As soon as Hideo left their territory, Kenshin sighed in relief and headed to the girls' room to question Hitomi about this man.
The girls were gripped by anxiety, unaware of what was happening outside. They could only sit and wait. Kasumi, the most active and restless, couldn't stay put and paced the room excitedly.
"Your clan has always been arrogant and aggressive. God forbid those bastards decide to attack…" Kasumi said anxiously, pacing nonstop.
"It's no longer my clan. Besides, if the Nara Clan learns you're here, there'll be no fewer problems," Hitomi said, only mildly worried about how it might end. She knew well how arrogant Hyuga Clan members were and that conflict could spark over nothing.
As soon as the door opened, the girls turned to Kenshin entering and immediately chattered.
"Kenshin!"
"What happened?"
"Is everything okay?"
Kenshin expected the girls to be a bit anxious but not this intensely emotional. As a good empath, he easily sensed their feelings and hurried to reassure his women.
"Everything's fine, the meeting went well, and that Hyuga Clan member has left. Hitomi, I'd like to talk to you; you might know this man," Kenshin said, stepping to his fourth wife, touching her head, and transmitting images of Hyuga Hideo's appearance and voice.
"Ah! God, it's my brother!" Hitomi exclaimed in shock, surprising everyone, especially Kenshin.
"You have a brother? I thought your only older brother died in the war with Suna…" Kenshin said in surprise.
"Hideo is my cousin, son of the very man I told you about…" Hitomi whispered bitterly. It pained her to recall her uncle, who had ruined her life while believing she had ruined his.
"I see… That explains it. No wonder he was so restrained, contrary to the known arrogance of all Hyuga Clan members," Kenshin murmured thoughtfully, replaying the entire meeting with Hideo in his mind.
"He was always a very good man, the complete opposite of his father. What did he want at this meeting?" Hitomi asked curiously. Hyuga Hideo was one of the few she wished only well.
"It's a long story, so I'll show you instead," Kenshin said with a smile, spending a few minutes showing his wives everything that happened in the negotiation room.
"Ah, Kenshin, I love it when you're so commanding…" Natsumi purred, hugging him from behind. She loved this negotiation scene and was ready to pounce on Kenshin right then.
"Stop it, girl, we have a lot to do. We'll play tonight," Kenshin said with a smile. Natsumi's affections nearly shook his focus and tempted him to postpone important matters for fun.
For the next half hour, Kenshin discussed the negotiation results with the girls. Of all his wives, only two actively engaged: Kasumi and Hitomi. Aya understood nothing of it, and Natsumi voiced opinions only occasionally.
Aside from details, Kenshin concluded during the discussion that they needed maneuvering room. They required a few months' head start to fortify their positions and become a tough opponent even for Konoha.
Kasumi once again assured him that since Hyuga Hideo found nothing, Konoha had no official grounds to oppose the Nakayama Family, but Kenshin knew that with so many "oddities" and secrets in this sanctuary, interest from major powers was only a matter of time.
Confirming Hyuga Hideo had fully left Nakayama Family territory, Kenshin returned to work, of which there was a mountain left.
Evening of day 393. Konoha, Hyuga Clan head's house.
Hyuga Hiashi sat in his house's courtyard, enjoying the evening cool with his wife and two daughters. Though the Hyuga Clan head was a very callous and ruthless man, this didn't apply to his family. Both daughters grew like two flowers, showered with love from all sides.
He knew such soft upbringing hindered forming a strong character, already evident in his eldest daughter, but the man ruthless to others' tears couldn't resist his daughter's beautiful eyes and raised her in a greenhouse, clashing with his father over it more than once.
Suddenly, his serene expression turned serious; he looked aside, then smilingly told his wife to take the daughters inside. Once they left, Hiashi signaled the guest to enter and indifferently regarded the arriving Hideo.
"Greetings, lord," Hyuga Hideo said respectfully, bowing to the clan head. Protocol required branch family members to kneel before the head, but Hideo, a highly promising branch member, had permission for a deep bow only.
"I hope you're not wasting my time," Hiashi said calmly, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, lord. I came to return the 'White Eye' and report on the meeting with the head of the organization calling itself the Nakayama Family," Hideo said respectfully but not obsequiously.
"A mercenary group? What interesting tidings could you bring me about this little band of mercenaries?" Hiashi said with a light chuckle. He liked Hyuga Hideo, so talking to him neither burdened nor irritated the clan head.
"First, I report that even with the 'White Eye,' I found no trace of Hitomi. As for the Nakayama Family…"