On the eastern side of Sunagakure stood a cluster of newly built houses, half-hidden behind a few sparse palm trees.
This was the area Teizawa had specially set aside for the Hyūga branch family.
Its location was remote, far from the center of the village.
It made them easier to manage.
It also prevented unnecessary attention.
Teizawa stood in the open space before the houses.
In front of him, a dense crowd of people knelt on the ground.
Men and women. Old and young.
Every one of them wore sunglasses.
Some were refined, some were rough, but without exception, they covered their eyes completely.
They were not wearing sunglasses to look cool.
They were hiding the Byakugan beneath them.
It was not yet time to completely tear relations with Konoha apart.
If Konoha found out he had lured away the Hyūga branch family, there would definitely be an uproar.
With Tsunade's temper…
Even pregnant, she would still dare storm into Sunagakure and fight him to the death.
"Kazekage-sama… Clan Head-sama…"
The Hyūga members all knelt in unison, pressing their foreheads to the ground, their voices filled with excitement and devotion.
Hinata flinched in surprise.
Her face went red at once.
The blush spread from her cheeks to her ears, then all the way down her neck.
She instinctively hid a little behind Teizawa.
Her hand clutched the corner of his clothes.
She still had not adjusted to this new identity.
Head of the Hyūga clan.
She had never imagined she would become the clan head.
She was just a weak, soft-spoken girl who blushed even when speaking to strangers.
How could she possibly shoulder such a heavy responsibility?
Teizawa held her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
He was telling her not to be nervous.
Then he raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the branch family members kneeling before him.
His voice was not loud, but it reached every person clearly.
"Stand."
Everyone rose to their feet, but their heads remained lowered.
They were as respectful as subjects before a king.
"As long as you serve me with peace of mind…"
Teizawa's voice was calm and unhurried, as if he were stating a simple fact.
"I guarantee that no one will ever restrict your freedom again. I have already removed the Caged Bird for you. You are no longer vassals of Konoha's Hyūga clan. You are no longer tools of the main family."
"You are shinobi of Sunagakure. You are my people."
After a pause, he added, "Of course, if you do not want to serve Sunagakure, that is fine too. I will not force you."
"But for the sake of your clansmen still in Konoha, the ones who have not yet gained their freedom…"
His gaze sharpened. "You cannot leave Sunagakure. That is the condition, and also your protection."
"We understand!"
The crowd answered almost without hesitation, shouting in unison.
"We are willing to serve Kazekage-sama! We are willing to serve Sunagakure!"
Their voices echoed across the open ground.
Orderly and fervent.
Like a torch that had just been lit.
Neji stood at the rear of the crowd with his arms folded.
He looked at those familiar faces.
The uncles, elders, brothers, and sisters who had once suffered humiliation inside the Hyūga clan.
At that moment, they seemed like completely different people.
There was light in their eyes.
There were smiles on their faces.
A complex feeling rose in his heart, one he could not put into words.
These people had already been fully won over by Teizawa.
And what about him?
He lowered his head and looked at his own hands.
Those hands had once fought to protect the Hyūga main family.
They had once struggled desperately to prove himself.
They had once clenched into fists late at night, then slowly loosened again.
Now, he held himself.
He held the power to change the fate of his clansmen.
How could he not be moved?
Teizawa said nothing more.
He took Hinata's hand and turned to leave.
Hinata followed behind him.
Her head was lowered, her face flushed, her heart pounding like a drum.
His hand was warm and large, wrapping around her smaller one.
Like a solid wall.
Protecting her within it.
She did not know when she had started getting used to him holding her hand.
Nor did she know when she had stopped resisting this closeness.
Neji watched their backs.
He took a deep breath, then turned to face the clansmen.
"Starting today, I will be responsible for your training."
His voice returned to its usual cool restraint. "Sunagakure's rules are different from Konoha's. Everything has to be learned from the beginning."
"I will train you into qualified Suna shinobi and make sure you do not disappoint Kazekage-sama."
Some in the crowd nodded. Some answered aloud. Some were already rolling their shoulders and clenching their fists.
Neji's gaze swept across their faces.
In his heart, he silently began planning their training.
Teizawa led Hinata out of the housing district.
They walked back along a quiet path.
Footsteps sounded behind them, light but steady.
He did not look back.
The corner of his mouth only lifted slightly.
"You've been following me the whole way…"
His voice came from ahead, carrying a faint smile. "Say what you want to say."
Pakura stepped out from the shadows.
Her hood covered most of her face.
Only a smooth chin and a pair of deep eyes were visible.
She caught up to Teizawa's pace.
Walking on Hinata's other side, her gaze swept over his face, then fell on Hinata before finally moving away.
"Those people…" she said, her voice a little hoarse. "They're all from the Hyūga clan?"
"Yes."
"The Byakugan?"
"Yes."
Pakura fell silent for a moment.
She had been in Sunagakure for some time and had already heard quite a bit.
This young Kazekage had gone to Konoha once.
Not only had he brought back a massive sum of money…
He had also abducted the Hyūga clan's heiress and its genius.
And now, he had even dug up dozens of people from the branch family.
"…Are you planning to go to war with Konoha?"
Her voice was very low.
"Not for now." Teizawa shook his head. "The time isn't right."
"Then what is your goal?"
"To strengthen Sunagakure." Teizawa's tone was as flat as if he were talking about the weather. "To make Sunagakure the strongest village in the shinobi world. To make sure no one can ever bully us again."
Pakura froze for a moment.
She remembered how she had been betrayed by the village back then.
She remembered the days when she had risked everything for the village, only to be used as a disposable pawn.
She had thought she would never trust anyone again in this life.
But at this moment…
Looking at this young man's back, a strange feeling rose in her heart.
"Is it worth it?"
Her voice was very soft.
"What?"
"For this village. Is it worth it?"
Teizawa stopped and turned to look at her.
His young face was especially clear in the sunlight.
A faint smile still hung at the corner of his mouth.
"You are Sunagakure's hero. You gave everything for the village, even your life."
He paused. "Do you think it was worth it?"
Pakura fell silent.
She had once thought it was.
Later, she thought it was not.
Now, she could no longer say for certain.
"Whether it is worth it or not doesn't matter."
Teizawa turned and continued walking. "What matters is… I will never let anyone betray you again."
Pakura's eyes stung slightly.
She said nothing more and only followed behind him.
Hinata secretly glanced at Pakura.
Then quickly lowered her head again.
She did not know who this woman was.
But she felt that Pakura had a presence somewhat similar to Tsunade-sama.
Independent.
Powerful.
Weathered by hardship.
The kind of presence that made others instinctively want to rely on her.
The three of them walked along the quiet path.
Sunlight fell over them.
It cast three long shadows across the ground.
From the distance came the unique bustle of Sunagakure…
Vendors calling out their goods, children laughing, shinobi training.
Everything was peaceful.
Everything was moving according to Teizawa's plan.
(End of Chapter)
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