The Only Clan Head

Konoha.

The sun was setting behind the western hills.

Outside the clan head's courtyard in the Hyuga Clan's territory.

"Brother, what do you think Brother Hitoshi is thinking?"

Hizashi Hyuga held his big-headed son, Hyuga Neji, in one arm and looked at Hyuga Hiashi beside him, who was frowning in thought.

"The clan head must have his own considerations."

Glancing at Hyuga Neji in his younger brother's arms, a flicker of envy flashed through Hiashi's eyes.

But when he thought of his wife's swollen belly, that envy vanished.

He would have a son soon too!

"That's true. Every step Brother Hitoshi takes has a deeper meaning. He's never let us down."

Hizashi Hyuga firmly believed that. Even the elders of the main family had become extremely impressed with the Clan Head after Hyuga Hitoshi took office.

But admiration was one aspect. Those old fossils were always putting on airs, lecturing people in the name of the clan's interests. It was truly irritating.

Hadn't he recently heard that some elder had voiced strong objections to Clan Head Hitoshi fooling around with women outside the clan?

He had even tried to criticize Brother Hitoshi on the grounds that the clan's bloodline must not be allowed to leak out!

He didn't know whether those people would use the Clan Land Relocation as an excuse to badmouth the clan head this time.

Hmph, they'd better not let him hear it!

Otherwise, he would definitely make them understand what it meant to be the Clan Head's brainless fan!

As he thought this, the Looking Worried Hizashi Hyuga mentioned it to his elder brother.

But after hearing him out, Hyuga Hiashi shook his head with a strange expression on his face.

His younger brother's concern was completely unnecessary. He only knew one aspect, not the whole picture.

As far as Hiashi knew, the elder who had tried to pull rank and lecture the clan head had been warmly invited by the clan head for an exchange of feelings and reason. Afterward, he had covered his gap-toothed mouth and sworn that he would cultivate himself in the future and never interfere in clan affairs again.

And after getting his teeth fixed the next day, he even admitted that everything Clan Head Hitoshi had done was for the sake of expanding the clan's bloodline, a display of responsibility toward the clan that deserved praise.

The speed of his change in attitude before and after left the other elders deeply impressed.

Though it was only a minor incident, it was enough to prove Hyuga Hitoshi's control over the Hyuga Clan! Elders? Those things had no right to speak in the clan. At most, they could help handle some internal affairs.

And all of this also showed Hyuga Hitoshi's prestige within the clan.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Hiashi gazed toward where the Clan Head was with fervor and respect, his eyes full of worship.

If he were the clan head, he absolutely could not have achieved this.

But upon closer thought, Hyuga Hiashi felt relieved.

Besides the reforms he had carried out within the clan after taking office, his improvements to the Gentle Fist Art, and his teaching of new techniques, what had won the clan head the most support was the declaration he made when he took office!

"I know what all of you branch family members sitting here think of the Caged Bird Curse Mark! The branch family exists to protect the main family—this is both its mission and responsibility. That was said by the Hyuga Clan's ancestors, but this clan head does not agree! Even though this curse mark that confines clan members within a cage has indeed allowed the clan's bloodline to continue peacefully, I still do not agree!"

"In my heart, whether main family or branch family, all are blood of the Hyuga Clan. All are individuals worthy of recognition. The branch family fights a bloody battle to protect the main family, but the main family likewise has the duty to protect its clansmen!"

"Though the Caged Bird has protected the Byakugan's inheritance, it has also bound the Hyuga Clan. Think about it from another angle: if the clan becomes so powerful that the entire Shinobi World understands the strength of the Hyuga Clan the moment they hear its name, understands what the two words 'Hyuga' represent, would they still dare act rashly?"

"In other words, they must understand the price they will pay for seizing the Byakugan! Still dare to make a move? That would mean the clan is not strong enough! When we are strong enough to disregard the rules, anyone who covets the Byakugan will pay a hundredfold price!"

"This clan head swears that I will lead the Hyuga Clan to that day. The Hyuga name will make the Shinobi World tremble! Others may not be able to do it, but that does not mean this clan head cannot. From this day onward, newborns of the Hyuga Clan's branch family will no longer receive the Caged Bird imprint. Wait and see!"

.

Whether those words were true or merely a method to win people over, none of the previous clan heads had even dared to say them! That alone showed Clan Head Hitoshi's courage.

Combined with those declarations and the clan head's methods for strengthening the clan, it was hard for the branch family members not to view him favorably after that combo fist, and even harder for them not to support him!

Then there was the fact that the clan head had later hinted that he would definitely make those Vile Sea Rats of Kirigakure, who had been fortunate enough to obtain the Byakugan, pay the price.

He possessed both courage and methods.

By now, Clan Head Hitoshi had carved his way through thorns and briars and gained sufficient recognition. The hardships in between could be considered overcome.

The Hyuga Clan, now a solid block, would become the sharp blade in his hand!

So even with the Clan Land Relocation, Hyuga Hiashi did not think the clansmen would resent the clan head for it. As for those elders, at most they would grumble a little.

With the branch family's support, Hyuga Hitoshi had become fundamentally unshakable.

After all, how many people did the main family even have?

With one direct line and a scattered few collateral branches, the branch family could drown those elders in spit with one mouthful per person.

Though in the future, if they truly lost the Caged Bird and the main family could no longer control the branch family, leading to a rebellion—

Hyuga Hiashi shook his head and stroked his Byakugan.

It was rather unbelievable.

He felt that if he were the clan head, the chances of rebellion without the Caged Bird would be absurdly high. But if it were Hyuga Hitoshi, it would simply be impossible.

The Clan Head possessed a pair of eyes that inspired fear.

If he released that Sense of Oppression without restraint, coupled with that heavy bloodline suppression, ordinary Byakugan users would not even dare meet his eyes!

And the trembling and submission rising from the depths of their souls only grew stronger with time.

Hyuga Hiashi did not know why, only that before Hyuga Hitoshi, he was naturally the inferior one, while Hitoshi was the superior one.

Combined with some of the rumors from back then, it seemed that the Caged Bird Curse Mark simply could not affect this cousin of his.

He had been born to be the Hyuga Clan's Clan Head. The Clan Head of this generation could only be him!

Well then.

It seemed every leader had a few legendary stories.

It was just that Hyuga Hitoshi had not expected the bullshit he spouted back then to become reality now.

Inside the hall.

When Hitoshi Clan Head opened his eyes, unlike the clan's dead-water-white pupils, the powerful ocular strength hidden within them flashed with a streak of Blue Light.

Ever since he had unraveled the Mystery of the Womb and been reborn into the Hyuga Clan, the Caged Bird Curse Mark had indeed been unable to restrain him.

"You're awake?"

There was a hint of delight in the calm voice. Though it had been concealed well, Hyuga Hitoshi still heard it clearly.

He raised his head. The chestnut-and-green hair before the hall was exceptionally eye-catching.

The woman had a slender figure and a waist slim enough to grasp in one hand. Having shed her capable ninja attire and put on the Hyuga Clan's robes, she did not look bulky at all; instead, she was even more striking.

Simply put.

Pretty face, great figure!

Looking at the girl he had rescued several years ago, whose eyes had once been filled with lifelessness but had now Recovered Her Emotions, a Look of Relief appeared on Hyuga Hitoshi's face.

Her name was Pakura, someone betrayed by her own village—a Sunagakure hero who could not let go of it even at Yakushi Kabuto's Dream Fulfillment Assembly in the future.

But now, her name was Hyuga Pakura.

After all, according to Neon County traditions, she belonged to Hyuga Hitoshi and took her husband's surname.

Yet Hyuga Pakura had no interest in becoming Hyuga Hitoshi's First Wife. She had even bluntly stated that her relationship with a certain dog of a man was merely that of friends with benefits who relieved each other's loneliness in their spare time.

Naturally, this soft-hearted but stubborn girl would never admit that she had come here because Hyuga Hitoshi was having an epiphany, and she wanted to stand guard for him.

His thoughts clear, he was about to discuss some newly researched moves with his friend with benefits when there came a knock at the hall doors. After receiving permission to enter, Hyuga Hitoshi's guard, Hyuga Gyuba, respectfully bowed to him.

"Clan Head, Lord Hiashi and Lord Hizashi have Waited for a Long Time. What do you say?"

Waited for a Long Time?

It seemed something important had happened.

Hyuga Hitoshi Raised an Eyebrow, as though he had Remembered something, and quickly had Gyuba usher them in.

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