Council Meeting

"Riko's feedback has been excellent. I have to say, choosing her as part of the plan was a brilliant move."

Hizashi Hyuga fairly acknowledged his son's choice. In truth, when Yuzuru Hyuga had decided to bring Riko into the plan, he had harbored some concerns. After all, an ordinary person was far more likely to be exposed than a seasoned ninja. Once exposed, she would likely have no means of resisting torture, and the plan would probably fail outright.

But now, Hyuga Riko, an ordinary maid, had become an exceptionally important source of intelligence.

She had worked for the Hyuga Branch House since childhood and had good relationships with most of its members. Sharing the same bitter fate, the Branch House ninja did not look down on her for lacking talent in ninjutsu or for serving as a maid. If anything, they were more tolerant and gentle with her because of it.

This meant that almost no one was wary of her.

She could directly discern the Branch House ninja's true feelings from their words and actions.

"Hiashi's plan to 'split the Hyuga Clan' has gone very smoothly. Or rather, far too smoothly."

Hizashi Hyuga took a sip of warm tea. Like Yuzuru Hyuga, he kept his Byakugan activated throughout their conversation to avoid being eavesdropped on.

"He merely had his confidants make a 'good start,' and the rest of the Main House ninja acted as though they had received some sort of call to arms, becoming even more excessive in how they lorded over the Branch House ninja."

Hizashi Hyuga sneered, his voice carrying a mocking note of disbelief. "I truly never expected that some Main House ninja genuinely believed the Branch House ninja were no different from 'servants.'"

"If Hiashi had not promptly put a stop to some of the more excessive behavior, the situation would likely have become impossible to contain by now."

Those few words alone let Yuzuru Hyuga imagine plenty of unpleasant scenes.

He sat on the desk before his father, his short little legs swinging in the air as he loosened the forehead protector around his brow. After carrying out missions, sleeping outdoors, and traveling through the wilderness, how could he possibly stay spotless?

"This is a good thing."

"Indeed."

Hizashi Hyuga's tone still held some mockery, directed at those Main House ninja.

"Take a look. This is the intelligence that has been compiled recently and is worth paying attention to."

He took a scroll from a locked drawer. Yuzuru Hyuga accepted it and read through it carefully.

Most of what it recorded concerned the Branch House ninja, particularly their private remarks.

The words Riko had secretly observed and recorded could be said to reflect their true feelings.

Their dissatisfaction with and doubts toward the Main House practically leaped from the page.

"Some people have even been indirectly reminding me that I should speak up for the Branch House."

Hizashi Hyuga shook his head with a faint smile, then reached out and casually patted the dust from Yuzuru Hyuga's pant legs. He had been carrying out missions, resting in the wild, and traveling nonstop. How could he possibly be immaculate?

After reading all the information, Yuzuru Hyuga casually tossed it aside. "Father, it would be best to dispose of these written records."

"I know. I only compiled them so you could read them." Hizashi Hyuga nodded.

"Keep following up. Among the Five, Kaoru should remain as concealed as possible. Let her build up more strength before exposing herself to the public. The others, however, can begin acting when the opportunity arises. Take advantage of the current situation to win over suitable targets and investigate how useful they might be."

"By the time I return next, the Five may need to grow several times over."

Hizashi Hyuga reminded him, "It should not become too large. My suggestion is no more than ten people."

Yuzuru Hyuga considered it for a moment before nodding. The fewer people there were, the easier they would be to monitor, and the easier it would be to choose the best among them and reduce risk.

After observing them, if this group also proved trustworthy, they could take in more people with the next group, because they would likewise have more personnel available to monitor them.

But honestly, Yuzuru Hyuga had quite a high degree of trust in the people of the Branch House.

Who would be willing to kneel forever like a dog for others when they could stand upright with their heads held high and live as a person?

If someone had knelt for so long that they could no longer stand, that sort of person would never make it onto the evaluation list. They only needed to enjoy the fruits of victory in the end, so long as they did not hold anyone back.

Even if only half the Branch House members boarded Yuzuru Hyuga's war chariot, they would still form an unstoppable force, enough to fulfill the plans behind his goals. The Main House was not necessarily a monolith either. Some Main House ninja were kind-hearted and disliked throwing their weight around. He could not simply lump everyone together as enemies based solely on the distinction between Main House and Branch House.

After all, the Hyuga Clan had always loved promoting the idea that "everyone is family."

There would always be some people willing to believe that and ignore the influence of their surroundings.

Those who had to be killed, those who could be killed or spared, those who were neutral and wavering, and those who could become friends.

People were always complicated. Yuzuru Hyuga would not condemn them all with a single stroke, nor would he foolishly believe that slaughter and intimidation alone could change everything.

Yuzuru Hyuga would not merely collect intelligence on the Branch House. In fact, information about the Main House was equally crucial.

"Father, do not neglect intelligence on the Main House. Perhaps we cannot trust the Main House ninja at the moment, but some Branch House-born maids who serve the Main House, people with identities like Riko's, can also become vital to our plan."

Hizashi Hyuga fell into thought at Yuzuru Hyuga's words. After pondering for a moment, he said softly, "I understand."

Afterward, Yuzuru Hyuga briefly summarized the matter of the Iburi Clan for Hizashi Hyuga.

After hearing it, Hizashi Hyuga merely nodded, unconcerned.

"If they send word later, tell them to wait until I return. If they choose to leave, then let them leave."

Hizashi Hyuga naturally had no objection.

Yuzuru Hyuga proposed the ideas, Hizashi Hyuga handled the details, and after the two checked everything for errors, they carried out the plan. This had gradually become the habitual way father and son worked together.

"How has Kaoru been lately?"

Yuzuru Hyuga relaxed a little and stopped thinking about those complicated matters.

At that, Hizashi Hyuga merely chuckled. "Her progress has been rapid. But honestly, after becoming accustomed to your rate of improvement, even a genius like her seems unremarkable."

"There is one thing I need to talk to you about." His expression turned serious, and he said in a low voice, "Perhaps because you have performed too brilliantly, the pressure on her has become too great. Kaoru often sets training plans for herself that are far beyond her capabilities."

"I do not think ordinary people can imitate the kind of diligence you have."

"I have tried to persuade her, but she is a girl with a mind of her own."

"So you should pay closer attention to her condition."

Hizashi Hyuga paused, then said earnestly, "After all, your words matter far more to Kaoru than mine do."

Yuzuru Hyuga looked at his father's smiling eyes, shook his head helplessly, and said softly, "I understand. I will go see her tomorrow morning."

As he thought about it, he suddenly smiled. "As it happens, after this trip, I have some ideas about how she should develop in the future."

Kaoru Hyuga had good talent, especially in her ability to learn. She was particularly skilled at drawing inferences from one example and understood details exceptionally well. The only thing limiting her was perhaps simple biology.

In this cruel world, where those with bloodlines competed through bloodlines and those without them relied on cheats, a ninja's talent was often determined not by intelligence or effort.

Unfortunately, Kaoru Hyuga possessed only the latter, not the former. Though the Hyuga Clan was supposedly descended from greatness, that had not manifested in her.

If she had been born into the Uchiha Clan, Yuzuru Hyuga dared say that this girl would have been perfect Mangekyo Sharingan material. Her personality was extreme, yet her convictions were firm. She could endure hardship without being rigid. If the two of them had been born Uchiha, he felt that killing himself might have been enough to make her awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.

But in the Hyuga Clan, especially in the Branch House, her bloodline and body dictated that even if she continued training, her limit would only be that of an elite Jonin. Perhaps she could become a little stronger than Neji, but that was all. Better than most, yet still far from the best.

Against the many terrifying opponents Yuzuru Hyuga was destined to face in the future, such talent meant that she could only be icing on the cake.

Previously, Yuzuru Hyuga had not known how to arrange her future, nor had he possessed any suitable advice. But after going out on this trip, he had finally realized what kind of talent he needed most and where his current shortcomings lay.

Research.

He needed someone like Kabuto Yakushi, someone like Orochimaru.

Someone capable of researching cursed seals, Sealing Techniques, and bloodline limits; someone who could absorb the knowledge he possessed after the system's transformations, perfectly take his place, and develop new ninjutsu, secret techniques, and forbidden techniques.

It was only after the Iburi Clan appeared that Yuzuru Hyuga realized he currently had no time at all to sit down and consolidate the knowledge he possessed, conduct breakthroughs, and carry out research. It was undoubtedly a tremendous waste.

Tell him, could the Flying Bird Seal, which could seal the Caged Bird, truly be useless against the Cursed Seal of Heaven?

If this Sealing Technique could target cursed seals, could it not target other Sealing Techniques as well?

Since he had cracked the Caged Bird, could he not analyze it and develop a cursed seal technique unique to the Hyuga Clan, one that could be used against enemies or to strengthen himself?

With only a little thought, Yuzuru Hyuga realized that he possessed a great deal of knowledge that could be expanded upon. There were even many breakthroughs in ninjutsu and technology that seemed within easy reach, yet he had no time to focus on developing them.

That was why he needed an all-around research talent, someone who understood ninjutsu, possessed exceptional comprehension and learning ability to keep up with his progress, and could understand the knowledge he gained through the system's breakthroughs.

Was such a person easy to find? In truth, when he thought of it, the only people Yuzuru Hyuga could immediately think of were Orochimaru and Kabuto.

But what a coincidence—such talent was far away, yet right before his eyes.

"As long as you know what you are doing." Hizashi Hyuga looked at Yuzuru Hyuga's smile and shook his head helplessly.

After hesitating for a while, he still offered a reminder. "Kaoru's feelings for you are unusual. If you do not like her, explain it sooner rather than later. My son, Hizashi Hyuga, is not the sort of person who would—"

Hizashi Hyuga struggled for quite some time before finally choosing a gentler description. "A frivolous man who makes girls cry."

"Mm..." Only on this matter did Yuzuru Hyuga feel a slight headache.

He tipped back his head and let out a long sigh. "At only five years old, I already have to worry about such things. What will happen when I grow older? This damned charm has ultimately slowed down my path to becoming stronger."

"Go on. Hurry up and take a bath, then get to sleep." Hizashi Hyuga's face darkened as he expressed his disdain for Yuzuru Hyuga's shameless joke.

Yuzuru Hyuga jumped down from the desk with a smile. "Good night, old man."

"Good night." Father and son parted ways there.

When they would meet again, neither knew.

But after Yuzuru Hyuga returned to his room, he prepared to stay awake through the night.

He picked up paper and pen and wrote furiously. Only at dawn did he manage to doze off for a moment before heading out with a yawn.