Hyuga Kawa's footsteps stopped in the open area in front of the Hokage Building. The members of the Branch House following behind him also stopped instantly. The only sound in the entire group was the light echo of their breathing.
Hyuga Kawa turned around and his gaze swept over their faces, which were filled with anticipation and nervousness. His eyes finally landed on Hyuga Iroha, who was standing in the front row.
"Iroha," Kawa's voice was clear and steady. "You'll come in with me."
Hyuga Iroha had recently become a jōnin and was considered a standout among the younger generation of the Branch House. It was most fitting for him to attend the meeting with Kawa.
"Yes." Hyuga Iroha's eyes lit up, and he replied without hesitation.
Next to him, Hyuga Takashi's face showed a flicker of unconcealed envy. His talent was actually quite good, but he was still too young, seven years younger than Iroha, and was still somewhere between a chūnin and a tokubetsu jōnin, a long way from becoming a jōnin.
Hyuga Iroha keenly sensed Hyuga Takashi's emotions. He patted Hyuga Takashi on the shoulder, lowered his voice, and grinned. "Takashi, you need to work harder and become a jōnin sooner."
"The next time we attend a meeting with Lord Kawa, the person standing behind him might be you."
Hearing this, Hyuga Takashi's spirits lifted. But soon, Hyuga Iroha changed his tone and said with a laugh, "But you still have a long way to go, you know. Haha."
After a quiet laugh, Iroha's smile faded, and his expression became serious again. He quickly followed Hyuga Kawa, who had already turned and was heading for the building's entrance.
"The rest of you wait here," Hyuga Kawa instructed without looking back. "There are some things I'll need you to do after the meeting."
"Yes!" the Branch House members replied in unison, their voices low but full of power. They watched the two figures enter the building.
The ninja from other clans who were also waiting outside couldn't help but feel a strange sense of unease at the sight. Was this jōnin, known as the "God of Thunder," too influential within the Hyuga Branch House?
Inside, Hyuga Iroha followed closely behind Hyuga Kawa as they entered the conference room, which symbolized the core of Konoha's power. His heart pounded faster. This was his first time attending a formal jōnin meeting.
The number of jōnin in Konoha was not small, and not every jōnin had the qualifications or need to attend every jōnin meeting. The conference room couldn't accommodate so many people anyway. Typically, the jōnin who could attend meetings of this level were either elite jōnin from civilian backgrounds, who often represented their respective departments, or representatives of the various ninja clans. The clan leaders would usually bring one or two of the most trusted jōnin from their clan.
As a Branch House jōnin, he had previously only been able to learn about the meeting's content through internal clan communications. He never expected to be able to attend one himself one day.
Hyuga Iroha quickly scanned the room. It was a spacious and solemn room with a large oval table in the center, polished so well it reflected the morning light from the windows. Portraits of the past Hokage hung on the walls. Dark leather chairs surrounded the long table. Although the meeting had not officially begun, many jōnin were already seated and talking in low voices.
There weren't many attendees, perhaps a few dozen, but the atmosphere in the room was almost suffocatingly heavy. A formless pressure permeated the air, making it hard to breathe. Iroha could hear several jōnin quietly discussing the latest intelligence on the activities of the 'Hollows.' Everyone's face was etched with some degree of worry, exhaustion, and solemnity.
The bloody night of the Uchiha clan, the rampant attacks of the 'Espada,' and the 'Hollow' attacks that affected the entire ninja world... These cloud-like crises that hung over Konoha and the entire ninja world made every jōnin present feel an unprecedented amount of pressure. This serious and solemn atmosphere also dampened Hyuga Iroha's excitement and joy at attending his first meeting.
"Hah..."
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and his expression became equally serious.
Hyuga Kawa's expression was calm as he walked directly to his seat. Iroha followed close behind. After Kawa sat down, he voluntarily stood behind him.
However, when his eyes landed on the opposite side of the conference table, his body froze slightly. Right there, directly across from them, sat two people.
'Hyuga Hiashi' was seated calmly, his face as placid as still water, showing no emotion. Next to him was Hyuga Hiago, whose expression was much gloomier. Upon seeing Hyuga Kawa and Iroha, a subtle, cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Behind 'Hyuga Hiashi' and Hyuga Hiago, two more jōnin dressed in Hyuga clan attire were standing. Hyuga Kado and Hyuga Tokuma. Both were members of the Branch House. The former was noticed by the Main House very early on for his talent and strength, and through various means, he was roped in and became a loyal supporter of the Main House.
So, upon seeing Hyuga Kawa and Hyuga Iroha, his lips curled down, openly revealing his dissatisfaction and hostility toward the two of them, especially Hyuga Kawa.
As for the latter, Hyuga Tokuma... Not long ago, Hyuga Tokuma was only a tokubetsu jōnin of the Branch House. Although he was quite strong and specialized in tracking and reconnaissance, he was still a ways away from being a true jōnin. And yet, here he was, now a jōnin, standing behind Hyuga Hiago.
"..."
Tokuma seemed to sense Iroha's gaze. He raised his head slightly, and their eyes met for a brief moment. However, Tokuma's gaze was a little evasive, and he looked away, his expression betraying a subtle awkwardness and stiffness.
It was clear that he himself was aware of the true weight of his "jōnin" title and his delicate position in standing there. After all, not long ago, he had been on the Branch House's side during the conflict between the Main House and the Branch House.
"Tokuma, you..."
Hyuga Iroha opened his mouth to say something but was lightly interrupted by Hyuga Kawa.
"Iroha," he said. And even though Iroha was indignant about Tokuma's betrayal, he obediently closed his mouth when he heard Kawa's words.
Hyuga Hiago also noticed the exchange of glances between Iroha and Tokuma. A mocking, cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, and his gloomy eyes, like a venomous snake, swept over Hyuga Kawa and Iroha.
Hyuga Kawa seemed oblivious to the gazes directed at him from across the table. He sat calmly in his chair, his hands clasped on the table, and his eyes fixed on the main seat at the front of the conference room. Sarutobi Hiruzen's seat was still empty.
Hyuga Kawa knew very well that the divide between the Main House and the Branch House was growing more severe by the day. The number of jōnin that the Main House could directly control and who were strong enough was already dwindling. It was obvious that they had gone to great lengths, using resources and connections, to promote Hyuga Tokuma, who was originally a tokubetsu jōnin, to a full-fledged jōnin to strengthen their faction. This was a message that the Main House still held the power to allocate resources and still had the ability to "manufacture" the forces they needed. And the appointment of a jōnin required the approval of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. This was undoubtedly one of Hiruzen's methods to contain the Hyuga Branch House.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the entire conference room became even more oppressive and tense due to this silent confrontation within the Hyuga clan.
"Hm?"
"How interesting."
"The Hyuga clan has..."
The jōnin from other clans also noticed the unusual atmosphere, and their eyes quietly darted between Hyuga Kawa and Hyuga Hiago. Had the animosity between the Hyuga clan's Main House and Branch House really reached this point?
Also, it hadn't been long since the last jōnin meeting, and this Hyuga Kawa had just become a jōnin then. Now, he was not only a war hero of Konoha and had a great reputation among the people of Konoha, but he was also the leader of the Hyuga clan's Branch House? Was he laying the groundwork for his campaign for the position of Fifth Hokage?
"What a pity..." Nara Shikaku glanced at Hyuga Kawa's forehead protector, thinking to himself, "No matter how strong or how famous he is, a member of the Branch House is fated to never become Hokage." Otherwise, anyone else, even a jōnin from a civilian background, with Hyuga Kawa's current strength, reputation, and contributions, would be qualified to be a candidate for Hokage. At least in Nara Shikaku's opinion, if the factor of the "Caged Bird Curse Seal" was removed, Hyuga Kawa would be the most promising person to take over the position of Hokage right now.
But it was impossible. As far as he knew, the "Caged Bird Curse Seal" had been unsolvable since the Warring States period. Not even the Main House of the Hyuga clan could undo it. Therefore, Hyuga Kawa would be forever barred from that position.
"Hey, Shikaku."
Yamanaka Inoichi, who was standing nearby, noticed Nara Shikaku's gaze. He turned his body slightly and used a "Mind Body Switch Technique" to speak telepathically. "Who do you think is the most promising candidate for the Fifth Hokage?"
"Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hatake Kakashi, Shimura Danzō, or maybe that Hyuga Kawa, or someone else?"
Words like these definitely couldn't be heard by anyone else. After all, the Third Hokage was still in office, even if it was a given that he wouldn't hold the position for much longer.
Nara Shikaku shook his head gently. He didn't mention anyone's name. He just casually said, "This has nothing to do with the Ino–Shika–Chō. Thinking so much is too troublesome."
The three clans of Ino–Shika–Chō had always been staunch supporters of the Hokage faction. They didn't care who became Hokage. No matter who it was, they would unhesitatingly side with the Hokage. This also meant that no matter who became Hokage, they would be needed and wouldn't be marginalized. So for them, it was all the same.
With that thought, Nara Shikaku looked at the two figures sitting in the front seats. He wasn't the only one; others were also looking at those two figures. Tsunade sat there with her arms crossed, looking unhappy, while Jiraiya was shamelessly trying to butter her up.
In Nara Shikaku's opinion, Kakashi was still too young. If those two were still unwilling to take on the position of Hokage, there would truly be no one else who could take up the role. In that case, the most likely outcome would be for Sarutobi Hiruzen to retire and select a nominal acting Hokage, while he and the three council members would still hold the real power.
In the midst of the silence, with everyone lost in their own thoughts, the door to the conference room was pushed open again. Everyone's eyes instantly focused on it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, dressed in his Hokage robes and wearing his Hokage hat, walked in slowly. His steps seemed to be as steady as ever. But a hint of exhaustion seeped from his bones, making him look as if he had suddenly aged ten years.