Early morning, at the main gate of Konoha.
The soft morning light filtered through the forest canopy, casting mottled shadows on the wide road leading out of the Village.
The air was slightly cool and fresh, carrying the damp scent of grass and trees.
The massive gate at the Village entrance was already open. Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane stood ready, and everything was enveloped in an atmosphere of quiet readiness.
Hyuga Hiashi stood waiting at Konoha's main gate, accompanied by two Jonin from the Hyuga Clan, Tokuma and Homon.
"Ha! Full speed ahead for youth!"
A vibrant shout was the first thing to arrive.
Might Guy, wearing his signature green jumpsuit, suddenly rushed toward the gate.
Close behind him was Tenten, carrying a huge scroll and looking pained, and Rock Lee, also wearing a green jumpsuit and his eyes full of fighting spirit.
And standing among them was the figure upon whom Hyuga Hiashi's gaze finally settled—Hyuga Neji.
"You've arrived."
"Hmm, I didn't expect the client this time to be Lord Hiashi."
Guy was somewhat surprised. Even though he had received notification from the Hokage, he was still shocked upon actually seeing Hiashi.
It was truly astonishing that the Clan Chief of the Hyuga was personally going on a mission to the Hidden Mist Village.
"I apologize for the trouble."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded slightly, his gaze barely leaving Neji.
His voice was still steady, but that word, "trouble," seemed to carry more profound meaning than usual.
Tenten and Rock also sensed the unusual gravity, their eyes quietly shifting between Hiashi and Neji.
Tokuma and Homon remained silent, keeping their eyes downcast.
"Neji, come here."
Hiashi's voice rang out clearly, carrying an undeniable meaning, directly breaking the distance Neji was trying to maintain.
Neji's body tensed again; he knew he couldn't avoid it anymore.
He raised his head, his eyes showing complex detachment and a hint of unspeakable expectation hidden deep within.
He stepped forward two paces as instructed, walked up to Hiashi, and bowed slightly, his voice respectful yet carrying a rigid sense of distance: "Lord Head."
Hiashi looked at the nephew before him—a genius who, like his own brother, bore heavy shackles—and a trace of complexity flashed in the depths of his eyes.
He said nothing more, only slowly raised his hand and handed over a long blade he had been holding in his left hand.
"Hold this for me."
Hiashi's voice was unusually soft, forming a subtle contrast to his usual solemn authority.
He gently placed the blade onto Neji's outstretched hands.
The moment the blade fully settled into Neji's palms, a cold, familiar sensation, accompanied by a deep-seated stirring from his bloodline, instantly swept over his entire body.
His pupils sharply contracted, and his breath hitched for a moment.
dainichi gatsukiri!
The name exploded in his mind like a clap of thunder.
Neji's fingers instinctively tightened, his knuckles turning slightly white from the effort.
He abruptly looked up at Hyuga Hiashi, and for the first time that morning, his clear Byakugan eyes revealed intense, unconcealed emotions—shock, pain, confusion, and a hint of disbelief.
Lord Head... why?
Why would he hand this blade... to him?
Hyuga Hiashi met Neji's gaze. He offered no explanation, merely giving Neji a deep look—a look that seemed to contain a thousand words, yet was too heavy to express.
Then, he slowly turned around, facing the misty road leading out of the Village.
"Let's depart."
Hiashi's voice returned to its usual composure.
Neji stood rigidly in place, holding the "dainichi gatsukiri," which felt heavy as a thousand pounds, as if he were holding his father's cold remains.
The morning sun fell upon him, but it could not dispel the turbulent waves that had suddenly surged in his heart.
Guy, Tenten, and Rock worriedly watched him, while Tokuma and Homon exchanged glances.
This journey to the Hidden Mist, from the very first step outside Konoha's gate, had already been colored by the heavy and complex weight of this blade from the past.
--------------------
Genshi had long ago received a letter from the Konoha Hokage, so he was not surprised to hear that Konoha's envoys were coming.
"Please let the Konoha envoys enter."
At this time in the Hidden Mist, the Fourth Mizukage Yagura had died, but the Hidden Mist Village kept the news secret, fearing that the lack of high-level combat power would lead to instability and external Villages coveting their resources.
All affairs of the Hidden Mist were fully managed by Elder Genshi.
Genshi's confidant, Gonbei, went out to welcome the Konoha envoys.
After entering Genshi's office, the Konoha group was very surprised.
The one meeting them was not the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, but Elder Genshi.
"Senior Genshi, may I ask if the Mizukage Lord is available?"
Since the Hidden Sand Village had proposed a joint Chunin Exams, Hiashi's excuse this time was also related to that.
But where was the Mizukage?
Why was Genshi the one receiving them?
Hiashi stepped forward and inquired.
Genshi, leaning on his Snake-Head Staff, stood up with slightly sluggish movements. His gaze swept over Hiashi's party, lingering especially on the four pairs of iconic, clear, and spotless Byakugan.
Then he nodded calmly.
In truth, his heart was far from as calm as his exterior, stirring up massive waves of shock.
Is this real or fake?
Konoha sent the Clan Chief of the Hyuga Clan as an envoy?
Could it be... that Konoha's intelligence network is already so terrifying that they discovered the death of the Fourth, a secret we tried desperately to seal?
Did they specifically send members of the Hyuga Clan to test the waters?
"The Mizukage Lord... ah, indeed has extremely important and urgent matters to handle recently and simply cannot spare the time.
Therefore, he has fully entrusted me with the important task of receiving your Esteemed Envoys and discussing the Chunin Exams.
Whatever you have to say, please say it to me; this Old Man has the authority to handle it."
Genshi scrutinized Hiashi's group.
Good heavens, four Hyuga?
Plus Might Guy, the boy who looks like Might Guy's son, and a young girl.
The Hokage isn't even pretending anymore!
Did they learn their diplomatic policy from the Hidden Cloud Village?
Who among the higher-ups of the Hidden Mist and Konoha doesn't know that during the Third Great Ninja War, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were deployed for the first time and four of them were kicked to death by Might Guy's father?
Biwa Jūzō and Ringo Ameyuri even fled, and the only one who returned was Suikazan Fuguki, who was killed by the rogue ninja Kisame Hoshigaki a few years ago.
Oh right, Biwa Jūzō returned a few years ago to assassinate the Fourth Mizukage and died, but annoyingly, the kubikiribōchō, which had finally returned, was taken away again by the rogue ninja Zabuza.
Konoha sending such an Envoy Group must mean they've guessed something.
Might Duy, a Genin, could kick four Elite Jonin to death, so has Might Guy, who is already a Jonin, surpassed his father?
They are preparing to let Might Guy unleash the Eight Gates and go on a rampage in the Hidden Mist if things go south!
I must keep these guys steady.
This Old Man has lived for almost ninety years; if nothing else, he has patience.
Let's wait it out. Can these youngsters really outlast me?