Did You Think Finding a Goalkeeper Would Solve Everything?

Hyuga Clan Land.

Hyuga Hiashi returned from the Hokage Building as though he had returned to his own imperial palace. People stopped everywhere he went and bowed respectfully. "Clan Head."

He gave a slight nod, his expression as stern as ever.

"Father!" The short-haired little girl, Hinata Hyuga, who was as cute as a doll, bowed and called out.

Hyuga Hiashi remained just as stern. After nodding once, he continued forward.

Hinata Hyuga watched his tall back with bright eyes. Her little face was flushed pink, her lips pressed together, her shoulders drawn in.

Small and timid, she seemed to curl herself into a ball, forming a hard shell to steadfastly protect the most beautiful thing in her heart.

Meeting room.

Three men sat in seiza on the tatami, and the atmosphere was stifling.

An old man sat in seiza in the main seat. He was the Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi, the Main Family Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan, sat in the seat of honor to his left.

In the lower seat to his right sat a man who looked exactly like Hyuga Hiashi, with the Caged Bird curse mark carved into his forehead. He was Hizashi Hyuga, the Branch Family Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan.

"What did the Hokage want with you?" the Great Elder asked, sounding almost accusatory.

Hyuga Hiashi solemnly recounted everything that had happened in the Hokage Office.

"The Hyuga Clan is to take over the Police Force?" The Great Elder frowned slightly.

The Shimura Clan's annihilation had caused a huge uproar. Even many people outside the village knew about it.

Regardless of whether the Shimura Clan had truly attempted a coup, the root cause was that they had served in the Police Force.

Now, this hot potato had been tossed into the Hyuga Clan's hands. If they could handle it, they would certainly profit greatly.

But if they could not...

The Great Elder looked at Hizashi Hyuga. "The Branch Family will take charge of the Police Force. Reduce the number of guards assigned to the Main Family."

"Yes." Hizashi Hyuga answered solemnly.

Hyuga Hiashi, whose expression had not changed until then, frowned slightly.

He seemed to consider it for two seconds. Only after confirming there was no problem did he speak. "The Main Family must send someone as well. We need to show the Hokage our attitude."

Upon hearing, "The Main Family must send someone," the Great Elder instinctively wanted to rebuke Hyuga Hiashi for his improper thinking.

But when he heard, "We need to show the Hokage our attitude," the rebuke on the tip of his tongue became a nod.

"The two of you will represent us. I'll watch over the clan land."

"Yes." The twin brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, bowed their heads.

Soon, they saw the Great Elder's feet and heard him leaving.

Once he had completely departed, the two raised their heads.

Hizashi Hyuga's expression remained unchanged.

But guilt surfaced on Hyuga Hiashi's face.

"Hizashi, you've worked hard." If he had not been born fifteen minutes earlier, how could his younger brother have become part of the Branch Family? How could he have been branded with the Caged Bird?

Hizashi Hyuga froze.

His expression softened somewhat, and he wanted to say something.

But after opening his mouth, his expression turned stern again. "Clan Head, please do not forget the Main Family's responsibility."

The Main Family's responsibility was to protect and develop the Hyuga Clan—in other words, they could not die.

The Branch Family's responsibility was to protect the Main Family bloodline—in other words, they could die whenever.

After saying that, Hizashi Hyuga rose and left.

"Hizashi..." Hyuga Hiashi watched his twin younger brother's departing back, his heart wracked with torment.

The Hyuga Clan's rules were strict, and its etiquette numerous. From childhood, its members had to learn countless things.

Hyuga Hiashi did not like it, but neither did he particularly hate it.

Only the Main and Branch Family System was something he could never accept.

The Hyuga Clan taking over the Police Force came as a great surprise to many.

The main reason was that the Sarutobi Clan had served for less than a week before suddenly quitting.

Most villagers had not even experienced the Sarutobi Clan treating victims and perpetrators equally and amicably before they suddenly heard that the Hyuga Clan, which always wore stern faces, would be taking over the Police Force. Their first reaction was rejection.

"Why should the Hyuga Clan take over the Police Force?!"

"Wasn't the Sarutobi Clan doing a fine job?!"

"Exactly! Is the Hyuga Clan pulling some trick?!"

"Hyuga Clan, give the Police Force back to the Sarutobi Clan!"

The Sarutobi Clan was deeply moved upon hearing this, but even more frightened.

They were terrified the villagers might actually get them transferred back.

Before the Hyuga Clan could come out and explain, the Sarutobi Clan proactively announced, "The Sarutobi Clan lacks the necessary ability. The Hyuga Clan possesses the Byakugan and can serve the villagers better."

"Please trust the village, trust the Sarutobi Clan, and trust the Hyuga Clan!"

Hearing this, the villagers had no choice but to compromise.

"Fine, if the Sarutobi Clan says so."

"Then let's give them a try."

"The Byakugan's observational ability is pretty good."

"At worst, they'll be better than the Shimura Clan."

"Must you disgust us so early in the morning by bringing up the Shimura Clan?"

"Exactly! My Grandma was so upset that she stopped eating!"

Seeing this, the Sarutobi Clan all breathed sighs of relief.

They hurriedly retreated into the Sarutobi Clan Land and shut their gates tight, as though they wanted to cut themselves off from the world.

Uchiha Clan Land, outside Jinghuo Uchiha's home.

Upon hearing the news, a large crowd of Uchiha Clan Members hurried over.

"Jinghuo, stay calm!"

"You absolutely must stay calm!"

"We're in the wrong here!"

"Yeah! Don't be impulsive!"

Jinghuo Uchiha stood at the entrance, staring at the Uchiha Clan Members before him with dead fish eyes.

In the past, only the Hawks surrounded him. Now even the Conservatives had come.

And all of them were trying to persuade him.

"Would going to Sarutobi Hiruzen even help?" he asked disdainfully.

But upon hearing him, the clan members all sighed in relief and smiled.

"No, no, it wouldn't."

"Going to Sarutobi Hiruzen would be the most useless thing possible."

"Exactly, exactly. How could Jinghuo not know that?"

"As long as you don't go, that's all that matters. Hahahaha."

One by one, the clan members dispersed, but they continued watching Jinghuo Uchiha's movements. They feared he would once again sneak off to the Village Center without anyone noticing and use a big move.

It was not that they thought Jinghuo Uchiha was bad.

The Uchiha Clan now controlled Root and lived happily every day. They could even visit the Exchange Office for bounty quests whenever they had nothing to do and earn some money. They were not short on cash at all.

The Uchiha Clan's current changes were all because of Jinghuo Uchiha.

Even though Jinghuo Uchiha had a bad temper, they all respected him greatly in their hearts.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped on Jinghuo Uchiha's toes, they might directly launch a coup.

They could endure grievances, but Jinghuo Uchiha absolutely could not!

It was just that they were completely in the wrong in this matter, and Jinghuo Uchiha was still young. They worried he would become too hot-headed and secretly run over there to use a big move.

They were merely worried that Jinghuo Uchiha would suffer a grievance.

[Quest name: You Won't Let Me Do It? I'll Do It Anyway!]

[Quest content: Kill everyone within a thousand meters of the Village Center!]

[Quest reward: Rinnegan]

Jinghuo Uchiha rolled his eyes and headed toward the lake.

Thinking about Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan's actions, he was filled with disdain.

"You think finding a goalkeeper means everything's fine?"