233. Apex Duel

Thanks to Uchiha Gin’s auction and lottery event, the previously tense atmosphere of the village had turned lively. The ordinary people who had recently settled in the village began to lose their initial apprehension, replacing it with curiosity. The sense of alienation they felt toward the village subtly faded.

“Hmph! That guy—he’s Senju Hashirama, right? He looks so silly and dull. And the so-called giant wooden golem you described is only a few meters tall. It’s obviously an exaggerated rumor.”

Amid the bustling crowd stood two figures whose cold aura made people avoid them. The younger of the two men, with his uniquely white eyes, was full of disdain as he observed the earlier display of Hashirama’s miniature Wood-Style technique.

This member of the Hyuga clan, known as Hyuga Tenya, dismissed Hashirama’s actions as mere trickery. In his mind, Hashirama had bought fame and exaggerated the scale of his wooden constructs to deceive others.

“Shh, young master, be cautious! Walls have ears!”
Hyuga Sousuke, a branch family member accompanying Hyuga Tenya, nervously glanced around before whispering a reminder.

“Useless branch family. Can’t even gather basic intelligence properly,” Hyuga Tenya sneered, his tone filled with reproach as he glanced disdainfully at Sousuke.

Sousuke, though used to Hyuga Tenya's temperament, still felt uneasy. While he hadn’t faced the Senju or Uchiha clans directly, he had heard enough stories about their terrifying power from other clans. He tried to dissuade Hyuga Tenya from rash actions, but Hyuga Tenya interrupted coldly.

“Enough. I, Hyuga Tenya, will challenge the Uchiha first. After defeating them, I’ll take on Senju Hashirama.”

As Hyuga Tenya turned his attention toward Hashirama in the distance, Sousuke could only sigh, knowing further warnings would fall on deaf ears.


---

Meanwhile, in another part of the village:
“Why do I suddenly feel a chill down my spine?” Uchiha Gin furrowed his brows and scanned his surroundings.

“Now that you mention it... I do feel a bit cold. Maybe I dressed too lightly?” Hashirama scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.

“I feel nothing.” Senju Tobirama, who was standing nearby, looked puzzled.

“Ah, maybe your 'detection' is broken. You’ll get used to it,” Gin teased Tobirama, patting his shoulder sympathetically.

Tobirama, feeling mocked, frowned but said nothing further.


---

As the auction ended, Gin watched the leaving prisoners with mock sincerity. “Remember to visit often!” he called after them.

The prisoners fled without looking back, fearing Gin would introduce another strange, costly item if they stayed.

“Such nostalgia. Understandable,” Gin muttered before turning to Uchiha Jiro. “Did you settle the accounts?”

“Yes, we made 2.8 billion ryo in total revenue. But 2.6 billion of that was loans,” Jiro stammered, holding the ledger with trembling hands.

“Only 200 million in profit?” Gin frowned in disappointment. “Oh well. Distribute it among the brothers in the dungeon. If it’s not enough, I’ll cover the rest.”


---

As the Senju and Uchiha representatives moved toward the Hyuga clan’s meeting, Gin examined the Senju compound. “Low-key yet luxurious. Nice, but it lacks entertainment spots,” he commented.

“Entertainment?” Hashirama asked curiously.

“You know, places for drinking, karaoke, or gambling. People need to relax, or even the strongest shinobi will burn out.”

Hashirama, intrigued, admitted he had no idea such things existed. Gin laughed and promised to teach him someday.

Tobirama, however, was immediately on guard. “Don’t corrupt my brother!” he snapped.

“It’s harmless fun,” Gin said dismissively. But Tobirama continued to glare at him suspiciously.


---

“By the way,” Gin asked as they walked, “why is the Hyuga clan only showing up now?”

“They live far away,” Tobirama answered curtly.

“Didn’t you handle them during your campaigns across the Land of Fire?” Gin pressed, curious about the reclusive clan.

Tobirama’s face darkened slightly but he offered no further comment.



"Not that I hadn't thought about it, but the other side always seemed to detect our movements ahead of time and escape quickly."

As the once legendary powerhouse of the ninja world, Hashirama Senju had considered testing the fabled Hyuga clan to see how they compared to Madara. However, things rarely went as planned. Every time he made a move, it felt like the Hyuga clan could anticipate his intentions, repeatedly eluding him. After several failed attempts, Hashirama lost interest. Spending too much time on one clan wasn’t practical; after all, he could wipe out multiple clans in the same timeframe.

No matter. A clan good at hiding was still impressive—it kept them from being wiped out.

“Still, Brother Gin, you should be careful. They say the Hyuga clan’s taijutsu is mysterious and can harm you without leaving a trace.”

Reflecting on his missed opportunities to handle the Hyuga, a frustrated Hashirama turned to remind Uchiha Gin.

“No worries. I can handle it.”

Detecting the concern in Hashirama’s tone, Gin waved dismissively with a grin, signaling his confidence.

“We’ve arrived. They’re already here.”

After winding through several turns, Gin was led to what appeared to be a training ground. As the wooden doors creaked open, two figures in white came into view at the far end.

"Making us wait this long—is this how the Senju clan treats their guests?"

Due to Gin's delay in settling his accounts, the Hyuga duo, who had arrived earlier, now wore impatient expressions.

"Brother Hashirama, you should’ve put more effort back then."

Sensing the hostility, Gin muttered to Hashirama beside him.

"Next time for sure!"

"Apologies for the wait," Hashirama said with a bright, apologetic smile, his earlier irritation melting away at the thought of his guests essentially delivering themselves to him.

"No problem. We just arrived as well," said Hyuga Sousuke, a subordinate with a more tactful demeanor than his superior, Hyuga Tenya.

"And who might you be?" asked Hashirama, his tone easing slightly at Sousuke's approach.

“I am—”

Tatsuke began to introduce himself, only for Tenya to cut him off coldly.

“Just a servant. I am Hyuga Tenya, heir to the Hyuga clan. That Uchiha—is it really him?”

Looking Gin over with disdain, Tenya scowled, clearly comparing him to the auctioneer from earlier.

"Indeed, this is Uchiha Gin, the current clan leader."

“This is the Uchiha clan leader? What a joke!”

Tenya sneered.

“Brother Hashirama, can I fight him?” Gin whispered, exuding a faint killing intent.

"Let it go, for my sake. Get them in with the money first—revenge later," Hashirama murmured, holding Gin back.

“Fine, fine. I’m the most patient Uchiha, after all!” Gin sighed.

"This is Uchiha Gin, one of the most esteemed members of the Uchiha clan, with strength that is…" Hashirama hesitated briefly, "...beyond measure. So, what do you think?”

Tenya finally toned down his arrogance, though his attitude remained cold.

“Let’s hope you aren’t throwing in some random weakling to deal with me, or I’ll suggest my father re-negotiate our terms!”

"So, the Uchiha can supposedly copy techniques?" Tenya asked, his pale eyes narrowing as he studied Gin.

“Standard skill,” Gin replied lightly, feigning modesty.

“And the Hyuga clan’s secrets? Can you copy those too?”

"Unlikely. Too simple—we tend to ignore those," Gin quipped, shrugging with mock innocence.

“Outrageous!” Furious, Tenya’s veins bulged as his Byakugan activated, his aura rising.

“Wait, young master. Let me go first!” Sousuke interjected, his calmer disposition contrasting sharply with Tenya’s rashness.

“You think I’ll lose?” Tenya barked.

“Not at all. It’s your father’s orders—to ensure no risks."

Reluctantly, Tenya relented.

“I’m Hyuga Sousuke. Please, show me what you’ve got.”

As Sousuke stepped forward, his Byakugan activated, and he assumed a stance for Gentle Fist. Though respectful, his aura conveyed unwavering determination. Unlike Tenya, Sousuke was a seasoned warrior, hardened by years of real missions.

"Is this necessary? Shouldn't we chat first?" Gin turned to Hashirama, sounding exasperated.

“Nothing to chat about—we’ve covered it in our letters. Plus, do you think Tenya’s the type to sit and talk?”

“Fine. I’m Uchiha Gin. Let’s agree: no hitting the face.” Gin loosened his stance, throwing his wooden sword aside with an air of nonchalance.

“Fists have no eyes, but I’ll try,” Sousuke replied as he launched into his attack.

“Don’t hold back just because I’m delicate,” Gin smirked.

"Byakugan, activate!"

With his Byakugan fully engaged, Sousuke’s vision exposed Gin’s chakra flow—or lack thereof. The supposed clan leader’s reserves seemed disappointingly average.

“Uchiha Gin, here I come!”

Sousuke initiated Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. His movements blurred as he closed the distance, a calloused hand thrusting toward Gin’s chest.

“So… this is how you Hyuga say hello?” Gin remarked with a playful grin.