While Jiraiya was away searching for Tsunade, the Hyuga Clan underwent earth-shaking changes.
The Hyuga Clan's main house had the Caged Bird Seal branded onto them, including the next generation of the main house—Hiashi Hyuga's daughters, Hinata Hyuga and Hanabi Hyuga.
The distinction between the main and branch houses of the Hyuga Clan was completely abolished. Hiashi Hyuga's hair turned white overnight. Feeling deeply ashamed before the Hyuga Clan's ancestors, he wanted to commit seppuku, but his daughters ultimately talked him out of it.
Branch house members who had once suffered the pain of the Caged Bird Seal under the main house obtained the method to cast it. They used it against the main house members who had once inflicted that pain upon them. After returning that suffering, they opened their hearts, laughed freely, and joined the Hyuga Clan's new era.
The former main house could only survive ignobly in their vast, decaying estate, the Caged Bird Seal etched across their foreheads.
At the same time, word began spreading through Konoha outside the Hyuga Clan that Tsunade, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, would soon return to run for Hokage. Yet what astonished the villagers was that Neji Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan would be competing with Tsunade for the position.
Konoha's Legendary Sannin were renowned far and wide, and everyone knew of them. Even children had heard their fathers tell stories of the Legendary Sannin's exploits.
As for Neji Hyuga, he was not exactly unknown either.
During the joint Chunin Exams, people had come to know Neji Hyuga. With a flick of his finger, he had defeated Gaara. Afterward, he had summoned a fifty-meter-tall Steel Colossus and dealt with Sand Village's tailed beast. In the eyes of Konoha's shinobi, he was exceedingly powerful.
But compared to the reputation Tsunade had