The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

In the original story, Hyuga Hinata was born at the end of December in Konohagakure Year 48, exactly two months after the Nine-Tails incident. 

However, in this timeline, Hiashi was quite busy during those days and wasn't at the clan estate. Perhaps his wife felt uneasy for some reason and ended up holding off giving birth.

Naturally, Hinata's arrival was delayed by a few days, making her a year younger than in the original timeline. She was born at the beginning of Year 49 instead.

Now, a year had passed since Hinata was born.

Currently, it was Year 50 in Konohagakure, and her birthday was just a few days away.

Of course.

Compared to another matter, her being born a few days late wasn't significant.

For example, there was the mischievous little girl in Hyuga Hitoshi's other arm. At the moment, she was gazing at him with her pure white eyes and occasionally reaching out her small hands to grab at him, laughing.

Her name was Hyuga Hanabi.

In the original timeline, this girl wasn't supposed to be born for a few more years. Now, she had become Hinata's twin sister.

Compared to the original, this seemed unreasonable, yet it also made sense. 

Maybe it was this playful little sister, Hanabi, who stubbornly held on to her older sister, preventing her from being born earlier?

Cradling the twins, Hyuga Hitoshi looked at them gently, feeling a sense of peace within.

Even though they were only a year old, the personality of the sisters can already be seen.

One was lively and restless, eager to crawl all over the place, while the other was quiet and content, preferring to sit still and be beautiful. In short, they were easy to distinguish.

A year and a half had passed, and everything within the Hyuga clan was back on track.

Orochimaru's research had also made great progress. The first batch of blue-tinted cataract eye drops had been successfully developed. Patriarch Hitoshi tested them and confirmed they could enhance the purity of the Byakugan, though the effects were moderate. The main advantage was the lack of side effects.

Research related to the human body is never easy, after all. Moreover, this was just one of Orochimaru's achievements. For an external research head, you couldn't demand more than this.

In addition to the changes within the clan, Patriarch Hitoshi's personal life also saw some developments.

As the influence of the "little kitten" deepened, the brainwashing work on Samui became increasingly effective. The blonde beauty had gradually stopped resisting the idea of wearing a maid outfit.

In fact.

Hyuga Hitoshi gently brushed Samui's golden hair as she massaged his shoulders, a smile appearing on his face.

A while ago, he had casually mentioned it, and to his surprise, she actually started growing her hair out.

"Don't get the wrong idea. Yugito said I look better with long hair."

Samui spoke with feigned indifference.

Yes, it was all Yugito's fault!

Hyuga Hitoshi didn't expose her pretense, merely noting that the "little kitten's" psychological manipulation was working well.

Besides Samui joining the maid duties, the arrival of another long-haired black beauty left Hyuga Hitoshi momentarily speechless.

Fugaku was serious.

He really sent over a new sister-in-law, and she's even a maiden carrying the title of "new sister-in-law." 

Alright, he had underestimated Fugaku's determination and overestimated the moral boundaries of Konohagakure people. It seemed that such behavior wasn't considered unspeakable. Adapting to local customs, Hitoshi decided to go with the flow. However, for now, he didn't plan to touch the woman named Uchiha Mina. 

The reason was simple: 

She was Uchiha Mikoto's younger sister. Before acting like a beast, he felt the need to consider Mikoto's feelings. Yet, judging by Mikoto's behavior, she seemed even more proactive than he was, constantly pushing her sister toward him. It probably wouldn't take long before the low defenses of Lord Hitoshi gave way to them. 

Meanwhile, Uzumaki Reina, who had arrived in Konohagakure a year ago, had become good friends with Tsunade. Based on Uzumaki Reina's family tree, it seemed they were distantly related as well. 

Such things could only be attributed to the bloodline clans favoring internal marriages. No need to overthink titles; otherwise, just sorting out what to call people would become a mess. 

In the central hall, the new generation buzzed around Patriarch Hitoshi like bees. 

Leaning against the wall, Pakura gently touched her abdomen, her eyes filled with envy. 

Everyone else could conceive. 

But she couldn't. 

The two Yugito were still too young and not ready to settle down, planning to wait a couple more years before fulfilling their master's task of continuing the Hyuga bloodline. 

Tsunade, on the other hand, was too embarrassed to take the next step. Although she was old enough to be considered a spinster, she kept hesitating to break through the current relationship. Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't in a rush; after all, his courtyard was already full of women, and he had other plans for Tsunade. 

As for Mikoto, Patriarch Hitoshi wanted her to recover her energy after giving birth to Sasuke. So, during critical moments, he always redirected her efforts to less risky activities, ensuring she didn't get pregnant. 

But what about herself? 

Despite taking care of her health for a long time, she still hadn't conceived. 

Frustrated, Hyuga Pakura slapped her toned abs hard with her Scorch Release-infused hand, deciding to try harder tonight. 

With a soft sigh, Pakura turned her gaze back to Hyuga Hitoshi. The irritation in her eyes gradually turned into gentleness. From beginning to end, her eyes only held him. 

In her pupils' reflection, the man's deep blue eyes shone even brighter than before, exuding an intense aura. 

He gazed at the Hokage Rock in the distance, his fully stabilized Tenseigan seemingly piercing through the village's fate. 

Thanks to the wise leadership of Patriarch Hitoshi, the Hyuga clan hadn't suffered much from the war's cruelty. 

But outside the Hyuga clan's territory, both the Uchiha and ordinary villagers, as well as other ninja clans, were overwhelmed by a sense of despair. The feeling of having no tomorrow hung heavy in the air. 

Powerless to change their circumstances, people continued living in constant fear, unsure if they'd survive the next day. 

The Uchiha clan, once known for their outbursts, had grown unusually quiet recently after suffering heavy losses in this war. 

Too many had died. 

Although there were rumors that the war would soon end, after the initial excitement, they grew cautious. Enemies took advantage of their relaxed vigilance to launch surprise attacks, causing even more casualties. Nobody cheered for such news anymore. 

Until there was an official announcement, all rumors were false! 

The atmosphere in Konohagakure was heavy. 

Inside the smoke-filled Hokage office, the oppressive mood was even more palpable. 

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat with a grim face, staring at the latest intelligence report in his hand as if a mountain weighed on his heart. 

"Raikage and Tsuchikage really plan to negotiate peace?" 

Shimura Danzo, seated beside him, asked with a frown. 

"Yes, as soon as we agree, they'll send a delegation over." 

Sarutobi let out a bitter laugh, took another deep drag from his pipe, and exhaled heavily. 

This should have been fantastic news. 

But Sarutobi's mood was far from cheerful. 

The war was coming to an end. There would be no more deaths in Konohagakure. The Sarutobi clan wouldn't have to risk their lives for glory or to erase the stains of their past. 

Yet... it also felt like it was time for him to step down. 

Disagree? 

Go mad and continue the war? 

Don't be ridiculous. This kind of news couldn't be kept secret. If he tried to manipulate the situation, one wrong move and he could end up like Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. 

Use the old tactics of stirring up conflicts between the three great nations? 

That probably wouldn't work either. 

At this stage of the war, simple tricks wouldn't cut it. National interests came first, and personal grudges had to be set aside. 

Among the three great nations, Konohagakure was completely spent. They were barely holding on. The only ones in the village who still had any strength left were probably the Hyuga clan. 

But if he ordered the Hyuga clan to fight alone, then whose village was Konohagakure supposed to be? 

Not everyone thought like Uchiha Itachi, who believed that if a clan joined Konohagakure, they had to fight to the last for the village. 

The Hyuga joined the village for safety and stability and because they had a good relationship with the Senju. Sure, they might have been wiped out if they didn't join, but forcing them into extinction after they did join? That would be absurd. 

At this point, he didn't even dare to argue with Hyuga Hitoshi during meetings! 

And the moral pressure he used to be so skilled at? It didn't seem to work against people who didn't care about morals. 

If he really wanted to play that card, his skills alone wouldn't be enough. Maybe if a special opportunity arose and the entire village could unite to wield the moral high ground as a weapon, he could restrain them somewhat. 

But that wasn't an option now. 

For Sarutobi Hiruzen, the best outcome at this moment was to handle the peace talks properly, officially end the war, and step down safely, waiting for the judgment of the villagers and the ninja. 

If he couldn't even manage this final task, his reputation would be completely ruined after stepping down, and it would all have been for nothing. 

If there was any chance, he wanted to delay giving up the Hokage position for as long as possible. Who knows? Things might turn around. 

He had to believe in miracles. 

After all, when he returned to the village after letting the Second Hokage die in his place, only to end up becoming Hokage himself, he had learned to believe in miracles. 

"What do you think is a fair amount for reparations?" 

His thoughts returned to the present. Determined to fulfill his final duties and hope for a miracle, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked the question. 

In the past, this kind of task would have been handled by the Hokage's advisors. 

But the old advisors had been taken out by his own hand, and there wasn't yet a suitable replacement. According to the clans, they wanted the Fifth Hokage to decide on the matter once appointed. 

"Based on the records." 

Danzo, busy combing through information on the Second and Third Shinobi Wars, looked more and more displeased. 

"The numbers are outrageous. There's no way our two clans can cover this alone. It'll have to be split across the village." 

Shaking his head, Danzo didn't even bother looking further. The sheer scale of the reparations was unbearable. 

No wonder they said war made people rich—it was all paid for in blood. 

Putting down the files, Danzo slowly stood up. Like Sarutobi Hiruzen, he also wanted to retire safely, but not completely. 

Just like when the Fourth Hokage took over, this was a strategic retreat to wait for the right moment. 

Who knows? Maybe the next Hokage would be taken out by the Nine-Tails too. 

Sarutobi had a plan! Even if the Nine-Tails attacked again, it wouldn't be a problem, except for the lack of eyes capable of controlling it.

After thinking for a moment, Danzo decided to go back to his old ways:

"Fine, I'll go there myself and test their attitude."

He planned to visit the enemy village, earn some merits to boost his reputation, and since this was a peace negotiation, there was no risk of creating new enemies for Konohagakure. It was an easy and profitable task.

Sarutobi agreed and encouraged Danzo in his efforts.

Of course, neither of them realized just how inaccurate the numbers in the "advisor's legacy" ledger were. They simply assumed the figures acceptable to each village were correct. They had no idea how thrilled the Tsuchikage and Raikage would be if they received these numbers at Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

Even now, the Third Hokage and his good friend Shimura Danzo failed to see the problem with their discussion. They acted as if everything was perfectly normal.

Let's not forget—it was Kumogakure and Iwagakure that initiated the peace talks!

Konohagakure wasn't beaten into submission or driven to negotiate because they were incapable of continuing the fight. Quite the opposite—Konohagakure was already assumed to be the victor in this war. Yet, Sarutobi and Danzo were discussing how much compensation to pay the other side!

Winning the war, only to pay reparations? 

It was absurd beyond belief. Danzo even considered going to negotiate the amount, hoping to haggle it down—an absolutely ridiculous idea.

This didn't look like the behavior of a victorious side at all!

In reality, Kumogakure and Iwagakure had both acknowledged their failure in attacking Konohagakure. As the ones requesting peace, they intended to show their sincerity by sending emissaries.

At a Kumogakure outpost near the border…

Tsuchikage and Raikage from Kumogakure sat together with grim expressions. They both looked deeply dissatisfied with the outcome of the war.

Even combining the strength of both villages, they still couldn't take down Konohagakure.

Their issue wasn't with Sarutobi, the so-called weak and indecisive Third Hokage, but rather with the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, whose power made them wary.

No one but them could understand the psychological rollercoaster they had been through during this war.

At first, they were confident in the Hyuga and Uchiha's combat power, hoping to conquer Konohagakure and divide its powerful eyes to strengthen their own forces. But after being thoroughly defeated, they came to fully grasp just how terrifying Konohagakure's dojutsu wielders truly were.

This war didn't just challenge Konohagakure—it shook their own resolve as well.

"We can't keep fighting."

Oonoki sighed deeply. Most of the reports he'd received lately revolved around supply line issues. On top of that, the Daimyo had expressed dissatisfaction, and with his prolonged absence from the village, his opponents were starting to emerge. If he didn't return soon to reassert control, he wouldn't lose his position as Tsuchikage, but he could lose some of his authority—a risk he couldn't afford to take.

"We really can't keep fighting," Raikage agreed with a nod. He massaged his temples, though his eyes glimmered with something else entirely.

"But I *must* get the Byakugan!" 

Hmm?

Oonoki paused and looked at Raikage in surprise. Did this kid actually learn to use strategy during the war?

"Offer more compensation and make things easier for the Hokage. At the very least, I need someone from the Hyuga main family. If they won't agree, we'll just take one in secret!"

Raikage's deep voice carried his determination.

If they moved quickly enough, this plan could work while the enemy was off guard. After all, their attempt to kidnap the Nine-Tails had only failed by a small margin back then.

"That's all you've got?"

Oonoki sneered.

"You call that a plan? What if the Hyuga clan retaliates and fights you to the death?"

"But what you said just reminded me of something. It seems this matter could be worked out after all." 

For them, acting as if they were the defeated side, even negotiating compensation payments was possible. Pay a bit more to make things easier for the Hokage, then use moral pressure to keep the other side in check. 

This didn't seem too difficult! 

Besides, the Third Hokage seemed to be an expert at this! 

"Cooperation?" 

Raikage squinted as he looked at Oonoki. 

"Cooperation! Same as usual. I want the Sharingan, so I'll go deal with the Uchiha. You handle the Hyuga." 

"No matter the result, stick to the plan and provide assistance to the other side!" 

The more Oonoki thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He immediately began discussing the details with Raikage. If the Hokage got involved, wouldn't it just look like they were buying a Byakugan and a Sharingan at a high price? 

No matter how you looked at the Hyuga and Uchiha, they wouldn't risk their lives over something this small. 

This could really work! 

What made Raikage and Tsuchikage even more excited was that a few days later, when they met Shimura Danzo, the envoy from Konohagakure, the first thing he said was: 

"Can you give me a little face and reduce the compensation Konohagakure owes you?" 

---

---------------------------------------

You can read 15 chapters ahead on patre on

patr eon.com/JYouyi