[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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Patriarch's Mansion, Uchiha Compound
"Kan-sama… here you go," Mikoto said softly as she placed three plates of omelette on the dining table.
"Hm…" Kanzou nodded, taking a bite from one. Meanwhile, she returned to the kitchen, humming quietly as she started on the next set.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Hazuki appeared in the dining room, "Kanzou-sama…"
Hazuki was one of the few people allowed to enter the mansion without ringing the doorbell, though even she was only permitted to do so when reporting something important. Since she had arrived without announcing herself, it could only mean the matter was urgent.
"Well? What is it?" Kanzou asked, not bothering to look at her.
Mikoto also glanced over, turning her attention toward Hazuki, who was kneeling respectfully beside Kanzou.
"The Hyūga Patriarch has requested a meeting with you," responded Hazuki.
"Oh?" Kanzou raised an eyebrow. "So Hyūga Hiashi wants to see me again?"
"Yes," Hazuki confirmed with a nod.
Kanzou hadn't expected Hiashi to have the courage to face him again after the humiliation he suffered last time. Yet here he was.
'Does he really want to be humiliated again?'
In fact, Kanzou already had a fitting plan prepared for such a scenario. 'Though… doing that might prevent the birth of Hinata and Hanabi. But… somethings can't be avoided, right?'
Mikoto said, "Hiashi is probably here because he wants his clansmen released from the prison."
"Yeah… that's likely the case," Hazuki agreed before continuing. "I also received word from one of my subordinates that Hyūga Hiashi, along with several other clan heads, visited the Hokage's residence last night. I'm not sure what was discussed, but… for him to come looking for you first thing this morning, it might be connected to that."
"Hmm… I see…" Kanzou murmured, a thoughtful look settling on his face.
'So he wants to get his clansmen out, huh? I could demand something truly humiliating from him in exchange… but right now, I need something more useful from him,' Kanzou thought, temporarily shelving the idea of personally ploughing the field that birthed Hinata and Hanabi.
That thing could wait.
For now, his attention shifted to something far more urgent.
'The timing couldn't be better. I've been in desperate need of acquiring an already-perfected cursed seal to complete the Mark of Ownership. The Hyūga Clan's Caged Bird Curse Mark should be useful in helping me complete my Mark of Ownership, right?' he mused, already deciding to use this opportunity to extract it from Hiashi.
As for the matter of Hiashi having met Sarutobi Hiruzen alongside several other Clan heads… he could guess what it was that they might have discussed… but he isn't concerned at all and decided to focus on the main matter, "I suppose I'll have to meet him…"
Hearing those words, Hazuki asked, "In that case, shall I send word to Satoru-kun and have the Hyūga Patriarch brought in?"
"There's no rush. Let him wait," Kanzou replied calmly. "He doesn't get to see me whenever he feels like it. Everyone needs an appointment; if they show up without one, they should wait a good while. Hyūga Hiashi is no exception."
"Understood, Kanzou-sama." Hazuki bowed and turned to leave, ready to tell Satoru to make Hyūga Hiashi wait.
With Hazuki gone, Kanzou turned his attention back to enjoying the breakfast.
"Mikoto, I'll need some tea."
"Hai… coming," Mikoto nodded.
…
After making Hiashi wait for nearly an hour, Kanzou finally arrived to meet him.
"Hyūga Hiashi-dono, have you recovered from your injuries?" Kanzou asked casually as they came face-to-face.
Hiashi's expression instantly darkened.
In the previous council meeting, where the matter of the vacant ANBU Commander position was being discussed, he had first been defeated by Fugaku, only to be knocked unconscious by Kanzou moments later. The entire incident was humiliating, a stain on his reputation he'd rather forget.
Had anyone else dared mention it in such a sarcastic manner, Hiashi might have struck them in the stomach with Gentle Fist on the spot.
But before Kanzou… he could only swallow his anger and address the issue he came here for, "Uchiha Kanzou… please stop targeting the Hyūga Clan."
"What did you just call me?" Kanzou raised an eyebrow, his Sharingan flaring to life as he fixed Hiashi with a cold stare. "You came all the way here to beg me for something, yet you still address me so casually? I even bother calling you Hyūga Hiashi-dono, though trash like you hardly deserves that courtesy. I only do it for appearances."
He tilted his head slightly, voice dropping into a chill. "Shall I start calling you trash instead, since that's what you are? If not, try again. Call me Kanzou-sama."
Facing the activated Sharingan, Hiashi visibly trembled. 'Such terrifying visual prowess…'
Just looking into those eyes was enough to remind him of the vast gulf in strength. Uchiha Kanzou's gaze alone pressed down on him like a crushing weight.
'No… how could I…?' Hiashi cursed his own fear and clenched his fists. Calling Kanzou with such respect was the last thing he wanted.
Yet under those eyes, he could only force the words out, stiff and reluctant: "…Kanzou-sama."
"Good," Kanzou nodded in approval. "You came here to beg, so don't act arrogant. Learn to lower your head when you must. Understand?" His tone chilled further. "Pride means nothing without strength to support it. And unfortunately for you, neither you nor your Hyūga clan has any strength. You lot are weak, and the weak don't get to speak of dignity."
Each word landed like a cut, and Hiashi didn't like that as a scowl appeared on his face.
Noting that, Kanzou continued to lecture him, "That scowl… are you sure you want to show it to me… You should remember why you are here, and you still wear that sour expression, as if you're above all this. Who exactly do you think you are?"
Hiashi's fists tightened, knuckles turning white as he forced himself to endure the humiliation. When was the last time anyone had spoken to him like this…? Even the Hokage or the Daimyō doesn't dare to speak to him in this manner…
It was almost impossible to hold back. "There's a limit to—" he began, unable to suppress his anger anymore.
But Kanzou cut in sharply. "Limit to what?"
Hiashi froze, the rest of his words dying in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to answer, but couldn't back down either.
Watching him struggle, Kanzou exhaled in disappointment. "Well, it seems you still haven't learned your place. In that case—" his lips curled into a sneer, "escort him out."
The moment Kanzou gave the order, Hazuki moved. She appeared beside Hiashi before he could even react, pressing a blade to his neck.
"Let's go, Hyuga Hiashi. My Patriarch no longer wishes to see you," she said coldly.
Feeling the metal at his throat, Hiashi stiffened.
It wasn't the blade itself that frightened him; he could easily release chakra to prevent a cut.
What terrified him was that he hadn't even sensed Hazuki move.
Yes, part of it was the crushing pressure Kanzou was exerting from the front, leaving him unable to focus on anything else.
But still… if she had truly intended to kill him just now…
He would have died.
To be put in such a helpless position by a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl… it was a humiliation he hadn't imagined even in his worst nightmares.
"What are you waiting for?" said Hazuki, slightly digging in the blade.
Hiashi didn't respond to Hazuki. Instead, he looked past her, directing his gaze toward Kanzou as he stammered, "P-please… K-Kanzou-sama…"
He couldn't afford to be thrown out, not like this.
If he left now, who knew when he'd get another chance to free his clansmen… or what Kanzou might do to them in the meantime.
'If a civil war really does break out…' The thought chilled him.
If Kanzou used the imprisoned Hyūga as hostages to force his clan into fighting the rest of the village, it would spell disaster for them.
He had to get his people out of the prison.
No matter how humiliating this was, he couldn't walk away now.
Seeing Hiashi finally begin to plead, Kanzou lifted his hand, signalling Hazuki to stop.
Hazuki nodded and stepped back, withdrawing the blade from his throat.
He exhaled in shaky relief, only for it to freeze the next moment when Kanzou tilted his head and smirked.
"Please, what…? I didn't quite hear you," Kanzou drawled.
Gritting his teeth, Hiashi bowed deeply, voice trembling as he pleaded, "P-please, Kanzou-sama… I beg you, show mercy and spare the Hyūga clan."
Kanzou nodded in approval. "Hmm. Your attitude's better this time. Since you've come to beg for mercy, you should at least know how to bow properly. Understand?"
He patted Hiashi's shoulder in a patronising, almost playful manner.
Despite being older, Hiashi was now treated like a junior, and Kanzou like a superior elder.
Even if Hiashi hated every moment of this, he had no choice but to bear it.
Such was the reality of power. Without it, one had no choice but to lower their head.
If Kanzou didn't possess overwhelming strength, he would never have been able to act this brazenly within Konoha.
Had he been weak, Hiruzen, Danzō, or even Uchiha Dōma would have taken care of him long ago.
It wasn't as if they hadn't tried. Kanzou had been targeted more than once, even in his youth. But his enemies had never succeeded. His Jōnin instructor had protected him relentlessly until Kanzou was strong enough to stand on his own.
Even when he was injured, his squadmate, exceptionally skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, was always there to heal him.
By the time his Jōnin instructor died, Kanzou had already grown powerful enough to fend off most threats. And with his loyal squadmate still at his side, the end of the Second Great Shinobi War allowed him to return to Konoha, where it became far more difficult for anyone to move against him.
"At the last council meeting, it was your Hyūga clan that dared to lead the charge against me," Kanzou said, his tone dropping into a cold, dangerous register. "And now you expect me to simply let it go? How could it ever be that easy…?"
Hiashi was obviously aware of the fact that he would have to offer something. Bowing his head, he said, "I have prepared appropriate remuneration for the release of my clansmen…"
With the Hokage supporting him on this matter, Hiashi hadn't been too worried about securing compensation.
But Kanzou merely waved a hand dismissively. "Money or whatever else you've brought… I'm not particularly interested right now."
"This…" Hiashi froze, taken aback by Kanzou's unexpected refusal.
The last time he'd come to request the release of his clansmen, Uchiha Clansmen had demanded monetary remuneration for their bail, hence why Hiashi had already discussed the matter with the Hokage.
But now, out of nowhere, Kanzou claimed he wasn't interested in money. The sudden shift left Hiashi stunned.
Kanzou smirked and asked, "Do you have anything other than money to facilitate the release of your clansmen?"
Hiashi's fists tightened. That smirk alone told him Kanzou was toying with him, mocking him. Anger flared within him, but now wasn't the time to indulge it. He needed to secure his clansmen's freedom at any cost.
Steadying himself, he asked, "What would interest you, Kanzou-sama?"
"Well, to be honest… your Hyūga clan is nothing but trash, so there isn't anything in your possession that particularly interests me," Kanzou said casually.
'If that's the case, then why don't you just let my Clansmen go…' Hiashi thought bitterly, though he didn't dare voice it aloud.
Unaware, or simply uncaring, of Hiashi's internal frustration, Kanzou continued, "But since I'm not interested in keeping your trash clansmen locked up either, they're a waste of resources, I'll allow their release in exchange for… hmm… let's see… your clan's Caged Bird Cursed Seal."
"C-Caged Bird Cursed Seal?" Hiashi's eyes widened at the sheer audacity of the demand, and he shook his head immediately. "No… the Caged Bird is not something I can hand over."
Of course, he can't. The Caged Bird Cursed Seal was the Hyūga clan's most closely guarded secret. Not even the entire Clan is allowed to learn its secret… only the Patriarch, Elders, and other high-level members of the main family are allowed to learn it.
It is also needed to ensure the protection of the Byakugan from those who intend to gouge out the eyes of Hyugas for their benefit.
Handing it to Kanzou would be disastrous. If he obtained it, he could decide the fate of every branch family member… he could even coerce them into becoming spies or tools for his purposes.
Moreover, Hiashi knew that handing over the Caged Bird Cursed Seal would jeopardise his position as clan head. He would probably be stripped of his authority, cast out of the main family, and likely punished severely. He couldn't afford to take that risk.
"Really? You can't hand it over?" Kanzou raised an eyebrow. "I see… well, in that case, there's nothing more to discuss. You can leave."
'If you won't hand it over, then we'll see how long your Hyūga clan can last.'
He was already planning to have Shin and the others increase the pressure on the Hyūga clan.
If Hiashi didn't want to hand over what he wants, then he'd better be ready to bleed for it.
With that thought, he gave Hazuki a lazy wave of his hand. "Make sure he's escorted out." Then he turned away, already beginning to walk back.
"Understood," Hazuki replied. She stepped forward again and said to Hiashi, "Come along. The discussion is over."
"W-wait…!" Hiashi protested, unwilling to let things end like this. If he left now, wouldn't the Uchiha become even more aggressive toward the Hyūga clan?
"Well…? What else is there?" Kanzou asked, glancing back over his shoulder. "Speak quickly. I need to get to the police station and chop off the arms and legs of a few people from some trash clan…"
Hiashi's anger finally spilled over. "You… are you not afraid of the consequences of your actions? If you continue like this, attacking and humiliating fellow shinobi, aren't you worried you'll be wiped out? You should know by now that the Uchiha clan has earned the enmity of almost every clan in the village. If you continue like this—"
It was a warning, a last attempt to make Kanzou stop before things went too far. Though, to be honest, things had already gone too far, and if not for the consequences of branding him a traitor, perhaps he'd have already been branded a rogue shinobi.
"Hm?" Kanzou raised an eyebrow. "Well, well… Hyūga Hiashi. Are you worried about me and my clan? How sweet."
He turned fully toward Hiashi, a smirk spreading across his face as his Mangekyō Sharingan spun to life.
In the next instant, he used Tsukuyomi, dragging Hiashi into a crimson world with a blood-red moon hanging overhead.
"Wh-where is this…?" Hiashi asked, looking around in shock, and found himself standing atop a building. 'A Genjutsu?' he wondered.
"Correct guess. It's a Genjutsu," Kanzou said, appearing in front of him so suddenly that Hiashi instinctively stepped back.
"W-what are you trying to do?" Hiashi demanded, immediately attempting to break the Genjutsu. But no matter what method he used, nothing worked. "W-why can't I break free?"
"The answer is quite simple… and it's the fact that this isn't a simple Genjutsu," Kanzou replied calmly. "It's a special one… a very special one." A slow smile formed on his lips. "It's the same Genjutsu I used on Sarutobi Hiruzen, the one that left him bedridden. And now… you've been subjected to that very same technique."
"The same Genjutsu you used on Hokage-sama…?" Hiashi whispered, his face draining of colour. The Genjutsu Kanzou had used on Hiruzen had left the Hokage in a terrible state, even now, bedridden and unable to exert much of his combat power.
And now Hiashi had been caught in that very same Genjutsu.
'W-will I end up like him…?' he thought in panic.
Smirking at Hiashi's growing panic, Kanzou continued, "In this Genjutsu, I control both time and space. I can make time here move differently from reality… which means I can torture your mind for hours in this world, while only a single instant passes outside."
"Su-such a Genjutsu…" Hiashi stammered, horrified. He didn't think that such a Genjutsu would even exist. It wouldn't even be wrong to say that this Genjutsu is basically cheating… once under its influence, it's a certain defeat for most people.
"I tortured Sarutobi Hiruzen for twenty-four hours in here," Kanzou said casually. "And I can increase that to forty-eight hours, seventy-two hours… even longer. I could keep you suffering for days while only a heartbeat passes outside." He leaned in slightly. "Tell me, Hiashi-dono… would you like to experience it?"
Hiashi couldn't respond at all. His voice simply failed him.
"No response is also unacceptable… when I ask a question, you have to answer, you know," exhaled Kanzou as he flicked his finger, and in the next instant, Hiashi found himself bound to a wooden stake, completely unable to move.
"L-let go of me…" he struggled to free himself, only to fail.
"Nuhh-uhh… not so easily… You have to at least experience something…" he said, approaching the bound man slowly while twirling a kunai in his hand. Arriving in front of him, he traced the cold blade across Hiashi's cheek, drawing a shiver of pure horror.
"Isn't this the Byakugan you Hyūga consider equal to the Sharingan? I wonder what you'd feel when a Kunai is driven into your eye…" Kanzou smirked, then, without warning, drove the kunai straight into Hiashi's eye.
"Aaaahhh—!"
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]