Naruto: Hyuga Warlord

"Knock knock knock!"

As a jonin assigned to report back after returning from the battlefield, Hyuga Soushu was the first to arrive at the Hokage Office door. Following the arrangement of the Anbu guards, he lightly knocked on the door to alert the person inside.

"Come in!"

A loud voice echoed from within the Hokage Office.

"Creak"

Soushu pushed the door open and stepped inside, stopping momentarily to bow respectfully. "Hokage-sama, I, Hyuga Soushu, have returned from the Western Border Forces as ordered."

"Jonin Soushu must've had a tiring journey."

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled warmly while pointing at the chair in front of his desk. "No need for formalities. Please have a seat!"

"Thank you for your consideration, Hokage-sama."

Hyuga Soushu slightly bowed again before using his left leg to close the door behind him. He then strode forward and plopped himself down right in front of the Third Hokage.

"I've already read Sakumo's report. Your performance during the surprise attack on Sunagakure was excellent!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi randomly pulled out a document and began skimming through it. "I've read this report multiple times already. Soushu-kun's achievements go beyond merely participating in the elimination of Sunagakure's celebrated blossom—you personally eliminated the commander of the eastern Sand ninja forces as well as several famed Sand jonin. Truly impressive!"

"This success was largely due to Jonin Mahiru's full assistance throughout."

Soushu stated calmly without changing expression.

Although Mahiru Uchiha's jonin status lacked proper recognition, Soushu had no hesitation in raising the issue directly before the Third Hokage.

"Mahiru..."

Maintaining his amiable smile, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared completely oblivious while flipping open another folder from his desktop documents. "While Mahiru is indeed one of the rare prodigies to graduate from the Ninja Academy in recent years, with both promotion speed and personal accomplishments ranking among the top, according to Sakumo's report, there seem to be some contradictions with what you've described."

"That's understandable too. Considering how battlefields change in an instant, Sakumo-senpai needed to participate in actual combat himself, so some omissions in documentation are to be expected." 

When Soushu spoke these words, both his tone and demeanor seemed genuinely understanding and cooperative—almost like a complete contrast to Danzo's secret report, which painted him as a ruthless and unreasonable brute.

The Third Hokage studied Soushu's unusually sincere expression for a long while, confirming that not even a hint of embarrassment showed during his speech.

Needless to say, although Soushu Hyuga was still a relatively new jonin who had recently earned his reputation through battlefield achievements rather than decades of immersion in Konoha's political circles, when it came to sheer nerve, Soushu could hold his own even among Konoha's famously manipulative old foxes.

As he thought this, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help picking up Soushu's ninja file again.

Indeed, his service record shows two and a half years of frontline duty in the Land of Rain!

If there really was someone backing him from behind the scenes...

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward a small note attached inside the personnel file.

The name written on the note was none other than Orochimaru—the one who had approved Hyuga Soushu's retreat to the village for rest and recuperation from the Rain Country front as early as October.

However, according to a covert investigation conducted by Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, during Soushu's service at the Rain Country front, his contact with Orochimaru had been strictly limited to mission-related coordination, with no record of any additional unusual interactions.

Moreover, this investigation was based on intelligence compiled by special agents secretly deployed within the Rain Country expeditionary force by both Anbu and Root Division. In other words, if there was an error in the investigation, then only two possibilities existed: Either our secret informants within the expeditionary force have turned traitors—or Soushu and Orochimaru communicated in such secrecy that not even my best spies caught wind of it.

"Hokage-sama?"

Hyuga Soushu asked with a furrowed brow.

"Oh, I was just reviewing your past service records."

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly snapped back to attention, smiling as he spoke. "Frankly speaking, Soushu-san, the speed at which your strength has grown since returning to the village after your tour at the Rain Country front is absolutely mind-blowing!"

"You flatter me, Hokage-sama. I owe everything to the Main House."

Soushu replied with a smile, easily shifting the praise toward the Main House. "Without their guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"Is that so? That's wonderful indeed!"

The Third Hokage nodded with evident satisfaction. "There's truly nothing more heartwarming than seeing the child of a dear departed friend grow into someone strong and capable."

"Thank you for your kind words, Hokage-sama."

Soushu gave a slight nod as well, though his tone remained flat, clearly showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Truthfully, he had long grown impatient with these tiresome and clumsy probes.

"How about joining Anbu?"

Seeing hints of Soushu's growing impatience beneath his calm demeanor, the Third Hokage decided not to beat around the bush anymore and extended his invitation directly. "With your strength, you'd at least be qualified to lead your own squad within Anbu."

"Hokage-sama, I'd rather remain a lone falcon—free to soar wherever the winds take me."

Soushu politely declined.

A squad leader? That's all you're offering?

Testing jonin like this—was there any jonin who couldn't pass such a test?

If Soushu actually accepted, that'd be a miracle on par with pigs flying.

"I see…"

The Third Hokage gave Soushu's Konoha forehead protector—a shiny, unbroken symbol on his brow—an expressive look, as if trying to peer through it to something deeper.

"Since you've returned this time, take good rest and recuperate! However, Kosuke Maruboshi has been reassigned, so he'll be transferred out of your Directly Commanded Squad."

"I have no objection, Hokage-sama."

Soushu nodded once again. "However, I do hope Might Duy can remain in my squad. Though his skills may not stand out, his dedication to daily training is admirable, and he's definitely worth nurturing."

"This isn't an issue."

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly recalled what he knew about Might Duy. After thinking it over, he figured that Might Duy, aside from his impressive Taijutsu, didn't have much else going for him and wasn't worth much attention. He was more than willing to go along with it.

"Then it's settled!"

Hiruzen immediately made the arrangements: "For now, the village won't assign you any additional long-term combat missions. However, since many experienced Chunin have been deployed for field operations, the village will soon hold a simplified Chunin exam for Genin who've completed two years of service. You'll serve as an examiner part-time. If you find any juniors worthy of your attention, you can request to mentor them directly."

"Besides, now that Mahiru Uchiha has been promoted, Might Duy is your only subordinate left. That doesn't make sense anymore."

Hiruzen jotted down Hyuga Soushu's next set of assignments onto a blank scroll and sealed it with the Hokage Seal:

"Of course, if the Genin or Chunin you're interested in happens to be from a ninja clan, you must obtain their family's consent first!"

"Additionally, considering Mahiru Uchiha's special relationship with you, after her Jonin promotion she won't be assigned direct subordinates. Instead, you'll provide her with personal guidance. How does that sound?"

"Fine, I'll go along with the village's plan."

Though he wasn't particularly keen on playing silly ninja fighting games with a bunch of brats, Hyuga Soushu agreed immediately when he found that the conditions offered by the Third Hokage were even better than he had anticipated.

"Excellent!"

The Third Hokage handed the mission scroll to Hyuga Soushu. "Go down and fetch Mahiru Uchiha's Jonin Promotion Evaluation Form!"

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