The Reality One Refuses to Face

The first method is simply to monopolize the upper echelons and force the Hyuga Clan to reform itself. This approach is the most gentle and effective, though it takes a very long time.

The second is Naruto's way, though Li Ke feels he didn't think that far ahead at all.

No matter how you look at it, the Hyuga Clan is nothing but bones in a grave, not worth a second glance.

They will inevitably perish as the era progresses, but the Uchiha Clan nearby is different; you have to be wary of these people producing a lunatic at any moment.

However, as things stand now, the Hyuga Clan is no less deranged than the Uchiha Clan.

"Come to think of it, the meeting is tomorrow, right?"

Watching the branch family member who had already gone to report, Li Ke asked, and Fugaku Uchiha felt a subtle shift in mood at this question.

He was one of those who knew the village's intentions, which is why he agreed immediately when Minato Namikaze and Li Ke came to find him. If there were no reparations from the Mist Battlefield, the Uchiha Clan would receive very little in terms of rewards, and he would have a very hard time facing his clansmen.

But he didn't know what Minato and Li Ke were planning to do.

And now, he couldn't ask even if he wanted to.

Minato nodded and wanted to say something else, but Hiashi Hyuga had already walked out with an apologetic look on his face.

Hiashi felt incredibly awkward looking at the three of them. If it were up to him, he absolutely wouldn't want to do this, but Li Ke is a Wood Release ninja, Minato is a Hokage Candidate, and Fugaku Uchiha is also a Hokage Candidate.

Moreover, this wasn't an official invitation on the battlefield, but a private one, so he really had no choice.

He was also genuinely curious why Fugaku Uchiha would get involved.

"Apologies, everyone, it's just that the Byakugan issue is far too serious..."

As he spoke, Minato quickly exchanged pleasantries; after all, even though it was Li Ke's suggestion, it was ultimately his name that had gathered these people.

After some empty small talk, the four of them entered a barrier designed to block sound and prevent detection.

After the last branch family ninja who served tea left, Hiashi was just about to ask Minato about his intentions when Minato spoke up.

"Actually, this time, it is Qingtan who has something to ask of you."

Hiashi and Fugaku were both stunned, looking together at this suddenly rising Wood Release ninja, both harboring doubts in their hearts.

"That's right, it's me."

Li Ke revealed a smile.

The next moment, he dispelled the genjutsu over his eyes.

A Byakugan shining with blue-white light appeared on the left, while a Mangekyo Sharingan flashing with scarlet light glowed in his right eye.

The entire tent fell silent for a moment, then Fugaku's eyes snapped open, forming a coherent pattern, but after seeing that everything before him remained unchanged, he immediately formed hand seals.

"Release!" X2

Still, there was no reaction. The reason there were two voices was that Hiashi had also opened his Byakugan and performed a genjutsu-breaking seal.

Upon discovering that everything before them remained unchanged, they simultaneously drew their kunai and stabbed them into their own thighs!

The two men's movements were perfectly synchronized, without a single moment of hesitation. Minato only had time to reach out his hand before blood sprayed from their legs.

"Hiss..."

Both clan heads gasped in unison. Even in the face of intense pain, they saw no change in Li Ke's eyes. After a moment of silence, Hiashi spoke.

"Is there a possibility—I mean, is there a possibility, Wood Release Jonin Murata Qingtan... that your Byakugan, um, is... colored contacts? Is it a personal hobby of yours?"

He understood the weight of Wood Release, and he understood his own clan's obsession with the Byakugan.

If Li Ke dared to walk out with a Byakugan, the elders would force him to pressure the Hokage at the clan meeting! They would send people to beat two or three Uchiha Jonin half to death, stalk Fugaku Uchiha daily, and be ready to take him out at any moment!

Even if the elders didn't want to, they would have to do it!

Otherwise, they couldn't answer to the clan!

Fugaku, on the side, also wore an ugly smile. He didn't want to clash with the Hyuga or Konoha Village at a time like this!

The significance of Wood Release was too great! Even the doves in his clan would think the hawks weren't extreme enough in the face of Wood Release!

And they would end up at war with the Hyuga!

The reason for going to war with the Hyuga was simple!

Because they couldn't question the Hokage or Konoha, they could only question the Hyuga!

"That's right... this must be a genjutsu you released to confuse and intimidate the enemy, hahaha... Jonin Qingtan, your genjutsu is so powerful that it can even deceive the Sharingan, it really is, it really is amazing!"

The two clan heads, despite their different circumstances, both thought of the same way to avoid going to war with each other at this moment.

As long as they both claimed Li Ke's eyes were a ninjutsu used to confuse enemies, then even if it were real, it could be fake!

No! It is fake!

The others didn't speak, but Madara Uchiha, watching from within Li Ke's body, saw Fugaku's behavior. Although he didn't let out a sharp, piercing shriek like Senju Tobirama, who was already having a mental breakdown, his chakra grew increasingly cold.

So, Li Ke revealed a smile that looked eerie to the two clan heads and raised a finger.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Purple Chakra Armor manifested on Li Ke's body, and his Byakugan emitted a strange glow as he spoke again.

"55637992, this should be some kind of code, right? And a letter from home, and your wife... wow, you actually kept your wife's... tsk tsk, I really didn't expect you to have a pink kunai..."

Li Ke's words and display nearly brought Fugaku Uchiha to his knees. Although the Chakra Armor Li Ke manifested was small, it was incredibly refined, and the ocular power he sensed was far greater than his own! In other words, Li Ke was capable of manifesting the Complete Body Susanoo!

Hiashi Hyuga, meanwhile, was nearly scared out of his wits, because...

Because he felt an intense pressure!

A pressure emanating from Li Ke's Byakugan!

It was the kind of Byakugan pressure that rendered one unable to move a muscle!

Furthermore, even for him, the veins around his eyes would bulge whenever he activated his Byakugan, but Li Ke's did not! And Li Ke was even able to perceive a colorful field of vision!

Without a doubt, this was a Byakugan of an incredibly high order! It possessed a purity and a status so high that it had never appeared in the history of the Hyuga clan!

Regardless of anything else, both clan heads were certain of one thing at this very moment.

Li Ke's eyes were absolutely not transplanted!

And...

They were truly about to go to war with the Uchiha and the Hyuga!