As soon as the middle-aged man entered the room, Kenshin immediately focused on his "status."
Name: Hyuga Hideo
Age: 46 years
Talent Level: 32
Chakra Quality: 8
Chakra Amount: 8300
Chakra Control: 81%
"Strong…" Kenshin thought, but showed no sign. He merely smiled amiably and gestured to the armchair opposite him.
"Hideo-san, please, have a seat."
Hearing his name, Hyuga Hideo was a bit surprised but tried not to show his true emotions, so he sat opposite the gray-haired man.
"Thank you..?" Hideo drawled suggestively.
"Nakayama Kenshin," Kenshin replied, deciding not to hide his real name. The period of total secrecy was over, and he figured the sooner the Nakayama Family gained some notoriety and influence, the better.
"Pleased to meet you, Nakayama-san," Hideo said with a smile. He was a true professional, long since learned to negotiate with a smile even against bitterest enemies. "So you lead this mercenary organization?"
"Likewise, Hideo-san. And yes, I am the head of the Nakayama Family," Kenshin replied softly, then continued, "So why have Konoha and the Hyuga Clan in particular taken an interest in our little family?"
"I won't beat around the bush, Nakayama-san. The fact is, according to our information, a Hyuga Clan member is among your mercenary organization. If so, could you hand him over nicely? I assure you, it will have no repercussions for your group," Hideo said with a friendly smile, all the while pondering who this man before him might be.
He saw no shinobi signs in this man, as if he were an ordinary human. His body's reaction speed was very low, leaving Hideo puzzled. Either Nakayama Kenshin was that confident and relaxed, or he hid his true power extremely well. Hideo had no doubt the man opposite wasn't ordinary. He sensed hidden danger within him and felt discomfort, as if this person read him like an open book.
"A Hyuga Clan member? Impossible. Everyone in this house, except you, is a member of my Nakayama Family," Kenshin said with a smile.
"So you're not opposed if I check your house for Hyuga Clan members using our clan's special artifact?" Hideo asked, pulling a small, perfectly round white stone from his chest pocket, resembling a Byakugan.
"Only if you let me examine it first," Kenshin said, his friendly smile unwavering.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. Our clan relic mustn't fall into outsider hands," Hyuga Hideo shook his head negatively and continued, "But I assure you, this artifact is non-offensive and won't harm anyone."
Kenshin just kept smiling at Hideo, saying nothing. The silence lasted about a minute until Hideo finally broke, sighing.
"Very well, but I hope you understand what will happen if I notice any improper action toward our clan artifact?" Hideo asked somewhat threateningly, to warn Kenshin of the seriousness.
"Of course, Hideo-san. I'm not planning to take it from you; it's useless to me," Kenshin said with a smile, making Hideo's eyebrow twitch. He rarely heard such statements directed at him, as if something could be taken from his hands, let alone the Hyuga Clan's priceless artifact.
Nevertheless, Hyuga Hideo handed over the artifact and placed it on the table. Kenshin leisurely reached out, took the intriguing white orb, and examined it closely, noting interesting fuinjutsu nodes.
"Very well, Hideo-san, you may use it if it helps your clan's investigation," Kenshin said with a smile, having turned the orb in his hands for just ten seconds—which, under x150 focus, became nearly half an hour of scrutiny.
Hideo was somewhat surprised at how quickly Kenshin finished inspecting the artifact, planting a seed of doubt about bluffing in his mind. All this mystery from the man seemed staged, and ten seconds was clearly too little for anyone versed in artifacts. Yet something deep inside told him not to jump to conclusions and stay neutral.
He took the artifact back and, with Kenshin's consent, activated it. An invisible pulse burst from the small white orb, covering a fifty-kilometer radius. This artifact targeted escaped slaves with forehead slave seals and was extremely effective. Only a few fuinjutsu masters from the now-defunct Uzumaki Clan could block it.
Kenshin barely suppressed a smile at Hideo's expression when he activated the artifact and found nothing. With a serious face, he repeated the activation but found nothing again, completely changing his attitude toward Kenshin.
"Very well, Nakayama-san, there's no clan member on your territory, but don't think you can escape unscathed if the Hyuga Clan suddenly learns she was here…" Hideo said, failing to contain his emotions, then realizing he'd said too much, changed the subject.
"She..?" Kenshin thought in surprise, listening to the next words.
"Ahem, in any case, Nakayama-san, we'd best never meet again. I don't know who you are, but I advise toning down the pomp, especially when dealing with entities that could crush you with one hand. If someone else had been the envoy instead of me, you might have provoked a conflict beyond your means," Hideo said calmly. If he'd previously harbored hope that Hitomi had fled and found refuge with these mercenaries, now he had no reason to feel kindly toward them.
"Are you threatening me..?" Kenshin asked, squinting, still smiling. Seeing his interlocutor's unstable emotions, he wanted more information.
"It's not a threat, it's a warning. I'm not interested in you or your organization personally, but to show such confidence as you do requires something to back it up," Hideo said, staring straight into his eyes. Alas, even with his vast experience, he saw no flicker of true emotion in those eyes.
"Understood, Hideo-san. If we're done, I'd like to return to my affairs," Kenshin said, rising from his armchair.
Hyuga Hideo rose too and headed for the exit, where Ichiro courteously met him with several young men. They emotionlessly escorted him from the building and saw him off the premises, ensuring he left their territory.