"Do you have no objection to starting both meetings at the same time?"
Hyuga Hiashi was a little surprised. Shinichi Hyuga actually hadn't objected?
"Why would I object? I can hardly wait! What a great opportunity to make the Hyuga Clan even stronger!"
Shinichi Hyuga walked over to Hyuga Hiashi, taking Shimura Danzō's former place and standing between the other two men.
As he clapped, he controlled his eye power, letting it seep into the ground and inscribe an invisible Caged Bird seal.
In this arrangement, the Great Elder and Hyuga Hiashi looked more like mere sidekicks.
Dark lines spread across both their faces.
Hyuga Hiashi stepped aside, putting a few paces between them. Only then did he look less like a master of ceremonies and promptly announce that the clan meeting was beginning.
He would make Shinichi Hyuga pay for his actions.
"The position of Hidden Branch Main House has been vacant for over a decade.
"Now that the war is over, we can elect a new Hidden Branch Main House to ensure the stability of the clan!
"Those participating are Shota Hyuga from the Great Elder's household,
"and Reiko Hyuga from Shinichi Hyuga's household.
"I hope everyone will choose carefully.
"Personally, I support the Great Elder's line!
"Originally, the Great Elder's son held the position of Hidden Branch Main House, but he died in the war."
Hyuga Hiashi's voice echoed through the Ancestral Hall. At first, what he said was perfectly normal.
But those last few sentences were no longer subtle hints.
They were blatant favoritism.
It reminded Shinichi Hyuga of the elections in his past life. The boss had already spoken, hadn't he?
Wouldn't you just do as you were told unless you wanted to be made miserable?
Did you really have any other choice?
Hyuga Hiashi looked at Shinichi Hyuga provocatively, hoping to see a hint of fear on his face.
Clap~
Clap~
"Clan Head, what a splendid opening. No wonder the Main Branch has ruled for generations."
Shinichi Hyuga began to clap. That speech brought back memories of his past life: a leader's words were about as meaningful as a dog fart, just more rhythmic.
He praised him with deliberate sarcasm.
The Great Elder and Hyuga Hiashi were both baffled, each wondering what Shinichi Hyuga was planning.
"Then let's begin the vote!"
Shinichi Hyuga seemed impatient. He cut Hyuga Hiashi off mid-sentence.
Hyuga Hiashi and the Great Elder were both caught off guard. Was he really in such a hurry?
The meeting was slipping further and further out of their control.
"Let's vote by a show of hands! Raise your hand if you support the Great Elder's line!"
Hyuga Hiashi frowned, seized back the initiative, and announced loudly.
He walked over beside the Great Elder and, without bothering to hide his bias, raised his own hand.
Then he looked toward the jōnin in the Ancestral Hall.
His expression shifted. His eyes grew solemn, and confusion and anger appeared on his face at the same time.
The scene he'd expected, with everyone responding to his call, never happened. Only a dozen or so people raised their hands.
They were all older jōnin with no one to worry about and no younger generation to protect.
Everyone else lowered their heads and remained silent. Their stance was clear enough.
"Clan Head, I don't think your method is right. The Hyuga Clan may have excellent eyesight, but that doesn't mean their hearing is good. Perhaps they didn't hear you clearly.
"How about this?
"If you support me, stand behind me.
"If you support the Great Elder, stand beside the Clan Head!"
Shinichi Hyuga spoke slowly, putting on the air of someone looking out for Hyuga Hiashi.
His one remaining hand even pointed behind him.
"You!"
Hyuga Hiashi heard the deep mockery in those words.
Should he activate the Caged Bird seal to teach these Branch Family jōnin a lesson? Were they defying him?
He'd thought this was just a formality. He hadn't expected to be the real fool here.
But where were the people who'd once supported him so firmly?
A rustle of moving bodies filled the hall.
Everyone inside surged over to stand behind Shinichi Hyuga.
Only the dozen or so jōnin who'd raised their hands remained where they were, exchanging glances.
At last, they slowly went to stand behind Hyuga Hiashi.
"You!"
Hyuga Hiashi stared in disbelief, his eyes wide open.
He couldn't believe the gap between them could really be this huge.
He only had to glance around. Just as Shinichi Hyuga had said, the Hyuga Clan had excellent eyesight, and he could see the difference in numbers at once.
Including himself, there weren't even twenty people behind him.
Behind Shinichi Hyuga stood more than a hundred!
This was the complete opposite of what they'd expected before the meeting! He was supposed to be the one with over a hundred people behind him!
"Clan Head, the result is clear now, isn't it? Hurry up and announce it!"
Shinichi Hyuga gave a scornful laugh.
He had Orochimaru's research notes on the Caged Bird to thank for this.
After studying them carefully, he'd found a way to remove the Caged Bird seal: simply erase it with powerful Byakugan eye power!
No wonder the Second had shelved his research on the Caged Bird. He didn't have the Byakugan.
In the end, it all came down to the Byakugan's eye power.
These jōnin might not care about themselves, but they cared about their families.
The Caged Bird had been passed down for a thousand years, and over time it had become something else entirely.
It had become a means for the Main Branch to enslave the Branch Family.
They'd spent their whole lives bowing and scraping. They didn't want their children to become the Main Branch's slaves too!
Winning them over was simple: remove the Caged Bird seals from their children and wives, and they'd have the courage to change the Hyuga Clan together.
Even if it cost them their lives!
Besides, the future Shinichi Hyuga had envisioned for the Hyuga Clan was so bright that it was worth fighting for.
Shinichi Hyuga's voice was full of pressure. He wanted to see whether this Clan Head would still follow the rules.
"Why?"
Hyuga Hiashi hadn't even opened his mouth yet.
The Great Elder could no longer stand it. He shouted the question aloud, drawing everyone's attention!
He'd prepared so much for this meeting! Why had things ended this way?
That damn Third, that shit-eating Shimura Danzō—they were both useless.
The gulf between what he'd expected and what had happened made him lose his reason completely.
Having fallen from his pedestal, would the once-ruling Main Branch now become slaves like the Branch Family?
His pride couldn't accept it!
Before you continue