Everything Chiba Ran had set in motion was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Except for the Hyuga.
This prestigious Konoha clan known for its ocular techniques still kept its gates shut tight, turning a blind eye to every change in the outside world.
Chiba Ran's patience had finally run out.
Daimyo Manor, study.
He held a secret report on the Hyuga Clan's assets between his fingers, his gaze icy.
It seemed the Hyuga were prepared to hold out to the bitter end.
"Minamoto."
"Your servant is here."
The butler standing nearby immediately answered.
Chiba Ran casually tossed the report onto the desk, then leaned back into the broad chair.
"Send someone to Konoha."
"Tell Minato Namikaze."
"Tell him I am giving the Hyuga Clan one final chance."
"The Genius Cultivation Plan or the Guardians of the Twelve selection."
"They must choose one."
"Within three days, I want to see the Hyuga Clan's name on one of the application lists."
He paused. His voice became very soft as he delivered the ultimatum.
"Otherwise, have the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs pay them a visit."
Minamoto bowed deeply. "Yes, I will see to it immediately."
Konoha.
Hokage's Office.
Minato Namikaze was buried in a mountain of documents.
Ever since choosing submission, he had positioned himself as a pure executor, efficiently carrying out the Daimyo's will.
It spared him many troubles, yet often left him feeling powerless.
Especially when it came to the Hyuga Clan.
Throughout Konoha, from the Council Elders to Civilian Ninja, nearly everyone believed the reason the Hyuga had angered the Daimyo was their refusal to offer up a Main Family daughter possessing the Byakugan.
In their eyes, every move the Daimyo made was intended to force the Hyuga Clan to bow their heads and hand over that unique Kekkei Genkai.
Even Minato Namikaze himself had once firmly believed it.
He had thought the Daimyo was pressuring the Hyuga Clan so relentlessly in order to control the power of that ocular technique.
The Genius Cultivation Plan and the Guardians of the Twelve seemed more like methods of striking the mountain to frighten the tiger.
Just as he was considering how to persuade Hyuga Hiashi once more, there came a knock at the door.
"Come in."
The person who entered was an ordinary-looking young man dressed in the uniform of a Daimyo Manor civil official.
Minato Namikaze recognized him. He was a permanent representative sent by Daimyo Manor to Konoha, specifically tasked with relaying the Daimyo's orders.
"Fourth Hokage." The visitor gave a slight bow, respectful without a trace of fawning.
"No need for formalities." Minato Namikaze set down his pen, his expression turning serious. "Does the Daimyo have new instructions?"
"Yes."
The man did not waste a single word and directly conveyed Chiba Ran's order.
"The Daimyo has instructed me to inform you that the Hyuga Clan must choose between the Genius Cultivation Plan and the Guardians of the Twelve selection."
"They have three days."
"If there is no result after three days, then the Fourth Hokage will have to trouble himself."
Minato Namikaze froze. His first reaction was not to the harshness of the order, but confusion.
He instinctively pressed, "Only those two choices?"
"Then... what about the consort selection? Did the Daimyo not mention it?"
To him, that question was only natural.
That was the heart of the conflict, wasn't it?
As long as the Hyuga Clan was willing to send a woman into the palace, surely the Daimyo would be satisfied and every problem would resolve itself.
He had thought this would be the final ultimatum.
Yet now, that most crucial option had been erased outright!
At his question, an odd expression appeared on the messenger's face.
It was a mixture of amusement and incomprehension.
"Fourth Hokage."
"I believe you have misunderstood the Daimyo."
"From beginning to end, the Daimyo never linked the consort selection to the genius cultivation or the Guardians of the Twelve."
"No coercion was clearly stated in the Daimyo's edict."
"It seems..."
He paused, then added, "This is not something difficult to understand, is it?"
The words were quiet.
Yet they were like a heavy hammer, violently shattering the deeply ingrained ninja logic in Minato Namikaze's mind!
A trace of absurdity surfaced in his azure eyes.
His thoughts became a complete mess, forcing him to sort through everything that had happened during this time.
He remembered that the Genius Cultivation Plan and the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve had been personally explained to him by the Daimyo.
Meanwhile, the consort selection had been announced nationwide by Daimyo Manor.
It had never been aimed at any ninja clan in Konoha.
So that was it...
So that was it!
In an instant, all his previous confusion, speculation, and self-assurance came crashing down.
He finally understood!
They had gotten it wrong.
From the Third Hokage to the Council Elders, from every Konoha clan to himself...
Every one of them had been catastrophically wrong!
They had treated the least important matter as though it were the important one.
Yet they had treated the Genius Cultivation Plan and the Guardians of the Twelve program as mere accessories!
Combined with the Uchiha Clan's proactive attitude, it had led them to make a terrible misjudgment...
He thought of those in Konoha who had sent their own daughters to participate in the consort selection, and he could not help mocking himself inwardly.
Whether they participated or not, the Daimyo simply did not care!
How laughable!
How absurd!
Minato Namikaze's cheeks burned.
They had stood trapped in their ninja mindset, using the logic of fighting over Kekkei Genkai and coveting beauty to speculate about their lord's plans.
They had assumed the Daimyo was a lecher, never realizing they had not even figured out what he truly wanted!
Did the Daimyo care about the Hyuga Clan's women? Did he care about the Byakugan?
Perhaps.
But none of that was important!
For everyone else, that consort selection edict was an opportunity.
For the Daimyo alone, it was entirely optional!
If this consort selection were regarded as a test of loyalty!
Then the Hyuga Clan had submitted a zero-point answer with their pathetic arrogance.
With fierce stubbornness and what they believed to be integrity, they had rejected the humiliation they saw before them.
And then?
Naturally, they had extended that resistance to the subsequent Genius Cultivation Plan and Guardians of the Twelve selection.
They believed they had protected the Hyuga Clan's dignity and preserved the secret of the Byakugan.
They never realized that, in the Daimyo's eyes, a clan unwilling to even display the most basic posture of obedience was utterly insignificant.
Why should a disloyal clan be allowed to blend its bloodline into the royal house?
The Daimyo had not even deigned to force them to offer up a woman!
Once Minato Namikaze understood all this, a layer of icy sweat instantly soaked his back.
So close!
Just a little closer, and Konoha would nearly have lost an entire ninja clan.
He finally understood the true meaning of this ultimatum.
The Genius Cultivation Plan meant handing over the Hyuga Clan's future.
The Guardians of the Twelve meant handing over the Hyuga Clan's present.
No matter which they chose, the Hyuga had to make their stance clear: maintain their pride, or pledge loyalty to the Daimyo!
This was a hundred times more brilliant than forcing them to send a woman into the palace!
Because what the Daimyo wanted had never been a woman or a pair of eyes.
It was simply loyalty!
The complete and unconditional submission of this great ninja clan!
Having understood all this, Minato Namikaze sincerely felt that he was not suited to be Hokage.
Compared to the Daimyo, he was far too immature.
"I understand." Minato Namikaze nodded solemnly. "I will convey the Daimyo's will to Hyuga Hiashi exactly as it was given."
The messenger nodded, bowed once more, and withdrew.
Only Minato Namikaze remained in the office.
He stared silently for a long time at Hokage Rock outside the window, the symbol of Konoha's spirit.
Only after a long while did he let out a complicated sigh.
"Our vision..."
"Falls far too short."
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