personally delivering an invitation to him. The implications couldn't be clearer.
Tsunade was backing Hyuga Kiyonari.
She was telling him—the Hyuga clan head—and the other main family members that Kiyonari was under her protection.
After today, Hyuga Kiyonari's status would undergo earth-shaking changes. Normally, this wasn't a situation the main family wanted to see.
But from personal selfishness, Hyuga Hiashi welcomed it. Regardless of anything else, he didn't want Hinata marrying an ordinary branch family member. If that happened, after Hinata became clan head, she'd definitely face constraints from other main family members.
When Uchiha Fugaku arrived with Uchiha Itachi, it drew considerable attention. After all, the Uchiha clan rarely participated in such occasions, especially given how the current Konoha ostracized them.
Their appearance here—were they trying to break through their isolation using Tsunade's influence?
Others couldn't help thinking so.
"Clan Head Fugaku, welcome."
Tsunade felt somewhat surprised. She was Senju clan, and this had been the Senju compound. She hadn't expected the Uchiha would someday come uninvited. Seemed they really were having a rough time.
"Lady Tsunade, congratulations on gaining an excellent student." Uchiha Fugaku responded very politely before having Itachi present their prepared gift.
The estate didn't have many guests. Only a few in Konoha qualified for Tsunade's invitation—everyone else had caught wind of the news and come to pay respects.
After presenting their congratulatory gift, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi didn't mingle and chat like other guests. Instead, they found a quiet corner to sit.
They didn't welcome the Uchiha. Did the Uchiha welcome them any more?
Uchiha Fugaku calmly poured himself tea, showing no discomfort from the surrounding cold stares. His gaze traveled across the courtyard to land on Tsunade.
"Itachi," Fugaku spoke quietly, voice low enough only they could hear, "look—that's this banquet's protagonist."
"I know him. Hyuga Kiyonari. He'll definitely become an excellent shinobi."
"No, I don't mean him. I mean Tsunade."
Hearing this, Itachi paused slightly.
Fugaku continued. "Though I don't know why that child gained Tsunade's favor, compared to her, he doesn't yet have the qualifications to be the protagonist."
"Even if the child has outstanding talent, he's ultimately just branch family. His upper limit is already locked. Yet Tsunade holds such a grand apprenticeship banquet, even inviting major clan heads to attend. On the surface it looks like backing this student, but actually?"
Itachi fell silent for a moment before answering, "I don't know."
"Think about her identity," Fugaku's voice carried several shades of emotion. "Tsunade-hime, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, the First Hokage's granddaughter. If not for her disagreement with the Third and departure, the Fourth Hokage wouldn't have been Namikaze Minato."
"I thought she'd never return. Yet not only has she come back, she's even taken a student. The implications... heh."
Itachi understood. "She wants to become Fifth Hokage?"
"In all of Konoha, no one is more suited to become Fifth Hokage than her." Uchiha Fugaku sighed deeply.
Once upon a time, Konoha had been so glorious. Back then, Hokage candidates were all exceptional.
"What about Lord Third's attitude?" Uchiha Itachi suddenly asked.
However, Fugaku shook his head, indicating ignorance, then gestured toward others in the hall. "Look at them... Ino-Shika-Cho, the Hyuga, and other major and minor clan heads. Their purposes are all the same as ours."
"No one knows Lord Third's thoughts. No one knows Tsunade's thoughts. But undoubtedly, Lord Third has aged. Moreover, since the Fourth's death, Lord Third resumed his position as 'Acting Hokage.'"
"No one dares confirm Tsunade will definitely become Hokage. But no one dares bet she definitely won't. As long as she stays in Konoha, everyone must give her face."
Just then, commotion arose outside the hall. Both looked over.
It was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He wore casual clothes, pipe tucked at his waist, hands behind his back—like an old man dropping by for a visit.
His attendance gave everyone at the banquet reassurance.