~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter! Your votes keep this climbing. Thanks!
"Your Excellency, forgive my earlier ignorance! This humble Hiashi failed to recognize a true dragon!"
Inside the Hyūga compound, Hyūga Hiashi pressed his forehead to the floor, his entire body trembling as he begged for mercy.
Qianyu's chakra… it was monstrous. It had nearly seared the eyes right out of his old head. Not even Naruto had ever projected such terrifying, oppressive power.
Hiashi had no idea how or why a monster of this caliber had emerged from his clan. But he didn't doubt it for a second. This man could erase him with a flick of his wrist. And if the clan elders found out? They'd probably praise Qianyu for doing it.
That was the Hyūga way. Cling to the winning side. Always be among the victors.
"Heh. Lord Hiashi, your rapid shift from arrogance to groveling is quite amusing."
Qianyu looked down at the prostrated clan head and reined in his killing intent. A lazy, amused smile played on his lips.
"Y-You flatter me, Your Excellency…"
Hiashi's face burned with shame. But without Qianyu's permission, he didn't dare lift his head. Didn't dare stand.
"Enough. Get up. Since you've made the arrangements, I'll be staying in your manor for now."
Qianyu reached down and patted Hiashi's shoulder. Three times. "I'll let this slide. For now. Before I leave, think of a good reason why I shouldn't kill you."
Thud.
Hiashi, who had just shakily risen to his knees, felt his legs give out again. He collapsed back onto the floor.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Qianyu's laughter echoed through the courtyard as he strode toward the guest quarters Hiashi had prepared. He left the clan head kneeling there, his spirit shattered.
Nothing was more torturous than knowing your own execution date.
Think, Hiashi! THINK! What does a powerhouse like this want from the Hyūga?
His mind was a chaotic mess, but the primal urge to survive forced his scrambled thoughts into motion.
The clan leadership? Don't be ridiculous. A man who could topple nations wouldn't give two shits about being the head of a single clan.
Wealth? Even more impossible. With his power, money was meaningless. And it wasn't like the Hyūga possessed any legendary treasures…
"Father, I'm home."
Just as despair began to crush him, a clear, sweet voice rang out from the garden path.
A moment later, the delicate, refined face of Hyūga Hanabi entered his view.
"I'VE GOT IT!"
Hiashi's eyes blazed with sudden understanding. He shot to his feet, startling Hanabi, who looked at him in confusion.
Of course! He wants my Hanabi! That's why he's staying here!
He looked at his beautiful, vibrant daughter. Everything clicked.
Hanabi was his pride. Flawless looks. A graceful figure. Prodigious talent. It was no wonder Qianyu had taken an interest.
He patted my shoulder three times. Gave me that meaningful look… Is he telling me to send Hanabi to his room at the third watch?
Hiashi glanced at his oblivious daughter. A flicker of hesitation.
Hanabi was of marriageable age. Many suitors had come, but he'd refused them all. With Naruto as the golden standard, how could he settle for anyone less for his youngest daughter? But this Qianyu… his power seemed to eclipse even Naruto's.
If Qianyu became his son-in-law… who in the entire shinobi world would dare oppose the Hyūga? Who would dare oppose him, Hyūga Hiashi?
His breathing grew ragged. This wasn't a crisis. It was a heaven-sent opportunity!
"Hanabi. The future of the Hyūga clan… rests on your shoulders now."
Driven by both fear and greed, Hiashi made his decision. He grasped his daughter's hands, his expression deadly serious.
"Father? What are you talking about? What's wrong?" Hanabi was bewildered.
"Listen carefully. Return to your room and prepare yourself. At the third watch, go to the main guest room in the west courtyard. Someone will be waiting for you."
This concerned the clan's destiny. Hiashi's voice was grave. "Whatever he asks of you… you must comply. To your utmost. Do you understand? The glory of the Hyūga rests on you now."
"I… I understand, Father."
Hanabi saw his severe expression and seemed to realize what was happening. Her heart clenched. She bit her lip and nodded.
So it had come to this. A political marriage. Trading her own happiness for the clan's benefit.
A love match like my sister's… that only happens in stories, she sighed inwardly.
She'd always dreamed of marrying a dashing, heroic savior of the world. Now, she was to be given to some shadowy, masked stranger…
It seemed her foolish fantasies would end tonight.
…
"What? Hiashi said what?!"
In the dead of night, Qianyu clutched the blankets to his chest, staring in utter disbelief at Hyūga Hanabi, who stood beside his bed.
"Yes. Please… command me as you wish."
Hanabi studied Qianyu's face—the sharp jawline, the compelling eyes. The dull resignation in her own beautiful eyes flickered, replaced by a spark of something else.
Not a Transformation Jutsu. Not a disguise. He's… he's actually handsome!
Internally, Hanabi cheered, feeling a wave of intense relief. It wasn't that she was shallow. She'd just braced herself to be handed over to some hideous, faceless monster. To find someone this attractive instead… well, that was a different matter!
If she had to marry a stranger for politics anyway, why not one as handsome as the esteemed readers? Looking at a face like that every day couldn't be bad, right?
You're this handsome and this strong… why not just court me properly? I might have said yes! You didn't have to… to start like this…
She even felt a pang of resentment for Qianyu's direct methods, completely unaware that Qianyu himself had never seen this coming.
On his honor, he'd just planned to stay at her house and look for opportunities later. Who knew Hiashi, like Kaguya, would "understand everything with a single pat" and just skip straight to the finale?
"Well… since you're already here…"
Qianyu's gaze traveled over Hanabi's slender form, silhouetted by the moonlight streaming through the window. His resolve, already tenuous, finally crumbled. He scratched his cheek, a little embarrassed.
"I'll make my request, then. So… you know the Clone Technique, right?"
"Huh? Of course I do." Hanabi nodded, puzzled by the strange question.
"Sparring is more fun with some… creativity. I know a lot of jutsu myself. Earth Grudge Fear. Multi-Size Technique. Oil Transformation…"
As he spoke, Qianyu's hand found its way to Hanabi's waist. His fingers traced a slow, deliberate path upward. "The night is long. Let's start with the basics."
Hanabi trembled slightly but didn't pull away. Instead, she shyly buried her face against his chest.
"Mhm… I'll do as you say. Mhm~"
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
Full story available now
Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
Join my Patreon community today!
p a t r e o n .com/BingeInk
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━