The Beginning of Reform

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

After listening to Hyuga Hiashi's explanation, Hiruzen Sarutobi continuously puffed on his pipe as he pondered.

As the Hokage, he had far too many matters to consider. He truly could not directly interfere in the internal affairs of a ninja clan. After all, ninja clans had possessed autonomy ever since Konoha's founding.

However, if Danzo, as the Hokage's advisor, intervened in an internal clan dispute, outsiders would likely assume that it had been authorized by him, the Hokage.

That would send a signal to the other ninja clans that the Hokage was beginning to interfere with their internal autonomy, which would not benefit Konoha's unity.

But then Hiruzen Sarutobi reconsidered.

A Hyuga Clan entirely led by Hyuga Hiashi would indeed be greatly beneficial to Konoha.

After all, those six Hyuga Clan elders sometimes did not even give him any face.

Furthermore, the Hokage himself would not be taking action. It was Hyuga Hiashi, the clan head, who had requested that Danzo let Root intervene, and Root would act only within the Hyuga Clan. As long as things were handled properly afterward, the impact could be minimized.

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and said to Hyuga Hiashi, "Hiashi, it is a good thing for the Hyuga Clan to undergo reform. But as for this reform, I hope you can see it through cleanly and decisively. Do not leave anyone grounds for criticism."

Naturally, Hyuga Hiashi understood the implication behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. He bowed and replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage."

A week passed.

With Sasuke joining, Uzumaki Menma's little team grew from seven people to eight, becoming a little stronger.

Every day at noon, the eight-person team gathered in Konoha.

The eight of them had nearly run all over Konoha.

But something was off today, because Neji and Hinata were in exceptionally low spirits.

Uzumaki Menma asked, "Neji, Hinata, what is wrong with you two? You were fine yesterday. Why are you so down today?"

Neji answered, "Tonight, the Hyuga Clan will hold a clan assembly. Every member of the Hyuga Clan has to attend, but I can feel that something major may happen this time. My father, my mother, and the other clan members all look extremely serious."

Hinata also chimed in, "Yes. My father is also very serious. This kind of seriousness is different from usual. It makes me feel nervous and uneasy."

Sasuke felt he had plenty of authority to speak on the matter. "My clan holds meetings all the time too, and the atmosphere is always serious. So it should be nothing if a meeting is a little serious, right?"

Uzumaki Menma glanced at Sasuke.

Could a Uchiha Clan meeting be the same as a Hyuga Clan meeting?

After that, Neji and Hinata had no energy for anything. After wandering around aimlessly for a while, they each went home.

Night.

Root.

Danzo summoned Yamanaka Fu, Ryoma Aburame, and several dozen Root shinobi.

Standing before them, Danzo announced, "Come with me to the Hyuga Clan."

"Yes!"

Hyuga Compound.

Inside Hyuga Hiashi's room.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga sat on the tatami with teacups in their hands. Both of their palms were drenched in sweat, showing just how nervous they were.

Hyuga Hiashi said to Hizashi Hyuga, "It is about time. Hizashi, go gather the branch family members. I should go gather the main family members as well."

An hour later.

Before the Hyuga Clan shrine stood several hundred members of the Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga, the heads of the main family and branch family, stood at the shrine entrance and waited.

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

Suddenly.

A path opened through the crowd below.

Six elderly men walked straight up to Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

These six elderly men were the Hyuga Clan's highest-ranking elders.

The six elders looked at Hyuga Hiashi and asked, "Hiashi, everyone has arrived. What meeting did you wish to hold today?"

Hyuga Hiashi said with a resolute gaze, "The subject of today's meeting is the future of the Hyuga Clan!"

The six elders instantly frowned.

The future of the Hyuga Clan?

Just as the six elders were about to question him, Hyuga Hiashi interrupted, "Six elders, I am presiding over today's meeting. You only need to listen. I hope you will not interrupt me while I conduct it."

The six elders could clearly sense that something was wrong with Hyuga Hiashi. He had always been humble and deferential before them. Why had he become so forceful today?

The six exchanged looks, a bad feeling rising in their hearts.

Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward and addressed the Hyuga Clan members. "Members of the main family, members of the branch family, look carefully at one another. Look at the people before you. Are they truly your family? Some of them are your elders, some are your parents, some are your children, and some are your brothers and sisters.

"Clearly, all of you are members of the Hyuga Clan, yet because of the distinction between the main family and branch family, you have become two separate families, hating one another. Is this truly what you wish to see?

"And the cause of all this is the cruel system of the main family and branch family! Placing the Caged Bird Seal upon your own relatives, gaining the power to decide whether they live or die... is that truly something family should do?"

The six elders were horrified and shouted, "Hiashi! Stop! This is outrageous!"

Hyuga Hiashi glared fiercely at the six elders. "I am still the clan head! I already said it! You may listen, but do not interrupt me!"

Hyuga Hiashi turned back to the clan members and continued, "If this is merely to protect the bloodline, why can branch family members not learn Rotation? Why can they not learn the Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms?

"Is the existence of this system truly reasonable? Do main family shinobi of the Hyuga Clan not need to go to the battlefield? Since the Caged Bird Seal prevents the bloodline from falling into outsiders' hands, why does someone in Kirigakure have a transplanted Byakugan?

"This system should never have existed. The Hyuga Clan needs reform! Let this system completely end in our generation, and do not let your next generation suffer under it any longer!

"I, Hyuga Hiashi, declare in my capacity as clan head! Abolish the elder system! Abolish the main family and branch family system!

"From this day onward, there will be only one Hyuga Clan!"

The six elders' faces turned livid as they roared, "No! Any internal matter of the Hyuga Clan must be approved by us. This is a tradition that has existed since the Hyuga Clan was founded. Tradition cannot be abolished! The elder system cannot be abolished! And the system of the main family and branch family certainly cannot be abolished!

"Hyuga Hiashi! You are defying the ancestors' teachings. We hereby declare that you are stripped of your position as head of the Hyuga Clan!"

Just as the Hyuga Clan members were at a loss, applause sounded from outside.

Danzo appeared at the rear with the Root members.

"Congratulations to Clan Head Hiashi on the success of his 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 Hyuga Hiashi in disbelief, unable to believe that Hyuga Hiashi had actually joined forces with Danzo.