Chapter 45: Main House

Clan grounds, the residence of the Main House.

Continuous long corridors, spacious ponds, and luxurious houses.

Compared to the Branch House, which is full of training grounds everywhere, the Main House residence does not occupy a large area, but it is more exquisite and luxurious; it is difficult to see any unsightly training equipment.

Inside the banquet hall.

Tables and stools are neatly arranged, and sitting at the head is a middle-aged man in exquisite robes, listening to the rustling sound of conversation.

He is a top-tier Noble from the capital of the Land of Fire.

With the Five Nations Joint Chunin Exams approaching, there are not a few Nobles who have come to Konohagakure with such fanfare, all wanting to see the grand ninja duels with their own eyes.

On the right hand side, the Hyuga Clan Head, dressed in a kimono, accompanies the middle-aged Noble with a warm smile on his face.

"Neji, come over here quickly."

Seeing Neji arrive, the Clan Head reveals a smile at the corners of his mouth and reaches out to beckon him to sit at the end of the table.

He introduces him solemnly: "This is the younger brother of the Land of Fire Daimyo, who wants to see you."

Although the village intentionally concealed the news regarding the initial players, including Asuma, Naruto, and Hyuga Neji, it could not be hidden at all.

After all, there are also players in the Noble circle.

They envy and are jealous of the ability of ninjas to grow crazily in the Samsara Game, so they all want to recruit them, and Hyuga Neji is among them.

The Daimyo's brother looks expectant and asks: "Neji, I wonder how one can become a player?"

Neji shakes his head and says: "Everything is the means of the Game Merchant; I also do not know how to become a player."

"Is that so?"

The Daimyo's brother shakes his head in disappointment.

Those Nobles who became players said the same thing; he had assumed that the Nobles were unwilling to disclose it, and since he happened to be in Konohagakure, he asked the initial players if they had a way.

A Noble game where one does not die and can hunt to one's heart's content is something even he finds very tempting.

After exchanging a few pleasantries,

Four Main House youths with noble attire and arrogant expressions walk into the banquet hall, and are led by the Hyuga Clan Head to converse with the Daimyo's brother.

This is the way their Ninja Clan survives; not only do they need to be stationed in Konohagakure, but they also cannot cut off communication with the Nobles; this is called having two irons in the fire.

The ignored Neji is soon pushed out of the main hall by the Clan Head with a lame excuse.

"Sorry, Young Master Zhongjie."

After Neji leaves the main hall, he runs into Zhongjie, who is heading to the banquet hall, and asks: "Perhaps there are guests, so the Clan Head did not inform me of the matters that needed to be discussed."

Zhongjie says impatiently: "Taking you to see the younger brother of the Land of Fire Daimyo, does that not count as a matter?"

"So that is how it is."

Neji's expression remains normal, his voice shows no emotional fluctuations, and he exits the Main House residence with very standard etiquette.

Just because of this kind of reason?

Even though he is aware of the white-hot situation of the Monster Siege, delaying training is merely for a single word from a Noble lord.

Even the look in the Hyuga Clan Head's eyes at the time seemed to be saying that this was a reward for his contribution to the Hyuga Clan.

Neji laughs at himself and thinks: "A bit like a dog being waved around and ordered about."

Hurriedly returning to the game,

Sure enough, the Fourth Squad retreated steadily after losing its command, causing the Konoha Troops to be suppressed by the Rock Troops, failing to obtain sufficient Merit Points.

Asuma pats him on the shoulder and sighs: "Neji, I understand your plight."

The situation of the Hyuga Clan is no secret in the village.

As a member of the Branch House, Neji has been instilled since childhood with the idea of protecting the Main House and obeying the orders of the Main House, and the shackles and restrictions of the Caged Bird make it impossible for him to resist the Main House at all.

Asuma comforts him: "I will report the matter of Hyuga Zhongjie to the Hokage; this matter is not your fault, no need to blame yourself."

Neji feels a warmth in his heart and says: "Thank you, Captain Asuma."

Asuma laughs heartily: "It is nothing, you and I are both members of the village, just like leaves growing on the branches of a tree, interdependent."

Subconsciously wanting to fish out a cigarette, his pocket is empty.

To cultivate the Konoha Troops, he cannot even bear to spend half a Reward Point recklessly, and is almost being forced to quit smoking.

Neji opens the Game Mall to exchange, hands him a pack of cigarettes, and says: "A gift for you, Captain Asuma."

"Ah... then I will not stand on ceremony."

Asuma does not act coy either, exhaling a puff of smoke refreshingly, but nearly chokes.

A lump of inconspicuous black ash is held in Neji's hand.

【Ashes of the Ghost Commander】: Can be exchanged for items at the City Defense Officer.

Asuma takes a deep breath and exclaims: "No wonder they call you the glory of the Hyuga Clan; to think you hunted a Commander single-handedly?"

A total of eight Commander Level ghosts.

All were carved up by other factions; he had thought there would be nothing to show for it, but he did not expect Neji to be able to hunt a Commander ghost alone.

Asuma takes a breath and says: "Ghost Commander Ashes can be exchanged for equipment, and can also be exchanged for props."

City defense props.

A miniature version similar to the Ghost Giant Cannon on the city wall, a blueprint for a 【Ghost Turret】.

Once constructed, it only needs to be loaded with ammunition to continuously spray Ghost Energy Cannon fire, with outstanding effects.

The selling price is also one 【Ashes of the Ghost Commander】.

Asuma smokes the last of the cigarette, the discarded butt disappears, and he says sincerely: "If you are willing to purchase the Ghost Turret, I will apply for a reward for you from the Hokage, and I will do my best to bypass the interference of the Hyuga Clan, so that the reward falls entirely on you."

It has always been this way,

No matter how great the achievements of the Hyuga Branch House are, the final reward will always be a negotiation between the Main House and the Hokage.

Perhaps it is funding, perhaps it is a Ninja Scroll, Anbu qualifications... in the end, it will all be carved up by the Main House, leaving only a few scraps.

Even so, those outside the Hyuga Clan have nothing to say.

For Asuma, as the son of the Hokage, to say such things means he would be accused of forcibly interfering in the Hyuga Clan's affairs, or even be impeached.

This is enough to show his sincerity.

Asuma does not want to pressure Neji, so he says, "Of course, purchasing equipment from the Ghost Series is also excellent; you could become the strongest in the Konoha Troops and, in reality, touch the threshold of an Elite Jonin."

"Captain Asuma, you are overthinking things; no wonder you haven't managed to win over Teacher Yuhi Kurenai yet."

Neji smiles and teases Asuma, which is a rare occurrence.

Only then does Asuma realize that the other party is willing to show him the materials because he clearly wants to contribute them to the village.

He had indeed been overthinking it.

"Thank you, Neji."

Asuma leaves in a hurry, continuing to hold his post on the front line of the Konoha Troops.

At the City Defense Officer's location.

Neji prepares to exchange for the 【Ghost Turret】 as agreed, but is stopped by the late-arriving Hyuga Zhongjie.

"Neji, I heard everything you and Asuma said."

Hyuga Zhongjie frowns deeply and says, "How audacious! Have you forgotten the ancestral teachings of the Hyuga Clan?"

"The Main House is the key to the continuation of our bloodline, while the Branch House acts as a Shield and sword, needing to protect the safety of the Main House and uphold the interests of the Main House at all times."

"You actually handed over precious materials to the village?"

"Are you not aware that materials from a Commander Level Ghost could serve as a bargaining chip for the Hyuga Clan to negotiate with the Hokage?"

The more Zhongjie speaks, the angrier he becomes, his face full of contempt and disdain that he does not even bother to hide.

"Since things have reached this point..."

After venting enough, Hyuga Zhongjie thinks of a way to have the best of both worlds and says, "When exchanging for Ghost equipment, get that Purple set of 【Toad Commander Power】 which has a boosting effect on the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, and then hand it over to me."

"Finally, take all the blame upon yourself; do not involve the clan."

"If this causes a dispute between the clan and the village, you should know the consequences, right?"

Hyuga Zhongjie curls his lips into an exaggerated smile, sticks out his thumb, and points to his smooth forehead.

As a member of the Main House, he has the authority to activate the Caged Bird.

(End of chapter)