You really think you're somebody, don't you?
If he hadn't wanted to let this matter simmer among the clan for a while, let the resentment spread through both the Main and Branch Families, and make the whole thing blow up even further, he would've already made his move!
Hyuga Hiashi glared at Hyuga Kagami!
Hyuga Kagami met his gaze without flinching!
The tension was at its peak!
Everyone around them was drenched in cold sweat, their adrenaline surging!
But alongside the tension, there was even more excitement! More exhilaration! More burning passion!
"Hyuga Kagami! You... good! Very good!"
Hyuga Hiashi's face was black as a pot.
He snorted and turned to leave!
An hour later.
The Hyuga Clan Ancestral Hall.
The council of elders had gathered.
Everyone looked at Hyuga Hiashi, whose face was dark as ink, and couldn't help wondering. Hyuga Hiashi was usually very good at keeping his composure. This was the first time they'd seen him this furious.
It was practically unthinkable!
"There is only one purpose for today's meeting!"
Hyuga Hiashi's gaze swept across the elders.
"From this moment on, none of you are to openly move against Hyuga Kagami!"
Hyuga Hiashi's expression was gloomy.
He was so damn frustrated.
He'd figured it out: there was no reasoning with Hyuga Kagami. The man seemed determined to oppose him at every turn!
But given how important Hyuga Kagami was, he couldn't lay a hand on him!
"Why?"
The Great Elder shot to his feet, his expression ugly. "Clan Head, Hyuga Kagami not only slaughtered a member of the Main Family, he also spoke disrespectfully to you. A member of the Branch Family like that must be punished!"
"Even killing him wouldn't be going too far!"
His eyes were filled with venom!
As the Great Elder, he had actually been humiliated by someone from the Branch Family. That was something he absolutely couldn't tolerate.
"What! A member of the Branch Family slaughtered someone from the Main Family? That is absolutely intolerable!"
The elders' expressions changed dramatically.
They were furious, like cats with their fur standing on end!
The Main Family's authority could not be challenged. Anyone who challenged it... had to die!
Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened. After a long pause, he finally said, "Do you think I don't want to?"
He sighed. "Lord Hokage just summoned me to the Hokage's Office!"
"He promised that, from now on, the Hyuga Clan would have his full support!"
All the elders were stunned.
Then their faces filled with delight!
They couldn't believe it!
"Has the sun risen in the west? The Third, who's always been obsessed with power, is actually going to support the Hyuga Clan?"
"That's wonderful! With the Hokage's support, the Hyuga Clan will become the strongest clan!"
Everyone was thrilled.
Becoming Konoha's strongest clan, surpassing the Uchiha Clan—
that had been their hope for many years!
Now, with the Hokage's support, that goal was within reach!
The Great Elder furrowed his brow and asked in confusion, "Clan Head, this is wonderful news for the Hyuga Clan. What does it have to do with Hyuga Kagami?"
He didn't understand.
"Hyuga Kagami is just a member of the Branch Family. How could he have anything to do with this?"
Hyuga Hiashi sighed and explained, "While on a mission in Kirigakure, Hyuga Kagami became close friends with the Mizukage. They became sworn brothers! He also helped Konoha and Kirigakure forge an alliance."
His frustration was plain on his face!
If he moved against Hyuga Kagami now, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be the first to turn on him!
"What!"
The old men, all over forty, gaped in disbelief.
This was... too absurd!
"I've made the situation clear. From now on, no one is to lay a hand on Hyuga Kagami!"
Hyuga Hiashi said coldly.
Everyone nodded.
Their breathing was heavy.
They understood what was at stake. Everything was for the Hyuga Clan's future. Now, Hyuga Kagami was the clan's most valuable asset!
Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened.
"There is one more thing. Although Hyuga Kagami belongs to the Branch Family, none of our Cursed Seals work on him!"
This was even more serious!
The Caged Bird Seal had failed.
If Hyuga Kagami had broken the Caged Bird Seal himself... that meant other members of the Branch Family might be able to break it too!
"If we let this continue, Hyuga Kagami will become a threat to the entire Hyuga Clan."
His expression was grim.
"So we must bring Hyuga Kagami into the Hyuga Main Family first!"
"To that end, we can even give him the position of Branch Family Head!"
The elders all nodded.
Compared to the honor and authority of the Hyuga Main Family, the position of Branch Family Head... didn't matter much to them!
The meeting ended.
Hyuga Hiashi turned and left, his expression icy.
"Heh."
"He's young and doesn't understand that the tallest tree catches the wind."
"Arrogance can cost you your life!"
Hyuga Kagami had certainly been riding high lately, untouchable by anyone.
But as time passed, it would be perfectly normal for him to die on a mission or on the battlefield!
When Hyuga Kagami woke again, it was already the next morning.
He'd slept wonderfully.
"Hyuga Hiashi didn't come bother me all night. Looks like he knows about my connection with the Mizukage."
Hyuga Kagami washed his face.
Otherwise, given Hyuga Hiashi's underhanded nature, he would've tried to make trouble for him, openly or behind his back!
Just like... the way he'd dealt with Hizashi Hyuga back then!
"Hm?"
At that moment, Hyuga Kagami looked toward the doorway and saw a small figure kneeling there.
"Big Brother Kagami, can you teach me to become a powerful ninja?"
Hyuga Neji's small face was resolute.
He'd been waiting here all night, hoping to become Hyuga Kagami's disciple and a powerful ninja!
"I don't want to be controlled by the Main Family anymore. I want freedom and strength!"
Hyuga Kagami's performance the previous day had left him awestruck!
Even Hyuga Hiashi, usually so aloof and arrogant, couldn't make Hyuga Kagami back down!
Nor could he use the Cursed Seal to control him. That was what excited Hyuga Neji most. Could it mean... that he, too, could break the Caged Bird Seal?
"What a poor child."
Hyuga Kagami sat down by the steps with a helpless expression and ruffled Hyuga Neji's soft hair. Beneath it was a stubborn little face.
Hyuga Neji.
He was a genius!
It was just that he'd met such a tragic end in the original story. He'd been one of the strongest of the Konoha 12 early on, yet during the Fourth Shinobi World War, he'd been completely overlooked and died blocking a barrage of weapons. It was ridiculous!
But winning Hyuga Neji over wouldn't be enough!
He needed to turn up the heat!
He said calmly, "Neji, do you know how your father died?"
If he remembered correctly, Hyuga Neji knew Hizashi Hyuga had died for the Main Family, but didn't know he'd been made a scapegoat!
"Big Brother Kagami... you know?"
Hyuga Neji's eyes trembled.
They were filled with hope and fear!
Ever since the day his father left, he'd searched for any trace of him, but hadn't found a single word or clue!
His father... had vanished completely!
He'd never be able to find his father again!
"This filthy, vile clan should have changed long ago."
Hyuga Kagami said calmly, "Let me tell you a story. Two months ago, Konoha and Kumogakure signed an alliance."
His gaze grew distant. "On the surface, Kumogakure's ninja came to sign the Alliance Treaty. In reality, they wanted the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan. They abducted Hyuga Hinata, but their plan backfired, and they were killed instead!"
"Kumogakure then went back on its word, accusing Konoha of killing their ninja and demanding that the person responsible be handed over."
"Your father became the Hyuga Clan's scapegoat, sacrificed to appease Kumogakure."
Of course, he was leaving things out of the story.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to fool him.
Hyuga Neji trembled all over, unable to believe any of it!
"I... I thought... Father had gone on a mission for the Main Family and died on the battlefield. I thought he was a glorious hero... But I never imagined he was made a scapegoat!"
His eyes were bloodshot!
He gritted his teeth!
He was like a young beast that had lost all reason!
His father had died so unjustly. How much pain must he have felt when he died?
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, did nothing to stop Kumogakure's brutality. Hyuga Hiashi, as the Hyuga Clan Head, chose not to protect a fellow clan member. This Hyuga Clan, this Konoha, had become utterly dull."
Hyuga Kagami calmly untied the cloth around Hyuga Neji's forehead.
The four-year-old boy was heartbroken. He turned away in shame!
The Caged Bird Seal on his forehead was a cage!
"From now on, the Caged Bird won't bind you anymore."
He placed his palm on Hyuga Neji's forehead.
Before you continue