You Won't

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing, looking at Uchiha Izuna, then at Hinata Hyuga, who stood behind him with worry in her eyes, before finally letting out a sigh.

Hyuga Hiashi withdrew his chakra: "Follow me inside." He then turned and walked toward the reception hall.

After only two steps, he stopped: "Does Hinata want to listen in as well?" Hyuga Hiashi's gaze was cold and scrutinizing.

Hinata Hyuga's face turned pale. Just as she was about to refuse, Uchiha Izuna nodded at her.

Hinata Hyuga seemed to forget her father's oppressive aura and cried out in a delicate voice: "I want to join!"

This was the first time she had summoned the courage to defy her father!

Unexpectedly, the coldness in the corners of Hyuga Hiashi's eyes melted into tenderness, and even his voice took on a hint of warmth: "If you want to listen, then come along!"

After speaking, Hyuga Hiashi turned away, feeling quite pleased. At the same time, he marveled that such a young boy with such powerful chakra could bring about such a significant change in Hinata!

Hinata Hyuga was stunned. She had expected to be punished for defying her father, but instead, he had not only accepted her behavior but even encouraged it.

Uchiha Izuna spoke up at this moment: "Hinata, are you wondering why the clan head is happy about your act of defiance?"

Hearing this, Hinata Hyuga looked at Uchiha Izuna, her face full of anticipation as she waited for him to continue.

Uchiha Izuna said: "Because your father is the clan head, and you are the future heir of the Hyuga Clan. As an heir to a ninja clan, if you are weak, you will be bullied."

"Just like Uchiha Fugaku, who retreats at every turn, only to be pushed out of the inner circle and now worries about the very survival of the clan." Uchiha Izuna sighed.

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui's mouths twitched. Even Hyuga Hiashi, lost in thought, bumped his head against a stone pillar and had to rub it in pain.

Filial, truly filial—using his own father as a cautionary tale. Yet, Uchiha Izuna was right; perhaps Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui did not see things as clearly as he did.

The Uchiha were indeed declining, and the village was becoming increasingly excessive in its oppression and exploitation of the clan.

This made Hyuga Hiashi take the Uchiha's lesson to heart, deciding that the heir he cultivated must be strong, unyielding, and refuse to compromise with Konoha!

Hinata Hyuga looked thoughtful, then nodded: "I understand, Brother Zhan. From now on, Hinata will be strong, unyielding, and dare to say no to oppression!"

Uchiha Izuna laughed. Even five-year-old Hinata understood this, yet his own father, Uchiha Fugaku, had only just realized it. He wondered if the man was playing dumb or intentionally sending the entire clan to the Pure Land to follow the ancestor Madara.

Hyuga Hiashi was in an incredibly good mood. Honestly, if there weren't so many people around, he would have wanted to kowtow to Uchiha Izuna. Uchiha Izuna had given him a proper heir!

At the very least, in the next generation, under Hinata's leadership, the Hyuga Clan would be able to endure. Little did he know that in the future, under Hinata's guidance, the Hyuga Clan would awaken three Tenseigan.

They would become a Hyuga Clan truly on par with the Uchiha Clan!

Because of this liberation of thought, Hinata Hyuga no longer felt any fear when looking at Hyuga Hiashi; instead, her small face was filled with determination.

Hiashi could not have been more satisfied. No matter why the Uchiha had come today, he would satisfy them as much as possible—even if it meant marching on the Hokage Building, he would not hesitate.

Konoha had rotted to the core. Influenced by their supreme leader, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the major clans rarely contributed to the village anymore, with most focusing solely on securing benefits for their own families.

If this situation continued, Konoha would eventually fall apart, and the various clans would scatter to the four winds to seek refuge in other ninja villages.

If Hashirama Senju could see this result, what would he say?

After a twenty-minute walk, the group finally arrived at the place where Hyuga Hiashi was hosting them.

Inside the reception hall, five tables were set up, and members of the Hyuga Clan guided them to their respective seats.

Hinata Hyuga and Uchiha Izuna sat at one table, while Neji Hyuga, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi each sat at their own. Hyuga Hiashi sat at the head of the table.

He looked at Hinata Hyuga with a smile. He wanted his daughter to learn well from Uchiha Izuna's philosophy; on the way here, he had realized that Uchiha Izuna's mindset was what a true clan head should have.

Hinata Hyuga pretended to be composed, but in reality, she was deeply inhaling the scent of Uchiha Izuna, letting it fill her lungs before exhaling.

Neji Hyuga watched this scene and snorted, turning his head away.

After Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi sat down, Hyuga Hiashi asked: "Three nephews, coming to my Hyuga, is this Fugaku's intention?"

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi looked at Uchiha Izuna. This gesture was telling; in an instant, Hyuga Hiashi understood that the one in charge among these three was Uchiha Izuna!

Hyuga Hiashi stopped looking at Shisui and Itachi and focused entirely on Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna stood up, picked up his wine cup, and said: "It is my intention. However, our clan head will follow my arrangements."

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes lit up; he was even more interested in Uchiha Izuna now.

"Nephew, tell me, what is the purpose of your visit?" Hyuga Hiashi drank a cup of sake, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Uchiha Izuna.

Uchiha Izuna glanced at Shisui and Itachi. The two understood immediately, stood up, and looked at the Hyuga servants, activating their Mangekyō Sharingan.

All the Hyuga servants "fell asleep."

Hyuga Hiashi narrowed his eyes. A show of force?

But Uchiha Izuna spoke: "Too many ears, I had to let the others sleep for a while."

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing, pouring himself more wine.

Uchiha Izuna didn't mind and continued: "Our purpose in coming here is primarily to learn from past mistakes and to cure the sickness and save the patient."

Hyuga Hiashi's hand paused. Learn from mistakes, cure the sickness and save the patient? An interesting way of putting it.

"Explain further." Hyuga Hiashi set down his cup and looked at him seriously.

"The Uchiha have made too many mistakes in the past. We must learn from these errors so they are never repeated."

"As for curing the sickness and saving the patient, this village is sick. We must use thunderous means to hack away the rotten roots and the withered trunk so that it has a chance to grow strong again!"

Uchiha Izuna's words didn't explicitly name anyone, yet every sentence pointed to people. Just as he finished, Hyuga Hiashi slammed the table and stood up abruptly: "Uchiha Izuna, you have a lot of nerve! Aren't you afraid I'll report your words today to the Hokage?"

"Your Uchiha clan will be thrown into chaos and slaughtered!" Hyuga Hiashi stared at Uchiha Izuna, even activating his Byakugan to observe his every movement.

"You won't, because..." Uchiha Izuna didn't speak aloud, but his lips moved to form a name (Hizashi Hyuga).

Hyuga Hiashi fell silent. He let out a sigh: "You are right. Continue." He drank a cup of wine, waiting for Uchiha Izuna to go on.