Chapter 35: A lovely conversation over tea with the Hyuga clan patriarch and his wife.

In the Hyuga clan compound, the patriarch's residence.

"Shoo~"

Hachiro was sitting opposite the Hyuga couple, imitating their elegant way of sipping tea, he said.

"It's delicious."

It was slightly awkward as he couldn't be bothered with things like manners back in Kumo so he didn't possess any outstanding tea evaluating ability.

"Mr. Hachiro, Hinata... is she... okay?"

Hiashi asked through his clenched teeth.

Although it went against clan teaching he was more concerned with how his daughter was.

He didn't really know how to hold a conversation with the kidnapper of his child, anyway.

"Don't worry, she is being treated very well. I'd like to believe she has had a good time in Kumogakure so far and unlike your old third, we cherish our talents very much."

Hachiro said cheerfully,

Although his answer didn't relieve them of all their worries. They were at least satisfied knowing she wasn't being treated like an outcast due to her descent.

Since they couldn't enter into the cloud to see it with their own eyes, they would have to settle for word of mouth.

Nevertheless...

"Can you…"

Just when he was about to test his luck by asking Hachiro if he could help him enter the Land of Lightning, Hachiro spoke up.

"Mr. Hiashi, you should know that for geniuses being born in Konoha is frequently a curse rather than a blessing."

"Ehm, Mr Hachiro what do you mean?"

Hyuga Hiashi subconsciously replied after his request was interrupted.

"You're a clan leader in Konoha. You should remember how many geniuses have been born since Hiruzen became the third Hokage."

Hachiro couldn't really be bothered to continue acting all polite and just slurped up the rest of the tea.

Hey! It's not his fault, the tea from his previous life was so much better even after all this time he couldn't adjust to the lower quality of life present in the world of shinobi.

While he was lost in his own thoughts, Hiashi was remembering the many geniuses that had the potential to become great Kage-level ninja, Sakumo, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Minato and a few others.

One way or another they weren't even present in the village anymore.

Maybe it wasn't entirely the villages fault but it certainly had a role in causing them to run off.

Right now, the only two geniuses he could come up with off the top of his head were Shisui and Itachi Uchiha. Maybe even Hatake Kakashi.

Hachiro smiled slightly and continued,

"How long do you think the current geniuses of Konoha will be able to enjoy themselves."

"Keeping in mind the history of their predecessors so far, do you think they will die first or defect?"

"Personally, I think two of them are going to die. You should know who."

Hiashi was sweating slightly while he took in the information.

He could tell what Hachiro was insinuating, Konoha didn't treat their geniuses well and even was killing off their geniuses of their own free will.

But after thinking about it, he realized it was true.

It wasn't necessary to look at Sukumo and Minato.

Just look at Minato's son.

Although, he hadn't gotten proper confirmation he was pretty sure that the child that was currently being treated harshly as the Kyubi was his son.

The child was born on the night of the Nine Tails Disaster, had similar features and carried the surname of the deceased Hokage's wife.

It wasn't a hard deduction, any skilled ninja could do the same.

Personally, he didn't care too much about the Jinchuriki as interaction with him could cause political problems, but if that child was really the son of the hero who saved the village. It was sad how he ended up that way.

The sannin had also pretty bad circumstances, aside from Jiraiya who had a relatively free and easy going personality, one had lost her entire clan and the other had been charged with treason.

Although, he was charged legitimately, what if those claims were forged, his imagination couldn't help but think of all sorts of conspiracy theories.

"So, if Hinata grew up in Konoha, she may have a despondent history just like other geniuses! I have actually saved her."

Hachiro shouted with awe-inspiring righteousness.

"Ah! You're right Hachiro-sama, thank yo-"

Halfway through, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Grateful?

What the hell am I grateful for!

This Bastard abducted my daughter and now I'm praising him for it?!

Have I finally went insane?!

No matter how horrible the lives of others are, it doesn't change the fact that you took Hinata from us!

Damn it, I was tricked so easily.

I was so anxious to find out about Hinata, I forgot how this twit could twist facts.

"Ahem!"

Hiashi cleared his throat and quickly brought the topic back onto the right track.

"Hachiro-sama, please we miss Hinata, very much. It's been five years since we've saw her, could you please..."

"Arrange a meeting with Hinata?"

Before Hiashi finished speaking all wishy washy, Hachiro took the initiative to summarise what he wanted to say.

"Yes."

Hiashi and his wife tried calming down their runaway hearts and squeezed the corner of their clothes tightly.

"On two conditions,"

Hachiro just vocalised what he wanted as he was afraid Mrs Hyuga might not be able to keep up with the tension seeing how pale she was.

"First of all, I can let you see her no problem. However, don't cause me any extra trouble, or things might get unnecessarily complicated fast."

Hearing him, the couple looked at each other before lowering their heads and saying in unision,

"Of course."

They knew that they wouldn't be able to negotiate any lower.

"Secondly,"

He raised his index finger and asked, "Where is the Book of Sealing?"

Under his gaze the expressions of the two changed drastically, as if they had seen the end of the world.

"Oh come on, Patriarch Hiashi. I'm sure this is a good opportunity to get back at Konoha."

Hachiro smiled maliciously.

"It won't affect the Hyuga clan much, if at all. It will only cause those old men sitting above the clan's a little worry."