While walking on the road to home, the pale-faced Hyuga Hizashi said to Kuroto, "I showed you a disappointing site this time…"

Kuroto just shook his head slightly and said, "Sigh, it's alright Hizashi-Sama!" ​​

Even though watching Hizashi-Sama suffer wasn't a very good sight, but Kuroto couldn't have done anything about it, besides, he also got to see the 'Caged Bird' in action, which could, in fact, be considered a new insight, it's just a pity that Kuroto didn't have his Byakugan activated at the scene. Otherwise, he could have made a clear observation of the chakra flow in the meridians of Hizashi-Sama, who cast the curse.

There was a long silence as the father and son duo, as well as Kuroto, walked side-by-side.

At this time, Hizashi finally broke the silence, "Kuroto-Kun, there is a favor I want to ask of you…"

"A favor? What's the matter?" – asked Kuroto in confusion.

Taking a glance at Neji, Hizashi finally made up his mind and said, "I hope that you can accept Neji as your disciple!"

Kuroto just smiled and waved his hand, "Hahaha, you are kidding Hizashi-Sama, right!?"

However, contrary to what Kuroto expected, Hizashi shook his head and said with a solemn expression, "No, Kuroto-Kun, I am perfectly serious, from what I understand about you, I believe you are the only person who could guide Neji to be a great Shinobi, a shinobi that the Hyuga Clan can be proud of!"

Kuroto's eyes widened in surprise, but after calming himself down, he asked with a serious expression, "But why, Hizashi-Sama? No matter how you look at it, you are more proficient in Hyuga taijutsu than I am, as such your teachings will be much better for Neji!"

While the two were talking, Neji looked at his father then looked at Kuroto, with a feeling of a little loss.

Hizashi stroked Neji's head lightly and continued with a sigh, "What happened today made me understand my lack of strength and calmness, especially the calmness you showed is what I Iack, my actions although subconscious and driven by emotions, were shameful nonetheless, however, you were calm Kuroto-Kun!"

Kuroto smiled lightly and said, "I wasn't calm at all, Hizashi-Sama!"

"No, Kuroto-Kun!" – Hizashi directly stared into Kuroto's eyes and said in a deep voice, "You can't hide it from me Kuroto-Kun, unlike others who try to gloss over the fears in their heart with a calm façade, your calmness is not a pretence, Kuroto-Kun, although I don't understand how you could be so calm in the face of the Cursed Seal, your calmness makes me understand what I lack, I don't wish for Neji to be like me, if bound by the fear of his heart, Neji wouldn't be able to develop into what he is truly capable of, therefore, I have come to believe that your guidance will be crucial for him on his path as a shinobi!"

Kuroto was silent upon hearing Hizashi-Sama's explanation.

Hizashi-Sama's feeling about Kuroto is more or less correct, but there is still one thing he fails to understand, or more like he may have overestimated Kuroto.

The reason for Kuroto's calmness in the face of the 'Caged Bird' is only because he has found a way to get nullify the cursed seal for quite some time already if that was not the case, and if his life would have still been bounded by the cursed seal, his mood may not have been any different than Hyuga Hizashi.

"You don't have to worry Kuroto-Kun, I will still be teaching Neji the basics of Hyuga Style taijutsu and most of our clan techniques building up a solid foundation, after that, I want you to be his Sensei to guide him on his path ahead as a shinobi, as well as let him understand and I also want you to teach him the meaning of Nindou!"

Glancing at Neji, Kuroto thought for a while and finally nodded towards Hizashi-Sama, "If you or Neji don't change their mind in the future, then… I will take Neji as my disciple!"

Hearing Kuroto's reply, Hizashi finally breathed a sigh of relief, "I am relieved!"

With that decided, Kuroto bid farewell to the father-son duo and slowly walked out of the territory of the Hyuga Clan.

Although it was near dusk already, the village was still lively and cheerful, the last few years of tension and sufferings were finally relieved when the peace treaty was concluded.

All the Izakaya, barbecue stalls, ramen shops were filled with the energetic and celebrating crowd.

Walking on the brightly lit street as he watched people drinking, beating, bickering, and laughing Kuroto thought to himself, 'It seems that everyone is really tired of wars!'

While passing by the street, there was suddenly a call from the second floor of an izakaya in the distance, "Ah, Kuroootooooo, here-here, this way!"

Kuroto turned to look upwards and found that Guy was calling him while energetically waving his hands back and forth from the windowpane, and beside him stood, Gekko Hayate and Mitarashi Anko.

Kuroto responded by waving his hand and walked over to the second floor of the said izakaya.

Taking his seat at the said izakaya, Kuroto noticed that it wasn't only Guy, Anko-chan, and Hayate, but there were also, Kurenai-chan, Kakashi, Genma, Ebisu, Morino, and others of the same generation.

Guy said, "Kuroto, I went to check at your house, but didn't find you there, where did you go?"

"Yeah-yeah, even Yui-chan wasn't at her home, c-could it be possible that you two were out on a d-d-d-date!?" – Anko teased from the side.

As soon as Anko's sentence was completed some of the people blushed, imagining the scene of Kuroto and Yui on a date.

However, Kuroto wasn't fazed by Anko's teasing as he was already used to it, "Not really, there were some Clan matters, so I was busy, and Yui too had to see through some things, so not this time." – After giving a small explanation, Kuroto asked curiously, "By the way, how come everyone gathered around this time, doesn't everyone have tasks to complete?"

It's already been many years since the companions of the same generation have graduated from the ninja academy and looking at them now, everyone has grown into splendid shinobi. Each one has their own problems and tasks they have to deal with but here, in the presence of friends, they can still act as carefree as ever.

"Cough-cough…" – after a short cough, Hayate replied, "Because of the peace celebration, except for the members who have necessary duties, most of us decided to take a rare holiday." – Ever since he injured his lungs in the third great shinobi war, Hayate has always looked weak and sick, even speaking is slightly difficult for him.

Anko put her arm over Hayate's shoulder and said with a smirk, "By the way, Hayate, what about Yugao? Why didn't you call her?"

Hayate blushed and after a moment of silence, he turned his head on the other side and said, "S-she is on a mission!"

"Is she really on a mission or did you not have the courage to call her?"

"That's *cough* that's not it!"

"Hahahahahah!!!"

Everyone laughed at Hayate's shy reaction. Because they are of the same generation, there are often no taboos or restrictions on how they act, therefore, things quickly became messier.

Sitting by the window, Kuroto looked at the brightly lit village, thinking to himself.

Kakashi approached and took a rest at the wall and muttered with some emotions, "Peace is really good, don't you think Kuroto!?"

Kuroto also nodded with a smile, "Yes, this celebration has eased everyone's accumulated tension and relaxed their spirit, maybe this atmosphere and those cheerful faces are exactly what truly represent peace!"

"I guess you are right about that!" – nodded Kakashi.

There was a short silence between the two, as this time, Kakashi looked around and noticed that nobody was paying attention, so he spoke with a light whisper, "Did you received the report? The Uchiha clan has been continuously trying to make contact with the Kumo envoys, for this reason, several conflicts have already occurred between the Uchiha and the Anbu!"

Kuroto has also been secretly paying attention to Kumo's movements and naturally received the report, "Yeah, I received the report!"

Kakashi was a little worried, "If this continuous, the rift between the Uchiha and the Village will continue to grow bigger and bigger to the point of no return!"

Even Kakashi has a deep bond with the Uchiha Clan.

His best friend and rival Uchiha Obito sacrificed himself to save him, then he also gave his precious Sharingan to Kakashi, while his colleague Uchiha Shisui has been bearing tremendous pressure by keeping the secret of his awakening of the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Therefore, Kakashi really hopes that the Uchiha Clan can coexist peacefully with the Village.

Kuroto also sighed lightly thinking of the matter of the Uchiha Clan.

'You can resolve the Uchiha Clan, or deter them, but this issue will never be solved unless both sides are willing to accept the other, the curse of hatred has to be resolved and trust has to be born on the other side to accept the Uchiha!'

But with how the situation is progressing, any peaceful reconciliation of the Uchiha Clan and the Village seems to be impossible.

The problem now is not that the Uchiha Clan might initiate and Coup d'etat and seize the power, because, since the establishment of the framework of one-village-one-nation, Uchiha Clan has been fighting against the biased and unjust attitude they received at the hands of the Hokage faction.

Uchiha Madara may have become a rebel, but he did leave behind a lot of problems for the Uchiha Clan in Konoha, this unjustness and unfairness prompts the Uchiha Clan to want to take the position of the Hokage for a long time, but either because of the lack of the suitably strong person or no desire of their leader, they have always been unable to.

Now the real problem has appeared when the power of the Hokage faction that has always suppressed the Uchiha Clan has declined the most but the suppression has only increased more, but because the Uchiha Clan has not declined in strength so they don't want to be suppressed any longer.

The previous attitude where they could only sigh and try to coexist peacefully in the village has become unacceptable.

Therefore, there are only two solutions possible from a broader perspective.

Either strengthen the power of the Hokage faction so that the Uchiha Clan, like previous few decades, dare not act rashly.

Or weaken the Uchiha Clan, don't give them enough strength to realize any of their ambitions.

But the Uchiha Clan right now is like a nuclear, if Village tries to take any action against the Uchiha Clan to weaken them, the nuclear will explode and burn the entire village in its fury.

And if such a thing happens then, either village will exist without the Uchiha Clan or the Uchiha Clan will take over the Village, of course, it is possible that both the Village and the Uchiha Clan, cease to exist.

While Kuroto was thinking, the drunk Anko came towards him and started beating his chest, "Kuroto, I want to challenge you!"

Looking at her, Kuroto shook his head and said lightly, "Don't make trouble Anko-Chan, you have drunk too much!"

"Hic… I am not d-drunk, hic…!" – loudly banging the table with the Sake-bottle, Anko continued, "Y-you come with me… hic… to the practice ground where we used to train, I-I want… hic… to challenge you!"

Leaving that sentence, Anko jumped out of the window and disappeared.

Kuroto helplessly looked at her and said, "Sigh, I'll go and see what's going on with her!"

Kakashi asked, "Should I come with you?"

Kuroto just shook his head and jumped out of the window following Anko, he has a pretty good idea where this matter is going to go so involving Kakashi who is already struggling with his darkness, wouldn't a good idea to involve in it…

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Read up to Chapter - 362 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. Page: p-atreon.com/Milta_translations