The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 415 Sister-in-law, Hyuga Hanabi

That afternoon, the Hyuga residence was quiet, with only the rustling of the sycamore leaves in the courtyard.

Carrying a jar of mandarin orange sake that she had just retrieved from the kitchen, Hinata Hinata walked briskly toward her older sister Hinata's room.

The jar was wrapped in a clean cotton cloth, and you could faintly smell the sweet fruity aroma emanating from it. It was specially brewed by the kitchen for Hinata Hyuga, knowing that she always preferred this kind of mild fruit wine.

Hinata Hanabi thought that her sister had been looking rather melancholy lately, and perhaps this newly brewed kanjira sake could ease her worries. A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips, and her steps became lighter.

She has always been close to Hinata Hyuga, and has been attached to this gentle older sister since childhood. The two sisters talk about everything and have never had the habit of knocking on the door.

Reaching the familiar carved wooden door, Hinata Hanabi had already prepared her words before pushing the door open without hesitation.

The moment the creaking sound of the hinge turning faded, Hyuga Hanabi's smile froze, her arms tightened around the wine jar instinctively, and she even missed a beat of breathing.

A few drops of the cotton cloth on the jar slipped off, and the sweet aroma of the wine quietly wafted out, but it did nothing to dispel the shock and bewilderment that welled up in her heart.

The scene inside her boudoir was completely beyond her expectations.

Beside the soft couch by the window, Hinata Hyuga lowered her eyes slightly. Her elegant moon-white dress accentuated her gentle temperament. A simple jade hairpin adorned her hair, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks, adding to her softness.

The man standing beside her wore a dark blue brocade robe with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the hem. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, and his handsome face was so striking that it was mesmerizing. He was none other than the current sole ruler of the ninja world, Uchiha Sanfeng.

Sunlight streamed in through the pale blue window curtains, casting a soft glow on the two of them.

Uchiha Mitsumine leaned down slightly and gently embraced Hinata Hyuga, one hand supporting her waist and the other holding a cup of warm tea, seemingly about to bring it to her lips.

The way the two of them nestled together was so intimate that everything around them seemed to fade into the background, like a meticulously crafted traditional Chinese painting, serene and beautiful, allowing no disturbance whatsoever.

"Sister...Sister?"

Hinata Hanabi's voice, trembling slightly, broke the silence of the room.

She instinctively pulled her feet back, wanting to hide behind the door, but then realized it wasn't appropriate and could only stand there frozen.

The wine jar in her arms swayed slightly, and the sweet fruity aroma mixed with a hint of wine permeated the air. This mingled with the original faint tea fragrance and the unique cool scent emanating from Uchiha Sanfeng, creating a jarring effect, like a stain that had forcibly intruded into this beautiful painting.

"you……"

She didn't know how to begin, and the words stuck in her throat, making her chest feel tight. Her mind was a jumbled mess, like countless bees buzzing around her, and even her eyes were unfocused.

After all, in her mind, Uchiha Mitsunaga was the only ruler of the ninja world, powerful and handsome, and the perfect husband in the hearts of countless women.

Countless noble ladies would kill to marry him, and even getting to see him was a struggle.

Moreover, he is the core of the Uchiha clan, to which the Hyuga clan depends. Although the two clans have a subordinate relationship, they should still abide by proper etiquette.

Upon hearing her voice, the two people beside the couch turned their heads at the same time, their movements slightly hesitant due to being startled.

The air inside the room seemed to freeze at that moment, and even the sunlight seemed to slow down its flow.

Hinata Hyuga's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, the blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, and even her neck turned a light pink.

She blinked unconsciously, her eyes filled with panic, like a child caught doing something wrong.

She abruptly took half a step back, her steps faltering, and hurriedly avoided Uchiha Mitsumine's hand offering tea.

The cup of tea swayed slightly in Uchiha Sanfeng's hands, and a little warm tea splashed out, landing on his dark blue brocade robe, leaving a small dark mark that intertwined with the cloud patterns on it.

Hinata Hyuga dared not meet Hanabi Hyuga's gaze, her eyes darting away before finally settling on the green bamboo carpet on the ground, her breathing becoming rapid.

Uchiha Sanfeng, on the other hand, appeared much calmer. As expected of the long-time rulers of the ninja world, he did not panic at all even when such a scene was witnessed.

He quickly concealed the tenderness in his eyes, and his expression regained some of the composure and majesty of the ruler of the ninja world. It was an aura that naturally settled down from being in a high position for a long time, making people dare not look directly at him.

He glanced down at Hinata Hyuga, who was already flustered in his arms, his gaze lingering for a moment on her flushed cheeks with a hint of barely perceptible comfort, before looking up at Hanabi Hyuga, who stood at the door in shock, his eyes calm and unwavering.

He spoke calmly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Hanabi, why didn't you knock before sneaking in?"

Hinata Hanabi felt a sudden tension. She could clearly see the slightly disheveled strands of hair at her sister's temples, the lingering tenderness in Uchiha Mitsunori's eyes, and the intimacy between the two that still lingered in the air—all of which silently refuted this "illusion."

She blinked hard to make sure she wasn't seeing things, and her shock intensified.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but found that her fingertips were still trembling slightly.

She opened her mouth, wanting to ask so many questions: why her sister was so close to Uchiha Mitsumine, what kind of entanglement existed between them, and how long this relationship had been hidden. But seeing Hinata Hyuga's flustered and helpless appearance, not even daring to lift her head, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, leaving only a heart full of doubt and confusion.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became stagnant, and even the sound of breathing seemed exceptionally clear.

Hinata Hyuga bit her lower lip, her teeth gently rubbing against her lips, her hands nervously gripping the cuffs of her clothes, never daring to look up, as if awaiting some kind of judgment.

Uchiha Mitsunori gently placed the cup of tea in his hand on the low table beside him.

His gaze fell on Hinata Hanabi, and his tone left no room for refusal: "Hanabi, since you're here, come in. What kind of behavior is this, standing at the door?"

Hinata Hanabi hesitated for a moment, her legs feeling as heavy as lead, each step feeling exceptionally difficult.

She could feel her sister's gaze on her, filled with panic and pleading, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

The carved wooden door closed slowly behind her, making a soft sound that shut out the wind from the courtyard.

She carefully placed the tangerine wine she was holding on the low cabinet by the door. The wine jar clinked against the wooden cabinet, making a soft sound that was particularly clear in the stagnant atmosphere.

"I...I heard that the mandarin rice wine in the kitchen is ready, and I was thinking of sending it over for my sister to try."

Hinata Hanabi's voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. Her gaze unconsciously darted back and forth between the two of them, but she dared not linger for long.

"I didn't know... I didn't know Lord Mimine was also there. If I had known, I certainly wouldn't have been so rash."

She lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of apology, but more so, a sense of helplessness.

Uchiha Mitsunori nodded slightly, showing no sign of anything amiss: "I came here today to discuss important matters with your sister, Hyuga Hinata. However, we've been talking for a while, so I'll rest here for a bit and have a cup of tea."

He deliberately emphasized the words "discuss important matters," as if he were deliberately explaining their earlier intimacy, or as if he were subtly concealing something. But to Hinata Hanabi's ears, that somewhat awkward explanation only made things more obvious.

However, such an explanation is far-fetched, and even he himself may find it unconvincing.

Hyuga Hanabi, who spends every day with Hyuga Hinata, could easily see the panic in her older sister's eyes, which was not due to any "important matter".

That was clearly a young woman's shyness and helplessness at having her secret thoughts exposed; it was an embarrassment she couldn't hide.

The doubts in her mind grew heavier and heavier, like a tangled mess that she couldn't unravel. But reason told her that this was not the time to press for answers; if she insisted on asking, it would only make the situation more awkward.

After all, the three peaks of the Uchiha clan are the rulers of the ninja world, with extremely noble and special status. If things were to get too ugly, it would not only damage the reputation of the rulers, but also be a huge disaster for the Hyuga clan, which is an affiliated family, and might even implicate the entire clan.

Hinata Hyuga finally slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with a pleading look, and looked at Hanabi Hyuga.

"Hanabi, you...you should go back first. I still have some things to talk to Mr. Mitsumine. I'll talk to you later...later."

Seeing the pleading and guilt in her sister's eyes, Hinata Hanabi temporarily suppressed all her doubts.

She finally nodded, a hint of disappointment in her voice: "Alright. Then, sister, you two talk slowly. I've left this jar of wine here; remember to try it, sister, it's the kind of wine you like."

After saying that, she turned around and walked heavily toward the door, each step feeling like she was walking on cotton, her whole body feeling weak and powerless.

As she reached the door, she placed her hand on the doorknob, hesitated for a moment, and secretly glanced at it.

Suddenly, Lord Mitsumine appeared beside Hinata Hyuga, gently embracing his older sister...

Hinata Hanabi's heart sank suddenly, as if she had been gently bumped by something.

The wind started blowing in the courtyard again, rustling the sycamore leaves as if they were whispering.

But Hinata Hanabi no longer had the lighthearted feeling she had when she arrived, and she walked slowly on the bluestone path.

She already knew the answer in her heart: there must be a secret romance between Hinata and Lord Mitsumine. This relationship must have been hidden for a long time, and it must have caused Hinata a lot of suffering, otherwise she wouldn't be so careful.

Hyuga Hanabi stood under the sycamore tree in the courtyard, gazing at the tightly closed carved wooden door, and muttered to herself, "When did my sister manage to win over Lord Mimine?! He's the dream man of countless women in the ninja world, strong yet gentle, I'm so envious..."

(Fellow readers, let's discuss whether or not to acquire Hinata Hanabi, and if so, what strategy to use?)