Even though he didn't make another move, Hyūga Hiashi still glared at Akashō with a hostile expression.
"I'm warning you—if you dare harbor any improper thoughts about Hinata, I'll slaughter you even if it means the complete destruction of the Hyūga clan."
Akashō rolled his eyes in exasperation, then shook his head.
"Too lazy to argue with you. Just wait for my news."
With that, Akashō ignored the dark-faced Hyūga Hiashi and walked out of the main hall.
Passing through the outer courtyard, Hinata was still standing there with her eyes closed and head tilted upward in prayer. Akashō couldn't help but tap her lightly on the head.
"Didn't I tell you? Praying to gods is worse than asking me."
Hinata rubbed her head and said timidly,
"But… I still don't know your name."
"Akashō."
"Aka… shō?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Akashō-sama, my name is Hinata, Hyūga Hinata."
"I know."
...
Early the next morning, Akashō looked at the gradually rising sun in the east, squinting slightly as he lifted an umbrella.
At that moment, the gate of a house across from him opened, and a figure walked out.
"Huh? Akashō?"
"Morning, Haiji-san."
Akashō smiled as he waved at Yamanaka Haiji.
"Morning to you too. Showing up at my doorstep this early… don't tell me you're here to treat me to breakfast?"
Yamanaka Haiji shut the door behind him and walked up, teasing.
"Treating you to a meal is fine, but there's probably no time for that right now. Maybe in a few days. I came today mainly to ask you for a favor."
"Hahaha, I knew it."
Yamanaka Haiji laughed and patted Akashō on the shoulder. "Go on, what do you need?"
...
At the Nara clan compound, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza led Akashō into the clan head's residence. Nara Shikaku was sitting cross-legged in the corridor, staring intently at the shougiboard in front of him.
"Shikaku, we're here."
Nara Shikaku slightly turned his head. When he saw Akashō standing under the umbrella, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"You?"
"Who else would it be?"
Akashō walked forward without ceremony and sat down across from Nara Shikaku.
"Seems like you already knew someone would come looking for you."
"Mm."
Nara Shikaku nodded calmly, resetting all the pieces on the board to their original positions.
"I just didn't expect it to be you."
"Does it matter who came?"
Nara Shikaku paused, then shook his head.
"No, it doesn't."
As they spoke, the shougiboard had already been restored.
"Care for a game?"
Akashō smiled faintly. "I'll pass. I'm not really into shougi."
As he spoke, he gathered all the pieces on the board—including those on Shikaku's side—into his own side, then lifted the board and flipped it over onto the ground.
"Compared to playing shougi, I prefer writing novels. It's more relaxing—and more interesting."
With that, Akashō pulled out a book from his robes and placed it in front of Nara Shikaku. The four bold characters Breaking the Heavens of Shinobi were clearly visible on the cover.
Then Akashō stood up and bowed slightly.
"I've long heard that the Hidden Leaf Village's strategist is quick-witted and exceptionally intelligent. I'm not particularly clever, but when it comes to arranging plots, I have some skill. Since you're a smart man, I trust you understand what I mean."
Nara Shikaku picked up Breaking the Heavens of Shinobi and casually flipped through a couple of pages, then nodded.
"I'll wait and observe."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Akashō turned and walked out of the Nara clan head's residence, leaving behind a thoughtful Shikaku—and two utterly confused members of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
"Shika… Shikaku, what just happened?"
After a while, Yamanaka Inoichi finally couldn't hold back and asked. He knew Akashō must have come to discuss the Hyūga clan matter with Shikaku, but wasn't that conversation far too short?
"Doesn't like playing shougi, but likes writing novels…. With only the Hyūga and Uchiha clans behind him at most, where does he get the confidence to pull all the pieces to his side? Is it true confidence—or just excessive arrogance?"
Nara Shikaku didn't answer Inoichi, instead murmuring to himself for a long time.
"…Whatever. The timing is about right. Playing both sides, going with the wind—it may be a bit shameless, but it's the safest and most satisfactory approach."
Nara Shikaku stood up. "Let's go, Inoichi, Chōza. Prepare to assemble our clan's shinobi."
"Ah… oh, okay."
Even though Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza still didn't understand what they were supposed to do, since Shikaku told them to, they would follow through.
Meanwhile, Akashō had already left the Nara compound and arrived at a residence in the center of the village.
Before he could even push the door open, a fragment of memory suddenly flooded into his mind.
Good. Everything is ready.
After processing the memory, Akashō pushed the door open. Inside, Kakashi and the two Uchiha brothers were sitting cross-legged with solemn expressions. When they saw Akashō enter, they immediately stood up.
"Akashō, are you sure about this?"
Itachi looked at him with concern.
"If this goes wrong, it'll cause serious trouble."
Shisui's eyes were also filled with worry, but he didn't know what to say, ultimately choosing to remain silent as he looked at Akashō.
Kakashi stepped forward and patted Akashō on the shoulder.
"I believe in you."
Akashō smiled faintly, sweeping his gaze across the three of them.
"Alright then—Hidden Leaf Village F4, time to move out."