The long confinement had made people forget about the Hyuga Clan's problems.
You know, people remember things for a very short time, like a fish that only remembers for seven seconds.
After being locked up for almost a year, everyone figured Hyuga Hazuki had learned her lesson.
Plus...
She was a weak woman who couldn't even hurt a fly.
Even though she was from the main Hyuga family, she was clumsy and not strong at all - she'd probably trip if she tried to run fast.
Just like her daughter Hinata, Sarutobi Ryo thought, in the original story.
Even if they let her go, it wouldn't cause any big problems.
Also, Hyuga Hazuki didn't even know how the Caged Bird Curse Mark worked.
If she did, she would have used it on Hyuga Hizashi and others long ago.
Hyuga Hizashi, satisfied with the answers he'd received, nodded.
He knew he could always ask Sarutobi Ryo for help with any difficult issues.
Now that his question was answered, Hyuga Hizashi was ready to go back and free Hyuga Hazuki.
He wondered what Hyuga Hazuki would do first after being freed… probably rush to Sarutobi Ryo to explain everything and beg for her brother to be released. But that was out of his hands.
Hyuga Hizashi thought briefly about how that meeting might go, and then he left.
Before he left, he glanced at the newborn baby, Neji, but quickly looked away and hurried off.
Hyuga Hizashi knew his place.
He understood that his freedom and position were hard-earned.
So, he would do everything he could to protect them.
As for his feelings for his childhood sweetheart… he was content that Ruri was now happy.
After Hyuga Hizashi left, Yamanaka Hui watched him go. "That Hyuga Hizashi is very careful," she said.
Then, Yamanaka Hui made baby noises at little Neji, walked back to Ruri, and handed the child to her.
Ruri held Neji close, gently rocking him. She looked radiant with motherly love.
"But, Young Master," Yamanaka Hui said, blinking, "once Hyuga Hazuki is free, she's going to be here every day…" She knew what the woman would do.
Hyuga Hiashi had been locked up for almost a year, and no one had said a word.
After all, he was a difficult problem.
If they killed Hyuga Hiashi, the heads of all the other clans would feel threatened.
Like the saying goes, "When the rabbit dies, the fox mourns."
So, they had simply put the matter aside, punishing Hyuga Hiashi with imprisonment and neglect.
Normally, after such a long time, he would have been sent to Hozuki Castle.
But Hyuga Hiashi had the Byakugan and knew how to activate the Cursed Seal.
Releasing him would be like setting off a bomb, and someone could take advantage of it.
Therefore, he would likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
Of course, nothing is certain.
There were ways to stop Hyuga Hiashi from revealing the secret of the Caged Bird Seal.
Sarutobi Ryo planned to use their own methods against them.
Fight fire with fire.
Counter the Cursed Seal… with another Cursed Seal.
----
With the Hyuga Hiashi problem settled, and after letting things calm down, it was time to visit Tsunade.
After the anesthetic wore off, she would definitely cause a scene.
Regular barriers wouldn't hold Tsunade's Super Strength when she was angry…
When Sarutobi Ryo got back to the Underground, Tsunade was awake.
She glared at Sarutobi Ryo, her body shaking with anger.
She couldn't believe Sarutobi Ryo would do such a thing… so cruel!
I should have known! she thought. I should have seen through his true nature!
"Lord Tsunade, you're awake?"
Sarutobi Ryo acted like nothing had happened and slowly walked toward her.
"Ugh…" Tsunade stammered, unable to speak properly because of the anesthetic.
The signs of a struggle were everywhere.
Tsunade looked dazed and disheveled, like someone from a… comic book from that island country.
"Once you feel better, Lord Tsunade, you should go home. Shizune will worry if you're gone too long," Sarutobi Ryo said kindly.
Looking at his handsome but infuriating face, Tsunade was about to explode with rage!
Her most precious thing, gone just like that…
Thinking about it made her feel a wave of despair.
Sarutobi Ryo saw that Tsunade's eyes were red and she was about to cry.
He didn't want to start some cheesy romance story, so he didn't try to comfort her.
"Oh right, Lord Tsunade hasn't had breakfast yet, has she?"
Before Tsunade could understand what was happening, Sarutobi Ryo was standing in front of her, holding a huge, delicious breakfast.
Tsunade stared at the food, speechless.
Then, Sarutobi Ryo grabbed Tsunade's hair and started forcing her to eat.
Since Tsunade still couldn't move properly, he had to feed her himself.
"Ugh~!" Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief.
Sarutobi Ryo was being very forceful.
By the time Tsunade realized what was happening, she could only glare at Sarutobi Ryo.
And so, the morning slowly passed.
Sarutobi Ryo continued his cruel breakfast-feeding session…
Tsunade: "Ugh sss…"
----
In the dark Underground, Senju Tobirama, guided by Danzo, had been touring the facilities.
If he wanted to return to Konoha, he needed to master the Impure World Reincarnation technique.
Senju Tobirama had always had ideas about it, but he hadn't had time to work on them.
Namikaze Minato was assigned to be his assistant.
His ability to use Impure World Reincarnation and the Flying Thunder God Technique proved that he was talented.
He was also an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan… Kushina's fiance.
And Kushina had become his sister-in-law's adopted granddaughter.
He should take care of him, both because of their connection and because it was the right thing to do.
Also, he couldn't believe that the Uzumaki Clan had been destroyed.
Is this how history has changed? he wondered.
"I want all the details about Sarutobi Ryo."
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated, he thought.
Senju Tobirama gathered the current information and asked for everything they knew about Sarutobi Ryo.
He could sense that Sarutobi, the Monkey's Son… this young man called Sarutobi Ryo, was the heart of Konoha…
He was talented, but his support of the Uchiha Clan showed that he was foolish.
Therefore … he must....
Senju Tobirama had already begun to think about how to get rid of Sarutobi Ryo…
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 317 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
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]