Reclaiming the Byakugan, Releasing the Caged Bird

Konoha

Uchiha Kō was in the Hokage Office dealing with government affairs with Nara Rokumei. Whether it was a sudden pang of conscience or something else, they spent the entire morning on these matters without showing any signs of slacking off.

This brought some comfort to Nara Rokumei; the Owl King had finally understood the importance of governance, and his burden could be lightened a bit!

However, the office door opened the next moment, and the person who entered was Hyuga Hiashi. He had a serious expression and his brows were furrowed, clearly indicating that he had something important to report.

"Teacher, I have something important to report..." He regretted saying this as soon as he finished speaking, because he saw Nara Rokumei in the office, and swallowed his words back.

"What is it? Sit down and we'll talk." Uchiha Kō beckoned to him, smiling as he gestured for Hyuga Hiashi to sit down, but Hyuga Hiashi Uchiha Kō.

Uchiha Kō frowned, and the next moment Nara Rokumei said, "Lord Hokage, as I just told you, I have some business to attend to today and need to go back. I'll come back this afternoon."

After saying that, he started to walk out. Uchiha Kō was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I'll see you out."

"No need, you go ahead with your work." Nara Rokumei smiled and left.

After Nara Rokumei left, Hyuga Hiashi breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Uchiha Kō sit down again, he couldn't wait to say, "Master, something terrible has happened! While cleaning up the battlefield, I found a disciple from the Hyuga Main Family. He committed suicide."

"After the suicide, only one Byakugan was destroyed; the other one was presumably stolen." Hyuga Hiashi's face was filled with sorrow.

The Hyuga Clan's protection of their bloodline and Byakugan has reached an extreme, resulting not only in the creation of the Caged Bird but also in the establishment of branch and main Main Family.

The branch family members are put into Caged Bird and go out on missions to earn money to support the Main Family and clan. Because of the existence of the Caged Bird, if a member of the branch family dies, his Caged Bird will activate and destroy their Byakugan.

The Caged Bird has both advantages and disadvantages. Indeed, because of its existence, the other four great ninja villages discovered that the Byakugan bloodline limit was impossible to obtain. Even if they did obtain it, it would be a destroyed Byakugan, worthless. Over time, no one dared to attack the Hyuga Branch Family for the bloodline limit.

The downside is that because the Caged Bird Seal is a mental imprint, it seals off the Byakugan and prevents its evolution, which has led to the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan becoming weaker and weaker over the years.

Compared to Hyuga Tenin from the Warring States Period, all that's left is the ability to be real or fake.

"Hmm, any guesses? Who stole it?" Uchiha Kō deduced the time; it should have been that guy named Ao.

"I don't know, but I heard from the local villagers that it's confirmed to be Forehead Protector from Kirigakure." Hyuga Hiashi said, frowning.

"So, Hiashi, what do you want to do?" Uchiha Kō stared intently at Hyuga Hiashi.

Hyuga Hiashi spoke up, "Master, I want to ask you to take back the Byakugan!" He said, "We absolutely cannot let the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan be exposed, absolutely not!"

This is what Hyuga Akasei told him. For thousands of years, the Hyuga Clan's ancestral precepts have been in place. Back in the Warring States Period, the Main Family and branch families were not as clearly divided into levels and classes as they are now.

At that time, the Hyuga Clan used the Byakugan to prevent it from being lost to outsiders; the marks were voluntarily applied by the ninjas who went out to fight.

The Main Family, on the other hand, did not kill the Caged Bird in order to protect their bloodline.

At that time, the Main Family admired the branch family members, and the two families were like one family. But, I don't know when it started, everything changed.

Because the Main Family was not bound by the Caged Bird's restrictions and had the method to activate it, they began to use the Caged Bird to enslave and exploit the branch families. Due to the existence of the Caged Bird, the branch families could not resist and could only become servants.

Uchiha Kō knew that the opportunity to end the Caged Bird Technique had arrived. He looked up at his disciple and said, "Alright, but I have one condition: Hiashi."

Hyuga Hiashi looked up at Uchiha Kō and said, "Teacher, please make any requests you have. Hiashi will do his best to fulfill them!" As long as he could get rid of the Byakugan that the Hyuga Clan was displaying, what did a little wealth matter?

Uchiha Kō gave him a deep look. "Hiashi, I can get the Byakugan back for you, but I demand that you abolish the branch family system and release the Caged Bird."

Boom!

Hyuga Hiashi immediately felt a sense of unease. Release the Caged Bird? Was such a crucial matter something he could decide? If he did, wouldn't those old fogies of the Main Family tear him apart?

"Teacher, this matter is of great importance, and I cannot make a decision." Hyuga Hiashi sighed.

Uchiha Kō glanced at him, knowing that his disciple, as the clan leader, had to go through the approval of the older generation before anything could be done.

"Just tell me, if I want to break the Caged Bird for the branch family, do you support this suggestion?" Uchiha Kō Hyuga Hiashi deep look.

He remembered asking Hiashi Hyuga this question four years ago, when Hyuga Hiashi was still his apprentice. At that time, Hyuga Hiashi was not yet the clan head. He said, "I hope that the Hyuga Clan will no longer have Main Family and branch family, and that everyone can live together under the name of Hyuga, equally."

At that time, Uchiha Kō praised Hyuga Hiashi in front of everyone, and Hyuga Hiashi was thinking of his younger brother Hizashi Hyuga.

It was only a matter of ten seconds or so; I became the Main Family while my younger brother became a member of the branch family. This is extremely unfair.

But now that Uchiha Kō has asked again, he wants to see if his disciple, who has inherited the position of clan leader, has changed his original intentions after four years and is still willing to fulfill his original promise.

Hyuga Hiashi didn't hesitate; his expression was firm. "Sensei, I support you!"

Uchiha Kō smiled, a smile of deep satisfaction. His disciple was indeed the same as before. It was those old fogies from the main branch of the Main Family —tsk tsk, they'd lived so long, accomplished nothing, and yet loved to give orders.

"I'll help your Hyuga Clan resolve this matter, but when you return Hiashi, you'll have to put on a show for me. Say you promised to release the Caged Bird. If those old guys disagree, tell them to come find me." Uchiha Kō's lips curled up.

It's not difficult to shut some old guys up without killing them or turning them into puppets.

Don't forget that the Sharingan possesses the abilities of control, confusion, and genjutsu. Uchiha used the Mangekyō Sharingan to control the long-haired, squinty-eyed Third Hokage.

Uchiha Kō now possesses the Eternal Six-Tomoe Rinne-Sharingan, along with Sage Body and Golden Rinnegan. Tell me, is that so difficult?

If those old guys don't cooperate, then don't blame him for using some unconventional methods.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. He had long disliked those old guys. They weren't very strong, but they loved to rely on their seniority and act like big shots, nagging and arguing about everything, big or small, and always trying to find amusement by suggesting a breakup.

If he weren't unsuitable for taking action, he would have wanted to kill them too. He wasn't the clan leader, yet he was so attached to power.

"Teacher, I promise you, but will doing this affect your reputation?" Hyuga Hiashi, his eyes filled with worry.

Uchiha Kō laughed, a carefree and unrestrained laugh. "I'd rather bear a lifetime of infamy than let Konoha become stronger. A united Hyuga Clan brings considerable benefits to Konoha."

Hiashi Hyuga could Hyuga Hiashi help but admire Uchiha Kō. As expected, a teacher is a teacher. Whether it was when he was a child or now that he had grown up and become the head of the Hyūga Clan, he still respected him as always!

"If it really comes to that, your disciple won't let his master bear it all alone." After saying that, Hyuga Hiashi stared intently at Uchiha Kō.

Uchiha Kō smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm heading out now. I'll tell Lu Ming later that he'll have to work overtime tonight."

"Yes, teacher!" Hyuga Hiashi bowed, and as soon as he stood up, he saw a golden light appear, and then Uchiha Kō's figure disappeared.

The next moment, Nara Rokumei opened the door and walked in. "Oh, Hiashi, you're still here? I just finished some business and went home. Where's the Lord Hokage?"

"Lord Lu Ming, the Lord Hokage has gone out on business and needs your help..." Hyuga Hiashi said apologetically.

Nara Rokumei nodded. "Okay, I understand." Then he naturally sat down in Uchiha Kō's seat.

"Is there anything else?" Nara Rokumei asked with a smile.

"No... that's all. In that case, Lord Lu Ming, I'll take my leave now." Hyuga Hiashi.

Nara Rokumei nodded. "Go, Hyuga clan leader." After saying that, he immediately went to handle government affairs and never looked up again.

Hyuga Hiashi tactfully left the Hokage Office and headed towards the clan's Earth Flow. He had no doubt about what his teacher had said about bringing back the Byakugan.

Uchiha Kō Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly arrive at the dock of Kirigakure. He had taken precautions when he caused havoc in Kirigakure and set up a Flying Thunder God mark at the dock so that he could teleport directly there if he needed to fight Kirigakure again in the future.

I never expected it would come in handy today.

Uchiha Kō, smelling the salty seawater and feeling the sea breeze, appeared at the dock. The nearby fishermen didn't pay any attention to Uchiha Kō, assuming he was a new fisherman.

Uchiha Kō didn't stay long either, heading towards Kirigakure. He knew Kirigakure like the backyard of his own home.

Before long, they arrived at the village entrance. The two guards at the entrance were young and did not recognize Uchiha Kō, but out of professional courtesy, they reached out to stop Uchiha Kō.

"Halt! This is Kirigakure. Who are you? What is your purpose here?" Guard 1 stopped Uchiha Kō and asked.

Uchiha Kō glanced at him and said, "Please inform them that the Hokage of Konoha, Uchiha Kō, has come to visit the Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura."

After saying that, he found a rock to sit on and waited for Karatachi Yagura out.