Souta stepped out of the inn, the cool morning air brushing against his skin. Hana followed silently.
The town was already stirring to life, merchants setting up their stalls, travelers moving through the streets. None spared them more than a passing glance. To them, he was just another civilian, and she was just another Hyūga. That was how it needed to stay.
They moved without a word, weaving through the streets and heading toward the road that would take them back to Konoha.
As they passed through the town's outskirts, the dirt path stretched before them, lined with thick trees swaying gently in the breeze.
Souta walked beside Hana. The more he analyzed, the more he realized how precarious his position truly was.
He wasn't a ninja. That was his greatest weakness. If not for Pakura's , he might not even be alive at this point. His Kōtengan was powerful, but only when he was given the chance to use it. Against enemies who toyed with their prey, it was a lethal ace, but against someone decisive—someone like Minato or Danzo—it was practically useless. That was a problem.
Danzo was already after him. Root operated in the shadows, and he knew for a fact that they wouldn't hesitate to strike if they ever caught him truly vulnerable. Pakura's presence was the only reason he wasn't already a corpse. But that wasn't sustainable. He needed power—real power—beyond just his dōjutsu. The kind that came from influence, from people who would fight to keep him alive.
His progress so far was promising:
- Mikoto Uchiha: 97% – She was nearly his. Emotionally, she was attached to him more than she realized. All it would take was a final push—Fugaku's death—and she can be with him..
- Kushina Uzumaki: 30% – She was still bound by her loyalty to Minato, but the cracks were forming. The loneliness, the frustration—it was all there. He had to exploit it carefully. If he rushed, she'd recoil. If he paced it right, she'd fall into his hands naturally.
- Hana Hyūga: Unknown% – She was a new factor, still unpredictable. But she had followed him. That meant something. Curiosity, interest, maybe even concern. He had the opportunity to deepen whatever this was, to make her another asset. The Hyūga weren't as politically important as the Uchiha, but they still had weight in Konoha's power structure.
His immediate objective was clear—Fugaku had to die.
Killing him outright was too risky. Fugaku was strong, and direct assassination could easily backfire. Instead, the best route was internal chaos. The Uchiha were not yet in the desperate position they would be after the Kyūbi attack. Without that event, the village still viewed them with caution, but not outright suspicion. They weren't being herded into the outskirts, nor were they under constant surveillance.
That meant one thing—if he wanted to create the perfect storm, he had to push them toward rebellion himself.
An Uchiha coup was already a lingering possibility, a storm waiting to happen. If he could accelerate it at the right time, Fugaku's death would seem like a natural consequence of clan infighting. And once Fugaku was gone, the vacuum of leadership would need to be filled—Mikoto could be that figure.
With his guidance, of course.
Minato, on the other hand, was a longer game. Killing him outright was impossible; the man was too strong, too fast. But war made things chaotic. If Minato was lured into a battlefield scenario—something unpredictable—he could die to an 'accident.' An enemy ambush, an unexpected betrayal… something beyond suspicion. And when that happened, Kushina would be shattered. And in her grief, she'd need someone to hold her together.
Danzo was a persistent problem. But eliminating him required either Minato's approval or a reason so undeniable that even Konoha's leadership would accept it. That meant uncovering Root's ugliest secrets and exposing them at the right time.
Souta exhaled softly as he walked. This was a delicate game. One wrong step and he would be crushed. But he wasn't afraid. He had already come this far. He just needed to be patient.
And when the time came, Konoha's power structure would crumble exactly the way he wanted it to.
A faint cough broke Souta from his thoughts. His gaze flicked to the side, catching Hana pressing a fist lightly against her lips before straightening. The gesture was small, almost dismissive, but it was deliberate. She wanted his attention.
"You're awfully deep in thought," she noted, her tone cool yet laced with subtle curiosity.
Souta exhaled, adjusting his posture as they continued walking. "Just considering my next steps."
Hana tilted her head slightly. "Next steps?"
He hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding. "Nothing of concern."
She didn't press, but he could tell she wasn't fully satisfied with the answer. It was in the way her gaze lingered, assessing. She wasn't the type to pry directly, but she wasn't easily distracted either. That made things… difficult.
Befriending Hana Hyūga wouldn't be as simple as just offering kind words or casual conversation. She was observant, careful. Unlike Mikoto, who was emotionally vulnerable, or Kushina, who could be swayed by the right push, Hana was different. She was someone who needed logic, reason—something tangible to justify trusting him.
But she had followed him. That meant there was already a seed of interest. He just had to cultivate it proper
"Do you often wander alone?" he asked, shifting the conversation.
Hana glanced at him. "No. But I am not incapable."
Souta gave a slight smile. "I never assumed you were."
She seemed to consider his response before speaking again. "And yet you think traveling together is safer."
He shrugged. "It's just practical."
A small pause stretched between them before she responded, "I suppose it is."
She wasn't committing to anything beyond what was logical, but that was fine. That was her nature. To push too hard would be a mistake. Instead, he needed to establish a foundation of mutual interest.
"I'm curious," he said after a moment. "You were concerned enough to follow me. But you don't seem the type to act on impulse."
Hana's expression remained unreadable. "Perhaps I miscalculated."
"Perhaps," Souta agreed, though he didn't believe that for a second. "Or perhaps you saw something that made you curious."
For the first time, her gaze lingered longer than necessary. It was subtle, but noticeable. A flicker of interest—one she likely hadn't even realized herself.
"…I do not make a habit of unnecessary curiosity," she finally said.
Souta smiled faintly. "Neither do I."
Hana didn't respond immediately, but he caught the slight shift in her posture.
The morning sun cast long shadows as they walked.