"I only hope we can reach some kind of understanding, one that makes our relationship a bit more harmonious. After all, we're both vital parts of the village."
Hyuga Ginka's brows furrowed deeper, her gaze sharp as a blade, as if she wanted to bore a hole through Shimizu with her stare.
A flicker of anger surfaced on her beautiful face, her lips trembling slightly, as though she were struggling to suppress the fury burning within her.
"What exactly is your goal?"
Shimizu maintained his warm smile, as if everything was under his control.
"We're both intelligent people. I trust you'll make the wisest choice. As for that 'surveillance' matter, you know she acted on her own accord. Why don't we sit down and discuss this calmly, find a solution that benefits us all?"
Ginka took a deep breath.
She knew that today, she'd have to offer up something substantial to satisfy this wolf, Shimizu.
It was all because of that wretched woman.
Ginka shot a glare at Hyuga Natsu.
"Madam, I only hope we can reach some kind of understanding, one that makes our relationship a bit more harmonious. After all, we're both vital parts of the village," Shimizu repeated, his tone smooth.
"How about sharing some Gentle Fist techniques? Huitian, Eight Trigrams Air Palm—any of those would do."
Shimizu spoke casually.
He hadn't invested much effort into studying the Gentle Fist in private.
But the Gentle Fist held significant value for learning.
For instance, the advanced version of the Eight Trigrams Air Palm was the Hachijushin Kugeki—the Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!
According to the Book of Formations, this was an extraordinary taijutsu, one that could only be performed by refining chakra to its absolute limit, a technique that belonged to the realm of gods.
Even Might Guy's strongest attack, Night Guy, unleashed after opening the Gate of Death in the Eight Gates Formation, paled in comparison to the Hachijushin Kugeki.
The Hachijushin Kugeki could effortlessly shatter Uchiha Sasuke's Perfect Susanoo in his Six Paths form, undeniably the most powerful taijutsu.
"Keep dreaming!"
Ginka rejected him outright. She glanced at Natsu, who was hiding behind Shimizu, then pushed open the door and left the room without looking back.
"W-What… what do we do now?"
Natsu watched Ginka leave, anxiety creeping into her thoughts about her own future.
A traitor to the clan like her would never be welcomed anywhere.
"Just go back as usual. She'll come crawling back to me," Shimizu said, shaking his head as he picked up a piece of steak with his chopsticks.
Natsu stood frozen, unsure of what to do.
Shimizu tugged her closer, pulling her onto his lap.
His hand slid along her smooth back, feeling her tense up. Leaning close, he whispered into her ear, "Have you ever regretted going against Hyuga Ginka?"
"N-No… never," Natsu stammered, shaking her head quickly, terrified that Shimizu might abandon her at this critical moment.
If he did, she was done for—Ginka would never forgive her.
"Don't be so quick to deny it. You're sisters, after all. Blood is thicker than water. But Ginka… she's too proud, isn't she? All because she's from the main family, while you're from the branch family."
Natsu's head drooped lower, her shoulders slumping as if weighed down by his words.
Shimizu gently lifted her chin, turning her face toward him.
"But if both of you were branded as traitors to the clan, wouldn't that make you equals?"
His voice was magnetic, yet to Natsu, it sounded like the whisper of a devil.
…
When Ginka hurriedly returned to the Hyuga Clan's compound, she sensed something was off.
"What a pity about Nobuhiko."
"War is like that. No one knows what they'll face on the battlefield."
"This is the first case, isn't it? When was the last time we lost a Byakugan? Before the Caged Bird Seal was created?"
Several Hyuga with pure white eyes glanced toward the innermost room, whispering among themselves.
Ginka froze at the mention of the name.
Nobuhiko?
Was he back?
Wasn't he supposed to be resting for a few more months before returning?
Hadn't they said the front lines, where the Hyuga were stationed, were embroiled in intense fighting?
"Shh, quiet down. That woman Ginka is here."
"Hush, hush."
"Everyone, keep it down."
The branch family members averted their eyes, pretending nothing was amiss and switching to another topic.
Only a few main family members, those who didn't get along with Ginka, looked at her with mocking gazes, as if waiting to see her make a fool of herself.
Ginka's brows knit together, an instinctive unease settling in her gut.
She quickened her pace, heading toward the room the others kept glancing at.
What she saw inside nearly made her faint.
Her fiancé, Hyuga Nobuhiko, had finally returned.
She arrived just as he was changing the bandages on his head. The clan member assisting him had trembling hands, clearly unaccustomed to such a gruesome sight.
A bloodied, empty socket was laid bare before Ginka's eyes.
Nobuhiko had lost one of his eyes!
His lips were pale, as if he were gravely ill, making one wonder if he might step into the Pure Land at any moment.
And that wasn't the worst of it. From the grim expressions of the main family elders, it seemed his missing Byakugan had fallen into the hands of Kirigakure.
A powerful Kirigakure Jonin named Ao.
"Ginka, you're here," one of the elders said.
"Good timing. You can help comfort Nobuhiko."
The elders looked at her.
With Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Hiashi, along with other stronger clan members, defending the front lines, the clan was currently managed by these older figures.
Though Ginka was indulgent and fond of luxury, her talent was undeniable. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been betrothed to Nobuhiko.
But now, one had squandered her potential, and the other had lost a Byakugan.
Both were as good as ruined.
"G-Ginka… is that you?" Nobuhiko asked, his voice uncertain as he peered at the blurry figure before him.
"Nobuhiko, is the vision in your other eye affected too?" one of the elders asked, leaning on his cane.
"It seems so. Since the first day, for some reason, the vision in my remaining Byakugan has been deteriorating. It's probably over a thousand degrees now. I can barely make out Ginka's outline."
"You should go to the hospital. Ginka, you go with him," the elder said, shaking his head.
Nobuhiko's punishment would have to wait. If his condition worsened, he might soon be blind, unable to even care for himself.
The elder waved for everyone to disperse, leaving only a few branch family members to accompany Nobuhiko to the hospital.
"Doctor, what's wrong with Nobuhiko?" Ginka asked urgently.
It had been an hour since her conversation with Shimizu, but she had completely forgotten about it. A far more pressing issue now consumed her.
Her bond with Nobuhiko was deep—she already saw herself as his wife. Otherwise, the branch family wouldn't address her as "Madam."
They had promised to marry after the war, but now this tragedy had struck.
"Hmm…"
The doctor's expression was grave as he studied the medical scans.
The situation was far from optimistic. As a doctor born from a civilian ninja family, he had to carefully consider how to break the news to these two prominent members of the Hyuga Clan's main family.
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