Family is forever (2)

Grandfather, please forgive me. I'm not sure how I tamed the seven-tailed beasts, but it must have had something to do with the seal Lord Hashirama placed on the box.

His grandfather shook his head and then said "I already told you I lived through the warring era, do you think I'd believe what you said just now?"

"forget it, you don't need to tell me"

Mizuna's grandfather looked at the family altar his wrinkled face creased further as he pondered the weight of his thoughts. His eyes now seemed to hold a deep concern, as if the burdens of the past had etched themselves into his very soul

"Mizuna, let me tell you a story"

His hands clenched into fists. The air around him seemed heavy with the weight of unspoken secrets, and the silence was palpable

"When the Senjus were creating this village, Hashirama Senju promised my father, my uncle, and my brothers that they would create a village where we can live peacefully, see the village prosper and one day a Hyuga might become Konohagakure's leader through voting by the leaders of the clans"

"but do you know what happened?" His grandfather asked seemingly to no one in particular "They died not long after Konohagakure was created, and we the Hyugas became mere servants of the Senjus"

"Go to this place" "Scout this area" "Locate this enemy! " "Track this person!" "Guard this place!" "infiltrate this village!"

*crack*

Mizuna's grandfather stepped on the wooden floor and cracked it

"Mizuna my grandchild, we became slaves of the Hokage that can only follow his command"

"We were forced to select branch members not to use them to protect the main house but in reality, they are the sacrifice we offer to Kohonogakure"

*crack*

Mizuna's grandfather stepped on the wooden floor and cracked it

"So many Hyugas died from the missions Tobirama Senju sent them to"

"Now a mere 20-year-old child became a Hokage without the approval of the other clans of Konohagakure how laughable was that?"

"Grandfather, why are you saying all of this to me?" Mizuna is very surprised to hear all those words from his stern and expressionless grandfather

"I do not know what you are planning to do, but what I know is you returned here with the branch members of our clan that are now completely loyal to you"

"Y-you grandfather what did you do to them?.. "

Mizuna's grandfather raised his hand signalling Mizuna to stop talking and said "Do not worry memory reading did not work on them, instead the member of the Yamanaka clan we captured suffered a backlash and died"

"as for the members of the branch family, all of them are fine and I along with the elders won't ask how you removed the effect of the cursed mark"

"I know you are planning to do something. Tell me, what do you need for your plan to succeed?"

Mizuna ponders the complexity of the question, weighing the pros and cons of each possible response. He gulped

"I need powerful shinobis grandfather and Ryo"

His grandfather looked intensely at Mizuna, seemingly trying to decipher the expression on his face "Is that all you need?" Mizuna nodded

"You know Mizuna, I am already old and I'll be honest with you, your uncle is too weak and too soft to lead the Hyuga. I didn't have a choice back then but now" he paused for a few seconds then continued

"I'll give you Ryo, and half of my Jonin protectors but promise me one thing"

His grandfather looked at Mizuna with a serious expression

"I don't care how you do it, nor do I care how much blood flows on the streets. I only want two things. You must protect our clan and become the Hokage to free us from this cycle of their enslavement"

Mizuna smiled and said "I understand grandfather, thankyou" he then bowed and added "Grandfather please send your jonin protectors to Tanzaku Quarters along with the branch members"

"Do you have a mission assigned by that kid?"

"Yes grandfather, we will head out to the land of Rivers then continue till we reach the village Hidden by Sands"

"What!? That's too dangerous!" His brow furrowed in concern "That kid is doing what his predecessor did to the Hyugas again!"

*crack*

Mizuna's grandfather stepped on the wooden floor and cracked it

Mizuna bowed slightly and said "Don't forget what I am capable of doing grandfather. Please put your trust in me"

"*sigh* I hope you know what you are doing" His grandfather relaxed his gaze at Mizuna

*clap* His grandfather clapped and then a door opened behind him, 30 Jonin wearing a black mask walked into the room. Their presence radiated an aura of deadly intent that brought shivers down one's spine

"You heard everything right?"

The 30 Jonins kneeled on one knee and said "We obey your command, Elder"

Mizuna's grandfather looked at the 30 masked Hyugas "Thank you all for serving this old man, now you must follow Mizuna and protect him from the shadows, settle in Tanzaku Quarters near his residence and blend in with the branch members.

"You will now take your orders from him, I hope you will be loyal to my grandson like how you are to me"

"Yes clan elder" "Thank you for taking care of us all these years, elder"

"You all can leave now"

Mizuna walked outside the wooden house and headed in the direction of His mother's residence. His eyes were lost in thought, and his mind was consumed by secrets he uncovered

'Living during the 1st shinobi war is more complicated than I thought'

'I do not know if I can fully trust my grandfather but as long as I enslave the 30 Jonins he put under my command, their threat disappear'

"Why do you look so worried little twerp, what are you thinking about? "

Mizuna looked towards where the voice came from, unknowingly he reached his mother's residence and saw Kimi looking out the window seemingly waiting for him to return

The moon cast its glow illuminating the contours of her feature

Mizuna smiled at her " It's nothing, Aunt Kimi, let's rest. We have a lot to do tomorrow"