Hyuga Hiashi's Visit

The Hidden Cloud Village's abduction of Hinata ended after the Hidden Cloud Village compromised with compensation.

However, within the Hyuga Clan's compound.

Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga were sitting on the tatami mats, Hiashi Hyuga's face an extremely grim iron-gray.

Hiashi Hyuga angrily questioned, "Hizashi! Why did you agree to those old geezers' excessive demands!"

During the time Konoha and the Hidden Cloud Village were arguing.

The Hyuga Clan elders found Hizashi Hyuga.

These old fellows made a request of Hizashi Hyuga.

If Konoha chose to settle the matter peacefully, then the Hidden Cloud Village, which had already infiltrated the Hyuga Clan compound to abduct Hinata, would definitely demand the Hyuga Clan's head, Hiashi Hyuga, as a condition and bargaining chip for settling the matter.

The Hyuga family's bloodline limit must never fall into enemy hands, so the Hyuga elders thought that if it really came to that, they would have Hizashi Hyuga act as a substitute bargaining chip to be handed over to the Hidden Cloud Village.

Because the Caged Bird Seal would destroy the brain tissue of the person bearing the curse after Hizashi Hyuga's death, the Hidden Cloud Village would be unable to obtain the Byakugan's abilities.

This was also the meaning of the branch family's existence.

Hiashi Hyuga only found out about all of this at the very end, so he found Hizashi Hyuga to question him.

Hizashi Hyuga pursed his lips, his head slightly lowered, and replied with a smile that was somewhat bitter, "This is the fate of being born into the Hyuga Clan, the destiny of the branch family. The branch family exists to protect the main family.

Moreover... I'm not doing this for the Hyuga Clan, nor for the main family. Until now, I have resented the system of branch and main families. The reason I'm willing to do all this is for my brother. For me, this is a choice, and it's also a kind of freedom!"

Hiashi Hyuga's eyes flickered as he looked at his younger brother, "Hizashi..."

Hiashi Hyuga suddenly slammed his hand on the table, the usually etiquette-conscious Hiashi Hyuga swearing.

"To hell with fate! To hell with destiny! My brother, why should we let those old fogeys dictate to us! Hizashi, I promise you! I will abolish this system and ensure that the Hyuga Clan will never again have a distinction between main and branch families!"

Hizashi Hyuga was very touched, but reality prevented Hizashi Hyuga from being happy, "It's useless, brother. The Hyuga Clan's system is deeply rooted and cannot be reformed just by wanting to reform it."

Hiashi Hyuga said firmly, "Just leave everything to me. As your brother, protecting my younger brother is a matter of course. For you, for Neji, and for the entire Hyuga Clan!"

Root.

After the Hidden Cloud Village incident ended, things returned to normal.

Uzumaki Menma was training.

Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Hinata, Ino, and Neji sat by the training ground watching Uzumaki Menma train, waiting for Uzumaki Menma to finish.

After training.

Today it was Naruto's turn to carry Uzumaki Menma.

Naruto skillfully carried Uzumaki Menma on his back and walked towards the outside of Root.

When the seven of them reached the entrance of Root, they encountered an unexpected person.

"Father?"

"Clan Head?"

Hinata and Neji looked at Hiashi Hyuga in surprise.

Hiashi Hyuga glanced at the seven little ones, his brow furrowing. What a coincidence to run into these seven troublesome little guys.

Hiashi Hyuga instructed, "Hinata, Neji, don't mention my visit to Root to anyone, including yourselves. Understand?"

Although the seven of Uzumaki Menma were puzzled, they still nodded and said in unison, "Understood."

"Judging by your appearance, you're going out to play, right? Go on."

Hiashi Hyuga walked straight towards the interior of Root.

Under the guidance of a Root ninja, Hiashi Hyuga was led to the front of Danzo's office.

The Root ninja knocked on the door, "Lord Danzo, Clan Head Hiashi has arrived."

Danzo's voice came from inside the office.

"Come in."

Hiashi Hyuga took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked into Danzo's office.

Danzo pointed to an empty seat and said, "Please sit, Clan Head Hiashi."

After Hiashi Hyuga sat down, Danzo asked, "Is there something you need to see me about, Clan Head Hiashi?"

Hiashi Hyuga asked with a solemn expression, "Lord Danzo, before I answer, there is something I want to ask Lord Danzo. I hope Lord Danzo can answer me. Please don't blame me for being rude, because this decision may affect the future of our Hyuga Clan."

Hiashi Hyuga took the initiative to come to Root, saying he had something to discuss with him, but Danzo didn't expect Hiashi Hyuga to say something as serious as affecting the future of the Hyuga Clan.

"Then ask."

Hiashi Hyuga asked seriously, "Lord Danzo, do you intend to train Uzumaki Menma to be the next leader of Root?"

Danzo stared into Hiashi Hyuga's eyes for a while. From Hiashi Hyuga's expression, Danzo seemed to sense that Hiashi Hyuga was making a gamble.

Since he had asked this question, then the object of his gamble should be Uzumaki Menma.

Danzo slowly began, "I don't intend to raise Menma to be the next leader of Root."

Hyuga Hiashi frowned, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Danzo continue, "What I intend is to raise Menma to be the future Hokage!"

Hiashi's body trembled slightly, and he looked at Danzo in disbelief.

He never expected that Danzo was planning to groom Uzumaki Menma to be the Hokage.

Seeing the incredulous look in Hiashi's eyes, Danzo asked in return, "Clan Head Hiashi, what did you sense in Root?"

Hiashi's mind was filled with negative terms, which he certainly couldn't voice.

But Danzo spoke for him, "Like the roots of a tree deeply embedded in the darkness beneath Konoha's shadow, a sinister, ruthless, and cruel organization, right? But if one could stand in the sunlight, who would willingly remain underground?

I know that with Hiruzen around, there's absolutely no way I could become Hokage. In other words, in the competition with Hiruzen, I already lost the moment Tobirama-sensei announced Hiruzen as the Hokage. But my next generation hasn't lost yet. As long as Menma becomes Hokage, then in this competition with Hiruzen, I will be the one who comes out on top!"

Hiashi was silent for a long time, as if he had made up his mind. He resolutely said to Danzo, "Danzo-sama, if Uzumaki Menma competes for Hokage in the future, the Hyuga Clan will fully support him!"

Hearing Hiashi's answer, Danzo didn't immediately respond, but said, "The Hyuga Clan... it seems that Clan Head Hiashi alone cannot decide."

"Yes, the biggest decision-makers within the Hyuga Clan are actually the Hyuga Clan elders. Therefore, I plan to abolish the Hyuga Clan elder system and carry out reforms, completely abolishing the Hyuga Clan's Main and Branch family system! I need the power of Danzo-sama's Root to help me abolish the Hyuga Clan's elder system!"

Danzo's eyes narrowed as he listened. No wonder Hiashi said that today's decision might affect the Hyuga Clan's future.