Hyuga: Infiltration

Inside the Hyuga Clan Compound, in a relatively secluded and elegant courtyard.

Hinata Rei was sitting under the eaves, her left calf still strapped to a wooden board, and her chest wrapped in thick bandages.

She was dressed in plain Hyuga Branch Family attire; her face was a little pale, but she seemed to be in good spirits.

Sitting next to her Hyuga Akari.

Akari sat beside her, her demeanor gentle and serene, though a lingering worry lingered between her brows.

Even after returning from Kyoto, the friendship between the two, forged through their performance of "The Tale of the Heike," remained strong.

Together they experienced the joys and sorrows on stage; the friendship between Tokuko Akari, and Shinrei, played by Rei, transcended their social status and continued into real life.

Having experienced the ups and downs and life-and-death situations depicted in the drama, Akari has become more accepting of the fact that she is about to marry Hyuga Tetsuya according to Clan Rules.

Tetsuya has been trying his best to keep her company these past few days. Although they don't have a particularly deep relationship, they at least respect each other and get along quite well.

And what about pity?

Her freedom was indeed restricted.

On the night she returned to Konoha, several Elders of the Main Family summoned her, along with Hyuga Masayoshi and Hyuga Akari, who also played important roles in the performance.

The Elder of the Main Family showed great vigilance and dissatisfaction with Rei, a child from the Branch Family, who had gained such great prestige in Kyoto, and with Yoshimi, a man who "came from the branch Branch Family but rose to the Main Family."

In his view, this disrupted the strict hierarchical order of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Masayoshi might be harboring dangerous ulterior motives.

But Hyuga Masayoshi was not one to sit idly by and wait for his doom.

He keenly sensed the approaching storm and took immediate action.

He first approached Hyuga Tetsuya, who had clearly expressed his affection for both him and Akari, and secured the support of this influential figure among the younger generation of the Main Family.

Then, in front of the Clan Head Hyuga Tennin and another powerful figure in the Hyuga Sousuke Main Family, Hyuga Sousuke, he skillfully explained the advantages and disadvantages.

As the Clan Head, Tennin harbored doubts about the rigid and harsh system of the Main Family and Branch Families, and longed for change.

After a brief conversation with Uchiha Izuna not long ago, Sōsuke's mind became much more active, and his perspective on issues also changed.

Jiang Yi pointed out that Lian now enjoys a very high reputation and is one of the representative figures of Konoha Ninja.

If, at this time, the Hyuga Clan were to harm Rei due to internal strife and cause a scandal, it would not only be Rei personally who would suffer, but also the reputation and future interests of the entire Hyuga Clan in Konoha and even the Land of Fire.

Tennin and Sōsuke were persuaded.

Tennin, in particular, had hoped to use the changes brought about by this performance to try to promote some reforms within the clan.

The prestige they gained on this trip presented an excellent opportunity.

Therefore, when the Elder's faction tried to forcefully control Rei, Akari, and even Yoshi, they were met with clear opposition from Tennin and Sōsuke.

Tetsuya also sided with Masayoshi, arguing against excessively punishing Akari and Rei, based on the grounds that a fiancé cares for his fiancée and to protect the overall interests of the Hyuga.

The two sides had serious disagreements and a heated argument broke out inside the ancestral hall.

Ultimately, this has led to the current stalemate.

The Elder's faction insisted on severely punishing the transgressing branch Branch Families, and at the very least, to keep Lian under strict control and investigate Jiang Yi's motives.

Tennin, Sōsuke, and Tetsuya, however, advocated observing the consequences and arguing that extreme measures should not be taken until the matter clearly jeopardizes Clan Rules and the fundamental interests of the Main Family.

As a compromise and also for protection, Lian was temporarily placed in this relatively independent courtyard. Her movements were restricted, but at least her personal safety was not in danger, and she had Akari to keep her company.

Jiang Yi was busy traveling around, continuing to negotiate with various factions within the Main Family, trying to gain more support and break the deadlock.

Hinata Rei leaned against a pillar in the veranda, gazing at the meticulously trimmed yet somewhat forlorn bonsai in the courtyard, and softly asked Akari beside her, "Akari- neechan, will Lord Masayoshi... succeed?"

Akari squeezed her hand, her voice gentle yet firm. "Trust Father, and trust the Clan Head chief. Besides, Tetsuya is on our side."

She paused, her gaze drifting beyond the courtyard wall, as if she could see through the many obstacles and reach those who were working tirelessly for them.

"Ren, do you know? Because of our efforts on stage, because of Lord Izuna's performance, many people... have seen different possibilities."

"The change for the Hyuga Clan might... begin with us, who knows?"

Lian nodded.

Just then, some unusual noises could be faintly heard from outside the courtyard wall.

The sound of hurried footsteps and faint clamor could be heard.

Akari and Rei exchanged a glance, both seeing doubt and wariness in each other's eyes.

What happened?

Meanwhile, inside the Dwelling of Clan Head Hyuga Tennin.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Tennin sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed.

Hyuga Sousuke sat at the lower end of the table, his expression also uneasy.

"The Elder's attitude is very firm," Sōsuke said in a deep voice. "He believes that Shōgi is using the prestige gained by Rei to challenge the authority of the Main Family. He even Suggestion... that Shōgi might have subversive intentions."

Tennin sneered, "Overthrow? Hmph, a bunch of pedantic old fools. What Jiangyi wants is nothing more than to give the Branch Family a little more dignity and to give talented clansmen a fairer opportunity. If he wanted to rebel, he would have done it long ago."

Sōsuke sighed, "The Elder's concerns... are not entirely unfounded. The Main Family's Branch Family system has been maintained for a thousand years; if it is shaken, the consequences are unpredictable. Moreover, what Uchiha Izuna said that day..."

He recalled Izuna's seemingly unintentional remarks about "wasting the Byakugan advantage" and "Puppet Techniques for long-range attacks," which could actually ignite the ambitions of the Branch Family, and his heart was filled with even greater worry.

Tennin waved his hand. "Uchiha Izuna is an outsider, his words are not worth worrying about. The key is whether we, the Hyuga, should change, and how we should change."

He looked at Sōsuke, his gaze sharp. "Sōsuke, you're my brother. Tell me the truth, do you really think the current system can allow the Hyuga Clan to maintain its leading position in the Shinobi World as Konoha grows stronger in the future?"

Sōsuke fell silent.

The rapid changes in Konoha made him impatient.

If the Hyuga Clan remains stagnant and clings to old rules, it will be difficult for them to keep up with the times.

However, the Branch Family system cannot be changed directly. After all, the Byakugan is not like the Sharingan. Anyone who tries to put the Sharingan into their eye socket is dead.

But the Byakugan is different; anyone can use Byakugan. Without the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga would face certain annihilation.

This world is not short of greedy people. There are many families in history that have been wiped out because their Kekkei Genkai too useful. The Hyuga must not follow in their footsteps.

But not changing it won't work...

After a long silence, Sōsuke slowly spoke, "Clan Head, reform is imperative. But we must not rush it, much less act rashly. In particular, we must not draw inspiration from external sources; we must be cautious."

Tennin nodded. "I understand. Therefore, Lian and Jiangyi cannot be touched now. They are pawns we can use to test and adjust our strategy. Stabilizing them is stabilizing the hearts of those within the clan who are seeking change."

"What about the Elder...?" Sōsuke asked.

"I will speak with him personally." Tennin stood up, a resolute glint in his eyes. "The future of the Hyuga cannot be decided by those old-fashioned bastards."

"Tennin- sama."

"Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Izuna have come to visit."

Just as undercurrents were surging within the Hyuga Clan.

Two lithe, cat-like figures had silently evaded several sentries and infiltrated deep into the clan's territory, rapidly approaching the courtyard where Rei and Akari were located.

It was Uchiha Hinata and Uchiha Takuma.

They were unaware of the Reto taking place within the Hyuga Clan Compound, nor did they know that Rei, whom they were trying to find, was temporarily safe.

With the Sharingan's exceptional insight and Takuma's superb stealth skills, they moved nimbly through the gradually darkening sky and the somewhat chaotic guard deployment.

The two moved swiftly. Although they knew nothing of Hashirama and Izuna's arrival, their instincts told them that the Hyuga Clan Compound was no place to linger.

We must find Lian as soon as possible before she is discovered, ascertain her condition, and then evacuate quickly.

On the other side, in the Reception Room near the main gate of the Hyuga Clan Compound, the atmosphere was quiet.

Hashirama and Izuna were politely invited in.