Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 102: Outdated Intel Has No Value

"Apologies, but recently, no one resembling the person in the portrait has passed through the Land of Demons from the Land of Snow."

"Thank you."

After concluding their conversation with the high-ranking officials of the Land of Demons, Hyuga Yuki and Hyuga Miyuki exited the grand hall.

"It seems we won't find that princess anytime soon."

"As expected. If she wanted to avoid Kazahana Doto's pursuit, the best method would be to hide within one of the Great Nations. It's not surprising she didn't pass through the Land of Demons."

Hyuga Yuki frowned slightly and said, "Regardless, we've already taken control of Kazahana Doto. With him acting as the public daimyo of the Land of Snow, it doesn't affect our ability to issue orders."

Even so, he couldn't help but feel it was a pity.

Kazahana Koyuki's escape would undoubtedly leave a hidden threat for the future.

Hyuga Miyuki also fell into thought.

Since leaving Konoha, their group had been cautious, traveling for over half a month before reaching the Land of Snow according to their plans. Upon arrival, they found the country in turmoil, with smoke of war rising everywhere.

After spending several days gathering intelligence, they understood the situation.

Kazahana Doto had hired the Yuki-nin to stage a coup and seize the position of daimyo in the Land of Snow.

The former daimyo, Kazahana Sosetsu, had resisted and sent people to Konoha seeking help.

At the time, Konoha's reputation in the ninja world was at its peak after their recent victory, so Sosetsu's decision wasn't unreasonable. However, he had failed to hold out until Konoha's reinforcements arrived and was killed by his own brother.

His daughter, however, had survived, rescued by Konoha ninja.

This series of events had completely disrupted Yuki and Miyuki's original plans.

Watching Kazahana Doto take the daimyo's seat and issue orders, with his subordinates unwilling to oppose the Yuki-nin's strength, they had stepped in and taken control of Doto themselves.

The predators had been caught by the hunters in the end.

The difference between small-nation and great-nation ninja was stark. The Yuki-nin didn't even have a single jonin among them and were effortlessly crushed.

But controlling the Land of Snow didn't mean everything was settled.

Kazahana Koyuki was the legitimate heir to the throne.

If any of the great nations accepted a mission to restore her to power, trouble would surely follow.

"Koyuki is only about five years old. After witnessing such a bloody scene, she probably won't return anytime soon," Hyuga Miyuki said in a low voice. "For now, we should focus on steady development and strengthen cooperation with the Land of Demons."

The Land of Snow's economy was far from thriving. Situated in the remote northwest of the ninja world, it had little to offer beyond its perpetual snowy scenery.

Its ninja forces were weak, relying mostly on the use of ice-style techniques adapted to the environment, while in other aspects, it lagged behind even among smaller nations.

But since they had chosen this place, they had no choice but to develop it—for their own benefit if nothing else.

As for countries with which the Land of Snow could establish ties, the Land of Demons was the best option.

"I understand," Yuki replied with a nod, glancing back at the shrine where the priestess resided, his expression serious. "That priestess may have guessed our true identities. We'll need to be cautious moving forward."

When they first met the priestess, they had disguised themselves, discarding their Konoha headbands. Even if the priestess had seen through their transformation jutsu, she shouldn't have been able to associate them with the Hyuga clan.

Yet Yuki couldn't shake the feeling that the priestess's words carried hidden meaning.

Prophecy... what a troublesome ability.

Miyuki lightly touched her eye socket and recalled the priestess's parting words:

"Your eyes hold great power, but you'll need a key to unlock it. Try studying puppet techniques."

Her ocular power was unusually active, and she had yet to identify the cause. To receive such a specific hint in the Land of Demons had been unexpected.

She could sense the priestess's goodwill, as if the Land of Demons might one day require her power.

Puppet techniques… Did that mean she would have to go to the Land of Wind? Fortunately, the Land of Snow wasn't too far from it.

Bringing her thoughts back, Miyuki asked, "What task did your contact assign you? And what's the purpose of that trade guild?"

"Nothing complicated—just to grow our influence," Yuki said in a low voice. "The guild will cover our initial expenses. After that… the small nations in the extreme west of the ninja world are all targets."

The plan was to swallow up entire nations, and judging by Yuki's calm demeanor, it seemed he didn't consider this task insurmountable. Miyuki's curiosity about the person behind him grew stronger.

As she mused, a thought struck her. She took out a bounty notice and changed the topic.

"Fuji's bounty is extraordinarily high, even higher than the five Kage, excluding the Fourth Hokage. Isn't that strange?"

She had visited the black market earlier and had seen these freshly issued bounty notices.

"..."

Yuki gave Miyuki a peculiar look.

You just mentioned him, and now you're bringing this up?

Could it be that you've already guessed the truth and are just pretending not to know?

Miyuki, noticing his silence, asked, "What? Don't you find it odd? Even as Hokage's advisor, Fuji's bounty increase is unusual."

"Not really," Yuki said, deflecting. "It seems like you're very concerned about him, though."

Miyuki gave him a sidelong glance. "Concerned? I just think it's strange. You don't?"

Yuki avoided the question. "Maybe it's because Konoha is too strong now. Or perhaps someone is deliberately targeting him."

…

"Should I be worried about it?"

"Not at all," Fuji replied with a faint smile to Kakuzu's question. "I personally falsified the Land of Demons' accounts to test your skills."

"Of course, you'll still be paid as agreed."

Hearing that his pay wouldn't be cut, Kakuzu stopped probing. He turned and left the room without another word.

He didn't care about the motives or schemes of his employers—unless, of course, they had a high bounty on their heads. That might warrant some interest.

But Hyuga Fuji?

No thanks. Kakuzu wasn't about to take on someone who'd have the entire ninja world gunning for him.

After all, he'd only just been brought back to life. There was no need to throw it away so soon.

Thinking about the recent crackdown on underground black markets in the Land of Fire, Kakuzu paused mid-step.

"Was it you who disrupted the black market? Don't tell me you did it out of spite because your bounty got raised by the higher-ups."

Fuji's approach was straightforward—aiming to strengthen his forces. Kakuzu hadn't considered the possibility of him targeting the black markets, but few had the power to do so in the Land of Fire.

Fuji smiled. "Do you think I'd care about something so trivial?"

Kakuzu glanced back but stopped short. Fuji's expression made it clear he wasn't lying—this wasn't his doing.

Kakuzu frowned briefly, then shrugged it off. "In any case, given how generous you've been with payments, I'll share this: the black market naturally suspects it's you or Konoha behind this crackdown. If you ever face them directly…"

"They'll likely retaliate?" Fuji finished, holding up a bounty notice in his hand.

"... Outdated intel," Kakuzu muttered, realizing his information had lost its value. He left without another word, lamenting the lost opportunity for profit.

(End of Chapter)