Hyuga Hiashi: I Am the Clan Head

"Clan Head, Hinata, Neji, and... Hanabi, we will meet again soon."

After bidding farewell to Hiashi, Hinata, Neji, and Hanabi, who was hiding in the corner, Chiba's figure soared into the sky once more, gradually disappearing from sight.

"Brother Chiba, where is he going?"

Watching the figure growing smaller on the horizon, Hinata asked, looking quite puzzled.

"Could it be that even with such powerful strength, Chiba is still wary of the Main Family's power?"

Neji was also deeply confused and wore a solemn expression. He hadn't even had the chance to properly thank Chiba for helping him get rid of the Caged Bird Mark before the latter left the Hyuga compound?

And if Chiba had truly chosen to leave out of fear of the Main Family, that was certainly not a good thing for Neji.

"No!"

Hiashi shook his head and said, "He is leaving simply because our Hyuga Clan is a shallow pond that can no longer contain a hidden dragon like him."

At this moment, several members of the Main Family, accompanied by a group from the Branch Family, hurried over to the scene.

One of the Main Family Elders glanced at Neji's clean forehead, which was now free of the Caged Bird Mark, and his expression darkened. "That bastard Hyuga Chiba really has mastered the method to undo the Caged Bird."

Another Main Family Elder said with great agitation, "He is digging up the foundations of the Hyuga Clan that have stood for hundreds of years. We absolutely cannot let him go."

"And Neji, along with the other Branch Family members whose Caged Bird marks were removed by Chiba, must all be re-branded."

Some of the Main Family members even pointed their fingers directly at Hiashi, scolding him: "Hiashi, how exactly are you running this clan as Clan Head?"

"You actually stood by and watched as Hyuga Chiba removed Neji's Caged Bird, and you even let him leave?"

"I know that because Hyuga Chiba's parents sacrificed themselves to save your life during the Third Shinobi World War, you have always shown him special favor, but that was the duty of the Branch Family to begin with."

"Usually, that would be fine, but this concerns the Caged Bird. How could you be so indulgent toward Hyuga Chiba? Are you trying to destroy the Hyuga Clan?"

At this, the expressions of both Neji and Hinata shifted. They wanted to say something in defense of Chiba and Hiashi, but Hiashi stopped them with a gesture.

Hiashi's gaze swept over every member of the Main Family before he spoke slowly: "Hyuga Chiba has already awakened the legendary Tenseigan of the Hyuga Clan. Even I am no longer a match for him."

"The reason he is leaving now, and why he didn't help more Branch Family members remove their Caged Bird marks, is simply because the Hyuga Clan currently holds no sufficient value for him."

"However, he is, after all, from the Hyuga Branch Family. One day in the future, he will surely return to completely change the Caged Bird system of the Hyuga Clan."

"If you are not afraid of his future retaliation and reckoning, you may continue to act recklessly toward the Branch Family, or you may send people to hunt him down."

"But..." Hiashi moved, placing himself firmly in front of Neji. His Byakugan activated, and the full authority of the Clan Head was displayed in that moment. "Neji is the child of my brother, Hizashi."

"Hizashi once died in my place. I let things slide in the past, but now that Neji has had the Caged Bird removed, I will never allow it to be placed upon him again."

"If you are determined to lay a hand on him, then come prepared to die!"

"Clan Head!" Neji stared blankly at Hiashi.

It was undeniable that ever since his father had died in Hiashi's place, he had harbored hatred toward Hiashi in his heart.

Yet he never expected that Hiashi would go to such lengths just to prevent the Caged Bird seal from being placed on him again.

"Hiashi, do you know what you are doing?"

The Main Family Elders looked at Hiashi in disbelief.

While the latter had never been considered weak in the past, his current display of stubbornness far exceeded their expectations.

"Hiashi, you will regret this!"

The Main Family Elders were unwilling to truly risk their lives against Hiashi over a mere Neji.

They also dared not pursue Hyuga Chiba, whom even Hiashi had admitted was not a match for him, so they could only leave behind a warning, filled with resentment.

"Enough, I am the Clan Head!"

Seeing this, Hiashi's attitude remained firm. "If you have nothing else to say, then all of you, leave."

The members of the Main Family were furious, but they could only depart in indignation. The last member of the Main Family even slammed the door of the training ground shut with a loud "bang" to express their dissatisfaction.

After the members of the Main Family had left, Hiashi spoke to Hyuga Natsu, a Branch Family maid responsible for taking care of Hinata and Hanabi, who had been standing not far away. "Tell the kitchen to prepare more food."

"I want to know how much food it takes for Hinata to truly be full."

As soon as these words were spoken, Hinata transformed into a "Steam Princess" once again. If not for Hiashi's quick reflexes in reaching out to steady her, she might have fainted from embarrassment.

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Hyuga Natsu responded respectfully, feeling happy for Hinata in her heart.

As the maid who had always looked after Hinata, she naturally knew that Hinata had never actually been able to eat her fill.

It was only because of Hinata's shyness and her fear of Hiashi's disapproval that she had never allowed Natsu to speak of it.

But from today on, Hinata would likely never have to worry about going hungry again.

On the other side!

Outside the Hiashi clan compound!

"What was that loud noise just now?"

"It sounded like it came from the Hyuga compound. Could it be that the Hyuga were attacked?"

"That's impossible. After the Uchiha clan was wiped out, the Hyuga became the most powerful clan in Konoha. Who would be bold enough to attack the Hyuga?"

"Besides, the Hyuga Clan possesses the Byakugan. It's still daytime; what kind of enemy could bypass their perimeter and launch a direct attack on their compound?"

Clearly, the commotion caused by Chiba's earlier use of the Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation had drawn the attention of many people outside.

However, because there were no follow-up disturbances, and given that the Hyuga Clan was quite exclusionary, outsiders would not casually approach the Hyuga Clan Compound to investigate.

"As expected, the commotion here at the Hyuga Clan Compound has already attracted outside attention."

Chiba stood high in the sky. His Tenseigan allowed him to see the surprise and confusion of the ordinary people nearby, as well as the suspicious movements of certain Anbu and Root Ninja in the corners.

This made him lower his head in thought: "These Anbu and Root members will likely report the news to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the leader of Root, Danzo, very soon..."

"If I were to leave Konoha right now, then naturally, I wouldn't need to worry about any of this."

"But if I want to obtain the Scroll of Sealing before I leave, then things will undoubtedly become more troublesome."

Whether it is the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, the Eight Inner Gates Formation, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, or the Flying Thunder God Technique, any of the Forbidden Jutsu within the Scroll of Sealing could potentially further enhance Chiba's overall strength.

If he didn't know that the impact would be too great, he would even want to kidnap Uzumaki Naruto, the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, along with it!