False Tenderness

"Is there really not even the slightest possibility?"

Fugaku Uchiha asked.

But Li Ke shook his head once more.

"There is no such possibility."

With that, both clan heads turned their gaze toward Minato Namikaze, hoping to use this future Hokage to persuade Li Ke.

But Minato Namikaze merely offered that smile of his, which remained as warm as the sun.

"My stance is the same as Qingtan's."

He stood with Li Ke one hundred percent; as long as Li Ke did not send Kushina to her death or cause massive losses to the village, he would support him.

Furthermore...

"I believe this matter is a private family affair between the two of you."

Minato Namikaze's words effectively defined the situation, leaving both clan heads unable to utter a single word.

"That's right, that is the case."

Li Ke also revealed a smile, slowly retracting the chakra radiating from his body, showing no intention of letting those outside rush in just yet.

Then, the heads of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans fell silent once again.

They were both aware of the situation regarding Murata; their ancestors who had intermarried with such individuals were merely those who couldn't awaken a Bloodline Limit for two or three generations, so calling them commoners was perfectly accurate.

It was only after learning that Li Ke possessed Wood Release that they had even bothered to look into these records.

But who could tell them how it was possible for someone to awaken a Bloodline Limit based on such thin bloodlines?!

And so many at once, no less!

Is this reasonable?!

Is this ninjutsu?!

Is this the Six Paths Sage?!

However, looking at Li Ke and Minato Namikaze, they understood their intentions even less.

Li Ke's meaning was clear: he intended to make his Byakugan and Sharingan public and operate as a powerful Bloodline ninja.

Yet, he and Minato Namikaze should both be aware that doing so would only incite conflict between the Hyuga and the Uchiha.

The reason the Hyuga and Uchiha would clash was quite simple.

The Ninja World worships strength above all else, and the power Li Ke currently displayed was enough to make him Hokage even without significant achievements.

Moreover, Bloodline Limits are hereditary powers. If they left Li Ke alone and he didn't join their respective clans, would his descendants' Sharingan belong to his family, or to the Uchiha?

The same logic applied to the Byakugan.

Their monopoly would be shattered.

The Uchiha Clan could tolerate this; due to certain secret arts, the more Sharingan, the better. Given Li Ke's current power, reputation, and the abilities of his Mangekyo Sharingan, Fugaku Uchiha didn't see it as too much of a problem.

But the Hyuga were different; the Hyuga's Byakugan was irreplaceable.

This was one area where the Uchiha Clan's status in Konoha fell short of the Hyuga.

The Hyuga's ecological niche was incredibly stable, whereas the Uchiha's was not. While the Uchiha's Sharingan genjutsu was formidable, other powerful ninjas could achieve similar results, and at worst, it was just a two-on-one fight.

But the Byakugan was different. Its X-ray Vision was of strategic importance at all times. It might not boost individual combat power significantly, but for any faction, they could afford to lose a Sharingan master, yet they would never want to lose a Byakugan capable of X-ray Vision.

However, if they left Li Ke alone, the Hyuga Clan's transcendent status would vanish instantly, making it impossible to maintain their current scale and immense benefits.

Therefore, while Fugaku Uchiha actually had a way out, Hiashi Hyuga had absolutely no retreat. Once Li Ke walked the streets with his Byakugan active, the Hyuga Clan would be forced to respond.

Because of this, he spoke with some reluctance.

"This... then what are your thoughts?"

Li Ke looked into the man's eyes. He had a faint sensation that if he were to exert his own chakra upon his Byakugan, he could even dominate Hiashi Hyuga's Byakugan!

Although this feeling was faint, Li Ke was certain he wasn't mistaken. He had no intention of testing it, however, and instead began to speak of his own affairs.

"I intend to become the Fifth Hokage, likely after my child is born and has grown a bit. But before that, I want my child to live in a world of peace, a world where they don't have to kill with their own hands, so..."

Li Ke looked at Hiashi Hyuga, the light of his Byakugan intensifying slightly, causing Hiashi Hyuga's heart to nearly stop, yet allowing him to hear Li Ke's thoughts with absolute clarity.

"I want the Caged Bird to disappear."

Everyone present widened their eyes, staring at Li Ke in disbelief, while Li Ke slowly explained his reasoning.

"I once had a teammate from a Hyuga branch family. That guy was very talented, but because he was from the branch, he had no ambition or hope for the future... After all, for your Hyuga Clan, no matter how beautifully you whitewash it, the reality remains that you, the main family, are the masters of all the branch members."

Li Ke finished, offering a meaningful smile.

"Since I want my child to live in a peaceful world, I do not want him to live in a world where, no matter how hard one struggles, there is no hope to be found. I also do not want my child to have his life held in the hands of others simply because of his innate bloodline, struggling until only death brings him freedom. I understand and do not mind the practice of protecting the Byakugan—after all, for the weak, it is a form of protection—but the Caged Bird must disappear."

The benefits provided to the Hyuga branch families were real, and many branch members were indeed proud to be part of the Hyuga Clan.

But one thing would never change.

That is, the Hyuga branch family would always be servants to the Hyuga main family. No matter how affectionate or gentle the main family appeared, as long as the Caged Bird remained, that fact would never change.

The Hyuga main branch might treat the branch family well to secure their own status and personal safety, but people treat their tools and pets well, too.

For any ninja of the branch family, the future is already set in stone.

As long as they are willing to live within the cage, they can lead a relatively stable and decent life; although they must sacrifice themselves for the main branch, that is simply the nature of the ninja profession itself.

If you are already mired in a swamp, you won't mind a slightly more comfortable one.

The Hyuga's Caged Bird is trash, but the Ninja System is the landfill that makes this Caged Bird perfectly appropriate and undeniably correct.

Moreover, beneath that veneer of warmth, is it genuine affection and friendship, or is it a "friendship" you cannot refuse?

Li Ke had already seen the answer in his own teammate from the Hyuga branch family.

The things the Hyuga clan provides are indeed good, but they are just good things; the price is your freedom and the right to decide your own life. They might let you choose during an arranged marriage, but no matter how you choose, it's always from that same pool of people.

Everything in the Hyuga clan is merely a slightly warmer piece of excrement within the cesspool that is the Ninja System.

Yet, laughably, even this foul-smelling trash that is only slightly warmer is a level of comfort that countless small nations and civilian ninjas can only dream of.

Hiashi Hyuga's lips trembled slightly. He looked toward Minato Namikaze, but Minato remained silent.

So, he tentatively looked toward Li Ke.

"Is there no other possibility?"