After Ryujiro and Naruto completed their mission and returned back, many villagers couldn't take their eyes off the boxes on the cart.
"Ryujiro, how are we going to divide this money?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Ryujiro glanced at Naruto and pulled out a few wrinkled bills from his pocket.
"Here you go."
"Huh?" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ryujiro! Are you kidding me?!"
"That much bounty, and you're giving me just this bit of money? You're too stingy."
Ryujiro looked at Naruto indifferently. "If you say one more word, I won't even give you this."
Naruto immediately deflated, begrudgingly accepting the wrinkled bills while inwardly cursing Ryujiro.
"Hey!" A familiar voice called out.
"Naruto, I've been looking all over for you."
Naruto's face lit up with joy. "Pervy Sage?!"
Jiraiya smiled at Naruto and Ryujiro. Ryujiro nodded slightly at Jiraiya.
"Ryujiro, Tsunade is looking for you. Once you've dealt with this, head to the Hokage's office."
'Tsunade looking for me? Is she going to make me handle more paperwork?'
Naruto had wanted to complain to Jiraiya about Ryujiro's stinginess but was dragged away by Jiraiya before he could react.
Watching Naruto struggle in the distance, Ryujiro shook his head helplessly.
After parking the cart at the Hyuga residence, all the Hyuga clan members looked at Ryujiro with curiosity.
"Ryujiro-sama? What's all this?"
"These are the treasures from the Land of Flowers. Move them to my room," Ryujiro instructed calmly.
"Yes, sir."
Ryujiro didn't care about the rest. Whether the Hyuga clan members would be tempted to steal was up to their courage.
Though not a Hyuga by blood, Ryujiro's status within the Hyuga clan had increased a lot.
"Hinata isn't here?" Ryujiro asked as he opened the door to the dojo, finding it empty.
"Brother Ryujiro, sister is out on a mission," came a petite and delicate voice beside him.
Ryujiro smiled faintly. "It's you, Hanabi."
"Did you rob the Land of Flowers? You brought back so many treasures," Hanabi teased.
Ryujiro's face darkened. "What nonsense. Do I look like someone who would do that?"
Hanabi giggled. "I'm just kidding brother. Father is looking for you. Could you go see him?"
Oh? Hiashi-sama is looking for me?
Guided by Hanabi, Ryujiro entered a room. She respectfully announced, "Father, I brought big brother Ryujiro."
"Thank you, Hanabi. You may go," Hiashi said.
Hanabi closed the door and left. Ryujiro sat down and asked, "Hiashi-sama, what's the matter?"
Hiashi looked at Ryujiro and said slowly, "The Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village contacted the Hokage a few days ago.
He wants to visit the Hidden Leaf Village.
Did you have any conflict with the Hidden Cloud during your mission in the Land of Flowers?"
A visit from the Raikage, especially that hot-headed guy, likely spells trouble.
"Yes," Ryujiro answered frankly.
Hiashi's face changed slightly, and he sighed. "I knew it. So, did they die?"
Ryujiro nodded. "Yes."
Hiashi's heart skipped a beat. Dead? No wonder the Raikage was coming. He must be looking to settle this.
In reality, Hiashi misunderstood.
If the Raikage knew who had died, his reaction would be more intense.
Although every village values its elite Jonin, it wouldn't warrant such a grand reaction unless it was someone like Darui.
If they knew Darui was dead, it could spark a war between the two nations.
Jonin, huh?
Would the Hidden Cloud demand Konoha hand over Ryujiro, similar to their past threats against the Hyuga clan?
Hiashi harbored no goodwill towards the Hidden Cloud or the Land of Lightning.
The incident where Hinata was kidnapped had been orchestrated by them, and they never admitted their wrongdoing, instead using it to pressure Konoha and the Hyuga clan.
If the Land of Lightning really made such a demand, the Fifth Hokage wouldn't agree.
Ryujiro was the Hokage's assistant. Handing him over would make Konoha a laughingstock.
Seeing Hiashi's troubled expression, Ryujiro fell into deep thought. The Raikage wants to visit Konoha?
Thinking of the muscular man whose destructive power was akin to a human-tailed beast, Ryujiro realized that the news from the Land of Flowers might not have reached the Land of Lightning yet.
Perhaps the Raikage's visit wasn't because of that.
Darui? Heh, maybe. But even if they knew, so what?
If they want to start a war with Konoha? Ryujiro would welcome it.
Leaving the Hyuga residence, Ryujiro headed to the Hokage's office.
Besides Tsunade, Koharu and Homura, the two Hokage advisors, were also waiting for him.
"Ryujiro, as the Hokage's assistant, you should be helping the Hokage manage village affairs, not causing trouble by taking the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki on missions," Koharu scolded.
"After the Sand incident, Konoha hasn't recovered, and now you've caused more trouble."
Koharu glared at Ryujiro with a deep look.
"Koharu," Homura tugged at her sleeve. Now wasn't the time to antagonize Ryujiro.
Ryujiro gazed at Koharu with a haunting look.
"Trouble? Just because the Raikage is coming, you consider it trouble?"
"Heh, Konoha's decline from being the strongest village is partly due to people like you."
"What do you mean by that!" Koharu snapped, glaring at Ryujiro.
Ryujiro disdainfully looked at Koharu. If not for him and Tsunade, Koharu might have already compromised with the Sand.
Despite Konoha being in the right, Koharu's fear of war made her grovel.
"Enough! Advisors, please leave. I need to speak with Ryujiro alone," Tsunade ordered, clearly displeased with Koharu.
"Koharu," Tsunade's icy gaze made both advisors pause.
Koharu gritted her teeth and left in a huff. Homura sighed helplessly and followed.
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