Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 244 Head-to-Head

In the quiet reception room, a man with silver hair, a headband obscuring one eye, and a languid gaze, stood before a figure. He wore a black mask, revealing only his left eye, which added to his mystique. His physique was well-proportioned and athletic, and he wore the traditional attire of Konoha Village, a green vest over a black training uniform, showcasing his identity and strength as a ninja. His appearance exuded calmness and composure, yet also a relaxed aura. His eyepatch and stern expression made him seem even more enigmatic, but his smile also revealed his gentleness and friendliness. Overall, his appearance displayed both the dignity of a ninja and the tenderness and kindness within him.

He is Kakashi Hatake, an elite Jonin of Konoha. He also has another identity: the only son of the renowned Sakumo Hatake, and a legendary figure known as the "Copy Ninja." Kakashi is undoubtedly one of the most representative gifted ninjas of Konoha's middle generation. At the age of six, he graduated from the Ninja Academy at an astonishing speed, possessing the strength of a Genin; and by the age of twelve, he had already reached Jonin level. However, fate seems to always play tricks on people. First, his father committed suicide, then his comrades died in battle, and finally even his teacher left him. This series of blows caused serious psychological problems for Kakashi. From then on, he lost interest in training and chose to escape reality, indulging in the novel "Icha Icha Paradise." Now, his strength has stagnated, and even regressed.

Hiashi Hyuga entered the reception room, his gaze falling on Kakashi Hatake. His eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of disdain and contempt. In truth, Hiashi Hyuga didn't have much affection for Kakashi Hatake; in fact, he held him in utter contempt. Although he knew Kakashi was quite strong, in his eyes, Kakashi was still just an ordinary ninja.

Kakashi Hatake's father, Sakumo Hatake, was once a renowned ninja, his fame spreading far and wide. However, he ultimately committed suicide due to pressure from the village. Hiashi Hyuga believed Kakashi should harbor resentment over this. But to his disappointment, Kakashi not only offered no resistance but also chose to become Hiruzen Sarutobi's subordinate, completely obeying his orders. This made Hiashi Hyuga feel that Kakashi lacked any backbone, practically a spineless coward.

What Hiashi Hyuga found even more unacceptable was that while Kakashi Hatake possessed the most exceptional talent in the ninja world, he could only achieve this level of strength, pale in comparison to the truly top-tier ninjas. Given the current state of Konoha, he couldn't be considered part of the first tier; Kakashi's existence was unremarkable, even somewhat insignificant. Therefore, Hiashi Hyuga held Kakashi in very low regard, believing him utterly unworthy of his attention.

Kakashi Hatake, noticing Hiashi Hyuga's subtle expression, was slightly taken aback. He didn't understand why Hiashi would show such disdain and contempt; they weren't familiar with each other, in fact, they were complete strangers. Although Kakashi knew Hiashi was the head of the Hyuga clan, that didn't explain why Hiashi would display such obvious disdain and contempt.

Furthermore, the number of Hyuga clan ninja in Konoha's ranks is now extremely small. The Hyuga clan was once renowned in Konoha for its Byakugan abilities, and their ninjas were considered one of the strongest clans in the village. However, over time, the number of Hyuga clan members has gradually decreased, leading to a decline in other ninjas' understanding of the clan. Therefore, when Kakashi Hatake faced Hiashi Hyuga, he felt an inexplicable sense of alienation.

However, Hiashi Hyuga did not want to engage in excessive formalities with Kakashi Hatake and went straight to the point, asking, "I wonder what business the Hokage has with me?"

Kakashi Hatake's heart sank. He could hear the coldness in the other person's words, but it didn't affect him. He was just responsible for conveying the mission.

Kakashi Hatake felt there was no need to talk to Hiashi Hyuga any further, since the two didn't have much of a relationship. He cut to the chase, saying, "The Hokage wants you to come to the Hokage Building for a meeting." With that, he turned and left, ignoring Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga simply stood there quietly, watching the other's departing figure with indifferent eyes, showing no intention of following. His body stood there steadily, as if rooted to the earth, completely still.

His thoughts drifted back to the previous incident, the painful lesson etched deeply into his memory, unforgettable. Therefore, he would never repeat the same mistake, venturing alone into the unpredictable and dangerous Hokage Building.

He no longer blindly obeyed the Hokage's orders as he had in the past. The current situation has become extremely tense. Although there has been no direct armed conflict between the two sides, their relationship has reached a point of extreme hostility and irreconcilable differences.

Although the Hyuga clan has consistently chosen to yield and display a mild attitude, this does not mean they have lost the power to resist. In fact, the Hyuga clan possesses formidable strength and profound resources; they simply do not wish to easily provoke a full-scale war, lest it harm the overall interests of Konoha Village.

However, if the situation becomes too dire, the Hyuga clan will have no choice but to take action to protect their dignity and rights. After all, there are limits to concessions, and when their bottom line is crossed, they will reveal their true strength.

When Kakashi Hatake reached the door, he found Hiashi Hyuga still standing there calmly, not following him to the Hokage Building. A sense of helplessness rose in his heart, along with a feeling of unease. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, thinking, "What exactly is this guy planning?"

Hiashi Hyuga's attitude and behavior made Kakashi Hatake realize that these powerful ninja clans seemed to have little respect for the Hokage. He recalled the Uchiha clan of yesteryear, who were equally arrogant and disrespectful of the Hokage. Now, the Hyuga clan was repeating this pattern. This situation deeply worried Kakashi, as it signified a serious division and conflict within Konoha. If this problem wasn't resolved, Konoha would struggle to unite and face external threats.

Thinking of this, Kakashi Hatake frowned. He knew that changing this situation wouldn't be easy, but as the Hokage's direct subordinate, he had to take responsibility and strive to eliminate the barriers between these powerful clans and ordinary villagers, building a truly united and harmonious Konoha Village. However, Hiashi Hyuga clearly wouldn't easily listen to his advice, which made Kakashi Hatake feel extremely troubled.

"Alright, I'll just report the situation truthfully! As for how to resolve it, I'll leave that to the Hokage!" Kakashi Hatake thought to himself, then decisively moved forward, his steps firm and swift, as if racing against time. He traversed dense forest after dense forest, his figure flashing through the trees like lightning. Every step was imbued with unwavering determination and a sense of mission, relentlessly marching towards his goal. He knew that only by quickly relaying the information to the Hokage could the village formulate a countermeasure.

Finally, Kakashi Hatake appeared at the edge of the Hyuga clan's territory. He stopped, took a deep breath, and glanced back at the Hyuga clan's lands. A solemn and dignified atmosphere permeated the Hyuga clan's territory. Kakashi Hatake knew that he bore a heavy responsibility and could not afford to be careless. A resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and then he continued walking forward.

Leaving the Hyuga clan compound quickly, Kakashi Hatake darted through the streets without stopping. His movements were agile and light, like a nimble cheetah, avoiding the gaze of the crowd. He knew time was of the essence and he had to reach his destination—the Hokage Building—as soon as possible.

Inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly at his desk, a long pipe in his hand. He inhaled continuously, exhaling puffs of white smoke that shrouded his aged face. His eyes were slightly narrowed, revealing a deep worry and anger.

Kakashi Hatake stood ramrod straight to the side, awaiting the Hokage's next instructions. His eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve, as if he were prepared to face any difficulty.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was deep and magnetic: "Kakashi, you did a great job on this mission. But the Hyuga clan's situation is tricky. Go back and rest for a bit. I'll handle this."

Kakashi Hatake nodded, then turned and left the office. He knew the Hokage had his own considerations and decisions, and he only needed to trust that this experienced leader could find a solution.

With Kakashi Hatake's departure, the air in the Hokage Building seemed to freeze, heavy and suffocating. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, eyes closed, brow furrowed, lost in thought. He was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation; if these events were not handled properly, they would bring an unprecedented crisis to Konoha.

However, faced with such a thorny situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not panic. He believed that as long as he gave the Hyuga clan a way out and let them feel his sincerity and goodwill, the conflict between the two sides might be eased. But at the same time, he also understood that this incident had greatly impacted his authority as Hokage. It would likely be extremely difficult to exert pressure on the Hyuga clan again in the future.

Hyuga Neji returned to Konoha. He realized this meant that Hyuga Kanan had begun to pay attention to everything happening in Konoha. If Hyuga Kanan decided to return to Konoha, then his position as Hiruzen Sarutobi would be seriously threatened.