Become the Hyuga Clan Head, Neji

"I just saw Lord Tsunade, and I couldn't just leave like this," Naruto explained hastily, fearing he might die.

"You can't tell her age at all. I thought she was twenty. No, eighteen."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and released Naruto. She patted his face, a deathly smile on her face, and threatened him with narrowed eyes.

You'd better be telling the truth, or else...

"Really, 100% authentic!" Naruto swallowed hard; the car headlights were practically hitting his face.

"Consider yourself lucky, but," Tsunade turned and sat back in her chair, squashing the peach and glaring at Naruto with an unfriendly look, "You'd better behave yourself for a while."

"I understand," Naruto said sadly.

Tsunade's blonde hair was casually tied back with a black hair tie. From certain angles, she looked almost like a housewife.

She has a voluptuous figure and everything she should have; she's practically every man's dream fairytale.

But at this moment, Naruto felt only apprehensive. He silently wondered if the matter with Tsunade was truly over; if it was, then he could leave.

If you can't get over this, you should run away.

"Lord Tsunade," Naruto asked tentatively.

"Hmm?" She lay back in the chair, her gaze sweeping over Naruto, her expression somewhat languid. "Is there anything else? Speak quickly if you have something to say."

"Um, I'd like to ask about the Hyuga Clan," he said after a moment's thought.

"The Hyuga Clan?" Teuchi, scrutinized Naruto, and gave him a meaningful smile. "You're not asking because of Hinata, are you?"

"I guess so, but I mainly wanted to ask about the Caged Bird," Naruto answered truthfully. "This is a very sensitive question, and I don't dare to discuss it with anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade to touch the wine cup, her brows furrowing slightly.

"You're not completely out of your mind. This kind of thing can't be known to Hinata the Hyuga family. Especially the Caged Bird. Whether it's the Main Family or the Branch Family, their resentment towards the Caged Bird isn't as great as you might think."

"The Branch Family does not oppose the protective role of the Caged Bird, but they are disgusted by the Main Family using the Caged Bird to bully and oppress the Branch Family. However, these things are unavoidable."

"If you get involved, you won't benefit either the Branch Family or the Main Family; it's a thankless task."

After listening to Tsunade's words, Naruto remained silent, having gained some understanding. Some situations indeed couldn't be solved by mere speculation; the Hinata was too closed off, and its internal affairs were complex.

"I didn't intend to get involved, it's just..." Naruto didn't know how to put it. He couldn't very well say that he wanted to destroy the Hinata order in order to get Hinata.

He hadn't intended to specifically set aside time to do it; he was just planning it as something that would happen naturally. This was to avoid making the traces too obvious and to avoid wasting time.

Although he wasn't a good person, he still needed to maintain a positive image in front of Hinata. At least there were some things Hinata didn't need to know.

Since we couldn't think of a good solution at the moment, we had to give up.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Naruto suddenly felt a sense of relief.

For him, reconciling with Tsunade was more nerve-wracking than any mission he had ever undertaken. He was terrified that Tsunade would turn against him, so he could only cautiously maintain their relationship.

He had originally planned to go find Ino, but upon reflection, he realized she was probably home at this hour. The night was deep, and it seemed inconvenient to contact anyone other than Anko.

Anko, that lazy bum, has probably already taken a shower and is lying on the sofa reading to kill time. If Konohagakure ever gets a game console, she'll definitely be playing games in bed.

Looking for Anko? I think I'll pass; she needs a rest.

"Naruto!"

He was about to turn around and go home when he heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw Neji walking towards him from a distance, carrying a bag on his shoulder, probably just returning from a mission.

Neji walked up to Naruto with a calm expression and greeted him. Thinking about it, the two hadn't seen each other for about a year or two; Neji seemed to have grown even taller.

"Neji? You're on a mission?"

"Yeah, I just got back." Neji looked a little tired, and there were a few gray marks on his body, probably from traveling back.

He looked up at the sky, thinking that going back and staying with those two women would be boring anyway, so he glanced at Neji and simply asked.

"It's been a long time since we got together. Shall we grab some late-night snacks?"

Neji was actually a little hesitant. He was already very tired and just wanted to go back to the Hyuga compound to take a shower and sleep.

But then I thought about it and realized it had been a long time since I'd seen Naruto. We were comrades who had risked their lives together before, and after so long, I wanted to talk about some things.

"All right."

The two walked side by side toward the bustling Konohagakure Street, chatting casually about recent events.

Neji recounted what he had seen and heard on the mission, Naruto spoke of the tremendous changes that had occurred during his absence. From Tsunade's dismissal to Danzo's downfall and the departure of the advisors.

Overnight, all four top leaders withdrew from the Konohagakure stage.

Hearing this news, Neji felt like he was dreaming; reality was too absurd, something even novels wouldn't dare to write. In just a few days, Konohagakure had undergone a complete upheaval.

"Are all of these true?" Neji asked in surprise.

"Of course it's true, why would I lie to you?" Naruto said, shrugging. "Right now, the candidate for the Sixth Hokage is probably Kakashi."

"Kakashi-sensei?" Neji turned his head, somewhat surprised.

This is the difference between a second-generation ninja and an ordinary ninja. The higher-ups in Konohagakure are basically related by blood and can all address him as "teacher." Even for someone like Neji, who had to climb the ranks, it was much easier than for a common ninja.

The two sat down casually at a night market stall. Naruto ordered some food and drinks, Neji glanced at the menu and also ordered some of his usual dishes.

Naruto took the menu, glanced at it, put it down, and looked at Neji.

"Neji, can I ask you something?"

"Hmm, what is it?"

"About the Caged Bird Seal," Naruto glanced at Neji casually, noticing his stunned expression, and then asked, "I want to know, what would you do without the Caged Bird?"

Neji before speaking.

Can we change the subject?

"No." Naruto suddenly shut his mouth. The owner brought out the food and drinks, and after watching the owner leave, he continued to ask.

"I'd like to know, what would you want to do if you didn't have the Caged Bird mark?"

"Don't joke like that, talking about Caged Bird. I don't care anymore. The Branch Family was born to protect the Main Family." Neji was somewhat unsettled.

But he did not leave, perhaps because he felt that leaving would prove that he still cared about the Caged Bird's mark.

"There's really no need to say those things to me," Naruto said bluntly. "What if I told you I could erase the Caged Bird Seal?"

Neji stared at Naruto, his hand gripping the cup, veins bulging on the back of his hand, but he fell into a long silence.

Branch Family, Main Family. If he were born mediocre, if his father weren't the clan chief's younger brother, perhaps he would have lived in fear and trembling in the shadow of the main Branch Family of the Main Family.

But clearly, there are no geniuses in the Main Family; he is the genius of the Hyuga Clan.

His father died for the sake of the so-called family; his fate was already sealed. One day in the future, he too will die for the Main Family, just like his father.

Because he is a genius, the genius closest to the Main Family by blood.

Hyuga Hiashi's explanation did not bring him peace of mind about his fate; rather, it allowed him to reconcile with himself and calmly accept his destiny.

Lord Hiashi wasn't a bad person; the family's problems had been long-standing. Hinata and Hanabi were innocent; he couldn't blame anyone but himself for his bad luck.

His father convinced him before he died, Neji planned to do the same. Living peacefully was merely a way to maintain a firm will before death.

He seemed hesitant, staring at Naruto for a long time.

"You say you can erase the marks Caged Bird?"

"Most likely, I can if you want," Naruto said, tapping the table. "Do you want to do that? How about untying the Caged Bird?"

"What?" Neji frowned.

"Neji, I won't lie to you." Naruto lied with a straight face, so smoothly he didn't even need a draft. "I've been researching Sealing Jutsu, and it just so happens that the Caged Bird..."

"I want to try and see if I can solve it; I'm pretty confident."

Neji felt a pang of unease realizing that the intention was merely to conduct an experiment. Yet, for some reason, this made him feel less conflicted.

"Do you really have a way?" he asked.

"Yes, there is, but Neji, once the Caged Bird is released, it can never be restored. There's no turning back once the arrow is released, and you're the only one in the entire clan who has released the Caged Bird."

"How should you have handled that situation?"

Neji didn't know what to choose; he just felt a bit confused. "Let me think about it. It's hard for me to accept this all of a sudden."

"Um."

Naruto got up and left, leaving Neji sitting there, drinking incessantly. One drink after another, his hands trembling and his heart pounding. Now, an opportunity had presented itself to him—a chance to escape the Caged Bird.

There is only one clan leader, but there are many Main Family.

Initially, it was to prevent the spread of Byakugan, but it gradually became a tool for enslaving the Branch Family, so the Main Family members didn't have to go to the battlefield.

The Caged Bird will automatically destroy the Byakugan of a dead Branch Family, while the Main Family will actively release the brain nerves of the Branch Family with a disloyal heart, a slave of a disloyal heart.

The treatment of members of the Main Family and Branch Family is vastly different. Without the permission of the main Main Family, Branch Family of the branch family cannot access higher-level Ninjutsu or obtain better resources.

Hyuga Hiashi told himself to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.

At this moment, Naruto was already humming a little tune as he walked home. He was in a great mood, having caught a wild Neji, who had long disliked the Hinata.

Hinata always tries to handle things internally; how could he let his father-in-law succeed?

Anyway, it's impossible for Hanabi and Hinata to end up in the Branch Family. As for who will inherit the position of head of the family, no one is more suitable than Neji, the genius of the Hyuga Clan.

Having removed the Caged Bird, Neji can only keep moving forward. The Main Family will despise him, Branch Family will hate him, unless more Branch Family like Neji emerge.

Then become the head of the family, Neji Hyuga.

This is actually a vicious cycle; once you step into it, there's no turning back. There are no true beneficiaries; everyone gains something while losing something in return.

He must have had reservations about seizing power from his elders, but at least his fate was changed. The history of the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family was thus altered, a swift and decisive end to the conflict.

Hyuga Hiashi will lose his status Main Family, but there will no longer be Main Family. The reshuffling of the Hyuga Clan will certainly have an impact on a large clan like the Hinata.

There can be no new Hinata without destruction; it's either rebirth or decline. The Uchiha Clan is almost extinct, so there's no reason for the Hyuga to be unscathed.

This was bound to happen sooner or later; it all depends on Neji's choice. If he wants to, things will be much easier.

Now that he was home, Naruto changed his shoes and habitually walked into the living room. Suddenly, he saw the two women, each having finished showering, sitting on the sofa wrapped in towels watching TV, and he felt a little out of place.

He paused for a moment before realizing the two women were still in his house, just as they turned to look at him. Naruto felt a little embarrassed, so he pretended to yawn and went back to his room to get his clothes and wash up.

Hydrangea turned her head on the sofa and looked at the bewildered Yakumo Kurama, a sly smile on her face.

"Did you notice? No, Master seemed to be shy just now."

"I didn't find anything." Yakumo Kurama shook her head. She couldn't quite understand that kind of thing. "Maybe they just don't want to see us? Or maybe they're mistaken."

"How could that be?" Hydrangea raised her leg and said defiantly, "I don't believe he didn't feel anything, I just didn't dare to gamble, or I'd get thrown in again."

"Then what did you say?" Yakumo Kurama continued watching TV, enjoying this rare vacation.

Naruto came out of the room with his clothes, without even glancing at them. After quickly washing up and drying his hair, he went straight to his room to sleep.

In the middle of the night, he suddenly woke up on a whim. He went to the living room and saw that the two women were indeed asleep on the sofa. Naruto threw a blanket over them and then went back to sleep.

The next day.

Naruto, shameless as ever, approached Tsunade again, not with any important business, just wanting to linger there. In Konohagakure, only Tsunade could keep things under control.

Kakashi hasn't even taken over yet, and the team isn't stable. Compared to the magnanimous and powerful Tsunade, Uzuki Yugao and Tsunade are insignificant.

When it comes to important matters, you still have to rely on Tsunade, hehehe, Senju Clan eldest princess.

Tsunade didn't bother with him, preferring to slack off and drink as usual. She dawdled away the time, only occasionally chatting with Naruto when she was bored.

Everyone is now awaiting the results of Danzo's investigation, but in any case, the era of Konoha F4 has come to an end. The Kakashi era has begun, Konohagakure will soon enter the Sixth Hokage era.

For the next two weeks, Naruto was like a clock-in, hanging around Tsunade every day. He waited and waited, until finally Tsunade relented.

"You come here all day long, don't you have anything better to do?"

Of course he's busy. Naruto checks on the Communicator Project's progress every few days and visits Sakura while he's at it. Occasionally he'll run into Hinata, and if he's really bored, he'll go sit with Anko. His time management is quite strict.

He just wanted to know the approximate time Tsunade would leave, so that he could ignite the fire of the Hyuga Clan before Tsunade left.