What the Senju clan was really like on the inside… Hikaru had so interest, but he honestly didn't care that much.
Back when he was low-ranking in ANBU, Senju Shōjin wouldn't talk to him about many things—partly to avoid all sorts of ssy inspections and trouble from leaked information.
So Hikaru didn't understand the clan's internal situation, and at the ti, he did want to figure out more.
But now, with enough power and enough status, he didn't care anymore.
Because he already knew what the clan would do:
They would find ways to make use of his position.
In other words, they would push "necessary talent" into his hands.
If that was inevitable, why waste energy digging through the clan's internal ss?
Hikaru respected Shōjin, and he intended to pull the Senju back up…
…but that didn't an he would approve of people trying to control him.
Even Shōjin no longer dared to do that.
If anyone else reached out, Hikaru wouldn't be polite.
Still, he wouldn't act rashly.
This kind of thing could damage "clan unity," and it would hurt his image.
It was ti to start caring about his reputation.
He didn't want to seize control of the clan and then spend every day killing this person here and cleaning up that person there.
If he kept doing that, he might actually shove the already-thin Senju straight into hell.
And killing too much always dragged in collateral—Hikaru understood that better than anyone.
Violence was a tool for necessary monts, not the default solution to every problem.
As for Senju Renge's choice, Hikaru simply watched.
He'd already said enough. There was no need to add more.
Renge's complexion gradually returned to normal, but her expression didn't look good.
She clenched her teeth, stared at Hikaru, and finally shook her head.
"Sorry. I can't make that choice."
"Is that so?" Hikaru sighed softly. "I thought you were soone who understood reason. Looks like you've disappointed ."
"Hikaru-sama stands above. Of course you can't lower your head and see how people like us survive."
Renge took a breath. Her face returned to its earlier coolness—if anything, it looked even colder now.
"I heard Hikaru-sama was raised by Elder Shōjin since childhood. May I ask what Elder Shōjin ans to you?"
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
He sensed sothing.
Was this woman like him—raised by so Senju elder?
Or was her family in soone else's hands?
If it was the first case, then Hikaru's answer was simple: cut her down.
His words had already been absolute. He wouldn't leave room.
Keeping promises was its own kind of shinobi way.
And making an example like that would send a very effective warning.
If it was the second case…
Then he had to judge whether she was worth saving.
The second case was easier than the first, but slightly more troubleso.
Calling in Shōjin could solve it.
But favors were the hardest debts to repay—and Hikaru hated owing them.
Still, if the exchange was profitable, a "favor" could be negotiated like any other currency.
Earlier, Hikaru had seen stubbornness in her eyes… and relief.
The stubbornness could an she didn't want to die like this.
Or that she had sothing unfinished—ambition left unspent.
And the relief suggested she hated her current situation—hated being arranged, hated having her family seized.
If she had those emotions, and if she had real value and potential…
Hikaru didn't mind helping.
He had no burden about killing.
But killing his own side ca with caution.
So he decided to try first.
"Tell your situation," Hikaru said softly, staring at her. "And don't lie. You know that with my power, I can uncover anything I want, so…"
"My mother," Renge said, lifting her head with a flat tone.
"My father was already dead when I was born. My mother raised alone.
Senju Ryōta-sama was responsible for caring for and protecting the clan mbers in our area.
And since childhood, I was arranged to be with Senju… Hikaru.
I didn't know who Senju Hikaru was. I only knew it was my fate.
But the ti I could et you kept getting postponed.
Not until this year was I allowed to co to your ho to clean—so I could gradually build familiarity.
I didn't know what you did. I didn't know why it beca like this.
But recently sothing changed.
My mother was controlled by Ryōta-sama, and his order was that I must make Hikaru-sama…"
Hikaru nodded lightly.
He understood.
The timing matched—this year made sense.
And the "recent change" was obviously him becoming an ANBU squad captain.
So his rise really wasn't a secret inside the Senju.
And that rise clearly stirred other people's thoughts—like this Senju Ryōta.
Hikaru hadn't heard the na before and had never interacted with him, but from her wording, this man controlled a portion of the clan.
Maybe not Shōjin's level, but definitely soone with authority.
"Do I cut him down?"
Hikaru rubbed his chin, then smiled.
He already knew what to do.
He couldn't kill outright.
But giving a lesson?
No problem.
He needed the clan to understand one thing:
Don't try to control him. Don't get clever.
And this was the perfect opportunity.
His gaze toward Renge ward slightly.
It was still gentle, like sunlight.
But unlike before—when that gentleness hid ice—now it carried a little heat.
"I understand your situation," Hikaru said with a smile. "And I know what to do."
"Are you going to kill to set an example?" Renge asked quietly, unexpectedly.
Hikaru blinked. "Oh? Why do you say that?"
"I can tell… you truly ant to kill earlier," Renge replied coolly, as if she were talking about soone else.
"I only recently found out, but I already know you're in ANBU—and you're important.
Soone at your level wouldn't tolerate being controlled.
And Elder Shōjin warned too.
If I'm not wrong, you've had many contacts with Elder Shōjin… maybe even conflicts.
So when soone like appears, if you don't feel the need to retaliate against whoever is behind …
Then killing is the best warning.
I'm a small person. If my death achieves the warning, then that's the cleanest outco.
Am I right, Hikaru-sama?"
Hikaru stared at her silently.
Then he realized—
this woman's mind moved fast.
With only scattered fragnts, she'd connected the whole pattern and analyzed his intent.
That was impressive.
But her attitude was still a problem.
Too cold.
Cold could trigger a desire to conquer…
but it could also make people uncomfortable.
That stubbornness in her eyes earlier probably wasn't only fear of death.
It was also resentnt at her fate—and resentnt that her ability had never been used.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Hikaru applauded lightly, smiling at her.
"Excellent analysis. Truly excellent."
"Should I thank you for the praise," Renge asked, "or beg for rcy?"
She smiled faintly.
"Maybe this is my fate."
"Isn't what you're doing right now already begging for rcy?"
Hikaru looked at her with interest and shook his head.
"Of course, that's only my interpretation.
What you're doing is demonstrating intelligence and ability—so I'll see you have value.
So I might help you."
"Just my opinion. If I'm wrong, then forgive ."
"Maybe," Renge said softly, shaking her head. "But there's one thing I want to tell you. People's hearts aren't always so dark. Perhaps I just don't understand the world enough."
"Then I'll apologize," Hikaru said casually, unfazed.
"But you're right about one thing: your understanding of this world is still insufficient."
He didn't continue that topic.
It was enough.
And the truth was, he had no intention of killing her anymore—at least not now.
Hikaru stood and sat back on the sofa.
Renge began silently cleaning the broken tea set.
She still didn't know what his final decision was…
…but she didn't forget what her role required.
"Clean it later," Hikaru said, patting the sofa again. "Co here. Sit."
Renge stiffened slightly.
Hesitation and worry flickered across her face.
But in the end, she stood and walked over, then sat beside him.
"Good," Hikaru chuckled. "You're starting to get into the right state. Even if it's still… barely acceptable."
"I'll ask you sothing.
If you give a good answer, I'll give you a good answer."
"Yes, Hikaru-sama," Renge said, lowering her head. Her voice steadied.
"There's sothing I'm hesitating about."
Hikaru leaned back, his voice stretching long and calm as he stared at the ceiling, choosing his words.
"If I step into it, I'll gain imdiate benefits.
But for the future—for my goal—it's not good. It might even force to spend far more ti to reach my goal.
But if I don't step in, then the road ahead might stay under my control.
And in the next few years, I can gain even more.
But I'll also lose a lot.
Maybe I'll lose so much that my goal becos impossible.
Maybe… I'll lose everything."
"So tell . How should I handle it? How do I control it?"
Hikaru finished and waited, smiling gently.
Renge fell into deep thought.
She knew this was the mont that determined her fate.
After thinking carefully, she raised her head.
"Hikaru-sama, this is a very difficult choice," she said coolly.
"But if you have enough strength and enough ans to control how far the situation develops—
then stepping in isn't impossible.
You can take the current benefits, control the scale, and still gain future returns—finally achieving your goal.
If you don't have that, then you can only avoid it.
You'll lose many things in the future, but you seem to already know what you'll lose.
So prepare in advance and build defenses to reduce the damage.
If you truly have no strength or ans at all…
then it's better to step in.
Because taking longer to achieve a goal is still better than never achieving it at all."
"And if I do have the strength and ans," Hikaru asked, eyes narrowing slightly with interest, "and I step in… how far should I go?"
"Balance," Renge answered firmly.
"Balance between stepping in and not stepping in.
Take the present profit.
Preserve the future profit.
And in the end, still achieve your purpose."
Hikaru smiled at her.
In truth, he already had an answer.
Renge's words only hardened his resolve.
It would be hard.
But he had strength. He had ans.
So why wouldn't he try?
"Looks like you gave the answer that was already in my heart," Hikaru said calmly.
"From now on, don't call 'sir.' Call Hikaru.
You can treat it as an order, or as my request."
"Yes… Hikaru-kun," Renge replied, with minimal hesitation this ti—though her eyes carried sothing else.
"This house has many rooms," Hikaru said, standing and stretching lazily.
"Go prepare another one."
"In a few days… soone may co to stay with you."
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