Tsunade smiled as she understood what Asuma was trying to say. For a second she thought that Asuma was becoming like his father who would tie people up in his web of manipulation on the pretext of safety and care but turns out he really did care not just about the 9 tails falling in the wrong hands but also Naruto.
"Asuma with the people that are around Naruto right now, he is safer there rather than inside the village. Trust me to keep him and the beast safe from the hands of the Akatsuki."
Kurenai was also convinced a little when she heard Tsunade's reassurance. She nudged Asuma and said "Lady Tsunade must have definitely taken this decision after careful thinking. Let's not delay our travel there and endanger the hidden sand to any further extent."
"Let me know when you are about to leave." Tsunade said.
Asuma also nodded and said "I will take my leave Lady Tsunade." After that, everyone left the room except for Tsunade who sat quietly without saying anything staring at the door.
"I thought I told you to rest. You don't want those injuries to flare up, do you?" Tsunade said and the next moment Itachi appeared inside the room wearing an Anbu mask.
"I know but I can't sit still when we are fighting on so many different fronts at the same time. This sounds too much to handle for you by yourself." Itachi said as he removed his mask to reveal his face which now had a few injuries but they look almost healed.
"You should be the last person who spouts bullshit like this. Now tell me the real reason you are here." Tsunade asked.
"Two bats entered the village today and while one of them carried the letter to give you, the other one went straight to the main residence of the Hyuga clan." Itachi said.
"The Hyuga clan? What does Yami have to talk about with them? Did you see to whom the letter was delivered to?"
"No...I could only see that it went inside the main compound, getting nearer to it would require me to go closer and endanger being spotted by a Byakugan." Itachi said. Even he was confused as to why Yami would have any kind of contact with a clan that has no sort of connection with the Uchiha clan.
"Would the letter be to one of the clan leader's daughters?" Tsunade asked as she looked at Itachi but before he could even say anything, she shook her head and said "No..No both of your little brothers are oblivious to this kind of thing. I wonder where they get it from" She said while giving Itachi a side-eye.
'In a time like this, the only person Yami would contact from the Hyuga clan would the Patriarch himself. But what does Yami want from him?' Itachi thought.
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Hyuga Main House (Same time)
The door to the main hall opened and the previous Patriarch walked in. He looked at his son who was in deep thought and saw a letter in front of him on the table "You called for me? I was training Hanabi."
Hiashi nodded and pointed at the letter and said "I have received a letter from Yami Uchiha."
"Huh? That kid? Why would he send you a letter? Let me see" The elder said and sat down on the mat and started reading the letter. As he kept reading the expressions on his face started to change and his gentle but stiff hand turned into a fist crumbling the sides of the paper the letter was on.
"I will behead this kid for even making such a demand from us." The elder said grinding his leftover teeth and was about to get up when Hiashi stopped him and said "I am considering approving his demand."
Just as the elder heard these words come out of Hiashi's mouth, he froze and then "YOU DARE" he shouted while activating his own Byakugan. The entire hall was filled will ripples of chakra leaving the elder's body. Even the guards standing outside were a little stunned and scared as they felt it.
"Don't make me regret my decision of making you the Patriarch Hiashi." The Elder said as he held the table in front of him and the table instantly crumbled to pieces.
Hanabi who was now resting in a nearby training ground also felt it and started running toward the main hall.
She didn't think that the Hyuga clan was attacked or anything because she could easily recognize the Chakra of her own grandfather. She opened the door of the hall and saw her furious grandfather sitting in front of her father.
"Elder don't lose yourself in anger and listen to what I have to say." Hiashi said trying to calm down his father. He still hadn't called him father which meant this statement was coming from the Patriarch and it could not be taken lightly.
The elder took a few deep breaths and with each breath, the chakra ripples started to go dormant and very soon the entire hall was quiet. Hiashi didn't even look at his daughter who was standing by the door. He just looked at his father and said "It was a promise made by me and I have to live by it. I didn't know this is what he will ask for. I don't think he has that sort of motive as we fear the other villages like the cloud village might have."
'Hiashi did tell me he made a promise with Yami when the kid saved my granddaughter but what face will I show my ancestors when they find out what I let happen.' The elder was in turmoil. He didn't want his Patriarch to break the promise but Yami's request was outrageous as well.
The elder looked at Hanabi and then back at Hiashi and said "He told us to take our time so that's what we will do. I will think of something but you need to find out what he knows about the cage seal. We need to invite him over once he returns from his mission."
"I understand....thank you for not making me break my word elder." Hiashi said.
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Hokage Building
"What was that just now?" Itachi asked as he and Tsunade both looked out the window toward the Hyuga residence.
"It came from the Hyuga clan area. The clan leader and the previous one are training the younger daughter Hanabi to become the next leader. I don't know if this was a part of training but the ripples didn't last long and I don't see any kind of destruction." Itachi said as he activated his Sharingan and glanced at the Hyuga clan area.
"They are too strict regarding the main clan and the branch clan or else Neji Hyuga would have been a good choice for the next clan leader." Tsunade said. She then looked at Itachi and said "There is something else I wanted to tell you about but I am not sure if it is of any significance."
"What is it?" Itachi asked.
"A few weeks ago Hiruzen sensei's Chief Anbu approached me and said that while investigating the elders' Koharu and Homura disappearance or possible death, the nearest person to that house was Yami." Tsunade said while trying to gauge Itachi's expression.
Itachi frowned at that statement and said "Are you implying that my brother had anything to do with this?"
Tsunade shook her head and said "I don't think so and all this information was pieced together by the Root so I don't even find it credible. I still thought you should know."
"Although I wasn't able to get rid of Danzo or the root, I am sure that when Danzo returns from his diplomatic trip, he will be furious with what all has happened." Itachi said. He then looked at the door and left instantly.
The very next second, Shizune opened the door and peeked her head inside "Lady Tsunade, the two teams are ready for departure and are waiting at the gates."
"Yes...let's go. I have some final instructions for the rest of the team and this is their first S-ranked mission." Tsunade said as she stood up and left the office with Shizune.
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Hidden sand (The next day)
Yami was sitting in a room allotted by the sand shinobis to the leaf shinobi teams. He was sharing the room which Neji who was awfully quiet since last night. Yami knew that Neji had a quiet nature but he expected his old teammate to at least ask him what he did in the past two years.
That wasn't the thing bothering Yami. The fact that Neji would try to steal glances from time to time and look at Yami's body was making Yami uncomfortable. Since last night till today morning, Neji had done this more than 25 times.
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