The incident of Kumogakure abducting Hinata ended after Kumogakure compromised and offered compensation.
However, within the Hyuga Clan's compound...
Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga sat on tatami mats, Hiashi's face livid.
Hiashi demanded furiously, "Hizashi! Why did you agree to those old fools' excessive demands?!"
During the period when Konoha and Kumogakure were wrangling over the matter...
The Hyuga Clan elders sought out Hizashi Hyuga.
Those old men made a request of Hizashi Hyuga.
If Konoha chose to let the matter rest, then Kumogakure, which had infiltrated the Hyuga Clan compound to abduct Hinata in the first place, would surely demand the Hyuga Clan Head, Hyuga Hiashi, as the price for settling things.
The Hyuga Clan's bloodline limit absolutely could not fall into outsiders' hands. Therefore, if it truly came to that, the Hyuga elders intended to hand Hizashi Hyuga over to Kumogakure as a substitute bargaining chip.
Because of the Caged Bird Seal, which destroyed the brain tissue of the seal bearer after death, Kumogakure would be unable to obtain the Byakugan's power.
That was also the purpose of the branch family's existence.
Hiashi had been the last to learn of all this, which was why he had sought out Hizashi Hyuga to question him.
Hizashi Hyuga pursed his lips and lowered his head slightly. Smiling, though with a trace of bitterness, he replied, "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.
"Besides... I'm not doing this for the Hyuga Clan, nor for the main family. Until now, I've always resented this system of branch and main families. I'm willing to do all this for my brother. To me, this is a choice, and also a kind of freedom!"
Hiashi's gaze flickered as he looked at his younger brother. "Hizashi..."
Hiashi suddenly slammed the table. The ever-courteous Hiashi cursed.
"To hell with fate! To hell with destiny! Why should my younger brother let those old bastards boss him around?! Hizashi, I promise you! I will abolish this system and make sure the Hyuga Clan never again has any distinction between main and branch families!"
Hizashi Hyuga was deeply moved, but reality gave him no reason to be happy. "It's useless, Brother. The Hyuga Clan's system is too deeply entrenched. Reforming it isn't something that can be done just because we want to."
Hiashi declared firmly, "Leave it all to me. As your older brother, it is only right that I protect you. For you, for Neji, and for the entire Hyuga Clan!"
Root.
After the Kumogakure incident ended, everything returned to normal.
Uzumaki Menma was training.
Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Hinata, Ino, and Neji sat at the edge of the training ground, watching Uzumaki Menma train and waiting for him to finish.
After training ended...
It was Naruto's turn to carry Uzumaki Menma today.
Naruto deftly hoisted Uzumaki Menma onto his back and headed out of Root.
When the seven of them reached Root's entrance, they ran into someone unexpected.
"Father?"
"Clan Head?"
Hinata and Neji looked at Hiashi in surprise.
Hiashi glanced at the seven little ones and frowned. What a coincidence, running into these seven troublesome brats.
Hiashi instructed them, "Hinata, Neji, do not mention my visit to Root to anyone, including yourselves. Understood?"
Though Uzumaki Menma and the others were puzzled, they still nodded and answered in unison, "Understood."
"Looks like you're going out to play. Go on, then."
Hiashi walked straight into Root.
Led by a Root ninja, Hiashi arrived outside 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 drew a deep breath, opened the door, and entered Danzo's office.
Danzo pointed to an empty seat. "Please, have a seat, Clan Head Hiashi."
After Hiashi sat down, Danzo asked, "What can I do for you, Clan Head Hiashi?"
With a grave expression, Hiashi asked, "Lord Danzo, before I answer that, there is something I wish to ask you. I hope Lord Danzo can answer me. Please do not take my discourtesy to heart, Lord Danzo, because this decision may affect the future of our Hyuga Clan."
Hiashi had come to Root on his own initiative, saying he had something to discuss, but Danzo had not expected him to call it serious enough to affect the Hyuga Clan's future.
"Then ask."
Hiashi asked solemnly, "Lord Danzo, do you intend to train Uzumaki Menma to become Root's next leader?"
Danzo stared into Hiashi's eyes for a while. From Hiashi's expression, Danzo seemed to sense that Hiashi was making a desperate gamble.
Since he had asked that question, the object of his gamble should be Uzumaki Menma.
Danzo slowly said, "I do not intend to train Menma as Root's next leader."
Hiashi frowned, just about to speak, when Danzo continued, "What I intend is to train Menma to become the future Hokage!"
Hiashi's body trembled slightly as he looked at Danzo in disbelief.
He had not expected Danzo to intend to train Uzumaki Menma as Hokage.
Seeing the disbelief in Hiashi's eyes, Danzo asked in return, "Clan Head Hiashi, what did you feel when you entered Root?"
Hiashi's mind filled with negative words, but he certainly could not say them aloud.
Danzo spoke for Hiashi instead. "Like roots buried deep in darkness beneath Konoha's shadow—a grim, cold, and cruel organization, isn't that right? But if one could stand in the sunlight, who would be willing to remain underground?
"I know that with Hiruzen around, I could never become Hokage. In my competition with Hiruzen, I had already lost the moment Teacher Tobirama named Hiruzen Hokage. But my successor has not lost. As long as Menma becomes Hokage, then in this contest with Hiruzen, I will have come out ahead!"
Hiashi fell silent for a long time. Then, as if he had made up his mind, he said firmly to Danzo, "Lord Danzo, if Uzumaki Menma competes for the position of Hokage in the future, the Hyuga Clan will support him with all its strength!"
Hearing Hiashi's answer, Danzo did not immediately state his position. Instead, he said, "It seems the Hyuga Clan is not something Clan Head Hiashi can decide on alone."
"Yes. The greatest decision-makers within the Hyuga Clan are actually its elders. Therefore, I intend to abolish the Hyuga Clan's elder system and carry out reforms, completely eliminating the distinction between the main and branch families! I need the strength of Lord Danzo's Root to help me abolish the Hyuga Clan's elder system!"
Danzo's eyes narrowed as he listened. No wonder Hiashi had said that today's decision might affect the Hyuga Clan's future.
Before you continue