The Beginning of Change

By the banks of the Konoha River.

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto happened to meet the adorable Sasuke.

After just a few words, the three of them became friends.

After all, children's friendships were that simple.

As the three sat by the riverbank chatting,

a boy several years older than them, yet remarkably mature-looking, suddenly appeared.

When Sasuke saw him, he rushed over affectionately. "Big brother!"

The newcomer was none other than Itachi Uchiha, one of the Four Mad Laughers.

Itachi leaned down and tapped Sasuke on the forehead. "It's already late. Even when you're out playing, you need to keep track of the time."

Covering his forehead, Sasuke pouted. "It's because ever since you became a ninja, you've had much less time to play with me."

Itachi replied gently yet helplessly, "Sorry, Sasuke."

Itachi looked at Uzumaki Menma and Naruto, smiling as he said, "Looks like you've made some friends too, Sasuke. That means you won't be bored even when I'm not around. All right, it's late. We should head home. Say goodbye to your friends, Sasuke."

Sasuke bid Uzumaki Menma and Naruto farewell. "Menma, Naruto, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow, Sasuke."

Uzumaki Menma and Naruto waved.

After saying goodbye to Sasuke and Itachi, Uzumaki Menma and Naruto returned to Root.

Once Naruto had finished mooching a meal, a Root ninja escorted him home.

Hyuga Compound.

Inside Hyuga Hiashi's room.

"What? Brother, you reached an agreement with Danzo? Isn't that like walking straight into a tiger's den?!"

Hizashi Hyuga was deeply shocked when he learned that Hyuga Hiashi had gone to Root to seek Danzo's help.

Hyuga Hiashi said calmly, "Calm down. Let me finish, Hizashi."

Hizashi Hyuga took a deep breath, settling his somewhat rapid breathing.

Hyuga Hiashi explained, "Hizashi, I told you before that I want to abolish the Main and Branch Family system. But as long as the elders remain, abolishing that system will be impossible. Therefore, to abolish the Main and Branch Family system, we must first abolish the elder system!"

Hizashi Hyuga frowned deeply. "Even so, there was no need to seek Root's help. The Hokage might have been willing to help us."

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head and explained, "Hizashi, you know that my position as clan head is merely for show. The true power within the Hyuga Clan lies with the elders, and the Hokage cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Hyuga Clan."

"Even if I sought the Hokage's help and he agreed, if the elders found out and invoked the independent autonomy of ninja clans, then the Hokage's agreement would be useless."

"And afterward, the elders would remove me from my position as clan head. Once I lost that status, I would no longer be able to abolish the Main and Branch Family system."

Hizashi Hyuga clenched his fists until they turned white and said unwillingly, "But... you understand what Root is, Brother. You must have agreed to some condition from Lord Danzo, right?"

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "Yes. I promised Lord Danzo that if he helped us abolish the elder system and the Main and Branch Family system, the Hyuga Clan would send some of its ninjas to join Root."

"What?!"

Hizashi Hyuga shot to his feet in shock. "Brother, how could you agree to something like that? You're practically pushing our clansmen into a pit of fire!"

Hyuga Hiashi reassured him, "Don't worry, Hizashi. I am not the kind of person who would push our clansmen into a pit of fire. What people hate most about Root is its 'eradicate the self' training method, but that method has now been abolished. Lord Danzo also promised me that after Hyuga Clan ninjas joined Root, I could regularly visit Root to inspect the situation. And no one would be forced to join."

Hizashi Hyuga said worriedly, "But the risk is too great. You know what kind of man Lord Danzo is."

"What truly made me decide was not that condition, but that child Menma."

"Uzumaki Menma?"

In Hizashi Hyuga's mind appeared the small figure who had recently been coming to his home to see Neji.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "You also know that Uzumaki Menma and Naruto Uzumaki are Jinchuriki. Yet despite being a Jinchuriki, Lord Danzo has not restricted Uzumaki Menma's freedom and has doted on him in every possible way."

"I learned from the Hokage that, for Menma's sake, Lord Danzo had mobilized nearly all of Root's researchers to develop a Bloodline Completion Elixir to restore the Uzumaki Clan bloodline within Menma. He had even traded a second elixir to the Hokage in exchange for Menma's chance to study the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques."

"The children of the Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan, and Yamanaka Clan—the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio—as well as Neji and Hinata, could freely enter and leave Root to visit Menma."

"Root's core ninjas, Yamanaka Fu and Ryoma Aburame, were also teaching Menma."

"All these signs showed that Lord Danzo was grooming Menma as his successor. Before seeking Lord Danzo's help, I confirmed it with him as well."

"But Lord Danzo's answer was that he wanted to train Menma to become the next-generation Hokage!"

Hizashi Hyuga asked in surprise, "The next Hokage?"

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "That's right! Lord Danzo had no reason to deceive me about this. The children of ninja clans could freely enter and leave Root, and that inhumane 'eradicate the self' training had been abolished. Every sign indicated that all of this was preparation for Menma's future."

Hizashi Hyuga said thoughtfully, "So if that child Menma runs for Hokage in the future, the Hyuga Clan will side with Menma?"

Hyuga Hiashi answered firmly, "Yes. Even if Menma fails to become Hokage in the future, he will at least be Root's leader. With Neji and Hinata's connection to him, along with the Hyuga Clan supporting him from the very beginning, it can only benefit the Hyuga Clan."

After pondering for a long time, Hizashi Hyuga asked, "Brother, what do you want me to do?"

Hyuga Hiashi instructed, "Gather the Branch Family and tell them that I intend to abolish the Main and Branch Family system, restoring the Hyuga Clan as a single whole."

"As for the Main Family, you need not worry. When there are multiple children in the same generation, only one can be chosen to inherit the Main Family, while all the others become Branch Family members. That is the source of the conflict. But they are all blood relatives, and the Main Family members do not want their own kin branded with the Caged Bird Seal. I believe they will support me."

"The only obstacle is the elders. I will notify Lord Danzo and have Root intervene forcefully, compelling the elders to relinquish their positions before taking the opportunity to abolish the elder system!"

Hizashi Hyuga asked, "Have you told the Hokage about this?"

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head. "Not yet. I planned to explain it to you first, then go speak with the Hokage. We must report this matter to the Hokage. I believe the Hokage will also welcome a united Hyuga Clan. Hizashi, handle this as quickly as possible, before anything unexpected happens."

At this moment, Hizashi Hyuga had already made up his mind.

"I'll take care of it immediately!"