As soon as Hideo left their territory Kenshin sighed in relief and headed to the girls' room to question Hitomi about this person.
The girls were gripped by excitement—not knowing what was happening outside. They could only sit and wait. Kasumi—as the most active and restless—couldn't sit still so anxiously paced the room.
"Your clan always distinguished itself by arrogance and aggression. God forbid these scum decide to attack…" Kasumi said anxiously—never stopping pacing.
"This is no longer my clan. Besides—if the Nara clan learns you're here problems will be no less," Hitomi said—only slightly worried about how everything could end. She perfectly knew how arrogant Hyuga clan members were and that conflict could start over any nonsense.
As soon as the door opened the girls immediately shifted gazes to Kenshin entering and immediately chattered.
"Kenshin!"
"What happened?"
"Everything alright?"
Kenshin expected the girls would be a bit excited but didn't expect their emotional background to change so much. As a good empath he easily felt their emotions and hurried to calm his women.
"Everything's fine—the meeting went successfully and this Hyuga clan member already left. Hitomi—I'd like to talk with you; maybe you know this person," Kenshin said—taking a step toward his fourth wife, touching her head and transmitting several images of Hyuga Hideo's appearance and voice.
"Ah! God—this is my brother!" Hitomi exclaimed shocked—surprising everyone present and Kenshin first of all.
"You have a brother? I thought your only elder brother died in the war with Suna…" Kenshin said surprised.
"Hideo is my cousin and son of the very person I told you about," Hitomi whispered bitterly. It was unpleasant for her to remember her uncle who ruined her entire life—in turn considering she ruined his.
"So that's how it is… Then everything falls into place. Understandable why he was so restrained despite generally known information about all Hyuga clan members' arrogance," Kenshin muttered thoughtfully—replaying the entire meeting with Hideo in his head.
"He was always a very good person—being the complete opposite of his father. And what did he want at this meeting?" Hitomi asked interestedly. Hyuga Hideo was one of the few people she wished only good.
"Long to tell—so better I'll show," Kenshin said smiling—and in several minutes showed the wives everything that happened in the negotiation room.
"Ah Kenshin—I adore when you're so dominant…" Natsumi purred—hugging him from behind. She really liked this negotiation scene and was ready to pounce on Kenshin that very moment.
"Stop it girl—we have a lot of work. We'll play in the evening," Kenshin said smiling. Signs of attention from affectionate Natsumi almost shook his concentration and didn't make him postpone important matters for entertainment.
The next half hour Kenshin discussed negotiation results with the girls. Mostly of all his wives only two actively discussed matters—Kasumi and Hitomi. Aya understood nothing in this; Natsumi expressed her opinion only sometimes.
Except for particulars the only conclusion Kenshin reached during discussion was the need for maneuvering. They needed several months' head start to strengthen positions and become an unpleasant opponent even for Konoha.
Kasumi once again assured him that since Hyuga Hideo found nothing Konoha no longer had official reasons for opposing the Nakayama Family but Kenshin understood that with such amount of "strangeness" and secrets possessed by this refuge—interest from large forces was only a matter of time.
Making sure Hyuga Hideo finally left Nakayama Family territory Kenshin returned to work—which remained a huge amount.
*****
Evening of day 393. Konoha—Hyuga clan head's house.
Hyuga Hiashi sat in his house courtyard enjoying evening coolness with his wife and two daughters. Though the Hyuga clan head was very callous and ruthless person—his own family didn't concern this. Both his daughters grew like two flowers showered with love from all sides.
He understood such soft upbringing badly affected forming a firm character—which was already noticeable in his elder daughter but the ruthless toward others' tears man couldn't resist his daughter's beautiful eyes—raising her in greenhouse conditions which caused not a few quarrels with his father.
Suddenly his serene facial expression changed to serious; he looked aside then smiling told his wife to take daughters inside. When they finally left Hiashi signaled the guest to enter and indifferently looked at entering Hideo.
"Greetings lord," Hyuga Hideo said respectfully—bowing to the clan head. Regulations required all branch family members to kneel before the head but Hideo—being a very promising branch family member—received the right to limit himself to only a deep bow.
"I hope you didn't distract me for nothing," Hiashi said calmly—arching an eyebrow.
"Yes lord. I came to return the 'white eye' and report on the meeting with the head of the organization calling itself Nakayama Family," Hideo said respectfully but not subserviently.
"Mercenary group? What interesting thing can you tell me about this small mercenary group?" Hiashi said with a light chuckle. He liked Hyuga Hideo—so conversation with him didn't burden or irritate the clan head.
"First I want to report that even with the 'white eye' I didn't find Hitomi. As for the Nakayama Family…"