Hyuga Hiashi looked down at Uchiha Ran and couldn't help rolling his eyes.
"Uchiha Ran, I truly underestimated you. You're quite something—you've got methods."
"What are you talking about, Clan Head Hiashi?" Ran raised an eyebrow, his expression innocent. "I don't quite understand. Please explain."
The corner of Hyuga Hiashi's mouth twitched.
You don't understand? You understand better than anyone!
Enough—if I keep talking to him while he plays dumb like this, I might actually have a heart attack.
"I will fully support what you want to do—but!" Hyuga Hiashi suddenly shifted his tone.
The moment that word but came out, Ran's gaze sharpened, locking onto him.
As everyone knows, everything before but is usually meaningless. What comes after is the real point.
"Relying on only the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan is not enough," Hyuga Hiashi said seriously. "Although our two clans possess great influence, strength, and connections within Konoha, if your goal is that position, then sooner or later you will need the support of capable officials and civilian administrators."
"Therefore, before you make your move, I hope you can win over the Nara Clan. If the Nara Clan is willing to participate, Konoha will not descend into chaos after the coup."
As he spoke, Hyuga Hiashi's gaze rested steadily on Ran.
Ran did not respond immediately. He fell into deep thought.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered this issue—it was that he lacked the means to solve it. The Uchiha Clan had been isolated from Konoha's core for far too long.
Aside from the Kurama Clan, there were probably very few families willing to associate with them at all. As for the Nara Clan—masters of self-preservation—convincing them would be even harder.
Hyuga Hiashi clearly understood Ran's concerns.
"Tonight, I will host the heads of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans," he said. "Whether you can persuade them or not will depend entirely on you."
"If you succeed, my Hyuga Clan will unquestionably join forces with the Uchiha Clan and help you obtain everything you desire."
A flash of deep hatred passed through Hyuga Hiashi's eyes.
Hatred toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His own younger brother had been reduced to a sacrificial pawn—abandoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi. His body had been sent to the Hidden Cloud Village, unable even to be laid to rest properly.
This was a blood feud.
The reason Hyuga Hiashi suggested contacting the Nara Clan was not just politics—he hoped that after the battle, Konoha could be stabilized quickly rather than collapse into total chaos.
There was, however, one thing he did not tell Ran.
Even if Ran failed to win over the Nara Clan tonight, the Hyuga Clan would still rise alongside the Uchiha.
Hyuga Hiashi had waited far too long for this day.
If not for his previous isolation and helplessness, he would have already led his people in a massacre straight into the Sarutobi compound. Hizashi's death was a thorn embedded deep in his heart—one that would never be removed.
Hearing Hyuga Hiashi's conditions, Ran's brows finally relaxed.
"Very well," he said calmly. "In that case, Clan Head Hiashi, please make the arrangements. We'll rest for now and recover our strength for tonight's meeting with the three clan heads."
Hyuga Hiashi nodded.
Although Ran was only ten years old, he possessed an unusually calm temperament and remarkable ability. More importantly, he was young—and ambition burned brightly within him.
That was something Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer had.
Old, stagnant, and indulgent toward Danzo Shimura, allowing him to act as a shadow proxy and repeatedly commit foolish acts—did Hiruzen truly believe no one knew the truth behind Sakumo Hatake's death?
It was only because of their power and authority that no one dared speak out.
Sakumo Hatake—upright, powerful, nearly invincible in battle—had been crushed by rumors spread with the tacit approval of Hiruzen Sarutobi and his faction, eventually driven to suicide under the weight of public condemnation.
Afterward, Hiruzen even hypocritically declared Sakumo a "hero of the village."
If he hadn't silently consented, how could those rumors have spread so thoroughly?
What was worse—people claimed Sakumo had already donned half of the Hokage's ceremonial robes, even calling him the "Half-Hokage."
Did Hiruzen really not understand that this was classic enemy misinformation meant to sow discord?
He understood perfectly.
But once suspicion takes root in the human heart, it grows wildly out of control.
From the beginning of Sakumo Hatake's career until his death, his only true failure was the mission in which Danzo Shimura set him up. Before that, his mission success rate had been flawless.
He was in his prime. His strength was already comparable to Hiruzen's.
Hyuga Hiashi was momentarily stunned. Why had he suddenly thought of this?
Then a trace of pity crossed his eyes.
Sakumo's son, Kakashi Hatake, was still serving under the very people responsible.
If Kakashi were ever to learn that his father's death stemmed from Hiruzen's indulgence and Danzo's schemes… who knew whether he would completely lose his mind?
---
Ran and the other two were arranged into a guest room with three large beds.
After briefly introducing the room, the servant withdrew.
Ran chose the innermost bed and sat down, then beckoned the others over.
"Brother Shisui, Itachi—come here. As for tonight, this is what I'm planning…"
Uchiha Itachi's pupils shrank.
"Th-this… is that really possible?" he asked in disbelief. "Ran, you're not joking, are you?"
He couldn't believe Ran had devised something like this.
Uchiha Shisui frowned slightly as well.
"Isn't that a bit too extreme? What if it fails and we end up earning their resentment?"
"It won't," Ran said with a relaxed smile. "Trust me. Smart people know what choice to make."
His gaze shifted toward the doorway, as if already anticipating the arrival of night.
Since they weren't tired, Shisui and Itachi took their kunai and headed to the Hyuga Clan's training grounds to spar.
Ran, on the other hand, lay down on the bed and closed his eyes, quietly waiting for evening to fall.
---
Hyuga Clan Training Grounds
The Hyuga ninjas gradually stopped what they were doing and gathered around Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.
Watching their exchanges—fists colliding, blades striking with precision—their blood began to boil.
Some even shouted encouragement:
"Nice one! That strike was amazing!"
"Kick his leg! His leg! Ah—yes! That's it! See? That's how you turn the tables!"
…
Just as the crowd buzzed with excitement, the Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan suddenly arrived.
The training grounds fell silent almost instantly.
Most of the people present were branch family members. Main family members didn't need to risk their lives on missions—they stayed home, married, had children, and lived comfortably.
Dangerous missions were always handled by branch family shinobi, so the training grounds naturally became their domain.
Still, there were always a few mediocre main family members who liked to come over and show off.
Itachi and Shisui exchanged a glance and stopped at the same time.
Several young Hyuga girls hurried forward with towels. Neither of them refused, politely thanking them instead—causing the girls to blush furiously as they replied, "You're welcome."
The Great Elder looked at the two of them and chuckled.
"You must be the clan head's guests," he said. "I happen to have a grandson around your age. How about letting him spar with you two?"
The branch family shinobi were stunned for a moment—then their eyes filled with ridicule.
With that useless kid's skills, compare him to these two?
These two were clearly jonin-level, and not just specialists—they trained in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and even kenjutsu.
His grandson was only a chunin.
Wasn't this just asking for a beating?