In the Name of the Family

Seven days later, Hyuga Clan grounds, main estate.

Hyuga Tianren was currently reviewing the financial reports sent in from various industries.

The slight upturn of his lips indicated that he was in a very good mood.

Ever since taking over the industries offered as compensation by the Sarutobi Clan, the Hyuga Clan had grown increasingly prosperous.

After listening to his youngest son's suggestion a few months ago and re-establishing communication with the capital, the industries in the Land of Fire had also been restored one after another.

Perhaps he shouldn't have placed all his bets on Konoha back then, but it was not too late now.

Ever since those industries were restored, the clan had been thriving.

Just then, a maidservant announced, "Clan Head, Young Master Hoshishaku is here."

Before her voice had even faded, Hyuga Hoshishaku had already walked into the courtyard with Kenshi.

Hyuga Tianren looked up, his gaze meeting his youngest son's.

Since he was in a good mood, he couldn't be bothered to lecture his son on his lack of manners.

Seeing the guard beside him carrying a stack of documents, he took the initiative to ask:

"What are you planning to do now, bringing so many things here, you brat?"

Hoshishaku took the documents from Kenshi, placed them on his father's desk, swept the other papers aside with a wave of his small hand, and pointed to the first page.

"Take a rough look at this first, then we can talk."

Hyuga Tianren's mouth twitched, but he did not refuse.

After all, the recent changes in the clan had been brought about by this youngest son; who knew what he was planning this time.

He picked up the documents and began to read.

[Regarding the construction proposal for the Hidden Leaf Village Ninja Academy... Initial intent... Significance of the school... Positive impact... Enhancement of war capabilities and talent reserves...]

Hyuga Tianren did not skim through it; the moment he saw the first page, he realized what this was, so he read it with genuine focus.

Only after finishing did he look up and let out a breath, looking at his seven-year-old son with a complex expression.

However, the first thing he said was somewhat unexpected to Hoshishaku.

"Do you realize that this kind of system is eroding the clan?"

Hyuga Tianren asked with a tone of skepticism.

Hoshishaku pondered for a moment, quickly understanding his father's line of thought.

"Are you worried that the establishment of the Ninja Academy will foster loyalty toward the village among clan ninjas, and over time, as the clan ninjas and the descendants of the branch family awaken internally, they will become alienated from us?"

Hyuga Tianren nodded. "'Awaken internally' is a good way to put it; that is more or less what I mean."

He then continued in a stern tone:

"Alienated? That word is also very precise. Since you thought of it, why would you still propose such a suggestion?"

Hoshishaku hadn't expected his father to consider the Ninja Academy issue from this angle.

In his expectations, even if his father disagreed, he would have first asked why he wanted to propose the construction of the academy.

But he found that his father's perspective was indeed sharp, albeit limited by the era.

Hoshishaku then began to explain his theory:

"If I told you that in the future of the village, integration is the major trend, and that small and medium-sized clans will completely merge into the village and become commoners, would you believe me?"

Hyuga Tianren said calmly, "Continue."

Hoshishaku continued: "At the clan level, the first thing that happened after the establishment of Konoha was the dissolution of the Senju Clan."

"They hid their surname, became commoners, and then integrated into every industry in Konoha, subtly influencing the entire village."

"This might seem like just a matter for the Senju Clan, but its occurrence set a policy and strategy for the future of the village. This has nothing to do with anyone's will; as long as this happens, combined with the ninja system established by the village, it is destined to form a revolution."

"Think about it. Not every ninja clan has the Caged Bird Seal to restrict its members. Since the village's ninja system is superior to the clan's, and the village holds the moral high ground of the nation, the disintegration of ninja clans is inevitable. If the Hyuga Clan is the only one left, how are we supposed to conduct ourselves?"

Although Hoshishaku spoke these words calmly.

His emotions were inevitably somewhat stirred.

"And now might be the early stage of this revolution, or perhaps the end. If this proposal were brought forward by the Hokage, do you think the Hyuga would have a way out? It would be better to take the initiative now, shifting from being the target of the revolution to becoming the model of active change."

As Hyuga Tianren listened, his brows furrowed, and he quickly called for a halt: "Wait, I can't keep up. Let's go through this one point at a time."

"Fine." Hoshishaku agreed, though he felt a bit disappointed that he hadn't managed to talk his father into it all at once.

Hyuga Tianren asked: "Assuming for a moment that ninja clans will gradually integrate into the village, why do you think the Hyuga won't?"

Hoshishaku replied: "Don't you already have the answer in your heart? The current transcendent status of the Hyuga Clan in the village is entirely due to the strategic value of the Byakugan in war."

"If the Hyuga Clan were to dissolve and integrate into the village, the clan would decline, and the strategic value of the Byakugan would be lost due to the lack of marriage restrictions, leading to a massive increase in its numbers."

"Therefore, apart from the enslaved branch family, no one in the clan would be willing to integrate into the village."

"And the village, fearing that the Hyuga bloodline might leak out of Konoha and be obtained by other villages, might not be very happy to see that result either."

Hyuga Tianren asked again, "Since neither the village nor the clan is willing to dissolve and integrate, on what grounds do you claim that the Hyuga will become a target for everyone in the future?"

"People are naturally empathetic. If everyone in the village is equal in the future, but only the Hyuga Clan maintains a noble structure, the very nature of the clan dictates the continued existence of clan-based ninja."

"When that time comes, to those in power, the Hyuga will be a small, militarized power bloc. To the commoners, the Hyuga will be a detestable, decadent aristocracy. If they truly fall into a situation where everyone is suspicious of them, the Hyuga will only be crippled, their financial lifelines severed, and they will be reduced to nothing more than a reconnaissance machine kept in a cage by the authorities."

Although these words from Hyuga Hoshishaku sounded alarmist.

He was, in fact, basing them on the original history.

Yet, the impact of these words on Hyuga Tianren was immense.

As the head of the clan and a powerhouse who had been famous since the Warring States period, Hyuga Tianren's breathing grew heavy.

"This is all pure nonsense!"

He rebuked him with a hint of agitation.

"Father, I have regular access to the Senju Clan Grounds, so I know a lot of inside information."

Hoshishaku said this, then presented the hints given to him by the system as intelligence he had witnessed firsthand:

"Just yesterday, Master Tobirama was deeply troubled after reviewing last year's ninja casualty reports, and Lord Senju Hashirama was also heartbroken over the young age of the fallen ninja. I suspect an institution similar to a Ninja Academy will be established soon, because Lord Hashirama will not allow the young ninja in the village to continue sacrificing themselves like this."

"As the head of the Hyuga, you surely know the current state of every ninja clan in Konoha, don't you?"

"Deliberately sending young children to complete missions to their deaths, or intentionally weeding out branch-family ninja by sending them to die."

"Once the Ninja Academy is established, everything I've envisioned will move in that direction. With your wisdom, you cannot fail to see that, can you?"