The Hyuga Clan's Fatal Misjudgment

Everything Chiba Ran had set up was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Except for the Hyuga.

This prominent Konoha clan, known for its ocular jutsu, remained behind closed doors, indifferent to all the changes happening around them.

Chiba Ran's patience was finally wearing thin.

In the Daimyo Manor's study.

He held a secret report on the Hyuga clan's assets between his fingers, his gaze icy.

It seemed the Hyuga were determined to resist to the very end.

"Gen."

"Your subordinate is here."

The butler, standing by his side, responded immediately.

Chiba Ran casually tossed the secret report onto the desk, leaning back in his chair, resting against the plush upholstery.

"Send someone to Konoha."

"Go tell Minato Namikaze."

"Tell him I'm giving the Hyuga clan one last chance."

"The Genius Cultivation Plan, or the selection for the Guardians of the Twelve."

"Make them choose one."

"Within three days, I want to see the Hyuga clan's name on one of the application lists."

He paused, his tone softening as he delivered his ultimatum.

"Otherwise, I'll have the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs pay them a visit."

Gen bowed his head deeply. "Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately."

Konohagakure.

Hokage's Office.

Minato Namikaze was buried under a mountain of scrolls.

Ever since he chose to submit, he had positioned himself as a pure executor, efficiently carrying out the Daimyo's will.

This saved him a lot of trouble, but it also often left him feeling powerless.

Especially concerning the Hyuga clan.

Throughout Konoha, from the elder advisors to the civilian ninja, almost everyone believed the root of the Hyuga's offense to the Daimyo was their refusal to offer up a daughter from the main family who possessed the Byakugan.

In their eyes, all the Daimyo's actions were aimed at forcing the Hyuga clan to yield and hand over that unique Kekkei Genkai.

Even Minato Namikaze himself had once firmly believed this.

He thought the Daimyo was pressuring the Hyuga clan to gain control of that ocular jutsu's power.

The Genius Cultivation Plan and the Guardians of the Twelve seemed like mere tactics to intimidate them.

Just as he was contemplating how to persuade Hyuga Hiashi again, a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

The one who pushed the door open was a young man in the official attire of the Daimyo Manor, his features unremarkable.

Minato Namikaze recognized him; this person was a permanent staff member dispatched by the Daimyo Manor to Konoha, specifically to relay the Daimyo's orders.

"Fourth Hokage-sama." The newcomer bowed slightly, his posture respectful but not servile.

"No need for formalities." Minato Namikaze put down his brush, his expression turning serious. "Does the Daimyo have new instructions?"

"Yes."

Without any preamble, the newcomer directly conveyed Chiba Ran's command.

"The Daimyo orders me to inform you that the Hyuga clan must choose between the Genius Cultivation Plan and the selection for the Guardians of the Twelve."

"The deadline is three days."

"If there is no result after three days, we will have to trouble the Fourth Hokage to take action."

Minato Namikaze was stunned. His first reaction wasn't to the harshness of the order, but to confusion.

He instinctively pressed further, "Are these the only two choices?"

"What about the Imperial Concubine Selection? Did the Daimyo not mention it?"

This question seemed obvious to him.

Wasn't this the core of the conflict?

As long as the Hyuga clan was willing to send a woman to the palace, the Daimyo would surely be satisfied, and all problems would be resolved.

He had expected this to be the ultimatum.

But now, this most crucial option had been completely erased!

The messenger's face showed a strange expression at his question.

It was a look mixed with amusement and confusion.

"Fourth Hokage-sama."

"I think you've misunderstood the Daimyo!"

"The Daimyo has never linked the Imperial Concubine Selection with the Genius Cultivation Plan or the Guardians of the Twelve."

"He would never force it; it should have been stated in the Daimyo's decree."

"It seems..."

He paused and then said, "This isn't something difficult to understand, is it?"

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

The words were light.

But they struck Minato Namikaze's deeply ingrained ninja logic like a heavy hammer!

A hint of absurdity flickered in his azure pupils.

His mind was a mess, and he had to re-sort the events of the past period.

He remembered the Genius Cultivation Plan and the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve were personally explained to him by the Daimyo.

And the Imperial Concubine Selection was announced nationwide by the Daimyo Manor.

It wasn't directed at any specific ninja clan in Konoha at all.

So that's how it was...

So that's how it was!

In an instant, all his previous confusion, speculation, and self-righteousness collapsed.

He finally understood!

It was they who had gotten it wrong.

From the Third Hokage, to the elder advisors, to all the clans of Konoha, and then to himself...

They were all terribly mistaken!

They had treated the least important matter as the most important.

While treating the Genius Cultivation Plan and the Guardian Ninja Plan as mere accompaniments!

Coupled with the Uchiha clan's proactive attitude, it had led them to misjudge the situation...

He thought of the people in Konoha who had sent their daughters to participate in the Imperial Concubine Selection, and he couldn't help but mock himself.

So, whether they participated or not, the Daimyo didn't care at all!

How ridiculous!

How absurd!

Minato Namikaze's cheeks felt hot.

They stood within the rigid framework of ninja thinking, using logic of vying for Kekkei Genkai and lusting after beauty to speculate about a lord's grand design.

They thought the Daimyo was a lecher, unaware that they hadn't even figured out what the Daimyo truly wanted!

Did the Daimyo care about the women of the Hyuga clan? Did he care about the Byakugan?

Perhaps.

But that was completely unimportant!

That Imperial Concubine Selection decree was an opportunity for everyone else.

But for the Daimyo, it was optional!

If this Imperial Concubine Selection was treated as a loyalty test!

Then the Hyuga clan, with their pathetic arrogance, had submitted a perfect score of zero.

They fiercely, stubbornly, with what they believed to be their backbone, refused what they saw as a humiliation.

And then?

Naturally, they extended this resistance to the subsequent Genius Cultivation Plan and the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve.

They thought they had defended the Hyuga's dignity and kept the secret of the Byakugan.

Little did they know, in the Daimyo's eyes, a clan that was unwilling to even show the most basic posture of obedience was utterly insignificant.

A disloyal clan, why should they have their bloodline integrated into the royal family?

The Daimyo didn't even deign to force them to offer up a single woman!

As he understood all this, Minato Namikaze's back was instantly drenched in a cold sweat.

So close!

Just a little bit more, and Konoha would have almost lost a ninja clan.

He finally understood the true meaning of this ultimatum.

The Genius Cultivation Plan meant surrendering the future of the Hyuga clan.

The Guardians of the Twelve meant surrendering the present of the Hyuga clan.

No matter which option they chose, the Hyuga clan had to declare their stance: would they maintain their pride, or pledge loyalty to the Daimyo!

This was a hundred times more cunning than forcing them to send a woman to the palace!

Because what the Daimyo truly wanted was never just a woman or a pair of eyes.

It was simply loyalty!

It was the complete and unreserved submission of this ninja clan!

After realizing this, Minato Namikaze genuinely felt that he was not suited to be the Hokage.

Compared to the Daimyo, he was simply too immature.

"I understand," Minato Namikaze nodded solemnly. "I will convey the Daimyo Lord's will, without alteration, to Hyuga Hiashi."

The messenger nodded, bowed again, and then retreated.

Minato Namikaze was left alone in the office.

He gazed at the Hokage Rock outside the window, a symbol of Konoha's spirit, and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he let out a sigh filled with complex emotions.

"Our perspective..."

"Is so far off."