Arin returned home somewhat bored, planning to grind a few skills using his Oni Mode abilities.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Machi wearing an ANBU combat uniform, her mask resting on her forehead.
Machi glanced at him lazily.
"You have a guest."
"Oh?" Arin looked curious.
He figured that aside from Nawaki, anyone visiting him would probably be from Root or ANBU—and Machi definitely wouldn't call those people "guests."
"Also," Arin said sternly, "did you skip work again today?"
Machi rolled her eyes.
"That kind of training is useless to me. I can't even use ninjutsu."
Besides, she had already mastered every advanced application of Nen.
If she wanted to grow stronger, she just needed to refine her Nen threads and strengthen her aura.
She already had her own path for becoming stronger.
Compared to this world's so-called ninja—
Nen users were still far weaker overall.
"Your current strength is still lacking," Arin said calmly.
"If you don't keep improving, your usefulness will become smaller and smaller."
A faint ripple appeared on Machi's normally cold expression.
Arin didn't pay attention to her reaction.
Right now, the minimum requirement among his subordinates was jōnin-level strength.
If Machi couldn't keep up, she would inevitably be abandoned.
Perhaps even fused with something else together with the Summoning Ticket.
At that point—
She would truly disappear without leaving anything behind.
If Machi continued being this lazy, Arin would definitely discard her and summon someone stronger instead.
After all—
He summoned people to help him, not to worship them like ancestors.
The house he rented was fairly large, though it only had one floor.
Guests usually waited in the living room.
Ordinary visitors wouldn't enter his bedroom.
If someone was waiting inside his room instead—
It meant the person probably couldn't show themselves openly.
Arin pushed open his bedroom door.
Inside sat a plain-looking middle-aged man, calmly seated at the desk.
Someone he had never seen before.
The moment the man saw Arin, a puff of smoke erupted around him.
His appearance suddenly changed.
"Hyuga Hikari," Arin said with a playful smile.
The man who had entered his house using Transformation Technique was someone he hadn't seen for a long time.
Hyuga Hikari immediately knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, Lord Hyuga Arin."
Arin sat down on the bed and asked curiously,
"So why did you only come to see me now?"
He knew Hikari had already returned to the village long ago.
Hikari stood up and replied helplessly,
"The Hyuga main family issued strict orders. No one was allowed to contact you privately."
"No one dared openly defy the main family."
The only reason he dared come was because his Caged Bird Seal had already been removed.
Even then, the main family had been watching them closely recently—especially him.
They had even inspected his forehead seal.
Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.
He covered the mark with black ink that wouldn't fade, hiding the disappearance of the Caged Bird Seal.
After all—
Even the main family couldn't activate the seal without reason.
Especially after the incident with Arin.
They only checked whether the seal had changed color.
The black mark on Arin's forehead was simply too obvious.
"They really played a clever move," Arin said with a chuckle.
"The main family traded benefits with the Hokage."
"In exchange, the Hokage won't interfere while they forbid me from removing the branch family's Caged Bird Seals."
Hikari's pupils shrank.
If that were true—
The branch family members who came to Arin with hope of removing their seals would end up being refused because of the Hokage's order.
They would completely collapse.
"What a vicious tactic," Arin said through gritted teeth.
Standing opposite the main family only made him hate them more.
Of course—
He also needed a justification for his own rebellion.
But the main family had given him so many reasons he could barely keep count anymore.
"But," Arin suddenly smiled.
"As long as it doesn't get exposed, it's fine."
Players didn't really care about reputation.
He might keep agreements on the surface—
But what happened behind the scenes was another story.
Besides—
Ninja were supposed to be good at lying.
"My lord… you mean—" Hikari's face lit up with hope.
His reason for coming here was exactly to help the branch family remove their seals.
"I can remove the Caged Bird Seal for some people," Arin said calmly.
Seeing Hikari about to bow in gratitude, Arin raised his hand to stop him.
"But I'm not running a charity."
Hikari's expression returned to calm.
"Please tell me your conditions. As long as we can do it, we will give it our all."
Arin nodded.
"First: I want their absolute loyalty."
Surface loyalty didn't count.
Who knew what they might do behind his back?
Arin judged others by his own standards.
He didn't trust verbal promises.
He wanted real results.
"Second: I want a pledge of allegiance."
"What form it takes doesn't matter."
"I want to see their sincerity."
"Third: They must join Root."
Arin stated his requirements.
Once these three conditions were fulfilled—
They would be completely branded as Arin's people.
Hikari hesitated slightly.
The first two conditions were manageable.
The third was far more difficult.
Right now, the Hyuga clan was strongly resisting Root.
Although Root wanted Hyuga members to join—
Everyone knew the real reason.
Because Arin could remove the Caged Bird Seal.
And the Hyuga clan would absolutely never allow that.
Arin noticed Hikari's hesitation.
"Contact Root," he said softly.
"They'll have ways to bring you in."
"Your public identities will simply have to disappear."
If Root wanted someone to join secretly—
They were professionals.
They had plenty of ways to erase a person's official identity.
"Joining Root means trading the Caged Bird Seal for the Tongue-Sealing Curse Mark," Arin continued.
"But once I become the leader of Root, I will remove that seal as well."
"And you will help me become the leader of Root."
Arin stated his goal directly.
"I'll pass this message along," Hikari said.
"Do I need to join as well?"
As someone who had already pledged loyalty, he would obey any order.
"No," Arin replied.
"You just need to contact the branch family members."
Hikari held tremendous influence among the branch family.
There was no way Arin would let him abandon that position.
Even Hyuga Dema, a branch elder, couldn't shake Hikari's authority.
Hikari was effectively the leader of the Hyuga branch family now.
"Lord Arin, I will take my leave."
"Go."
Hikari used Transformation Technique again, changed his appearance, and vanished instantly.
"The main family… Root… Konoha…"
Arin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Step by step, he was building his own power base.
And it wasn't limited to Konoha.
Outside the village, he also had forces slowly developing.
Though they were still growing—
Their future potential wouldn't be weak.
The only question was—
Whether Black Zetsu and Uchiha Madara had any objections.
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