Quietly Entering the Village, No Shooting

"Hokage-sama, the Hyuga Clan's system... is there no possibility of changing it?" Since he was waiting anyway, and also wanted to know what was going on with Hyuga Ritsu, Namikaze Minato didn't leave the office. Instead, he humbly sought advice from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"The Hyuga Clan's system has immense hidden dangers; anyone can see this problem."

Sarutobi Hiruzen held his pipe, his face full of helplessness. "But as I just said, allowing the various ninja clans like the Hyuga and Uchiha to manage their internal affairs is a policy established by the First Hokage. It's not something that can be changed just because one wants to. The various clans in the village wouldn't agree."

"Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird Seal gives the Main House absolute power over life and death for the Branch House. The Branch House has no power to resist any changes."

"And in my opinion, the success rate of change from the bottom up far exceeds that from the top down. The Hyuga Clan's Branch House is powerless to resist, and the village's intervention alone is useless. Forcibly intervening will only alienate the Hyuga Clan's Main House from the village!"

These words were spoken from the heart, without a shred of falsehood.

* * *

It was precisely because Namikaze Minato standing before him was his grand-disciple, and the successor he had already chosen in his heart, that he would speak these innermost thoughts, which he wouldn't even tell his own son.

"Isn't this just a deadlock?"

Minato frowned. "The Hyuga Clan's Branch House cannot resist the Main House because of the Caged Bird Seal, yet changing the Hyuga Clan's system requires the Hyuga Clan's Branch House to make their own efforts to resist."

"The key lies in the Caged Bird Seal. It's the foundation of the Hyuga Clan's Main House and Branch House system. If the Caged Bird Seal can be broken, it will naturally free the Branch House from its shackles. However, it's incredibly difficult. The ancestor who created the Caged Bird Seal must have been a genius of unparalleled talent."

"Minato, to be honest, I've secretly researched the Caged Bird Seal before, thinking of breaking it and reforming the Hyuga Clan. But after my research, I discovered that this seal is rooted in the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan Kekkei Genkai. To break the Caged Bird Seal, one would need to interfere with the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan—"

At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and sighed. "But this is too difficult. I spent three months researching it and achieved nothing, so I didn't dare to waste more time on it!"

For the renowned "Professor of Ninjutsu" to say it was too difficult, Minato, even without having personally encountered it, could already imagine how troublesome it must be.

After a few seconds of silence, Minato said, "Hokage-sama, how do you plan to handle the matter of Hyuga Ritsu? Assuming Hyuga Ritsu returns to the village with the intention of fleeing with his family."

"Making decisions based on assumptions upon assumptions is meaningless."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and did not answer Minato's question.

At this moment, The Anbu who had left earlier reappeared, drenched from head to toe. He knelt on one knee before the desk and said solemnly, "Hokage-sama, we've investigated. Hyuga Ritsu entered the village at 1:17 PM, holding a document signed by Orochimaru. The guards at the gate thought it was a normal transfer."

"A document signed by Orochimaru?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.

But he quickly set that aside. Whether Orochimaru had truly signed such a document or if Hyuga Ritsu had forged it, the fact remained that Hyuga Ritsu's return to the village was undeniable.

So, How should this matter be handled?

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought carefully and found it somewhat difficult to handle. Because if the document in Hyuga Ritsu's hand was genuine, then Hyuga Ritsu's return to the village was reasonable and legal, with no issues. He couldn't just gamble that the document was forged.

"Minato, I'll have to trouble you for a trip. Please visit the Hyuga Clan's Main Family Elder, Hyuga Masamune. Ask him if he can show some leniency towards Hyuga Ritsu, and also see what the current situation within the Hyuga Clan is."

After much deliberation, Sarutobi Hiruzen came up with a plan.

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Minato did not refuse.

He also really wanted to know the situation within the Hyuga Clan. And if possible, he did indeed want to protect Hyuga Ritsu. This wasn't because Hyuga Ritsu was Hiruko's senior, but because he believed that talent like Hyuga Ritsu shouldn't be wasted like this.

He had heard the title "Number one genius of the Hyuga Clan's Branch House" many times.

And given the situation of the Hyuga Clan's Main House, the Branch House's number one genius was equivalent to the Hyuga Clan's number one genius. Hyuga Ritsu was not only a genius of the Hyuga Clan but also a precious asset to the village.

Accepting the order, Minato put on a bright yellow transparent raincoat.

He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Hokage-sama, I'll leave now."

The next second, Minato's figure disappeared and reappeared under an old tree with a canopy-like crown outside the Hyuga Clan's compound. The heavy rain poured down, making the branches and leaves rustle, and large drops of water gathered and fell.

"This rain is really heavy!"

Minato squinted, looking at the Hyuga Clan's compound not far away. The heavy rain obscured his vision, and the clan's barrier also hindered his senses.

He strode forward, walking quickly.

However, At the main entrance of the Hyuga Clan's compound, he did not encounter any guards.

This made Minato's heart sink.

This situation was not right!

The Hyuga Clan was a prominent clan in Konohagakure, second to none. Moreover, the Hyuga Main House members were known for their strict rules and great emphasis on reputation. Regardless of heavy rain, there would always be someone on duty at the clan compound's entrance.

He didn't hesitate and continued forward.

The more unusual the situation, the more he needed to figure it out.

However, not long after entering the Hyuga Clan's compound, just as he was wondering if he should find someone nearby to ask about the situation, a Hyuga ninja rushed straight towards him.

This person was coming for him.

Minato stopped in his tracks, focusing his attention.

"So it's the 'Yellow Flash'! I am Hyuga Arima. I've been ordered by the Clan Head to welcome our honored guest!" Hyuga Arima stopped in front of Minato and politely stated his purpose.

Although he could be a bit impulsive and had a somewhat flighty personality, he was never sloppy when it came to his duties. Especially when it came to Hyuga Ritsu's orders, he absolutely wouldn't allow himself to mess up and disappoint Brother Ritsu.

"Clan Head?"

Minato was surprised.

What the hell is going on here?

So Hyuga Ritsu came back sneakily, fine. But why are you, Hyuga Hiashi, also playing the 'stealthy village entry, no shots fired' routine? Is this some shared quirk of the Hyuga Clan?

What are you Hyuga Clan trying to do?

"Your Clan Head is back? When did he return?"

"Honored guest, you should come with me! The Clan Head is awaiting your esteemed presence at Tamagushi Shrine." Hyuga Arima didn't bother explaining that the Clan Head he was referring to and the one the other party was referring to were not the same person at all.

His mission was to escort the honored guest, the Yellow Flash, to Tamagushi Shrine, and he wouldn't do anything extra.

"Then lead the way."

Minato agreed without hesitation.

He figured he could ask Hyuga Hiashi whatever questions he had later and there was no need to waste words with this young man from a Hyuga Branch House here.