What's wrong with having a large harem if you're the emperor of the ninja world?

"Go...go and reply to the person sent by His Majesty the Emperor."

"I've already said... Hyuga Hiashi understands His Majesty's meaning."

"The Hyuga clan... knows what to do next."

What did you do?

What else could be done?

The Hyuga clan is someone you can't afford to offend either side.

Since there's no way to resist, then the only option is... to mind one's own business.

The so-called "self-cultivation".

Under these circumstances, it was tantamount to acquiescing to Di Yan's demands.

Remain neutral and do not take sides.

It may even be necessary to secretly provide some "favors" when necessary.

This may not be the most honorable choice.

However, it was Hyuga Hiashi who became the clan leader.

The safest survival strategy that can be secured for the family in dire circumstances.

As for the future of his two daughters... he dared not think about it anymore.

Di Yan didn't even need the Hyuga clan to explicitly take sides.

His goal was achieved as long as they didn't cause trouble or side with Konoha.

Hyuga Hiashi.

In this game of power.

From the very beginning, we lost all our chips.

Hiashi Hyuga's face was full of sorrow, his thoughts a jumble of emotions.

The great tree of Konoha seems to be truly... battered by wind and rain.

The Hyuga family, on the other hand, could only proceed cautiously for the time being.

From this tree, pluck yourself clean.

……

Hidden in the shadows outside the Hyuga mansion.

Two figures lurked silently, blending into their surroundings.

It was Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy who were ordered to secretly monitor the movements of the Imperial Flame.

They watched as Di Yan strolled leisurely out of the Hyuga clan's gate.

Under the protection of a group of black-clad ninjas.

They walked leisurely towards their hotel.

Di Yan even had a faint smile on his face.

It was as if a pleasant visit had just taken place.

Rather than a politically charged test.

even……

Kakashi wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt like Di Yan had glanced in his direction a few times.

Could it be that they've discovered me?

How can it be?

His disguise was flawless.

Kakashi narrowed his only visible right eye slightly, his gaze extremely solemn.

He lowered his voice and said to his companion:

"I completely don't understand... what exactly is Di Yan trying to do?"

First, they made a high-profile accusation and then came with hostages.

Then he visited Hinata and had a private talk.

Their behavior is completely illogical.

His true intentions and direction of attack are unclear to others.

This unknown is often more unsettling than a clear threat.

After he finished speaking, Kakashi noticed that Might Guy next to him seemed a little distracted.

One could even say they were mentally exhausted.

It was completely unlike the usual passionate "Azure Beast".

"Kai, what's wrong?" Kakashi asked, puzzled. "Are you feeling unwell? This isn't like you."

Matt Kay seemed to snap out of his daze when asked by his friend.

He forced a signature, yet somewhat strained, smile, revealing gleaming teeth:

"Hey! Kakashi! I'm fine! It's just..."

"It's just that I haven't been sleeping well these past few nights!"

"Oh?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "Had a nightmare?"

Kai scratched his signature watermelon head, his expression turning somewhat strange, and stammered:

"It wasn't exactly a nightmare... it was just... it was just very strange."

“I’ve been dreaming about Di Yan for several days in a row, even though I haven’t seen him since graduating from the Ninja Academy…”

Kai himself also felt that this was outrageous.

Why dream of a grown man?

Upon hearing this, Kakashi's deadpan eyes flashed with a hint of speechlessness:

"Dreaming about him? You haven't been under too much stress lately, have you? Haven't you been getting enough rest?"

He simply couldn't understand what it was like to dream of Emperor Yan.

"Probably... yes."

Kai gave a vague reply.

Didn't go on.

What he didn't tell Kakashi was...

In those blurry and eerie dreams.

The Di Yan he saw... possessed a pair of scarlet eyes, like a blood moon!

The pattern in the eyes was bizarre and complex.

It exudes an ominous aura, and surprisingly...

It has a chilling resemblance to his friend Kakashi's Sharingan!

But this idea is too absurd.

How could Di Yan have the Sharingan?

That's the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit.

Kai shook his head, putting his absurd idea out of his mind.

He is naturally optimistic and easygoing.

I simply took it as something I had been thinking about during the day and dreaming about at night.

Perhaps it's because I've been paying too much attention to this dangerous emperor lately that I'm having these strange dreams.

"Okay, okay, I don't want to think about it anymore! Youth shouldn't be plagued by nightmares!"

Kai rallied himself, slapping his cheeks hard to regain his energy. "Let's get back to the mission, Kakashi!"

"Let us use our passionate youth to see through the enemy's conspiracy!"

Kakashi watched as Guy "reignited" once again.

Although I felt his behavior just now was a bit strange.

But no further investigation was conducted.

After all, Kai's thinking has always been unconventional.

His attention returned to the departing Emperor Yan.

But my doubts only deepened.

……

Di Yan returned to the hotel where he was staying.

Just stepped into the hall.

A scene that was somewhat unexpected came into view.

Contrary to his expectations, Hinata Hanabi did not cry or hide behind her sister in fear.

Instead, he ended up with Uchiha Hikaru.

Two little girls of similar age were squatting in the corner.

He pointed at a small beetle on the ground that he had found somewhere.

They were even muttering to themselves.

They actually seem to get along quite well?

Hikaru Uchiha seemed quite interested in Hanabi's pure Byakugan.

Hanabi was also curious about Hikaru's unusual, innocent yet ethereal quality.

The friendship between the little girls.

Sometimes it just starts out of nowhere.

Di Yan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

really……

The bond between women.

Regardless of size.

They all have a strange and elusive quality to them.

Upon seeing Di Yan return, everyone in the hall—Kurenai Yuhi, Hinata, Ino, Hana Inuzuka, and Izumi Uchiha and Mikoto standing to the side—all bowed in respect.

"His Majesty."

Only Hanabi noticed that everyone was bowing to this handsome older brother who had suddenly appeared.

A clear look of confusion appeared on her small face.

She tilted her head, sized up Di Yan, and asked in a clear, crisp voice:

"Who are you? Why is everyone bowing to you?"

Hinata was startled and quickly pulled her sister back, her face slightly flushed as she scolded her in a low voice:

"Fireworks! How dare you be rude! This is His Majesty!"

"His Majesty?"