Hyuga: Dealing with the aftermath

When Izuna stopped beating him, one of his two cronies tried to help, but Izuna, without even turning his head, elbowed him in the chest, and he groaned as he squatted on the ground.

The other person had just taken a step when Lady Wakako froze in place with a single glance from him.

It was the kind of look one gives to an ant; she was clearly just an ordinary woman, yet she exuded an aura that made him dare not act rashly, suppressing him so much that he didn't dare to move an inch.

Silence reigned all around, and a somber atmosphere permeated the air.

Hashirama stared wide-eyed at Izuna, then glanced around at the Hyuga Clan Hashirama members, before finally fixing his gaze on Wakako was standing under the veranda holding a teacup.

Wakako nodded slightly to him, her face still bearing that gentle and dignified smile.

This girl is ruthless too...

Hashirama silently shifted his gaze to Izuna.

Once Izuna was alright, Madara relaxed completely. He crossed his arms, a faint smile playing on his lips, and looked at Izuna.

Seeing their indifferent attitude, Izuna couldn't help but grin. He picked the man up from the ground again, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him against a pillar. The man's already swollen face hit the wood with a dull thud, and he let out a whimper before finally collapsing to the ground.

Izuna crouched down and pressed the young man from the main branch of the Main Family to the white sand. "I was quite restrained, really. For the sake of Konoha and for the reform, I wanted to handle this matter flawlessly, but you insisted on throwing your life away."

He stood up, flicked his wrist, and looked at Tennin, his tone returning to politeness. "Excuse me, Tennin Clan Head. Where were we? Oh right, about Hinata and Rei's engagement. What do you think about holding a simple ceremony in three days?"

Tennin stared at the Uchiha before him, who could continue discussing marriage without batting an eye after beating someone, and remained silent for a long while. Then he nodded. "... Okay."

"And then there's the matter of the Caged Bird Seal," Izuna said. "I think it's time to put that on the agenda, right?"

Tennin's expression subtly changed for a moment.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke cautiously, trying to persuade and delay, "Lord Izuna, the Caged Bird Seal involves the Hyuga Clan's thousand-year-old Clan Rules, and it cannot be resolved overnight."

"Furthermore, Konoha currently lacks a strong foundation in Barrier Ninjutsu. If we rashly remove the Cursed Seal, how can we prevent the Byakugan from leaking out? We can consider this matter carefully and wait for the right opportunity..."

"Don't worry," Izuna interrupted him, "The Barrier Ninjutsu team will be ready soon. As long as the Tennin Clan Head gives the nod, manpower and technology won't be a problem."

Tennin's Adam's apple bobbed; he realized that Izuna wasn't discussing it with him, but rather informing him.

If he doesn't agree, it will be seen as resistance and cover-up. Even if he gets away with it this time, he won't get away with it next time.

Izuna has already been very patient; if they still don't appreciate it, he will take action.

"I will obey all arrangements made by Konoha." There was a hint of bitterness in the Tennin's voice.

Izuna nodded, then his gaze returned to the young man from the Main Family who was slumped on the ground.

His gaze was as if he were looking at trash on the roadside.

"As for this guy," Izuna's voice suddenly softened, "I hope I never see him or anyone related to him cause me trouble in my lifetime. If the Tennin Clan Head can't do that, then I will."

I will not leave any enemies to stand in my way.

Tennin into Izuna's calm, unwavering black eyes, Tennin understood that he was serious. If this fool on the ground made any further moves, Izuna would wipe him off the face of the earth, along with everyone who might have stood up for him.

"I understand." Tennin lowered his head and said solemnly, "I will handle it well, Lord Izuna."

Wakako, standing under the eaves, raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing this scene.

I never expected that I, this troublemaker, would have such a decisive and efficient side; it's actually quite cool.

Sōsuke watched this scene from the corridor. Seeing that both sides had fallen silent, he quickly stepped forward, a perfectly timed smile on his face, "Gentlemen, gentlemen, how about we move to the side hall? I think we still have some details to discuss?"

He stepped aside to lead the way, his tone more attentive than ever.

Hashirama and Madara remained silent throughout the entire process.

They stood at the edge of the courtyard and witnessed the entire process of Izuna beating someone up and forcing Tennin to nod.

Neither of them had much objection to Izuna's handling of the situation, since the Hyuga Clan had slandered them first, and Izuna could have killed them without any consequences.

However, Izuna's approach surprised them.

In the past, when discussing matters with Daimyo and speaking with Envoys from the Land of Whirlpools, Izuna, no matter how assertive he was, only exerted pressure verbally. At most, it was a subtle threat and exclusion, without actually doing anything.

But what he said to Tennin today was far too harsh; it was practically an order for him to do something.

Hashirama watched Izuna and Wakako walk side by side into the side hall.

When did Izuna become so assertive?

Madara recalled some things he had heard from someone before about Tengu.

Tengu, extremely arrogant, enjoys stirring up trouble at will.

At that time, he mentally rejected this argument from beginning to end, feeling that Izuna, such a gentle person, had absolutely nothing to do with the word "reckless".

But now, looking at Izuna's nonchalant face as he sat in the side hall discussing the details of the engagement banquet with Tennin, he suddenly felt that these words weren't entirely without reason.

Izuna has really changed.

Is this him returning to his original, natural self?

I don't know if this change is good or bad...

The meeting ended quickly.

Hinata and Rei's engagement ceremony is set for three days from now, in front of the Hokage Building. This was Hashirama's suggestion; he said, "Since we're going to do it, let everyone be a witness! Let everyone be happy!"

The initial plan to remove the Caged Bird Seal was spearheaded by Tennin, in collaboration with Mito and the Sealing Squad.

As for the member of the Main Family who was beaten, Tennin announced the decision in front of everyone: he was stripped of his clan membership, permanently House Arrest from the main family, and his descendants were not allowed to enter the Main Family for three generations.

Izuna made no comment on the result, only nodded slightly, then stood up, bowed slightly to Tennin, and walked out of the side hall one after the other with Wakako.

"That's good, decisive enough."

Izuna paused, turning his head to look at her.

"You really think so?" Izuna's voice was very low, only the two of them could hear it. "Don't you think I should have killed that guy on the spot?"

Wakako raised one eyebrow, the corner of her lips curving elegantly with a hint of slyness. "Wow, that's too extreme."

She reached up and adjusted her sleeves, her tone light. "After all, they weren't your subordinates. You, an Uchiha, killed a member of the main branch of the Hyuga Main Family on the spot on the Hyuga Clan territory. Even if you were in the right, it wouldn't look good if word got out."

"This is good enough. To have your household registration House Arrest, your Main Family for three generations— Tennin has already given you plenty of face."

Wakako spoke, Wakako tilted her head towards Izuna, lowering her voice even further, almost whispering, "And don't worry, you'll hear the news of his suicide tomorrow."

Izuna suddenly stopped, looking completely bewildered.

"Ah?"

"So you don't even need to lift a finger. If they know what's good for them, they'll handle it."

"Wait... no..."

I didn't kill him! I just told him not to let me see him again!

How did it become that he's about to kick the bucket? Isn't Lady Wakako's reading comprehension a bit too advanced?

But on second thought, it's not entirely unreasonable.

In this era, a member of the Main Family was stripped of his clan membership and permanently House Arrest from entering the Main Family for three generations, which meant he was like Caged Bird Seal.

Until there are other solutions to the Caged Bird Seal, he has lost his status as a member of the Main Family. Being labeled Caged Bird Seal is like being branded a slave.

Those branch families he had bullied, those Branch Family whose credit he had stolen, and the Elders whose faces he had trampled on... simply putting them under "House Arrest" was not enough to stop them.

As a former oppressor, he knows perfectly well what methods others will use to punish him.

Hmm... he deserved it.

But that's a human life! Is it really okay for someone to die so carelessly?

Izuna felt increasingly uneasy. He had only intended to set an example and establish his authority, and he had clearly stated that it was a personal matter. How had he inadvertently caused a near-fatal incident?

He was debating whether to turn back and tell Tennin, "Actually, just putting her in solitary confinement will do," Wakako patted him on the shoulder. "Then next we should go prepare Rei's engagement dress, right? Do you have any clothing stores around here? I want to pick out some clothes."

Izuna's train of thought was instantly pulled away, "Hey~ then you've really come to the right person! Come on! Let me introduce you to Elder Emiko! The outfits the four of us wore at the Hokage Appointment Ceremony were made by her!"

Wakako's eyes lit up. "Oh! Then quickly introduce me to someone!"

The two walked out in unison, their steps synchronized, as if they were best friends who had planned to go shopping together.

Hashirama stood there, watching the two figures disappear into the distance, muttering to himself, "Am I the only one wondering what kind of eyes the Uchiha and Hyuga will have as a child?"

Ban walked past him and whispered, "I'm curious too."

Hashirama suddenly turned his head. "Right, right! Maybe they can..."

"Don't discuss this kind of issue in the Hyuga Clan."

"Oh."

Hashirama and Madara returned to the Hokage Building and continued to face the mountain of documents.

The first thing Tennin did upon returning to his clan was to send someone to fetch the young man and his father.

Elder Hyuga Shin'ei was also brought to the ancestral hall. Shin'e struggled as two clansmen forced him to kneel on the ground. His white hair was disheveled, and veins bulged on his forehead. He sternly rebuked the Tennin for betraying their own clan in order to curry favor with the Uchiha. He said that the dignified head Hyuga the Hyuga Clan Head had actually betrayed his own clan in order to please the Uchiha. He had disgraced all the ancestors of the past generations.

Tennin stood on the steps of the ancestral hall, looking down at him.

Those Byakugan remained completely calm, without the slightest ripple.

After Zhenwei finished cursing, he spoke, his voice not loud, but enough to quiet the entire ancestral hall courtyard.

"Fawning? Your son insulted Konoha Diplomats Meeting Room in front of the Daimyo's Wife, calling the Memorial Service a undignified farce and Izuna nothing but an actor? Who gave him the audacity to say such things in front of that Uchiha Izuna!"

"Now Konoha is just a place ruled by those four! We only joined Konoha because we wanted to follow the trend and avoid being wiped out! They used to respect us to some extent, but now? They just need an excuse to wipe us out!"

"Especially Uchiha Izuna, whose prestige and connections are throughout Konoha. If he wanted to destroy the Hyuga, he wouldn't even need a reason! He could probably have countless loyal followers rushing to use him as a tool with just a wave of his arm! And your son, you personally handed him the reason!"

Zhenwei's lips twitched slightly, and the color drained from his face.

"Originally, the matter of the Caged Bird Seal could have been negotiated. The reform plan, the removal of the Cursed Seal, and the differences in treatment between the Branch Family of the sect—every single one of these could have been discussed."

"But the moment your son opened his mouth, all room for negotiation vanished! All I could do was nod in agreement to Izuna's request."

"If Izuna had been any more ruthless, the Hyuga Main Family wouldn't exist today! Mamoru, Mamoru, you really raised a fine son!"

Hearing this, the young man who had been held aside finally panicked.

He crawled forward two steps, his voice trembling as he protested, "The people who blocked my way didn't tell me it was Izuna inside! If I had known it was him, I would never have said those things! They didn't explain clearly—"

"Then who do you think is inside?" Tennin's gaze shifted to him.

The young man opened his mouth, but didn't dare to answer.

Looking at him like this, Tennin already knew the answer in his heart.

He assumed that he and Tetsuya were sitting inside.

Tetsuya is not his biological son; he is the adopted child of his elder brother who died in battle. Although Tetsuya is the Young Clan Head, he is younger and less experienced than Ao, yet he occupies a position that Ao could only dream of.

The Zhenwei lineage has been trying to seize power for a long time. Ever since Tetsuya was made the Young Clan Head, Zhenwei has been expressing his dissatisfaction Akari and secretly on various occasions.

His son, influenced by what he saw and heard, had long ago ingrained the idea that "I should have been the Young Clan Head" into his very bones.

His loud noise Meeting Room today was intentional. He wanted the people inside to hear him, and he wanted to use the person Tetsuya nominated to prove that he was more deserving of the position than Tetsuya.

But he didn't know that Izuna was sitting inside.

He didn't realize that he didn't have the ability to take the position of Young Clan Head; he just wanted to have a good time and put down Tetsuya, who was close to the Branch Family, in order to elevate himself.

However, this precisely triggered Izuna's trigger point, causing the Hyuga Clan to suffer as a result.

Tennin closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was no hesitation.

"Elder Hyuga Shin'ei has failed in his duty to educate his children, allowing them to dishonor foreign envoys and nearly plunging the entire clan into ruin. Effective immediately, he is stripped of his position as Elder, and his entire family is demoted to the Branch Family, never to be reinstated into the main clan."

Zhenwei suddenly looked up, his Byakugan bulging with shock and anger.

But before he could speak, Tennin turned to the clansman beside him, his voice growing deeper. "Hyuga Masayoshi will succeed as the Elder."

Jiang Yi stood in the crowd, paused slightly when he heard his name called, then stepped forward and bowed.

He neither declined the position of Elder nor showed any joy; he simply accepted the appointment quietly.

Tennin looked at him, knowing that from this day forward, the Main Family Branch Family would truly become equal entities.

After Zhenwei and his family were taken away, the courtyard in front of the ancestral hall returned to silence.

Tennin stood alone on the steps, gazing at the pine and cypress trees in the courtyard. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

The Hyuga Clan has been passed down from the Warring States Period to the present day, and never before has their dignity been trampled on like this.

But he also knew that if he didn't take that kick, his Hyuga Clan would be doomed and would never be of any use again.

Meanwhile, Tobirama was leading a newly formed squad toward the border under the Tobirama of night.