Success

The Hyuga Clan compound.

Hyuga Hiashi, in front of everyone, announced the abolition of the Elder system and the Main and Branch family system.

However, the six highest-ranking elders of the Hyuga Clan sternly refused and, on the spot, dismissed Hyuga Hiashi from his position as clan head.

The Hyuga clansmen were caught in a dilemma.

On one side was Hyuga Hiashi, the clan head they respected. After all, everyone had witnessed his efforts as clan head over the years.

Moreover, almost everyone was deeply dissatisfied with the Main and Branch family system.

The children born to the Branch family could only be part of the Branch family and would be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

As for the children born to the Main family, only one per generation could remain in the Main family; the rest would have to join the Branch family and be branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

This cruel system had already caused resentment to fester within the Hyuga Clan.

On the other side were the elders, who represented the highest authority within the Hyuga Clan, and even the clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, had to listen to them.

According to traditional beliefs, all members of the Hyuga Clan were forbidden to disobey the decisions made by the elders.

Just as the Hyuga clansmen were at a loss, Danzo suddenly appeared within the Hyuga compound, congratulating Hyuga Hiashi on the success of his reform.

The six elders, burning with anger, pointed and accused, "Hiashi! You actually colluded with outsiders! And people from Root?!"

Upon hearing this, Danzo's expression immediately darkened.

"What? Is there a problem with my Root? Is Root not a force of Konoha?"

Yamanaka Fu instantly appeared behind the six elders, his katana already drawn from its sheath.

Ryoma Aburame's parasitic insects, like dark clouds, appeared above the six elders' heads.

Other Root ninjas had already begun forming hand seals.

They were just waiting for Danzo's command to take action.

The six elders immediately broke out in cold sweat.

They had been too shocked and angry just now and had forgotten what kind of person Danzo was.

Hyuga Hiashi interjected, "Danzo-sama, please don't act. These elders spoke without thinking."

Hyuga Hiashi no longer addressed them as elders, effectively declaring their positions abolished.

The six elders' faces turned ashen as they said, "Hyuga Hiashi! You have no right to abolish the Elder system! Your position as clan head has already been dismissed! And Danzo...sama, this is a matter for our Hyuga Clan. Even if you are the Hokage Assistant, you have no reason to interfere!"

Danzo waved his hand, and Yamanaka Fu and Ryoma Aburame returned behind him. The Root ninjas also stopped their hand movements.

"Did I interfere in your Hyuga Clan's affairs? Moreover, I am only representing Root, congratulating Clan Head Hiashi in my capacity as the leader of Root. I have no interest in interfering in your Hyuga Clan's internal affairs.

However, as the Hyuga Clan is a Konoha clan, any appointment or removal of the clan head must be approved by the Hokage and the Hokage Assistant. Did you old fogeys ask Hiruzen and me before you said you wanted to dismiss Clan Head Hiashi?

Could it be that the Hyuga Clan wants to appoint or dismiss the clan head in private and then...rebel?"

This was a heavy accusation, and the six elders' expressions changed drastically.

The six elders immediately explained, "We didn't mean that!"

Danzo snorted coldly, "I don't care if you meant it or not. We in Root only recognize one person as the highest leader of the Hyuga Clan, and that is Hyuga Hiashi. What are you?

Do you know what Root's code of conduct is? If you don't, let me remind you.

Eradicate all threats inside and outside the village with a 'better to kill than to let go' attitude!

I now suspect that you six old fogeys have the intention of splitting the Konoha ninja clan! Clan Head Hiashi, can we take these six old fogeys away and investigate them thoroughly?"

The six elders' faces turned deathly pale.

The ninjas from the Cloud Village Delegation had been tortured beyond recognition after being taken to Root.

If they were taken to Root by Danzo, could they expect a good outcome?

The six elders looked nervously at Hyuga Hiashi. They were very worried that Hyuga Hiashi would nod and agree to Danzo's request.

Hyuga Hiashi understood that Danzo was asking him if he could take them away to give him control.

Hyuga Hiashi said, "Danzo-sama, the elders spoke without thinking. Please don't mind them, Danzo-sama. Since you are visiting the Hyuga Clan today, please be a witness. Today, the Hyuga Clan will abolish the Elder system. Do any of you clansmen have any objections?"

Hyuga Hiashi scanned the Hyuga clansmen below.

The six elders were pale. With Danzo present, they didn't dare to speak at all, fearing that Danzo would arrest them on trumped-up charges and take them to Root.

The Hyuga clansmen looked at each other, the traditional concepts ingrained in their bones making it difficult for them to make up their minds all at once.

Hinata and Neji exchanged a distant glance, seeing determination in each other's eyes.

"No objections!"

Hinata and Neji's voices, though small, resonated like thunder in the crowd.

"I agree!"

"I agree too!"

"Abolish the Elder system!"

One by one, Hyuga clansmen followed Hinata and Neji in responding to Hyuga Hiashi.

Hiashi Hyuga's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Then, from this day forward, the Hyuga Clan will no longer have an elder system. Next, we will abolish the Main and Branch family system, allowing the entire Hyuga Clan to once again become a unified whole. Does anyone have any objections?"

This time, all the Hyuga clansmen immediately responded to Hiashi Hyuga.

"Abolish! Abolish! Abolish!"

Hiashi Hyuga waved his hand and announced, "Today, in the presence of the Hyuga Clan's ancestors in the shrine! In the name of the clan head, I announce that from now on! The Hyuga Clan will no longer have an elder system! There will no longer be a Main and Branch family system!"

The Hyuga clansmen of the Main and Branch families below all looked at each other.

The past discord vanished from this moment onward.

Everyone began to cheer and embrace their relatives.

Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga watched this scene with gratification.

Hiashi Hyuga turned to look at the six elders: "Do you see? A Hyuga Clan with this kind of cohesion is the true Hyuga Clan!"

The six former elders, knowing that they had lost all power, shook their heads helplessly.

Danzo, seeing that Hiashi Hyuga's reform had succeeded, led the Root ninjas away from the Hyuga Clan.

After waiting for the clansmen to finish celebrating, Hiashi Hyuga announced, "Starting tomorrow, the clansmen who have the Caged Bird Seal will have the seal removed one by one in order, and all of the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques will be opened for learning. Now... dismissed!"

Surrounded by the clansmen, Hiashi Hyuga left and returned to his residence.

Inside Hiashi Hyuga's residence.

Hiashi Hyuga, Hizashi Hyuga, Kumiko Hyuga, Hinata, and Neji were all gathered together.

Smiles radiated from all five faces.

Hizashi Hyuga couldn't hide his excitement as he said, "It's a success, brother!"

Hiashi Hyuga, who had been very nervous, was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yes, I believe the future of the Hyuga Clan will only get better and better."