Chapter 304: Gambling on the Future

Outside, the wind was howling, the sky was gray and not a single star was seen, and it was about to snow again. But inside the house, it was warm. The Hyuga clan was rich and powerful, with countless land and minerals under their names, so they naturally would not suffer a bit in life. Moreover, this was the place where the clan used to support the elderly meritorious ninjas, and it was so hot that it made people sweat.

In fact, Hyuga Hizashi was sweating profusely at this moment, and his eyes were bloodshot. The reason why he chose to interrogate here was that the elders in the clan were very strict and would not be half-hearted. But after most of the night, he had not received any useful clues, so how could he not be anxious?

Once the sun rises, those villagers who feel they have been wronged will certainly look for connections to complain. The Hyuga clan is big and powerful, so they are not afraid. But to be frank, this matter is his personal behavior, so the family will naturally pretend to be unaware. And if the Hokage leaves an impression of him as a man who is obsessed with business and unscrupulous, he will never make any progress in his life. The best ending is to stay in the clan and be the head of a branch clan.

Hinata Hizashi gritted his teeth and felt that he couldn't go on like this any longer. He called over his nephew, whom he respected very much, and whispered to him. Then he sat on the floor with a cup of tea and a gloomy expression on his face.

About half an hour later, the cousin led a ninja wearing a Konoha standard vest into the house. Hyuga Hizashi did not dare to neglect him and hurriedly stood up and said, "I'm sorry to call you here in the middle of the night..."

Before Hizashi could finish, the ninja, who was about 40 years old, interrupted with a smile: "It's okay, you know, when it rains, my whole body aches and I can't sleep. Why not go out and move around."

Hiashi's expression eased, and he didn't hesitate to explain the whole story. The man nodded solemnly and said, "I'll do my best."

"Thanks for your hard work!"

"It's too formal for us to talk about this. Time waits for no one. I will start reading your mind now."

A trace of gratitude flashed across Hiashi's eyes, and he instructed his cousin, "Go and carry the few people you brought back. Let's start with them."

Not long after, the man came and sat cross-legged. In front of him was an armchair for holding a human body. On the chair, a person was curled up crookedly. It was the gangster who had been talking nonsense in the barbecue restaurant.

The ninja named Yamanaka took a deep breath, slowly made a seal, his eyes inexplicably became deep, and then he placed his hand on the gangster's forehead and began to use the clan's secret technique to search his memory.

This was a very mentally exhausting task. Even though the middle-aged man had done it many times, he still felt exhausted. After about a cup of tea, he ended the search and shook his head at Hiashi's hopeful gaze, indicating that he had not gained anything.

Then the next one, still nothing; the next one, still nothing; the next one, still nothing. Hizashi's heart gradually sank to the bottom. Could it be that there are people in the village who are really dissatisfied with the Hokage from the bottom of their hearts? Rather than just rumors spread by someone with ulterior motives?

It was not until dawn, with snowflakes as big as goose feathers floating in the air, that the Yamanaka Ninja with bloodshot eyes finally found a useful clue, thus ending his torment for the night.

"There is a mutton restaurant on the north side of the village. The chef there once gave this man one thousand taels and asked him to deliberately say something unfavorable to the Hokage."

Hinata Hizashi was in a trance, thinking that what he did was a huge joke. What use could a cook in a mutton restaurant be? If it got out, people would only laugh at him as a stingy ninja who was calculating and calculating, which would only add to the joke.

But the work was already half done, and there was no option to give up halfway. Hyuga Hizashi calmed himself down, turned his head and said to his cousin, "Take a few reliable ninjas and catch that damn cook, and do it quickly!"

The young Hyuga ninja hesitated to speak. He really wanted to tell his uncle that this was a futile effort, but after seeing the indifference and panic on his face, he gave up the idea and nodded and walked out.

Hizashi forced a laugh and said to his friend, "I'm sorry for making a fool of myself. I will explain to the Hokage later and will definitely not involve you."

The Yamanaka Ninja shook his head and said softly, "I have decided to step back. It doesn't matter what the Hokage thinks of me. You are still very young and have a long way to go. You will inevitably have to wander in the world for a while. But after tonight, I am afraid you will offend a lot of people. It will be very difficult to make a difference."

Hiashi sighed and said, "As a member of a large family, I am inevitably a victim sometimes. I have long been aware of this. The family has nurtured me, and I have the responsibility to strive for every opportunity for improvement for it."

"You are too impatient." The Yamanaka ninja stood up and stretched himself, saying, "Is it the Uchiha clan that put pressure on you? You are so impatient, which is unlike you on the battlefield."

"On the battlefield, you gamble your life, and in politics, you gamble your luck. The two cannot be confused." Hiashi said helplessly: "One step slow leads to another. The Hyuga clan is now just a showpiece with a glamorous appearance. There are not many opportunities left for us."

The Yamanaka Ninja tilted his head and thought for a moment, then said, "I don't understand politics. I've lived for most of my life and I'm almost dead, but I still don't understand it. It seems that I don't have this attribute in my mother's womb. I don't want to study it anymore. I just want to take care of my own little family. As for what the future will be like, I can't control it. I want to spend the remaining years peacefully. If you need similar work again, just go find my son and he will help you."

Hiashi looked lonely, then he suddenly raised his head and asked anxiously, "How many years? Your health has always been good, and it is not a problem to live another 30 years. How can it be only a few years?"

The mountain ninja waved his hands casually and said nonchalantly: "When I was young, I rolled among the dead, which damaged my foundation. Now my body aches all the time, and I can't even finish a bowl of rice. The day when I go to see my ancestors is not far away."

This is also the main reason why most ninjas have short life spans, and there is no other reason. When they were young, in order to save their lives on the battlefield, they took overdraft drugs such as Bingliang Pills as food. The cells in their bodies had already reached the limit of the number of divisions, and they were considered lucky if they could live to the age of 40.

Hizashi finally couldn't help it, and slapped himself with tears in his eyes, saying in agony: "You and I are the only two left in the original team. I called you to use so much chakra for my own selfish desires. I am worse than a pig or a dog!"

The Yamanaka ninja sat cross-legged, grabbed Hiashi's hand, and said seriously: "It has nothing to do with you, so why blame yourself? You saved me twice on the battlefield, and I am unable to repay this favor. If you have any problems in the future, just go to my son. He has a good talent and has now practiced the secret technique to the advanced level."

Hiashi held his friend's hand, and then he realized that there was no warmth in it, as if he was holding a piece of ice. He couldn't help but feel more sad: "Don't worry, I will take good care of him. Let's get together if we have time today. We haven't had a drink together for a long time."

"No need. Tomorrow is the New Year. I have to go back to buy New Year's goods. I will leave after the cook arrives and searches."

Hiashi was about to say something, but he saw his cousin rushing over with a look of frost on his face, so he swallowed his words and asked, "Where is he?"

The young Hyuga ninja looked annoyed, stamped his feet and said angrily: "He committed suicide!"

As if afraid of being blamed by his uncle, the young Hyuga ninja added: "He died last night, and his body was as hard as frozen mutton."

Hinata Hizashi was delighted, thinking that there was a ray of hope, and asked hurriedly, "Where is the body?"

"It was in the front yard. I thought it was unlucky so I didn't bring it in."

"It's just right that you don't want to carry the body in. You can just take the body to the root to find Brother. He knows what to do!"

The mountain ninja interrupted and said, "Since you dislike bad luck, why don't we go to another place? Why do we have to rush to the root with so many troops?"

Hiashi hurriedly shook his head and said, "You should not use chakra now. The ninjas of the root can also search the memories of the dead. I will get the same result if I go there."

"Although I am stupid, I know the difference between an individual and an organization. If we don't get any useful results from the cook, the consequences will be unimaginable if the Hokage gets angry and blames us. I don't dare to dream of another spring, so what difference does it make if I die early or late? Let me do it. It can be over in just a meal."

Hiashi lowered his head and said nothing, clearly acquiescing. Between his family and his friends, he had no choice: "I just hope that with the blessing of our ancestors, we can really uncover a shocking case."

The Yamanaka ninja smiled, without any displeasure, and said: "This is the Hyuga Hizashi who dares to fight and kill on the battlefield!"

"Don't laugh at me. I'm afraid I'll have to go to your house to eat after this."

"Come anyway."

The middle-aged man threw down a sentence, braved the wind and snow, walked out of the warm room, and came to the courtyard. For him, cold or heat is no longer perceptible, only the change of scenery caused by the change of seasons will remind him of the time. The reason why he wanted to take on such a big responsibility, even ignoring the resistance of his body, was just to take a gamble, betting that Hinata Hizashi was as correct as before on the battlefield, after all, he was a rising star that he really believed in.

Everyone has selfish desires. His son is only from a side branch of the Shanzhong clan, and he will never be able to get in touch with the real core in his life. Now he is still alive, and can barely get a small and idle job in the intelligence department, and get a salary that makes the clan members jealous. But if he dies one day? I am afraid that the family will really fall into decline, right?

Life is a gamble, Hizashi is gambling, and so are the mountain ninjas.