CH 574

“If Amatsukami can help me rescue my younger son Sasuke, I am willing to pay the corresponding remuneration.”

“Uchiha Sasuke was taken away by the Akatsuki Organization, wasn’t he? Whether he is dead or alive at this moment is unknown, and even if he is alive, we may not be able to do anything to save that kid…” Homusubi refused Fugaku’s commission without any hesitation.

If there is a chance, Kuroto will naturally go to save Neji and Sasuke, but he doesn’t want to make any reckless move, because taking reckless action will not only endanger the lives of those two kids but his own too. Therefore, Homusubi did not accept Fugaku’s commission.

As for the question, why did she not accept Sandaime Hokage’s commission?

Well, because Sandaime Hokage’s commission also includes saving Naruto and Hinata from the hands of Orochimaru, which is a much easier task than saving Sasuke and Neji from the hands of the Akatsuki Organization.

Fugaku’s expression changed, he didn’t expect Homusubi will directly refuse without even any thought, so after a while of thinking, he said again, “I have a piece of information that will definitely interest you. If Amatsukami is willing to help me rescue my son, I am willing to share this valuable information with you.”

Homusubi frowned, “What information?” she was unable to figure out what kind of information would be so valuable that it would tempt even the Amatsukami to help Fugaku.

“Position of Akatsuki Organization’s new base.” Said Fugaku while looking at Homusubi with a calm expression. Fugaku’s eyes were showing his confidence that Homusubi will definitely be interested in this piece of information.

After understanding that Fugaku was talking about the location of the new base of the Akatsuki Organization, Homusubi gave him a deep glance, and couldn’t help but think, ‘It seems that I underestimated him.’

What exactly is going on in Fugaku’s mind at this moment, Homusubi can more or less guess.

Fugaku obviously wants to use the location of the new base of the Akatsuki Organization as bait to make Amatsukami launch a raid on them. By doing so, not only will he get the opportunity to rescue his younger son Sasuke, but he will also be able to force Uchiha Shinichi to rebel against the Akatsuki Organization and return back to the Clan, thus enhancing the power of the Uchiha Clan. So, this move of his can be regarded as killing two birds, no, three birds with one stone, because aside from rescuing Sasuke, and forcing Shinichi back, he also managed to use Amatsukami Organization to his advantage which up until now no one has been able to do.

It can be said that Fugaku’s plan is very good, and this explains his confidence in why he thinks that Homusubi will not be able to refuse, but it’s a pity that there’s still something that Fugaku has never taken into account.

What Fugaku might have never taken into consideration is that Shisui who is standing next to him, and Itachi, his most trusted son are members of Amatsukami, so, the so-called secret information that he wants to use as bait is something Homusubi is already aware of for quite a few days now.

Therefore, Fugaku’s plan wasn’t meant to succeed from the start.

Seeing that Homusubi did not immediately answer, Fugaku thought that his plan is going perfectly and added, “The information in my hands is absolutely true… If you feel uncertain about your strength, the Uchiha Clan is willing to cooperate with the Amatsukami and act together. By combining our forces, it will be easy to destroy the Akatsuki Organization.”

Looking at Fugaku’s serious expression, Tsukihi couldn’t help thinking to herself, ‘You overestimate yourself and underestimate the others…’ then shook her head to refuse, “My answer is still the same.”

Fugaku didn’t expect that Homusubi would refuse again, and asked in a puzzled manner, “Why?”

“As for the reason, I have already told your Sandaime Hokage, if you want to know the reason, just ask him yourself…” said Homusubi, and then started to leave… The moment she came next to Fugaku, she lightly whispered, “Also do me a favour and keep the fact that Uchiha Tsukihi is still alive a secret… otherwise, meteorites might start to rain above the sky of Uchiha Clan.”

“Is that a threat?” Fugaku asked with his eyes narrowed.

“You are free to believe whatever you want… I am just telling you what will happen if you do what I don’t want you to do.” Homusubi said, then added, “Alright then, Uchiha Patriarch-sama… I’ll be taking my leave now see you again next time…”

Leaving this sentence, Homusubi nonchalantly passed by Fugaku and Shisui and continued to walk toward the exit of the Konoha Village, but it’s a pity that before she could leave in a cool manner, another acquaintance stopper her… and the person who appeared in front of her this time was none other than Hyuga Hizashi.

…

On top of a Sentry Tower

Asuma saw the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan privately contacting the Homusubi of Amatsukami, and complained in an unhappy tone, “The major Shinobi Clans are also trying to do things privately.”

In the current Konoha, there are uncountable unfavourable rumours circulating in regard to the Sandaime Hokage in the inner political circle, and this had made Asuma feel quite uneasy. He may not have definitive proof or evidence, but Asuma can keenly feel that an undercurrent is surging in the village, and this undercurrent might be extremely disadvantageous for Sandaime Hokage.

Kakashi, who was still half-covered in bandages, sighed at the state of the village and said with a thoughtful expression, “The Heiress of the Hyuga Clan, the son of the head of the branch division of the Hyuga Clan, and the second son of the Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan was kidnapped in the chaos that night… maybe all they are doing by trying to contact Amatsukami is find a to save their children. I understand that the Village is also trying to save them, so they don’t really have a reason to contact Amatsukami in such a manner, but a parent can never stop worrying about their child, and the more help they get, the higher the chances of saving their children, that’s probably the reason they are contacting Amatsukami.”

Asuma sighed, “I hope it is as you say.”

Then glanced at Kurenai from the corner of his eyes only to find that an inexplicable expression clouded her face as she was looking at Homusubi. It seemed as if she too wants to go and talk with Homusubi about something but is hesitant.

Seeing Kurenai’s state Asuma was reminded of the recent rumours he heard about Kurenai that had something to do with the Fujin of Amatsukami, his face sank, and couldn’t help but say to her, “Kurenai, although Amatsukami helped Konoha and the other Four Great Shinobi Villages this time against the Akatsuki, there is no essential difference between them and the Akatsuki Organization… So, don’t get confused by them.”

Kurenai looked at Asuma with a frowned expression, and questioned, “What are you trying to say?”

“I… I just…” Being stared at by Kurenai, Asuma was at a loss.

Understanding that if the two are allowed to continue in this manner, the tension between them will definitely rise, so Kakashi had no choice but to intervene and help Asuma, “Kurenai, what Asuma is saying is not completely unreasonable. An organization as mysterious and strong as Amatsukami must have its own goals and objectives. Up until now, we have only learned of the frightening objectives of the Akatsuki Organization, but we have no clue about what Amatsukami’s goals and objectives are… So, we shouldn’t let our guard down against them, because for all we know, making our guard down against them might just be the start of Amatsukami’s goal.”

After listening to Kakashi’s reasoning, Kurenai lowered her head and became silent.

Seeing that the Iron was hot, Asuma decided to strike, “I know that Fujin of Amatsukami saved you from Orochimaru, but Fujin is also a member of Amatsukami, not a Konoha Shinobi. So, it would be best if we keep our distance from them because we never know when Amatsukami will become our enemy.”

Kurenai remained silent and chose not to argue with Kakashi and Asuma, instead she looked in the direction of Homusubi not far away with a thoughtful expression.

As a Konoha Kunoichi, Kurenai understands that Kakashi and Asuma are indeed correct, they never know when Amatsukami, which has been helping them up until now will become their enemy. And generally speaking, Kurenai’s vigilance against foreigners is no worse than anyone else… she is not the type who would desperately try to repay someone foreigner or fall in love with him just because that said foreigner happened to have saved her life.

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The reason why she fell in love with him––after the events a few nights ago Kurenai has come to accept her feelings and the fact that she loves Fujin––is not only because Fujin desperately tried to protect her from Orochimaru despite all the bloody injuries he received in the process, but also because she has seen his appearance, and knows that Fujin is not a foreigner, he is a Hyuga and should have been a Konoha Shinobi before leaving the village.

Kurenai is more certain of her guess after witnessing Fujin’s act of desperately protecting the village from the Akatsuki Organization. She feels that deep down inside, Fujin must still love the village, otherwise, he would have never gone so far as to get himself so severely injured and nearly killed just for the sake of a task.

Why exactly did Fujin leave the village? Kurenai is not sure and has not been able to figure it out yet. But upon understanding the inner problems of the Hyuga Clan, she feels that there must have been some unspeakable difficulties that prompted him to leave the village.

But just because he left the village shouldn’t mean that he hates the village, and it also doesn’t mean that he is an enemy of the village or will never come back, right?

‘Maybe someday… when this is all over…’ she thought as she continued to look at Homusubi in the distance.

…

On Homusubi’s Side.

Homusubi sighed in pity while looking at the disappearing back of Hyuga Hizashi.

This time, Hyuga Hizashi came to meet Homusubi as a representative from the Hyuga Clan. The purpose was obviously very clear, it is to entrust a commission to Amatsukami in regard to the rescue of the Heiress of the Hyuga Clan who was kidnapped by Orochimaru.

As mentioned before, saving the children kidnapped by Orochimaru are much easier, compared to saving the children kidnapped by the Akatsuki Organization, so Homusubi had no problem accepting the commission.

What’s more, based on her knowledge and understanding of Orochimaru, Homusubi knows that Hinata wouldn’t be in too much danger as Orochimaru has long lost his interest in the Byakugan because he doesn’t find Byakugan to be valuable or interesting enough when compared to the Sharingan.

In fact, it is not just Orochimaru, even if it is the common opinion in Konoha Village or the opinion of the rest of the Shinobi world, they don’t find Byakugan to be any more useful than a Sensor Jutsu. With the repeated emergence of Mangekyou Sharingan users, and the appearance of the Rinnegan the fabled eyes of the Rikudo Sennin, the evaluation of Byakugan has fallen to the bottom. The Hyuga Clan, which was barely keeping pace with the Uchiha Clan in the past is now nowhere near equal to the Uchiha Clan.

But this is not the reason why Homusubi sighed in pity, the reason she did so is that she felt pity for Hyuga Hizashi. She could clearly feel that when Hyuga Hizashi came to entrust the commission in regards to the rescue of Hinata, he wanted to offer a commission for the rescue of his son too… but for some reason, he failed to speak that part and returned without mentioning anything about it.

Thinking of the inner torment Hizashi’s heart must be feeling at this moment for not even being able to do anything to save his beloved son, Homusubi could only sigh in pity.

This is how the Hyuga Clan works, and this is the fate of the members of the branch division of the Hyuga Clan. Protection and safety of the main family is their top priority, between Hinata and his son, the safety of Hinata comes first, there is no other option, no matter how much he is worried about his own son, he must first do everything to ensure the safety of the member of the main family, and for this, even if he is forced to give up on his child, then he must do so, he has no say in the matter.

Such a reality is damned, and even if it is Kuroto, he really wants to change this damned situation.

But Kuroto also understands that now is not the best time to make a move to change the situation of the Hyuga Clan. Moreover, for the majority of the Hyuga Clansmen, the Cage Bird Juinjutsu is more of a protection than a prison.

After all, the Hyuga Clan is different from the Uchiha Clan, in the Hyuga Clan, everyone is born with Byakugan, but not everyone has the qualification of becoming a qualified shinobi, nor does everyone want to become shinobi. There are many who just wish to live a peaceful life.

In such a scenario, if there is no Cage Bird Juinjutsu, the weak and the common folks of the Hyuga Clan will never be able to rest in ease, as the threat of eye poachers will always linger over their heads.

So, the Cage Bird Juinjutsu has become something sort of a necessary evil for the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Clansmen don’t want it, but they need it for their own safety.