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"Tch. How do you plan to do it? Force yourself on her?" Madara scoffed at Chiba's words.
Sasuke walked ahead, his strides brisk. He pretended not to care about their conversation, but his ears were already perked, waiting for Chiba's answer. If Chiba intended to treat their world as his personal playground just because of his overwhelming strength, Sasuke would find a way to eliminate him at any cost.
"You kidding? With this face?" Chiba replied without a second thought, as if it were obvious. "I just show up. That's it."
With a face as handsome as you readers, girls always came to him. They always made the first move. Why would he need to take the initiative?
Sasuke: "…"
Madara: "…"
Madara ground his teeth, furious, but he couldn't refute Chiba's words. Even though he had been the handsome young man famous across ten villages in his day, compared to Chiba (and you readers), there was indeed… a gap.
"Alright, I've decided," Chiba declared, shutting both of them up. "From now on, I'm Hyūga Chiba."
He activated his Byakugan, his eyes turning a solid, glowing white. "Sasuke-kun," he called to the figure ahead. "Please escort this long-lost Hyūga clansman back to the clan grounds."
Sasuke looked back, rubbing his temple. A headache was already forming. "The Hyūga clan… they aren't easy to deal with. If they see through your disguise…" He wasn't worried about Chiba. He was worried the Hyūga clan would push their luck and get themselves wiped out.
"Disguise? Hahahaha! Don't worry, Sasuke-kun." Chiba laughed heartily. "They will never see through my 'disguise'."
This wasn't a disguise. This was a Byakugan of pure Ōtsutsuki-level quality. If the ancestor of the Hyūga clan stood before him right now, he'd have to call him ancestor.
Hyūga Hiashi? He wouldn't even make the cut to be the disciple of his disciple.
"As for you, Madara," Chiba patted the man's shoulder. "You'll act as my bodyguard for now."
Madara scoffed. "Me? Uchiha Madara? Your bodyguard? Hah!"
Chiba put his hands on his hips. "Me? Chiba. Fourth Hokage. Strongest in the Shinobi World. Child of Prophecy. Successor of the Sage. What's wrong with you being my bodyguard?"
Madara: "…"
Out-argued. Outmatched. Right now, Madara bitterly wished he were that bastard Tobirama. At least then he could curse.
Outside the Hyūga estate gates.
Sasuke watched nervously as Hyūga Hiashi examined Chiba for a long moment before speaking slowly.
"Well, well. Indeed, you carry the blood of our Hyūga clan, scattered outside."
(In specific periods, the Hyūga Main Family wasn't limited to one person per generation. Think Hyūga Kō from the original series, the elder who suggested sacrificing Hiashi's brother Hizashi, or that unlucky guy who lost his Byakugan to Ao in the Third War.)
Clearly, Hiashi assumed Chiba was the illegitimate offspring of some Main Family member who had broken clan rules.
"Phew… Lord Hiashi, I've brought him as requested. I'll take my leave now." Chiba's disguise held. Sasuke let out a long sigh of relief.
"See yourself out." Hiashi waved a hand dismissively, his lordly airs on full display.
Sasuke turned and left quickly, not wanting to linger. He was afraid if he stayed too long, blood might splatter on him.
Hyūga Hiashi… I hope you're polite to them. As long as you don't do anything outrageous, given Chiba's temperament, he probably won't do anything to you either, Sasuke thought silently.
"My child, you've suffered, drifting outside all these years," Hiashi said after Sasuke left, gently patting Chiba's back with the demeanor of a benevolent elder. A calculating gleam flickered in his eyes. "Stay in my residence for the next couple of days."
This child's bloodline… is far too pure…
"Sure!" Chiba followed Hiashi through the estate gates.
Madara, utterly bored, trailed behind. The moment he reached the entrance, two Hyūga guards blocked his path.
"Meaning?" Madara narrowed his eyes, his voice laced with danger.
One guard pointed arrogantly at the plaque above the gate. "This is the Hyūga Main Family estate. No one but a Hyūga may enter. A mere servant like you… Hah!"
Hiashi heard the commotion. He turned, frowned slightly, and said to Chiba, "Chiba, your guard truly lacks manners. You must teach him proper decorum later, understand?"
"Y-Yes, understood."
Looking at the several Hyūga clansmen acting so high and mighty, Chiba forced down his laughter, his expression a spectacular mix of emotions.
If these people knew the man standing before them was Uchiha Madara, he wondered if they could still act so smug. Would they drop to their knees and beg for mercy on the spot?
Do it, Madara! They think you're a servant!
Chiba eagerly anticipated Madara making a move. Then he could 'save' the Hyūga clan and rightfully… ahem, win over Hyūga Hanabi. After all, he got along fairly well with Sasuke. He couldn't just turn into the 'Ancestor-Man' without a proper excuse.
Hmph. Brat, I won't play into your hands.
Madara forcefully suppressed the urge to act. He gave the Hyūga clansmen a deep, meaningful look, then left with a cold sneer.
Fools. You actually brought that brat Chiba into your home. The Hyūga clan won't last another week.
On this matter, Madara spoke from experience. He was the last person to bring Chiba home, and he had paid a bitter price for it.
Inside the Hyūga estate.
Hiashi led Chiba to a secluded courtyard, then turned with a kindly expression.
"My child, since you've decided to return to the Hyūga clan, you must abide by our rules from now on. Of course, the Hyūga clan will offer you our protection."
"Understood, Lord Hiashi." Chiba nodded slightly, his tone indifferent.
"Good." Hiashi seemed satisfied with Chiba's attitude. He slowly rolled up his sleeve. "According to tradition, this old man will now place the Caged Bird Seal upon you to protect our Hyūga clansmen. The process may be somewhat painful. Endure it."
"Wait. That's not right, Lord Hiashi."
Chiba took two steps back, his tone playful. "I heard the sealing ceremony is handled exclusively by the clan elders. While you are the esteemed clan head, this matter shouldn't fall under your responsibility, should it?"
That damned Sasuke! Carelessly leaking our clan's secrets! Naruto should have listened to me and exiled him from the village back then!
Hiashi cursed inwardly, assuming Sasuke had told Chiba. He had no idea Chiba was the Hokage from another world—however incompetent—and was already familiar with their clan's operations.
The sealing ceremony indeed required the Hyūga clan elders. The whole tedious process could take weeks. That was precisely why Chiba had casually waltzed into the Hyūga clan.
A few weeks was more than enough time for him to 'spar' with Hyūga Hanabi several dozen times.
But who knew Hiashi would be in such a hurry to seal him the moment he arrived? Interesting.
"Child, you are being disrespectful!" Chiba refused. Hiashi's face darkened instantly.
The reason he was so eager to bypass the elders was precisely to prevent them from seeing an unsealed clansman with a bloodline so pure it didn't just rival his own—it surpassed it.
If the elders saw such a pure lineage, it might shake Hinata's and Hanabi's positions as heirs. He would never allow that to happen!
"A junior defying an elder. A clansman questioning his clan head. It seems your years outside lacked a proper education. You don't even understand the most basic hierarchy and respect. No wonder your guard is equally ill-mannered."
Despite the filthy schemes in his heart, Hiashi's mouth was full of righteous principles.
"Ah, well. You're just a child with no one to raise you. After the seal is placed, this old man will take the time to discipline you properly."
Hiashi's gaze turned sharp. He advanced on Chiba as he spoke. As long as he placed the seal here and now, even if the elder council found out later, they couldn't fault him, the clan head. With a Hokage for a son-in-law, he couldn't do whatever he pleased in the village, but he certainly didn't need to worry too much about the consequences.
"Hahahahahahahaha!"
Chiba threw his head back and laughed. If this were his past self, he might have been angry. But now, seeing an ant arrogantly waving its feelers before him, he only found it amusing.
"What are you—gulp."
Hiashi froze mid-step. His stern expression shattered into pure terror. He swallowed with immense difficulty.
In his vision, Chiba's chakra began to radiate. Stronger. Stronger. Until it blazed like a sun, so intense it was almost blinding.
Thud.
Hiashi's knees buckled. He fell forward, kneeling straight before Chiba.
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