Hinata Hyuga Knocks Hiashi Hyuga to His Knees—A Loving Father and Filial Daughter!!

And as Hiashi Hyuga recovered from his lingering fear, a string of question marks appeared over his head once more:

???

Have you people got something wrong?!

You were the ones who said Hinata had been too lazy, staying in her room for the past seven days. You kept urging me to discipline her and make her come to the training ground to practice.

And now, every single one of you says you support her staying in her room, that it would be best if she holed herself up there researching and improving ninjutsu.

And now you're even saying I should hand the position of clan head over to Hinata... You really are a bunch of bastards.

After viciously cursing them out in his heart, Hiashi Hyuga took a deep breath and calmed himself down, lest profanity come out the moment he opened his mouth.

Several seconds later, once he had completely suppressed his emotions, he turned to the Main Family Elders and said, "Have you forgotten? The source of the enormous Chakra within Hinata is Orochimaru's handiwork. There is a high chance it carries some kind of side effect—it simply hasn't surfaced yet. That means she is not suited to become clan head right now.

"At the very least, she must first find a way to resolve Orochimaru's sinister methods herself before she is fit to become clan head.

"And Hinata is still so young. She needs someone standing before her, sheltering her from the wind and rain!"

The Main Family Elders were slightly stunned.

Only now did they suddenly remember that the source of Hinata's immense Chakra might be problematic.

Thus, they all abandoned the idea of driving Hiashi Hyuga away, making him step down early, and handing the position of Main Family Head to the more talented Hinata.

"Clan Head Hiashi, we got carried away."

"Just a joke, just a joke!"

"Until Hinata grows up, Hiashi, you are still better suited to serve as the head of the Hyuga Main Family."

The Main Family Elders quickly changed their tune, saying that their earlier words had been inappropriate.

Hearing this, Hiashi Hyuga cursed inwardly.

If he had not just pointed out the flaws in his daughter Hinata's Chakra, those "carried-away old fools" might really have driven him from his position as Main Family Head and made Hinata the clan head instead.

More importantly, given Hinata's original personality, she probably wanted greater authority and more freedom as well!

And all of that could be achieved by becoming the head of the Hyuga Main Family.

—Yet Hinata had said nothing just now... If she had truly spoken up and said she wanted to be clan head, those already worked-up old Main Family Elders would probably have become even more fired up and directly kicked him, Hiashi Hyuga, off his seat!

At that moment, having finally recovered inwardly, Hiashi Hyuga even felt waves of gratitude toward his daughter, Hinata Hyuga!!

In the distance, Hinata's Mother, who had witnessed everything, was completely dumbfounded.

Her husband Hiashi—the strongest man of the Hyuga Main Family—had actually been defeated by their daughter Hinata. He had even nearly been removed from his position as clan head by the fired-up Main Family Elders because he lost to her, and had ultimately revealed such a vulnerable expression... It was truly unbelievable.

On the other side, Hizashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga Branch Family, was just as stunned as Hinata's Mother.

He had originally believed that even if Hinata possessed more Chakra than Hiashi and had mastered the Body Flicker Technique to an extraordinary degree, there was still a qualitative gap between them in their proficiency with other ninjutsu. She had been destined to lose to his elder brother, Hiashi...

But he had never expected that, in only seven days, Hinata would use her own brilliance and talent to modify the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, a secret technique of the Main Family, and turn defeat into victory... No, it could even be called an overwhelming victory!

So Hinata had truly grown up. She was no longer a bird trapped in a cage who needed protection...

Just as Hizashi Hyuga thought this, he felt the figure on his shoulders trembling. More accurately, trembling with excitement. Hizashi immediately understood:

His son Neji had most likely developed thoughts he should not have after witnessing this battle!

—The thought of changing his fate, changing the tragic and miserable destiny brought by the Caged Bird Seal!

Once Hizashi Hyuga realized this, he fiercely pinched the flesh of Neji's thigh and said, "Neji, do not entertain thoughts you should not have. The Branch Family and the Main Family are different. Those of the Branch Family can never leave the protection of the Caged Bird Seal."

"..."

Neji did not cry out in pain. He gritted his teeth and endured it.

At the same time, the thought of breaking free from the Caged Bird Seal was not severed by his father Hizashi Hyuga's pinch. Instead, it continued to grow and swell like a vine.

After all, he had personally witnessed Hinata's two battles and struggles!

The first time, Hinata had defeated his father, Hizashi Hyuga, thereby preserving that little man.

The second time, Hinata had defeated her father... thereby winning herself an opportunity for freedom!

And next, there would be a third struggle—a struggle that would happen to him, Neji Hyuga. He would fight for the chance to break free from the birdcage!

To change his own despairing fate—that of a bird in a cage, a fish in a net.

And at the very moment Neji Hyuga resolved to fight against fate, the Branch Family Ninja behind him, who had originally been cheering for Hinata's victory, all fell silent after hearing Hizashi Hyuga's words.

They were adults, unlike Neji... Though they had witnessed Hinata succeed in resisting twice, they knew it was only because she was the eldest daughter of the Main Family that she could successfully resist paternal authority and the authority of the clan head!

If it were them, defying the Caged Bird Seal and defying the Main Family—

There would be only one outcome: someone from the Main Family would activate the Caged Bird Seal, automatically destroying their Byakugan along with them and causing them to die on the spot!

The Hyuga Branch Family Ninja fell utterly silent, while the disciples and Elders of the Hyuga Main Family erupted in excitement and cheers for Hinata, the Hyuga Clan's genius. The two starkly different scenes fell into the eyes of Hinata Hyuga and Roman.

It made them both realize even more deeply that although the Hyuga Clan appeared harmonious on the surface, an invisible rift had formed beneath it—and that rift was continuing to widen.

Hinata could not help but think to herself:

The future!

When Roman and I become utterly invincible in this world, we'll surely set out on the path to conquering the ninja world!

By then, I, Hinata Hyuga, will become the new Ninja World Goddess after Kaguya Otsutsuki, and Roman will be my king!

As for the Hyuga Clan, under my guidance, it will become the imperial clan... By then, no one will dare covet the Byakugan again, because the Hyuga Clan will become the most noble clan—the imperial clan!

When that time comes, the Caged Bird Seal can be declared abolished, and there will no longer be any distinction between the main and branch families of the Hyuga Clan!

Not far away, after sensing Hinata's thoughts, Roman blinked and replied through their minds:

"The day you and I become invincible in the ninja world isn't too far off anymore!

"After all, that old Hyuga bastard is already preparing to withdraw the people watching us. Next, we can achieve complete Soul Resonance. When that happens, we'll grow faster, stronger, and have even more fun!"

"Mm. You can come over tonight and stay in my room!"