Sign in From Naruto

Xu Fan followed behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, chatting about trivial matters along the way.

However, seeing that Xu Fan did not deliberately mention the fact that he had been assassinated by Root, Sarutobi Hiruzen also avoided the topic.

The two of them tacitly treated yesterday's events as if nothing had happened.

When Xu Fan arrived at the Hyuga clan's compound, he noticed that the entire compound was very discreet, with members of the branch family visible at regular intervals.

Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed familiar with the situation, as if he had already gotten used to it.

The main family's gate was not hard to find; it was rather conspicuous, exuding an air of grandeur.

Truthfully speaking, the Hyuga clan had joined the village as early as the period when Hashirama and Madara had reconciled and founded Konoha.

After hundreds of years of development, they were undoubtedly one of Konoha's most prestigious clans.

At the same time, the Hyuga clan had earned the title of "Konoha's Strongest Clan."

However, in Xu Fan's eyes, this felt somewhat like "a mountain without a tiger."

"Third Hokage," Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, came to the door and took the initiative to welcome Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Although the Hyuga clan was a patriarchal family, they still had to show enough respect when facing the Hokage.

Most importantly, the matter of Hinata being held hostage had not yet been resolved.

They still needed the Third Hokage's decision on how to quell the Cloud Ninja Village's anger.

Behind Hyuga Hiashi were members of the Hyuga branch family.

From this, it was clear that Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't just here to check on Hinata's recovery.

Xu Fan noted this in his heart but also understood that Sarutobi Hiruzen likely didn't intend to involve him in this meeting.

"Well, Hiashi," Sarutobi Hiruzen responded to Hyuga Hiashi, then turned his gaze to Xu Fan.

Hyuga Hiashi also looked over, sizing Xu Fan up and down.

In fact, long before this, he had already investigated the person who had saved his daughter.

Now that he saw Xu Fan, he recognized him immediately.

"Thousand Hands Xu Fan," Xu Fan nodded toward Hyuga Hiashi and introduced himself.

"I am the head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, and also Hinata's father."

Hyuga Hiashi wasn't in the best of spirits, and the dark circles under his eyes were somewhat obvious.

It wasn't hard to see that he had been physically and mentally exhausted during this time.

But even so, Hiashi still offered a faint smile to Xu Fan, as if expressing his gratitude.

Of course, regarding what had happened that night and the words of thanks, Hiashi didn't mention a word.

"He's a classmate of Hinata's. He came to visit her and happened to run into me on the way, so he came along."

"Hokage-sama, this way please," Hiashi said, not engaging further with Xu Fan. He gestured for Sarutobi Hiruzen to follow him, leading the way.

Xu Fan, on the other hand, was stopped by a member of the branch family.

"Miss Hinata is over here. Please follow me."

"Hm," Xu Fan glanced in the direction of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hiashi, then followed the branch family member to the inner courtyard of the main family.

As the other party had said, Hinata was recuperating here.

However, after bringing Xu Fan here, the branch family member chose to turn around and leave.

"It looks like the Third Hokage really came here to discuss the matter of the hostage incident with Hiashi," Xu Fan couldn't help but shake his head.

According to the plot's development, it wouldn't be long before Hyuga Hiashi would voluntarily offer himself to be handed over to the Cloud Ninja Village by Konoha's higher-ups to quell the potential conflict.

And Neji, as a result, would develop a deep hatred for the main family, eventually lashing out and seriously injuring Hinata later on.

Thinking of this, Xu Fan stood in the Hyuga family's courtyard and looked up at the sky.

The breeze gently brushed his cheeks, giving him a moment of clarity.

Not only the Hyuga branch family but perhaps even the main family were like caged birds.

Powerless to resist, they could only silently endure the rules laid down by their ancestors.

Whether those rules were right or wrong.

"Hinata."

Only after collecting his thoughts did Xu Fan take a step forward, only to find that Hinata, who had noticed him, had hidden behind the door, peeking at him with one eye.

"Why does it feel like a cat that's just been brought home?"

Xu Fan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

He was pretty sure that Hinata remembered him from that night and thought she would be happy to see him again.

However, considering Hinata's personality, Xu Fan quickly let it go.

"Who are you?"

However, just as Xu Fan hesitated to approach and greet Hinata, another voice came from behind him.

This voice...

Xu Fan subconsciously turned around and saw a teenager with long brown hair tied into a small bundle at the ends. He had several layers of white bandages wrapped around his forehead.

As soon as he saw Xu Fan, the boy immediately assumed an attacking stance and looked him up and down.

Xu Fan recognized him at a glance.

The prodigy of the Hyuga branch family, Hyuga Neji.

"Neji?"

Xu Fan frowned slightly, then glanced at Hinata, who was hiding in the doorway, and immediately understood.

During this period, Hinata's father, Hyuga Hizashi, had not yet sacrificed himself for the main family, and Neji was still being taught to protect Hinata at all times.

Right now, the head of the main family and the elders were discussing business with the Third Hokage, and Neji, as a member of the branch family, naturally didn't have the qualifications to stay and listen.

When Hinata saw her brother Neji suddenly appear, her mood became a little tense.

She had noticed Xu Fan as soon as he entered but didn't dare to talk to him because of her shyness.

As a result, she didn't expect that Neji would treat Xu Fan as a threat.

"Thousand Hands Xu Fan," Xu Fan introduced himself directly, though his mood was somewhat subtle.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had explained the situation to him on the way here.

"Don't say unnecessary words in the Hyuga compound," he had hinted.

It was Hyuga Hiashi who had defeated the Cloud Ninja Village's leader and rescued Hinata.

"I'm a classmate of Hinata's. I heard she was sick, so I came to see how she's recovering."

Xu Fan thought for a moment and decided to say this, while his gaze shifted to Hinata, silently urging her to say something.

However, what Xu Fan didn't expect was that Hinata, who was hiding behind the doorway, chose to turn around and flee.

"..."

Even if one was shy, there had to be a limit.

"As I thought..."

Seeing this, Neji became even more convinced that Xu Fan was not a good person and that his younger sister, Hinata, must have fled out of fear.

Once certain of this, Neji had no reservations and attacked Xu Fan with full force.

After all, the mission of the branch family was to protect the main family!

And Hinata was not only the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan but also his sister!