Kawasaki held up a single finger.
"If we Uchiha take the Hokage's seat, a place as the Hokage's Advisor will be reserved for a member of the Hyuga."
Hizashi's fists clenched involuntarily. For so many years, the Hyuga clan had held only a single honorary elder position within the village council. It was only thanks to the Uchiha that they had recently gained a second.
Hizashi had already been content with that. After all, the very structure of their clan made it difficult to acquire political power.
But now, Kawasaki was telling him that the Hyuga could obtain the position of Hokage's Advisor. In Konoha, that meant direct control over an entire department. The influence of that power, and the benefits it would bring to the clan, would be immense. The authority it entailed was self-evident.
"This is the promise of the Uchiha clan."
"If the Hyuga agree, you need only help me spread a few rumors."
Kawasaki knew that Hizashi would certainly discuss the matter with Hiashi, so he had said enough. As for what kind of rumors needed to be spread, Hizashi understood perfectly.
With that, Kawasaki rose to leave.
"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way. We will see each other again at the Konoha council meeting."
With a complex expression, Hizashi stood as well. "Very well. I will see you out."
...
After escorting Kawasaki out, Hizashi hurried to the main family compound.
Hiashi had already learned that Kawasaki had gone to see his brother. Hizashi and Uchiha Kawasaki shared a rather deep friendship, so Kawasaki often bypassed Hiashi to speak with Hizashi directly. Hiashi had no major objections to this; the only ones who took issue were the old guard within the clan.
In any case, Hizashi knew his place and would always report everything to his elder brother. Thus, Hiashi was already waiting in his room for Hizashi to arrive.
When Hizashi came, he and his brother spoke for a long time. In the end, Hiashi decided to agree to the cooperation.
The Hyuga clan had an advantage: even if the Uchiha failed, the likelihood of the Hyuga being purged was extremely small. Given the Hyuga's irreplaceability, whoever became Hokage would want to win their favor. This was the source of the Hyuga clan's strength.
...
The Hyuga's main family compound was, likewise, a very secure location. It was filled with various types of trees and sensory-dampening barriers, no different from the branch family's compound.
Hiashi and Hizashi never imagined that in such a place, their conversation could be secretly overheard.
Beneath the very room where Hiashi and Hizashi were speaking, a white figure was present. It listened to every word of their dialogue before slowly sinking into the ground and departing the Hyuga clan's territory.
...
Kawasaki pondered as he walked. He had recently defeated Kakashi and had Orochimaru "re-educate" him. He wondered what Kakashi's current state was.
With a turn of his thoughts, he headed straight for Kakashi's home, fully aware of the Anbu surveillance.
When he arrived at the entrance, Kawasaki realized that Kakashi's home was spacious and grand. But now, it seemed a bit desolate. The Hatake clan had always passed down its line to a single heir. It was likely that few people remained in the Hatake household now. There were not even any guards at the gate.
The main gate was shut tight, projecting an air of solitude.
Kawasaki stepped forward and knocked. After a long while, an elderly servant came to open the door.
"Who are you?"
The old servant was advanced in age, his hair completely white. He looked even older than the Third Hokage.
Kawasaki offered an apologetic smile. "My apologies for the disturbance. The Hokage sent me to find Kakashi."
The old servant felt no suspicion. After all, the Third Hokage would sometimes summon Kakashi for missions on short notice.
"Please, come in."
After closing the door, the old servant led the way. Perhaps due to his age, he was prone to rambling. "The Young Master has changed a great deal recently. He's become truly dedicated to his training."
Kawasaki noted the term the servant used: "Young Master." Kakashi was twenty-six years old now, and his father, Sakumo, had long since passed away. For someone to still call him "Young Master" meant this servant must have been with the household since Sakumo was alive. Having watched Kakashi grow up, the old man would always see him as the young master.
Kawasaki glanced up at the moonlight. It seemed Kakashi truly had changed.
Intent on probing for more information, Kawasaki asked, "Has Kakashi really become so diligent? He used to slack off quite a bit."
The old servant continued forward at a slow pace as he replied, "Yes. Since the Young Master's eye was injured, he's been more diligent than ever. And after he returned a few days ago, he's been like a different person."
"He trains until dusk every day. But the master's swordsmanship isn't so easy to learn. It takes a lot of..."
The servant's voice trailed off, and Kawasaki couldn't quite make out the rest of his words. He paid it no mind and continued to chat idly with the old man.
...
After Obito's identity was revealed, Kakashi had begun to devote a great deal of time to training. He had once been overly reliant on the Sharingan, and after losing it, he struggled to find a fighting style that suited him.
Later, while meticulously sorting through his father's belongings, Kakashi discovered that his father had already compiled a complete set of notes on his swordsmanship and left them at home, perhaps fearing his techniques would be lost if something were to happen to him. Kakashi never expected to see his father's training notes again after twenty years.
Sakumo Hatake's notes not only detailed the training methods for his sword style but also included information on supplementary medicines and chakra stimulation techniques.
After Kawasaki revealed the truth of his father's death, Orochimaru's words had completely ignited Kakashi's fighting spirit. He now pushed himself to his limits in training every day.
The Third Hokage bore significant responsibility for his father's death, yet he had absolved himself of all blame.
*Do you take me for a fool?!*
Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do right now. He had to get stronger! He had to become strong enough for his voice to be heard!
And that applied to both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura!
Rage flared in Kakashi's heart. He swung his blade at the wooden training post before him, its form seeming to overlap with the image of a certain old man with a goatee.
A flash of light!
The post split into two clean halves, falling to either side.
...
The old servant led Kawasaki to the backyard. There was a sloped clearing there, at the top of which was a platform where some noise could be heard. The slope was steep, and given the old servant's physical condition, he likely couldn't climb it.
Instead of trying, however, he walked over to a wooden plaque beside the slope and knocked on it several times, producing a series of "thump, thump, thump" sounds.
The noise from above stopped abruptly. A moment later, a figure leaped down from the platform.
"Grandpa Yusuke, what is it?"
His voice arrived before he did. Only after landing did Kakashi notice Kawasaki standing below.
"Lord Kawasaki, what are you doing here?"
"He said the Hokage sent for you," the old servant explained.
Kakashi nodded and spoke gently to the old man. "I understand. I'll handle it from here. You should go get some rest, Grandpa Yusuke."
The old servant looked at Kakashi, then back at Kawasaki. Shaking his head, he walked away, muttering, "I'm getting old... so easily fooled."
Kawasaki, not at all embarrassed, turned to face Kakashi. Kakashi was drenched in sweat and appeared utterly exhausted. In his hand, he held a sword whose blade gleamed with a cold light. It was clearly a fine weapon, and its style was quite similar to the one his father once wielded.
It seemed Kakashi had indeed undergone a significant change.
"Lord Kawasaki, you could have just told Grandpa Yusuke that you were here to see me," Kakashi said, a note of displeasure in his voice as he sheathed the sword on his back.
Kawasaki smiled faintly. "If I hadn't said that, how could I have gotten in? The Third's Anbu are watching the gate."
Kakashi was at a loss for words. Kawasaki was now a person of interest; whenever he was in Konoha, he was under constant Anbu surveillance.