Matsutake-tei was one of the most high-end restaurants in Konoha.
Although this was Sougen's first time stepping into this tasteful and elegant establishment, it wasn't because he couldn't afford it. His age had been a limiting factor in his activities—his parents had forbidden him from drinking alcohol until he turned twenty. Even now, as the clan head, he hadn't gained the freedom to do so.
Surprisingly, even his grandfather agreed with this.
He would often say that today's young people didn't take the "Three Prohibitions of Shinobi" seriously. As the clan head, Sougen was expected to lead by example and improve the clan's ways. The temptations of alcohol, lust, and greed should only be indulged in moderation by shinobi; any obsession with them could dull their willpower.
Sougen walked along the wooden floor, glancing around the surroundings. They were being guided by the hostess through a winding corridor, flanked on both sides by sliding shoji doors painted with images of seasonal beauty—spring flowers, autumn moons, summer suns, and winter snow. Despite the traditional decor, the lighting in the hallway wasn't dim.
The owner of this restaurant clearly wasn't a stubborn traditionalist. Modern science had banished the gloom from the corridor, and the elegant lamps, shaped like cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and plum flowers, complemented the seasonal images on the shoji doors in a delightful fusion.
The hostess slid open a shoji door with a soft sound.
They had arrived.
Following Hyuga Hiashi inside, Sougen saw it was a six-tatami-sized room with cushions and a low table in the center. Hanging on the wall was a landscape painting, which Sougen found beautiful, though he didn't understand it. Through the veranda doors, he could see a refined stone garden outside.
Meticulously raked white sand, stone arrangements, and lanterns combined to create a breathtaking landscape in the hands of a master gardener.
After the hostesses served tea and snacks and quietly left the room, closing the shoji doors behind them, only Sougen and Hiashi remained in the room. Their bodyguards, including Shisui and Hiashi's attendants, were stationed in a nearby room, close enough to respond immediately but far enough not to disturb the conversation.
"Clan Head Uchiha, please wait a moment," Hiashi said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion. He activated his Byakugan, carefully scanning the surroundings to ensure they weren't being eavesdropped on, and only then deactivated it.
Sougen furrowed his brow slightly. Hiashi's act of checking the environment seemed to double as a scan of Sougen himself. However, he knew there was no way to hide anything from Hiashi—if Hiashi wished, he could examine him from a kilometer away.
Though mildly annoyed, Sougen quickly let the feeling pass.
"Apologies, Clan Head Uchiha…"
"Just call me Sougen, Hiashi-senpai."
"Well then, Sougen-kun?"
Sougen wasn't particularly close to Hiashi, but they weren't complete strangers either. During the Third Shinobi War, they had collaborated several times. The Hyuga Clan wasn't just active against the Cloud Village; the Byakugan also proved effective against the Hidden Mist's jutsu.
However, the Hyuga Clan had suffered a significant setback in their fight against the Mist.
Not only had they lost a member of the main family, but a perfect Byakugan had been stolen by the Mist Village.
Sougen had met the unlucky Hyuga member who had died. He was a brash, arrogant young man, around Sougen's age, who had not only gotten himself killed but also caused six branch family members to lose their lives.
"What are you thinking, Sougen-kun?"
"I'm thinking, Hiashi-senpai, what is it that you want to discuss? If you have something to say, please speak plainly. I believe it's better to get straight to the point than to waste time on pleasantries."
Hiashi laughed lightly, "No wonder you became the head of the Uchiha Clan at such a young age. Since you've said so, I'll get right to it!"
He paused for a few seconds, his smile fading, replaced by a serious expression. His pure white eyes stared intently at Sougen across from him as he spoke slowly, "Sougen-kun, I want to ask: Does the Uchiha Clan intend to support the rise of a new Hokage?"
It was an answer Sougen had expected.
But,
He hadn't thought Hiashi would be so direct about it so quickly. He had expected more probing and circling around the issue. It seemed Hiashi's anger and frustration had built up over time.
"Yes, we do," Sougen replied candidly.
"The Third Hokage's bias against my clan runs too deep. As long as he remains in power, I'm constantly on edge, worrying about the future of my clan. But, Hiashi-senpai, you bring this up—is there something you're planning to do?"
"Sougen-kun, there's no need to say it that way. I may not know what methods you used to get the Mist envoy to say those things, but I don't believe the Mist would be so arrogant… However, that doesn't matter. What matters is that those words weren't wrong. My brother Hizashi's death is the greatest mistake of my life!"
Hiashi closed his eyes, his expression filled with deep grief.
"To protect the clan, I chose to sacrifice Hizashi. I personally sent my brother to his death. It's a sin I cannot escape. But… the Third Hokage must also bear his share of the responsibility! Besides me, he is also to blame for Hizashi's death!"
Hiashi's eyes opened again, and a fiery rage seemed to burn within his pure white gaze.
"So, you've come to me?" Sougen asked calmly.
"Yes," Hiashi nodded firmly. "Everyone knows the Uchiha and the Third Hokage's faction are like oil and water. And… I mean no disrespect, but the current Uchiha under your leadership is more formidable than it was under Fugaku. With your help, I'd have a much greater chance of forcing the Third Hokage to step down!"
Sougen didn't respond right away. He picked up his teacup, gently rubbing its warm surface as he thought.
He realized that his previous perspective had been too narrow, focusing solely on the Uchiha. He hadn't considered that within Konoha, there were others like Hiashi, who opposed the Third Hokage and his faction.
Hiashi's plan to overthrow the Third wasn't made hastily. Today's meeting was simply a chance to initiate action. After years of lying low, he was finally revealing his hidden ambition.
But,
It didn't really matter!
Alliances were one way to solve the Uchiha Clan's problems, but ultimately, the world respected strength.
Power is authority.
Relying on others was never truly dependable. In the end, the only thing that mattered was one's own strength.
"Hiashi-senpai, do what you need to do. The Third Hokage has fallen behind the times. Konoha needs a new leader." After a brief moment of contemplation, Sougen declared his stance. The Uchiha Clan would fully support the Hyuga's efforts.
However, just removing the Third wouldn't be enough. Unless they eliminated the root of the problem, it would persist, and things might even worsen in the shadows.
Therefore, the Third Hokage must die!
"… I wonder if Akitaro has found him," Sougen thought to himself.
Then, he asked, "Hiashi-senpai, since you plan to overthrow the Third, have you thought about who should be the Fifth Hokage?"
"Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama! They are the most suitable candidates for the position."
"… I thought you might want to compete for the title yourself," Sougen remarked with a smile.
"To say I have no desire for the Hokage position would be a lie. But the village's civilian shinobi and smaller clans won't want to see a family with a kekkei genkai take the Hokage seat. Forcing the issue would only drive the civilian shinobi to support the Third."
Hiashi was very clear-headed.
He knew what could be done and what couldn't. He had no intention of using this opportunity to push the Hyuga Clan into the Hokage seat.
Konoha today wasn't the same as it had been decades ago. With the Second Hokage's establishment of the Ninja Academy, many small clans and civilian shinobi had risen to prominence. While the major clans still held power within the village's key institutions, the rise of civilian shinobi was an unstoppable trend. Without their replenishment, Konoha wouldn't have survived the Second and Third Shinobi Wars.
Every time Konoha fought, it was against multiple enemies: the Sand, Stone, Cloud, and Mist. Each war left the major clans severely weakened.
It was the large numbers of civilian shinobi who replenished the ranks, allowing Konoha to maintain its position as the top of the Five Great Shinobi Nations.
Unless a powerhouse like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, who dominated the entire shinobi world, were to appear, even the selection of the Hokage now has to take into account the opinions and attitudes of the civilian ninjas!
"As for Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya, I roughly know their whereabouts. If we send people to search, it shouldn't take long to find them. Once we locate both of them, I will immediately push for the impeachment of the Third Hokage. Many clans in the village will support us. When that time comes, I hope you, Sougen-kun, can lend me a hand!"
"Of course,"
Sougen nodded in agreement.
So, it seems Hiashi Hyuga didn't make this decision hastily; he's already connected with enough clans, huh? When it comes to connections, Uchiha and Hyuga really can't compare!
The cooperation—
Was thus sealed.
There was no need for any signed documents. Hiashi Hyuga believed that Sougen would make decisions that aligned with the Uchiha clan's interests. Sougen also didn't doubt the ambition and hatred in Hiashi's eyes. Regardless of whether their original intentions were the same, as long as their goals were aligned, that was all that mattered!
Hiashi picked up his tea cup and drank the warm tea in one gulp, soothing his somewhat dry throat while trying to suppress the overly intense excitement in his heart.
"Hizashi, I won't let your sacrifice be in vain! Overthrowing the Third Hokage is just the beginning—someday, the Hyuga clan will break free from the Curse of the Caged Bird!!!"
(End of this chapter)