The Reality No One Wanted to Face

The first option was simply to monopolize the upper levels, forcing the Hyuga Clan to reform itself. It was the gentlest and most effective approach, but it would take a long time.

The second was Naruto's approach, though Li Ke figured he hadn't really thought it through that much.

No matter how you looked at it, the Hyuga Clan was a bunch of dead men walking, not worth a second glance.

They'd become obsolete as the times changed, but the Uchiha beside him were different. You had to stay on guard in case one of them went crazy.

Still, from what he could see, the Hyuga Clan was no less deranged than the Uchiha Clan.

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

Looking at the Hyuga Branch Family member who had gone to announce their arrival, Li Ke asked. At the question, Fugaku Uchiha felt a little conflicted.

He was one of the people who knew what the village had in mind, which was why he'd agreed as soon as Minato Namikaze and Li Ke approached him. If the Mist Battlefield brought no reparations, the Uchiha Clan would receive very little in the way of rewards, and he'd have a hard time facing his clansmen.

But he had no idea what Minato Namikaze and Li Ke were planning.

And now, he couldn't ask.

Minato Namikaze nodded and was about to say something, but across from them, Hyuga Hiashi had already come out, looking apologetic.

Hyuga Hiashi regarded the three of them with an awkward expression. There was no question that he didn't want to do this, but Li Ke was a Wood Release ninja, Minato Namikaze was a Hokage Candidate, and Fugaku Uchiha was also a Hokage Candidate.

Besides, this wasn't an official meeting on the battlefield. They were inviting him in their personal capacities, so he had no choice.

He was genuinely curious about why Fugaku Uchiha had gotten involved.

"Sorry, everyone. The matter of the Byakugan is just too serious..."

As he spoke, Minato Namikaze quickly exchanged pleasantries. After all, although the idea had come from Li Ke, the people had gathered under his name.

After some pointless small talk, the four of them entered a barrier that blocked sound and prevented anyone from spying on them.

Once the last Branch Family ninja had served the tea and left, Hyuga Hiashi was just about to ask Minato Namikaze what this was about when Minato spoke first.

"Actually, Qingtan is the one who has something to discuss with you."

Hyuga Hiashi and Fugaku Uchiha both froze, then turned to look at the Wood Release ninja who had suddenly risen to prominence, each wondering the same thing.

"That's right. It's me."

Li Ke smiled.

Then he dispelled the genjutsu concealing his eyes.

A blue-white Byakugan gleamed in his left eye, while a Mangekyō Sharingan glowed crimson in his right.

The tent fell silent for a moment. Fugaku Uchiha's eyes snapped open, forming a continuous pattern, but when he saw that nothing before him had changed, he immediately formed Hand Seals.

"Release!" X2

Yet nothing happened. There were two voices because Hyuga Hiashi had also activated his Byakugan and made the hand sign to dispel a genjutsu.

When they saw that nothing had changed, they drew their Kunai in unison and stabbed them into their own thighs!

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, without the slightest hesitation. Minato Namikaze only had time to reach out before blood spurted from both men's legs.

"Ah..."

The two clan heads sucked in a sharp breath at the same time. Even amid the pain, they still saw no change in Li Ke's eyes. After a moment of silence, Hyuga Hiashi spoke.

"Is it possible—I mean, is there any chance that your Byakugan, Wood Release jonin Murata Qingtan... well, that it's just colored contacts? Some kind of personal hobby?"

He knew how significant Wood Release was, and he also knew how obsessed his own clan was with the Byakugan.

If Li Ke dared to walk around with a Byakugan, the elders would pressure him at the clan meeting to put pressure on the Hokage! They'd even send people to the Uchiha Clan to beat two or three of their jonin half to death, then have them keep watch on Fugaku Uchiha, ready to take him out at any moment!

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

Otherwise, they'd have no way to answer for it!

Fugaku Uchiha, standing to the side, gave an uneasy smile. He didn't want to go up against the Hyuga Clan and Konoha at a time like this, either!

Wood Release meant far too much! Even the doves in the clan would think the hardliners weren't extreme enough when faced with Wood Release!

And they'd end up fighting the Hyuga Clan, too!

The reason for fighting the Hyuga Clan was simple!

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

"Exactly... It could be a genjutsu you're using to confuse and intimidate the enemy. Hahaha... Qingtan, your genjutsu can even fool the Sharingan. That's truly, truly impressive!"

The two clan heads, though in rather different predicaments, had come up with the same way to avoid a war with each other.

As long as they both said Li Ke's eyes were a ninjutsu meant to fool the enemy, then even if they were real, they could still be fake!

No! They were fake!

The others said nothing, but from inside Li Ke's body, Madara Uchiha watched Fugaku Uchiha's reaction. He didn't let out a piercing shriek like Senju Tobirama, who was currently wallowing in despair, but his chakra grew colder and colder.

So Madara Uchiha gave a smile that seemed bizarre to both clan heads and raised one finger.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Purple Chakra Armor appeared on Li Ke's body, while his Byakugan glowed with a strange light. Then Li Ke spoke again.

"55637992. That must be some kind of code, right? And a family letter, too. As well as your dear wife... Wow, you even kept your wife's... Tsk, I never would have guessed you had a pink Kunai, too..."

Li Ke's words and display nearly brought Fugaku Uchiha to his knees. The Chakra Armor he released was small but exquisitely detailed, and the ocular power Li Ke exuded was far stronger than his own! That meant Li Ke could manifest the complete Susanoo!

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

Because he could feel an overwhelming pressure!

It came from Li Ke's Byakugan!

The kind of pressure that left him unable to move a muscle!

And even he developed bulging veins beside his eyes when he activated his Byakugan, but Li Ke didn't! What's more, Li Ke could see the world in color!

Without a doubt, this was an incredibly advanced Byakugan! One with unprecedented purity and an exceptionally high level—unlike anything in Hyuga history!

At that moment, both clan heads were certain of one thing.

Li Ke's eyes definitely hadn't been transplanted!

And...

They really were going to end up fighting the Uchiha and the Hyuga!