Chapter 278 The Clan Chief's Condolences

Inside a small, old, but very clean Branch House cottage in the Hyuga Clan territory.

Hyuga Hiashi was personally handing a bag of rice and some winter supplies to a gray-haired old woman.

The old woman’s son had died in the previous war; looking at the gentle Clan Chief before her, she was moved to tears and trembled as she prepared to kneel.

“Please don’t do that, Elder, please get up!”

Hyuga Hiashi quickly supported her, his voice sincere: “It is my incompetence as the Clan Chief that has caused you all to suffer.”

He looked around the simple room and whispered to Hyuga Hizashi beside him, “Take note: this house’s roof needs repair, and the winter bedding should be replaced with new ones.”

“Yes, Brother.” Hyuga Hizashi nodded solemnly, taking everything to heart.

“Clan Head… you truly are… truly the great benefactor of our Branch House!” The old woman sobbed.

Hyuga Hiashi gently patted the back of her hand and comforted her warmly, “Please rest assured, as long as I am here, I will never let the families of the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the Family go cold or hungry. Everything will get better.”

Coming out of that house, Hyuga Hizashi looked at the unconcealed fatigue on his brother’s face and said worriedly, “Brother, if we do this, I’m afraid Elder Ieyasu’s side…”

“He already knows.” Hyuga Hiashi looked toward the Elder Council, his eyes cold: “He may not act easily, but once he does, it will surely be with thunderous methods.”

“But, I intend to force his hand!”

“The more he suppresses them, the more the hearts of the Branch House will lean toward us!”

Hyuga Hiashi’s tone became firm: “Come, let’s go to the next house, to Aokawa’s home.”

…Meanwhile, at the Elder Council.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

A rapid knocking on the door rang out, interrupting the romantic atmosphere in the backyard.

Hyuga Ieyasu pulled open the door with an impatient look, his clothes slightly disheveled and a scent of rouge and powder lingering on him.

Outside the door, his confidant Hyuga Shika was sweating profusely, kneeling on the ground with a panicked expression.

“Elder! Something is wrong!”

Hyuga Ieyasu frowned, a flash of annoyance from being disturbed appearing in his eyes: “What’s the panic! Is the sky falling?”

Hyuga Shika swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing under his fatty neck, and said urgently: “The Clan Chief… the Clan Chief is personally visiting the homes of the Branch House widows who returned from the Battlefield, going door to door to offer condolences!”

“Not only did he bring condolences, but he also promised to improve the treatment of the Branch House!”

Hyuga Shika’s voice was trembling: “Now… now those Branch House members, every household is deeply grateful to the Clan Chief, saying he is a Wise Ruler rarely seen in the Hyuga Clan in a hundred years!”

“A Wise Ruler?”

Hyuga Ieyasu’s face instantly darkened to the point it could drip water.

He stepped out and slammed the door with a “bang,” cutting off the delicate cries from inside as a cold Killing Intent radiated from his aged body.

What a Hyuga Hiashi!

One moment he was defying me in the Elder Council, and the next he’s winning over the people and undermining me!

“Hmph, a mere brat, does he really think a few kind words and some worthless gifts can shake my position in the clan?”

Hyuga Ieyasu sneered, his eyes glittering with a venomous light.

He needed to make everyone in the clan understand who the true master of the Hyuga Clan was. Who could decide their life and death!

He walked into the luxurious courtyard and reclined on a soft couch covered in snow-white fox fur, toyed with two smooth jade stones in his hand.

The heating was turned up high, making it feel like a different world from the bleak winter outside.

“Pass on my order.” He spoke coldly to Hyuga Shika following behind him: “The clan’s expenses for this month are to be redistributed.”

Hyuga Shika bowed slightly: “Lord Ieyasu, what do you mean?”

“The pension funds the Village allocated to the Family are already tight, and with the consumption of Ninja Tools, the expenses are significant,” Hyuga Ieyasu said slowly, his voice devoid of warmth. “Some unnecessary expenses should be cut.”

He paused, a cruel arc curling at the corner of his mouth: “Especially… those Branch House families Hiashi visited; their pensions are to be cut in half!”

Hyuga Shika’s heart skipped a beat, and he lowered his head even further: “Yes! But… doing this might cause a huge backlash from the Branch House.”

“Backlash?” Hyuga Ieyasu sneered, slamming the jade stones in his hand onto the table with a dull thud.

“A bunch of dogs and pigs who only deserve to have the mark of shame engraved on their foreheads, they dare to backlash?”

He narrowed his eyes, making no attempt to hide his Killing Intent and contempt: “I want them to know that without the Main House, they would struggle even to survive!”

“I’d like to see how that brat Hyuga Hiashi, with nothing but his mouth, plans to appease these starving commoners!”

He would use the most direct and cruelest way to tell everyone the consequences of defying him.

He would make that so-called “Wise Ruler” Hyuga Hiashi face a group of Branch House members whose livelihoods had been cut off, leaving him overwhelmed and his prestige in tatters!

Finally, his gaze became increasingly sinister.

“Also, for that little beast Aokawa’s Family, stop all their expenses for this month! Not a single grain of rice is to be given!”

“Go do it.”

“Yes, Lord Ieyasu.” Hyuga Shika took the order and bowed, preparing to withdraw.

“Wait!” Hyuga Ieyasu suddenly spoke.

Hyuga Shika quickly stopped and waited respectfully for what was next.

“Haven’t the people from the Battlefield of Tono Country all returned? Have that brat Aokawa come to see me. I want to see just what kind of special person he thinks he is to dare ignore my orders,” Hyuga Ieyasu said.

“Elder Ieyasu, Aokawa hasn’t returned yet. I heard he was sent on another mission by Minato Namikaze,” Hyuga Shika responded.

“Minato Namikaze, Minato Namikaze, it’s always Minato Namikaze. Why is that blond brat always opposing me?” Hyuga Ieyasu’s face was grim as he continued, “Report to me as soon as he returns.”

“Yes!”

…Land of Hot Springs border, Cliff Pass.

The piercing cold wind swept across the ruins like a knife, picking up sand and gravel that slapped against the crumbling walls with a crisp “crackling” sound.

“I say, Great Master Aokawa, this is no way for a person to live.”

Hyuga Ryosuke lay sprawled in a star shape among the rocks, his chest heaving violently. His oversized Ninja vest was soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to his fleshy back.

“Back in the Village, I thought training was just running and practicing Gentle Fist. Now, besides eating and sleeping, it’s just pulling this damn bow. My arms are swollen thicker than my thighs!”

While grumbling, Hyuga Ryosuke pulled a piece of dried meat from his Ninja Tools bag and took a fierce bite, as if the meat were this godforsaken world.

Aokawa sat cross-legged on a high rock, not responding.

In his left hand was blue lightning-attribute Chakra, and in his right was yellow earth-attribute; he was constantly adjusting the proportions of the two attributes for Fusion.

After the Fusion, the Chakra suddenly surged violently.

Seeing this, Aokawa quickly withdrew his Chakra output, cutting off the energy source.

The ball of Chakra quickly turned into blue smoke and dissipated.

It seemed that even with the bonus from the crest, the Fusion of a Bloodline Limit was not something that could be completed casually.

Aokawa sighed and finally responded, “If you still have the energy to eat, it seems you haven’t practiced enough.”

“Holy crap, did you install a Byakugan on me too?” Hyuga Ryosuke was so startled he almost choked on the meat, quickly gulping down some water. “Anyway, was I complaining just now? I was reporting my physical limits to you! Seriously, if I keep practicing, I’ll become the first Hyuga Clan member in the Ninja World to work himself to death.”

Although he cried about being tired, Hyuga Ryosuke knew in his heart.

Since training according to Aokawa’s method, combined with the high-intensity actual combat and the use of the Spirit Bow over the past few days, he could clearly feel the Chakra flow within his body becoming smoother than ever before.

That feeling of becoming stronger was truly addictive.

Just then, a Ninja Hawk suddenly flew over.

It landed on Aokawa’s hand.