The Art of Compromise

Konoha Hospital.

Tsunade finally completed the initial screening and classification of the many wounded. Judging from their injuries, Tsunade could imagine how Taiichi had attacked them.

With such precise control of force, even a fraction more, at least half of these wounded would not have seen the Sun Barrier the next day.

It's clear that Taiichi did this intentionally, likely to cause trouble for the Ōtsutsuki Clan, given the circumstances at the time.

However, things changed so quickly that the Ōtsutsuki Clan actually submitted to Konoha, which could be used as a means for Konoha to show its favor.

Of course, these were just thoughts in Tsunade's mind; she would never say them aloud.

After explaining to Katsuya Otsutsuki about the resettlement and follow-up treatment of his clansmen, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief. The real hard work was about to begin.

Treating more than twenty seriously injured people in a short period of time would require a great deal of effort, even if she did it herself.

Fortunately, that guy came back.

Speak of the devil, and he appears; Tsunade had barely looked up when her gaze inadvertently swept across the glass window of the observation area.

That gaze, through the transparent barrier, precisely captured Taiichi standing at the edge of the shadows and the bursting crimson mass on his shoulder.

Tsunade paused slightly, but the smile on her face didn't disappear; instead, it deepened a little.

A gentle curve lingered at the corner of her lips, and the corners of her eyes even curved slightly, as if she had seen something pleasant.

However, beneath this seemingly gentle exterior, a strange emotion was surging deep within those amber eyes.

"Rest assured, Clan Chief Katsuya." Tsunade's voice came clearly through the slightly ajar door, "Your clan members will receive the best treatment in Konoha, including your severed arms, which will be fully restored."

Her gaze remained fixed on Taiichi and Nine-Tails, and that gentle promise, that smile at the corner of her lips, seemed like the whisper of Death God, seeping into Nine-Tails's ears.

"!!!" The Nine-Tails- Tailed Fox's fur bristled to its limit, and the entire fox suddenly sprang half a foot off Taiichi's shoulder, letting out a short and shrill scream.

"It's all over!"

The Nine-Tails' scream was laced with sobs. Perhaps its size had shrunk, and even its courage had diminished. Minato's earlier warning, coupled with what it had just witnessed, finally broke Nine-Tails taut nerves. "Look at that sinister grin on her face! She's definitely waiting for me to come back! Taiichi, run, run! You'll die! I'll be turned into a scarf by her!"

Taiichi's hand, like a pre-prepared iron clamp, firmly pressed down on the furry back of the Nine-Tails the instant it sprang up. The immense force easily crushed its insignificant struggles, pinning it firmly in place, leaving it only able to kick its hind legs in vain and let out desperate whimpers.

This guy is so insecure that he now sees everything as a sign that others have ill intentions towards him.

Tsunade watched everything unfold outside, her gentle smile remaining unchanged. She even gave a very slight nod to Taiichi and the crimson fox that was being held down and struggling wildly. After exchanging a few words with Katsuya, she walked towards Taiichi.

Well, even Taiichi was surprised this time; this really wasn't "Tsunade" like this.

Seeing the teacher walking this way, Taiichi smiled and scooped the Nine-Tails pupa from his shoulder into his arms, then went to greet him.

Just as Taiichi was about to speak, Tsunade spoke up.

"Taiichi, you're finally back! Are you tired? Why don't you go home and rest for a bit?"

A warm smile, a caring greeting—but to Taiichi, it was all a completely different story.

A current shot from the tailbone straight to the crown of the head, circled once at the crown of the head, and then flowed straight to the soles of the feet.

Taiichi was completely distraught. He had just been secretly mocking Nine-Tails, but now he finally understood how Nine-Tails had felt.

It's a fox after all; its senses are much sharper than a human's.

The Nine-Tails stopped struggling and instead raised its head to look at Taiichi, as if it were a joke, its fox mouth grinning with a mocking smile.

But before it could be smug for long, the fox froze and was uncontrollably lifted from Taiichi's arms.

"Oh, isn't this Lord Nine-Tails Fox? This mission must have been tough. It's a pity I'm out of my good wine, otherwise I would have treated you to a proper meal tonight."

The fox was grabbed by the scruff of its neck, its limbs drooping limply in front of it, as if resigned to its fate, its will to resist gone.

"Ah!" Taiichi scratched the back of his head, gave Nine-Tails a helpless look, and then said, "Look at what you're saying, teacher. I just came out of the Hokage's Office and didn't even go home before rushing to the hospital to help. You can ask Minato about this; he can vouch for me."

Taiichi secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking to himself: That was close, we just ended up at the hospital.

"Really! I never would have guessed!" Tsunade looked at Taiichi "gently," the Nine-Tails in her hand swaying back and forth in the air like a dead fox with her movements. "But work is indeed important, and your presence here has been a great help to me!"

"Ah, no, no, work is nothing compared to being a teacher. I only came to the hospital because my teacher is here." Taiichi's survival instinct was kicking in; he didn't want to end up like Nine-Tails, a "dead fox."

"Alright, these are all the wounded you brought back. They need to be operated on right away. You can come along too!" With that, Tsunade tossed the fox she was holding to Taiichi and turned to walk towards the operating room.

As soon as Nine-Tails escaped Tsunade's clutches, before it could even land in Taiichi's arms, it twisted its body, dodging Taiichi's hands, and forcefully landed. Then, its four short legs moved quickly, leaving a trail of afterimages, and it disappeared from the spot in a flash.

Then its voice drifted over from afar, "Go have your surgery, I'm going to tear this up first, don't come looking for me!"

Taiichi's hands froze in mid-air for a long time before he finally withdrew them. "Sigh, what's going on here!"

Five surgeries in a row kept us busy until 9 p. m. It wasn't that there were no other surgeries to be done, but rather that the other medical staff simply couldn't keep going.

Not all Medical Ninja possess the strength of Tsunade and Taiichi, especially when performing such highly focused surgeries, which places even greater strain on them.

The Gekko cast long, thin shadows of the two of them. Taiichi followed silently behind Tsunade, his gaze fixed on her straight back as he observed her intently.

When Tsunade Earth Flow the gambling den she frequented most often without even glancing to the side, without the slightest hesitation in her steps, Taiichi's heart tightened.

What he found even more unbelievable was that when she passed by the izakaya filled with the rich aroma of sake, Tsunade didn't even wrinkle her nose, as if the alluring scent had no effect on her.

This "immense" restraint, whether it was intentional for some purpose or a result of a radical change in her true nature, made Taiichi deeply uneasy.

He knew Tsunade's character well; what she was trying to achieve at such a high price must be worthy of that price.

At this moment, Taiichi had absolutely no idea what she was up to.

The two returned to their lodgings, said goodnight to each other, and went to their respective rooms.

The only difference is that the silhouette of someone gazing at the moon in the courtyard did not appear tonight.

The night was peaceful and uneventful; even the troublesome Nine-Tails was unusually cowardly and did not return home all night.

Taiichi wasn't worried about it getting lost, since the fox bore both his and Minato's Flying Thunder God Mark, allowing it to be sensed and locked onto instantly from any direction.

The next morning, Taiichi got up as usual to perform his morning training. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was surprised to see Tsunade already sitting there.

The first light of dawn outlined her profile as she closed her eyes in deep concentration; her serene posture clearly indicated that she was practicing meditation.

Taiichi immediately held his breath, tiptoed, and carefully circled around to the other side of the Training Ground, afraid of disturbing her.

But at the very moment he turned the corner, he couldn't help but look back and glance once more at the incredible sight in the morning light.

This is simply unbelievable!

In the following days, Taiichi and Tsunade were almost inseparable as they worked together to treat the wounded members of the Moon Otsutsuki Clan.

This gave Taiichi excellent opportunity to observe Tsunade's every move up close and for an extended period of time.

However, no matter how carefully he observed, he could not find anything obviously wrong.

The only change was that the continuous high-intensity work had made Tsunade's face look slightly thinner, which made Taiichi feel a little heartache.

Meanwhile, deep within the Hyuga Clan's territory, in a secluded room in the home of Hyuga Hiashi, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, like a cloud of leaden clouds looming overhead.

"Today is the fifth day!" Seated in the main Hyuga Hiashi, Hiashi Hyuga could no longer tolerate the endless arguing below. His voice, carrying an undeniable authority, delivered the decisive blow, "Although the Hokage-sama has stated that time is ample, he will not allow us to delay indefinitely. Today, a final decision must be reached!"

The once noisy and chaotic secret room instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone kept their eyes down, no one willing to be the first to speak out.

Finally, it was the Great Elder who broke the silence, his voice aged yet resolute. "Konoha must never have two Byakugan clans."

This statement served as a cornerstone, setting the final tone for this difficult meeting.

All the elders, including Hyuga Hiashi himself, nodded solemnly.

This is an unshakeable ironclad rule. The reality is cruel; the Hyuga Clan today lacks the confidence to face the Otsutsuki of the Moon, who possess a stronger legacy in developing the Byakugan.

Their only advantage is their status as "elders" of Konoha and their deep-rooted connections with the village's higher-ups; currently, the higher-ups will inevitably side with them.

However, this advantage will inevitably diminish as the Otsutsuki formally integrates and time goes by.

Ultimately, the power to speak can only be determined by the true strength of both sides.

"The Otsutsuki would never willingly submit to the branch Branch Family!" The Third Elder's tone was indignant, filled with undisguised disgust. "As far as I know, they only gained their foothold by turning against the Main Family from the Branch Family! Such insubordination is utterly unacceptable!"

"Letting them into the Main Family is even more impossible!" another elder immediately chimed in. "They now number seventy or eighty! And how many people does our entire Main Family have? Wouldn't that be inviting wolves into the house and destroying our own foundation?"

"Ultimately—" a voice rang out with deep helplessness, "The crux of the problem lies with the Caged Bird."

How could the outsiders, the Otsutsuki clan, willingly be branded with this Curse Mark that binds them to life and death? We—in truth, only have one path to take.

Silence fell over the secret room once again. Everyone knew perfectly well that this so-called "voluntary choice" was in reality the only way out offered by the village, just disguised in a respectable guise.

"Let's vote!" the Great Elder said again, his tone resolute. "The treatment of the injured Otsutsuki at Konoha Hospital is nearing completion. The village will soon contact them to discuss joining."

Now is the time for the village to clearly state the Force Field of the Hyuga Clan! The minority must submit to the majority; that is the fairest way!

He surveyed the entire room and said in a deep voice, "Now, please raise your hands if you support those who uphold family traditions and refuse to merge with the Otsutsuki!"

No one responded. Each elder was like a meditating monk, eyes downcast, body frozen, as if the words just spoken were merely a breeze brushing past their ears.

The Great Elder ignored this, waited a moment, and then raised his voice again. "Now, please support the modification of the Caged Bird Seal, and welcome those who wish to join the Hyuga Ōtsutsuki Clan —raise your hand!"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already raised his right hand.

A barely perceptible commotion swept through the secret room, eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and understanding, but it quickly subsided as everyone looked away.

Then, another hand rose. To everyone's surprise, it was the Third Elder, who had been the most vehement opponent!

Facing the incredulous gazes of the crowd, the Third Elder remained calm and unashamed, but his voice carried a suppressed pain of many years. "What are you looking at? I've long been dissatisfied with this damned Caged Bird! My sister—"

It was because of that—he committed suicide due to depression!

Upon hearing this, the air in the sealed room seemed to freeze. Everyone turned their faces away, unable to bear to look.

The tragedy of the Caged Bird is not uncommon in the Hyuga Clan, but the case of the Third Elder's sister, who ultimately went to her death, is particularly striking and rare.

Of the four elders, two had already agreed. All eyes, like heavy weights, finally fell on the clan Hyuga Hiashi.

Perhaps touched by the past events mentioned by the Third Elder, the image of his younger brother, Hizashi, involuntarily surfaced in Hiashi's mind.

Ever since Hizashi had his own child, Neji, Hiashi could clearly feel the invisible rift between the brothers deepening day by day, and Hizashi's daily changes were like a thorn stuck in Hiashi's heart.

After a long and agonizing silence, Hyuga Hiashi finally slowly raised his right hand and cast his vote, a vote that would determine the future of the Hyuga Clan.

Inside the Hokage's Office.

Hyuga Hiashi stood respectfully, reporting the clan meeting's decisions to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

When Minato confirmed that the Hyuga Clan had finally agreed to modify the core function of the "Caged Bird Curse Mark," a genuine smile of joy appeared on his face.

With the Hyuga Clan's proactive compromise, he will be in a more advantageous position in subsequent negotiations with the Moon Otsutsuki Clan, and will be able to guide the situation more easily.

This is not only beneficial to the overall stability of the village, but in the long run, it may also be a good thing for the Hyuga Clan itself.

After finishing his report, Hiashi's face showed a rare hint of embarrassment, and he hesitated to speak.

Minato keenly sensed this and asked gently, "Hiashi, is there anything else? Please speak freely."

"Um— Hokage-sama!" Hiashi's face showed a rare hint of unease, and his voice lowered slightly. "To be honest—it's truly a shameful matter. The clan's in-depth research and improvement techniques regarding the 'Caged Bird Curse Mark' have been lost for many years, and even the core related texts are scattered, incomplete, and incomplete. Therefore—"

Minato understood. So that's how it is. The Hyuga Clan itself was no longer able to complete the modification of the Curse Mark, so they came to the village to seek technical assistance.

Without any hesitation, he immediately gave a clear promise, "Hiashi Chief Hiashi need not worry. The village will do its utmost to assist. I will personally invite Orochimaru and Taichi Matsushita, along with myself, to help the Hyuga Clan complete the improvement of the Curse Mark."

Before Hiashi could express his gratitude or concerns, Minato promptly added, like a reassuring pill. "Of course, please rest assured, the main body and leadership of this research remain in the hands of the Hyuga Clan. The three of us will only provide necessary assistance and technical support, and will absolutely not overstep our bounds."

Hearing the Hokage's comprehensive assurance, Hyuga Hiashi finally felt Taiseki lifted from his shoulders. After all, this concerned the clan's most core secret technique and heritage, and he couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.