The Beginning of Change

After Hiashi Hyuga explained the situation to Hizashi Hyuga, he went to the Hokage Building and found Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Hiashi Hyuga's explanation, constantly puffing on his pipe as he pondered.

As the Hokage, he had many things to consider. He couldn't directly intervene in a ninja clan's internal affairs, as ninja clans had been granted autonomy since the founding of Konoha.

However, if Danzo, as the Hokage's assistant, intervened in a ninja clan's internal conflict, it could easily be interpreted as being sanctioned by him, the Hokage.

This would send a signal to other ninja clans that the Hokage was beginning to interfere with their internal autonomy, which would be detrimental to Konoha's unity.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a second thought.

A Hyuga Clan completely led by Hiashi Hyuga would indeed be very beneficial to Konoha.

After all, those six elders of the Hyuga Clan sometimes didn't even give him face.

Moreover, he, the Hokage, hadn't taken action. It was Hiashi Hyuga, the clan head, who requested Danzo to have Root intervene, and only within the Hyuga Clan. As long as things were handled well afterward, the impact could be minimized.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and said to Hiashi Hyuga, "Hiashi, it's good that the Hyuga Clan wants to reform, but I hope you can complete this reform decisively and cleanly, without leaving any room for criticism."

Hiashi Hyuga naturally understood the implication behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and bowed, "Yes, Hokage-sama."

A week passed.

Due to Sasuke's joining, Uzumaki Menma's small team grew from seven to eight, becoming even stronger.

Every day around noon, the eight-person team would gather in Konoha.

The eight of them had explored almost every corner of Konoha.

However, today's situation was a bit off, as Neji and Hinata were very downcast.

Uzumaki Menma asked, "Neji, Hinata, what's wrong with you two? You were fine yesterday, why are you so gloomy today?"

Neji replied, "Tonight, the Hyuga Clan will hold a clan meeting. Every member of the Hyuga Clan must attend, but I can sense that something big might happen at this meeting. My father, mother, and other clan members all look very serious."

Hinata chimed in, "Yes, my father is also very serious. This time, his seriousness is different from usual, making me feel very nervous and uneasy."

Sasuke felt he had a lot to say about this, "My clan always has meetings too, and the atmosphere is also very serious, so a serious meeting shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

Uzumaki Menma glanced at Sasuke.

An Uchiha Clan meeting and a Hyuga Clan meeting couldn't be the same.

After that, Neji and Hinata didn't have the energy to do anything. After wandering around for a bit, they went home.

Night.

Root.

Danzo gathered Yamanaka Fu, Ryoma Aburame, and dozens of Root ninjas.

Danzo stood before them and announced, "You will accompany me to the Hyuga Clan."

"Yes!"

Hyuga Compound.

Inside Hiashi Hyuga's room.

Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga sat on the tatami mats, holding teacups. Both of their palms were sweaty, showing how nervous they were.

Hiashi Hyuga said to Hizashi Hyuga, "It's almost time, Hizashi. Go gather the branch family members. I should go gather the main family members too."

An hour later.

In front of the Hyuga Clan's shrine, stood several hundred members of the Hyuga Clan.

Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga, the heads of the main and branch families, stood at the entrance of the shrine, waiting.

The people they were waiting for were the Hyuga Clan's elders.

Suddenly.

A path opened up in the crowd below.

Six elders walked straight to Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga.

These six elders were the Hyuga Clan's highest authority.

The six elders looked at Hiashi Hyuga and asked, "Hiashi, everyone is here. What kind of meeting do you want to hold today?"

Hiashi Hyuga said with a determined look, "The topic of today's meeting is about the future of the Hyuga Clan!"

The six elders frowned instantly.

About the future of the Hyuga Clan?

The six elders were about to ask, but Hiashi Hyuga interrupted them, "Six elders, I will be chairing today's meeting. You only need to listen. I hope you won't interrupt me while I'm conducting the meeting."

The six elders clearly sensed that something was wrong with Hiashi Hyuga. He usually spoke to them in a low voice, how did he become so assertive today?

The six of them exchanged glances, feeling a bad premonition in their hearts.

Hiashi Hyuga took a step forward and said to the Hyuga Clan members, "Main family members, branch family members, take a good look at each other, look at the people in front of you, are they really your relatives! Some of these people are your elders, some are your parents, some are your children, and some are your siblings.

Even though we are all members of the Hyuga Clan, we have become two families due to the distinction between the main family and the branch family, hating each other. Is this really what you want to see?"

The reason for all of this is the cruel system of the main and branch families! Placing the Caged Bird Seal on one's own relatives, having the power to decide their life and death, is that really something family members should do?"

The six elders were shocked and shouted to stop him, "Hiashi! Silence! This is outrageous!"

Hiuga Hiashi glared fiercely at the six elders, "I am still the clan head! I said before! You can listen, but do not interrupt me!"

Hiuga Hiashi looked at the clansmen again and continued, "If it is only to protect the bloodline, why can't the branch family members learn Eight Trigrams Revolving Heaven? Why can't they learn Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?

Is the existence of this system really reasonable? Do the Hyuga Clan's main family ninjas not need to go to the battlefield? If the Caged Bird Seal prevents the bloodline from falling into the wrong hands, then why did someone in the Hidden Mist Village transplant the Byakugan?

This system should not exist in the first place! The Hyuga Clan needs reform! Let this system end completely with our generation, and don't let your next generation be poisoned by it!

I! Hiuga Hiashi! In my capacity as clan head, I announce! The abolition of the elder system! The abolition of the main and branch family system!

From now on, there will only be one Hyuga Clan!"

The six elders' faces were livid as they shouted, "No! Everything within the Hyuga Clan must be approved by us. This is a tradition since the founding of the Hyuga Clan, and traditions cannot be abolished! The elder system cannot be abolished! The main and branch family system cannot be abolished either!

Hiuga Hiashi! You are outrageous and violate ancestral teachings. We hereby announce the dismissal of your position as the Hyuga Clan head!"

Just as the Hyuga Clan members were at a loss, a round of applause came from outside.

Danzo, leading Root members, appeared at the rear.

"Congratulations to Clan Head Hiashi on the successful reform. I, Danzo, in my capacity as the leader of Root, offer my congratulations to Clan Head Hiashi and the Hyuga Clan."

The six elders looked at Hiuga Hiashi in disbelief, unable to believe that Hiuga Hiashi had colluded with Danzo.