A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

132. The Kirigakure Concluded: The Sealing of Ties

After he parted ways with Mei, Hikari was returning to his temporary quarters. His path took him through the labyrinth of hidden trails leading to one of the secret complexes located in the high, steep hills surrounding Kirigakure.

The location was strategically chosen for its seclusion and the natural defense provided by the terrain.

As he moved silently, blending with the shadows cast by the late afternoon sun, Arata Yuki suddenly appeared beside him.

The young Yuki patriarch's presence was unexpected, and his approach was marked by a respectful demeanor.

"I apologize for interrupting your journey, Hikari-san...", Arata began, his voice carrying a hint of urgency mixed with respect, "Could we perhaps talk for a moment?"

"Of course, we can talk.", Hikari responded, gesturing towards the summit of the nearby hill, which offered a panoramic view of the village and a degree of privacy from potential eavesdroppers.

Together, they ascended the hill, the quiet around them only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves underfoot. 

As they stood overlooking Kirigakure, Arata thoughtfully asked Hikari, "Are you and your remaining clansmen planning to leave soon?" 

Hikari nodded affirmatively, his gaze lingering on the distant horizon. "Yes, we will be departing shortly," he confirmed, his voice carrying a note of finality.

Arata nodded, then continued, "The global situation is indeed complex with the ongoing world war. I suppose you'll seek to build further merits elsewhere, as you've already achieved your objectives against Kirigakure on behalf of Konoha on this frontline."

"Indeed, there are other fronts where we need to assert our efforts. The situation requires us to be adaptable and strategic...", He stated, confirming his ongoing role in the war.

As they continued their conversation from there, it was clear that something else was on Arata's mind. After a pause filled with small talk, he finally voiced his deeper concern, his expression earnest.

"Hikari-san, have you decided who you will have the Three-Tails sealed into? Or are you considering taking it back to Konoha now, and you changed your mind?"

His tone and urgency in his question indicated that he was personally interested in the matter, likely seeing it as a means to augment his own strength.

Many days passed, and the Six-Tails was already sealed into Mei Terumi, yet there was still no word about the Three-Tails from Hikari, leading Arata to speculate. 

Hikari offered a slight smile, recognizing the opportunity to assert a strategic upper hand. He had anticipated this conversation before and decided to play it to his advantage, so he waited so long regarding the Three-Tails matter.

However, he and the rest of the village's higher-ups were truly busy and focused more on Mei's matters.

"Well, I haven't settled on a specific individual yet..." he replied, maintaining an air of casual deliberation. I'm still inclined to find someone from within this village to host it, though."

Arata, feeling the need to formalize his request, pressed further, revealing the depth of his ambition and desperation, "If I may be so bold, I'd like to offer myself as the host for the Three-Tails...",

"If granted this strength, I assure you that my loyalty and that of my clan will be solid as a rock. We would be at your call, ready to assist with any challenges you face, be it here or even within Konoha's internal matters, should you require.",

His plea was a clear indication of his concern for the survival and future influence of his clan, especially now that they had lost so many of their members in the previous fight and were part of a weakened Kirigakure, more vulnerable to external threats from other great shinobi villages than ever before.

Hikari then appeared to deliberate next for quite a while; however, internally, his mind was already set on giving Arata that power for quite a while.

He also long recognized that Kirigakure, in its current state, was extremely vulnerable to the ambitions of the larger shinobi villages.

In such a precarious position, only a ninja with an existing foundation of considerable power, like Arata, could truly benefit from—and maximize—the formidable force of a tailed beast.

Sealing the Three-Tails in an ordinary jonin might not yield the desired results; it was uncertain if such a host could manage the beast's power or attain Kage-level strength.

The Three-Tails, with its vast reservoirs of chakra, would perfectly complement Arata's already impressive capabilities.

Unlike an ordinary jonin, for whom controlling such a beast might prove overwhelming or futile, Arata possessed the necessary kekkei genkai, an innate bloodline gift, and an array of jutsu to harness this power effectively.

His primary limitation had always been a lack of sufficient chakra to scale his Ice Release techniques to their fullest potential.

The tailed beast could bridge this gap, transforming his strategic disadvantage into a formidable asset, thus fortifying Kirigakure and his own status as a peerless elite.

Hikari recognized the potential lineup of allies that could emerge from this arrangement. By incorporating Arata with the Three-Tails, he would likely ascend to a Middle Kage level of strength, similar to Toru Kaguya.

Combined with Mei, who was poised to reach the Late Kage level of strength within a few years, Hikari would possess a formidable trio of Kage-level allies outside his home village.

Such a rare strategic advantage would significantly bolster his faction's position against the Hokage's faction in Konoha.

Beyond the increase in power, Hikari foresaw the goodwill this gesture would generate with Arata. Even if Arata later considered betrayal, the dynamics within Kirigakure would deter him. Hikari's influence over Mei and the historical bonds between his own Hyuga and Kaguya clans provided a safeguard.

This intricate web of alliances and dependencies ensured that even if Arata harbored any thoughts of defection, the existing relationships and mutual interests within Kirigakure would likely discourage such actions.

While Hikari valued his current closeness with Toru Kaguya, he decided against giving him the Three-Tails. Toru was already at the Middle Kage level of strength, and boosting him further might make him too formidable.

Hikari's strategy required maintaining a balance of power that favored his interests. By elevating Arata instead, he avoided creating an overpowering figure within Kirigakure who could challenge his plans or overshadow Mei Terumi, whom he now considered his primary ally within the village.

In Hikari's calculations, Mei needed to be the undisputed leader in Kirigakure to ensure his influence remained strong and uncontested. Ensuring that no one within the village could rival her was crucial for preserving his control. 

Hikari nodded thoughtfully as if his decision was finally made. He turned to Arata with a firm expression, "Well, I've indeed decided to entrust the Three-Tails to you. We'll have a sealing ceremony tonight.",

"I'll make all the necessary arrangements with Mei. Kirigakure needs elites of the highest caliber like yourself. Grow strong, and help lead this village to a safe and better future."

Arata's face lit up with gratitude, his voice earnest as he responded, "Thank you, Hikari-san. You won't regret this. I swear my loyalty to you and your cause. Whatever you need, wherever, I'll be there for you."

Hikari raised his hand, signaling a pause. "There's no need for formal oaths, Arata. Let's be friends instead. If I help you now, you can help me in the future. It's a cycle of mutual support, not just a transaction of power..." he explained softly.

Arata was initially surprised by the offer of friendship, but his expression soon also softened into a warm smile, "I'd like that very much. It's an honor to call you a friend, Hikari..."

Hikari responded sincerely, "We're quite alike as individuals. So, let's look out for each other in the future."

Although his actions were often calculated and strategic, there was a genuine element to Hikari's statement.

He truly believed that their personalities were compatible. Arata was reasonable, measured, and stoic—qualities Hikari respected and found similar to his own.

He admired Arata's intelligence and his ability to know when to advance or retreat, who to respect, and whom to flatter.

These observations had been made quietly over the short time they had known each other, and Hikari felt a sincere connection.

It wasn't entirely just about alliance and power but also about respect and mutual understanding between two like-minded individuals. However, it was obvious which one was greater. 

Shortly after that, they parted ways. Finally, in a good mood, Hikari made his way back to his residence, his thoughts shifting toward the next steps.

As Hikari made his way there, his mind was occupied with the broader strategic landscape of the ongoing world conflict.

Despite the progress made here, a significant presence of their Hyuga-led forces and elites would still be required near the Land of Water to deter any potential retaliation from Kumogakure, the only possible and most likely threat to Kirigakure at this moment.

It was quite reasonable for Konoha to maintain a military presence in newly acquired territories from the Land of Water like their previous only continental part or their former proxy, the Yugakure, considering the Hokage's Faction likely underestimated the extent of the agreements Hikari had secured in Kirigakure.

They probably viewed the ceasefire as tentative and fragile. Consequently, maintaining some forces in the region wouldn't raise eyebrows—it would align perfectly with Hikari's intentions to safeguard it until it stabilized more.

The main challenge next for Hikari was deploying his forces to other conflict zones to accumulate more strategic victories, particularly after his significant achievements in Kirigakure.

While official permission to reassign his troops might be difficult to obtain, Hikari considered moving a select group of elite units without formal approval.

Such actions, although bold, were unlikely to draw public criticism if they resulted in saved lives and strategic advantages.

Nevertheless, the groups he intended to assist would need to welcome his involvement. Given the circumstances, the Sunagakure's Southern Front, managed by his Uchiha allies and beyond the direct influence of the Hokage's faction, presented a strategic opportunity for further engagement.

This front was the most logical next step for Hikari and his team. It aligned with their broader objectives while operating outside the immediate control of Konoha's central leadership.

Not to mention that, by the looks of it, Konoha kept losing the most there, and Hikari urgently needed to try to help his allies from the Uchiha clan. 

As Hikari reflected on his recent actions, he also acknowledged the potential repercussions of his newfound visibility in the shinobi world.

His direct defeat of the Mizukage, a significant and unmistakable display of power, was bound to ripple across the global shinobi community.

Previously, he had operated more covertly, but now he anticipated that various factions and powerful individuals might become aware of his capabilities, potentially leading to increased scrutiny or even direct opposition.

Despite these concerns, Hikari considered the numerous advantages his actions had secured, which far outweighed any potential drawbacks.

Among the less obvious benefits was the successful acquisition of critical resources during the chaos of battle.

A covert group of Hyuga clan members, most loyal to him, from his Third Lineage, had been tasked with and managed to obtain cell samples from Toru Kaguya during the previous chaos successfully.

Additionally, they had captured one of the elusive White Zetsu, who had spied on the entire happening from afar, as Hikari accurately predicted, and whom those members were tasked to be always on the lookout for during the entire chaos as well, all around the Kirigakure, both of which were now a route to his main laboratory in Konoha to Hinome.

With a hint of anticipation, Hikari thought about the potential future breakthroughs these samples could facilitate.

They represented the key components needed to propel their experiments on bloodline enhancement to unprecedented levels. So, they now had all the 'ingredients' secured. 

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A/N: Sunagakure part starting!