"What is it?" he asked curiously. For Kawasaki to visit in person, it must be something important.
Kawasaki spoke out of the blue, "The shinobi world is fraught with danger. The Hyuga must be careful." He added, "If you run into trouble in the future and can no longer stay in Konoha, you are welcome to join us."
Hizashi's heart jolted. Kawasaki might seem casual on the surface, but he was not one to speak without reason. Did his words mean he had obtained some kind of intelligence?
"Kawasaki, can you be more specific?" Hizashi asked earnestly.
But Kawasaki refused to elaborate. "I don't know the specifics myself. Just remember my words."
Kawasaki wasn't being deliberately mysterious. The matter involved many factors, and the outcome was impossible to predict. The most critical issue was the unusual activity of the Tenseigan on the moon. Kawasaki didn't know if any descendants of Hamura other than Toneri were still alive. The recent summoning of the Gedo Statue could also stir up trouble in the future. Kawasaki had confirmed that Itachi had also felt the scan from the giant Tenseigan.
As descendants of Hamura, some of the Hyuga had perceived it, and their clan had extensive records. If the Hyuga's archives were complete, they might even attempt to contact the people on the moon. What would happen after that was anyone's guess.
Furthermore, according to Nagato, many White Zetsu were hidden within Konoha. They might be remaining in the village to prepare for a future invasion. Kawasaki hadn't told Orochimaru yet and didn't know what his plans were. In any case, he had already decided to distance himself from Konoha's conflicts and had no intention of getting involved.
What came next was the showdown between Orochimaru and the Third Hokage. Orochimaru found the Sarutobi clan's influence too great. He wasn't just targeting the Sarutobi; he also wanted to eliminate those loyal to the Third. Orochimaru would not tolerate anyone who wasn't loyal to him. The Hyuga held a significant position in Konoha, and if they were dragged into a power struggle, their losses would be devastating. Kawasaki hadn't spoken with Orochimaru about this and didn't know his stance on the Hyuga.
He simply added another piece of advice, "Don't work yourself to death in the Police Force. Konoha has the Anbu to rely on as well." Whether Hizashi understood the deeper meaning, Kawasaki couldn't be sure.
Hizashi fell silent for a moment. He could tell there was a hidden warning in Kawasaki's words, but he couldn't grasp it. "Then what about your shops in Hachigai?" Those shops were the ones Kawasaki had asked him to look after. And now, Kawasaki was planning to leave.
Kawasaki had already looked into it. The shops in Hachigai were all leased out. The profits were going to the Uchiha clan, though Kawasaki had never bothered to ask about it.
In truth, Kawasaki had his own plans. "I'm giving these shops to Orochimaru as part of a deal," he explained. "For now, you can continue to watch over them. Orochimaru's people will take over later."
Hizashi knew that for the Uchiha clan, this amount of money was not a concern. He agreed.
Kawasaki suddenly remembered something. "Since you're in charge of the mission system now, could you send us a list of C-rank and higher missions every day?" he asked. "Also, I need you to keep an eye on someone for me."
Kawasaki briefly described Tazuna's situation. "If he comes to post a mission, make sure Naruto and Sasuke's team gets it."
Although Hizashi didn't understand Kawasaki's motive, this was a trivial matter for him. He immediately agreed.
With everything said, Kawasaki stood up to leave. "I'll be going now. It might be a long time before we see each other again." A hint of emotion colored his voice. He had already announced to the village that he was leaving and would be departing soon.
Over the years he'd spent with Hizashi, he had found him to be a genuinely good person. With Hizashi still alive, the conflict between the Hyuga's main and branch houses wasn't as pronounced. Guided by his father, Neji wasn't as aggressive as he could have been. At least Rock Lee hadn't been subjected to his ridicule. This version of Neji was far more agreeable than the one who had lost his father and had no one to guide him.
Hizashi also sensed they wouldn't have many chances to meet in the future. He stood up and said, "Alright, I'll see you out."
Hizashi then walked Kawasaki to the door. Watching his figure recede into the distance, Hizashi decided to go and discuss the matter with his elder brother.
Hizashi quickly arrived at the main family's compound, where Hiashi was already waiting for him. He relayed the information he had received from Kawasaki.
Hiashi frowned. "So the Uchiha have already made so many preparations."
Hizashi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Brother, do you think the thing Kawasaki warned us about... could it be related to that incident?"
Hiashi knew what his brother was referring to: the scan from the moon.
After the incident with the giant Tenseigan's scan, the Great Elder, who had learned some of the secrets, began consulting the ancient archives. It seemed there was another branch of their clan on the moon. These records were ancient, predating even the founding of Konoha. If the Hyuga main family hadn't remained safe and secure all these years, these documents would have been lost long ago.
During the incident, only three people had sensed the disturbance: the Great Elder, Hiashi, and Hizashi. The other elders must not have felt it; otherwise, a clan meeting would have been convened immediately.
Although Hizashi was from the branch house, his current standing was high, and his loyalty was unquestionable. The Great Elder had previously gathered Hiashi and Hizashi to discuss how to handle the situation. They were all at a loss. The idea of clansmen on the moon was simply too incredible. And it seemed those clansmen possessed immense power.
In recent years, while the Hyuga clan had not been involved in any major wars, they had clearly fallen behind in the face of the Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan and its Susanoo. The two clans had once stood as equals, but the Uchiha's recent glorious achievements on the battlefield had led many to believe that the Hyuga were now inferior.
Under these circumstances, the Hyuga's Great Elder, who valued the clan's honor above all else, wanted to try and make contact with their relatives on the moon. However, both Hiashi and Hizashi opposed the idea. They were worried that the other party might have ulterior motives.
Now, with Kawasaki's warning, Hizashi immediately wondered if it was connected to that incident. They had cautiously asked others before. Aside from a few high-level Hyuga who had felt something subtle, almost no one outside the clan had sensed anything.
Hiashi said gravely, "Only the three of us know about the matter on the moon; the rest of the clan is unaware. However, as a master of the Mangekyo Sharingan, Kawasaki's perception is exceptionally sharp. We can't rule out the possibility that he knows something."
"So many years have passed. We don't know the situation over there; they could be friend or foe. But since Kawasaki has warned us, we must be extra vigilant. The entire Uchiha clan relocating... with so many people, it cannot be a simple matter."
At almost the same moment, a name flashed through Hizashi's mind. "Brother, are you talking about Obito?"
Hiashi nodded in confirmation. Obito, the Uchiha traitor whose name had been struck from the records. His vendetta was common knowledge. Kawasaki had also revealed that he possessed space-time ninjutsu. Though the details were unknown, he was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
His surprise attack on Itachi and Shisui on the Land of Water battlefield had been thwarted by Kawasaki. In the end, both sides suffered heavy losses, and Itachi lost his sight as a result. This incident made everyone realize that even the Mangekyo Sharingan might have its weaknesses.
Even so, the Mangekyo Sharingan remained unbelievably powerful. Ordinary ninjutsu was utterly insignificant before a Susanoo, and Kawasaki's Susanoo, in particular, possessed immense destructive power.