Changing Tides (3)

Night had fallen, and the streets of Konoha were deserted, save for the occasional patrolling ninja figure flashing by in the moonlight. The Hyuga Clan mansion district was shrouded in tranquility, the eaves of the traditional Japanese-style buildings casting deep shadows under the moonlight.

Neji sat cross-legged on the tatami mat in his room, a paper lamp casting a warm glow beside him. He held a copy of "Make-Out Paradise" in his hand, his expression focused—or at least outwardly focused. The sound of turning pages was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

Three strikes, with a steady rhythm and moderate force.

Neji neither looked up nor responded. His Tenseigan had already pierced through the door, allowing him to see the person standing outside— Hyuga Hiashi, his uncle and the current head of the Hyuga Clan.

The knocking sounded again, this time a little louder.

Neji turned a page of his book, his gaze remaining fixed on the page, as if its contents were far more important than the visitor outside the door. Hiashi, standing outside, seemed to have anticipated this coldness and waited quietly.

Finally, Neji closed the book and casually placed it aside. He didn't get up, but coldly spoke towards the door:

"What's up?"

The door was opened a crack, Hiashi's tall figure appeared in the doorway. He was wearing a formal Hyuga Clan robe, the dark blue fabric embroidered with an exquisite clan crest, and his hair was neatly tied back. Moonlight streamed in through the corridor windows, casting a long shadow behind him.

Hiashi looked at his nephew inside the house, his face showing no displeasure. On the contrary, the corners of his mouth even curved into a gentle—or rather, carefully calculated—smile.

"Neji," Hiashi's voice was calm and restrained, "May we go inside and talk?"

Neji didn't answer, but simply stood up and Earth Walk the tea table to sit down. Unlike when he entertained Tsunade during the day, this time he didn't prepare tea utensils or boil water; the table was empty.

This is a silent rejection, and also a clear boundary: you are not a guest, and there is no need for us to be so friendly as to offer you tea.

Hiashi seemed oblivious to the coldness. He entered the room, gently closed the door, and knelt down on the cushion opposite Neji, his posture as proper as if he were attending a formal clan meeting.

Silence fell over the room. The flame of the paper lantern flickered slightly, and the shadows of the two people on the wall swayed accordingly.

"Thank you," Hiashi finally spoke, his voice lower than before, "For recommending me to the Elder Council."

Neji raised his eyes, his Tenseigan devoid of any emotion. "You came here specifically to thank me?"

There was a clear sarcasm in his words, but Hiashi seemed oblivious. He placed his hands on his knees, his fingers slightly clenched—a habitual gesture when he was tense or deep in thought, though his expression remained calm.

"The Main House has ruled the Branch House for a thousand years," Hiashi said slowly, each word clear and solemn. "Now, without the restraint of the Caged Bird Seal, many elders of the Branch House outwardly obey my orders but inwardly defy them. They are respectful on the surface, but privately..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear enough.

"If the Hyuga Clan continues like this," Hiashi's voice revealed a genuine worry for the first time, "It will fall apart. Division, internal strife, and the dispersal of power—these are not what I want to see."

Neji didn't respond, but listened quietly. He knew Hiashi was telling the truth, but he also knew it wasn't the whole story.

"Although I am actively pushing for change," Hiashi continued, "I want to select someone from the best younger members of the clan and gradually transition to a new leadership model. But the results have been minimal. The Main House thinks I am weak, and the Branch House families think I am hypocritical. Trust is being eroded from both sides."

His gaze fell on Neji's face, trying to read something from that calm, expressionless face, but he failed.

Neji finally spoke, his voice laced with obvious impatience. "So, you came to me wanting me to do something for you?"

The questions were direct and sharp, stripping away all formalities and preambles.

Hiashi took a deep breath, sat up straight, and resumed the posture he had adopted during the clan leader's negotiations. "I plan to convene a clan meeting. I hope you can attend and publicly state that the head of the Hyuga Clan is still Hyuga Hiashi. This is beyond question."

He paused, observing Neji's reaction. Neji merely raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

"As for the next clan leader," Hiashi's voice became more resolute, "I will announce that the leader will be elected through a democratic vote. Each clan leader's term will be only ten years, and they will not be allowed to serve consecutive terms. I will continue to serve as clan leader for two years as a transition period. After two years, the new clan leader will be elected by all members of the Hyuga Clan themselves."

Neji's heart skipped a beat. Good heavens, this was the same method he had taught Tsunade, almost verbatim, transplanted to the Hyuga Clan.

He looked at his uncle again. This man had once been a staunch defender of the Caged Bird system, had once coldly watched his father die, and had once used the authority of the Main House to suppress all resistance from the branch Branch House. But now, he was taking the initiative to break with the thousand-year-old tradition and introduce democratic elections.

Is it because they've truly come to their senses? Or is it because they've seen the trends of the times and know that if they don't proactively change, they'll be completely left behind?

Neji neither knew nor cared. He felt no sense of belonging to this clan, after all, he was just a transmigrator.

But...

He also didn't want to see the Hyuga Clan truly decline. Not because of emotion, but because of a more rational consideration: Konoha needed a stable Hyuga Clan, and a divided and declining Hyuga Clan would benefit no one.

"The gathering will be held in the evening," Neji finally spoke, his voice still indifferent. "I'm very busy during the day."

Hiashi nodded immediately, a hint of relief even appearing on his face. "Of course, no problem at all. The time will be set exactly as you wish."

In his heart, however, he was secretly criticizing: Busy during the day? Busy working at Tenten's ninja tool shop, busy having dinner and watching the sunset with that girl. You, a Six Paths Tier shinobi, a god-like figure in the Shinobi World, do these things all day long... You've completely disgraced the Hyuga Clan.

But he would never say these words aloud. The Neji of today was no longer the Branch House boy who had to look up to the Main House. Their positions had been completely reversed—no, it should be said that Neji had long since transcended the Hyuga Clan framework and reached a level that they could not reach.

Hiashi recalled the Fourth Shinobi World War, when Neji stood on the battlefield, and the entire Shinobi World trembled when his Tenseigan opened. How could such power, such an existence, be bound by a mere clan?

Therefore, he can only make requests now, not give orders.

Neji was unaware of Hiashi's inner thoughts, nor did he care to know. He simply wanted to end the conversation as quickly as possible and continue studying his "Make-Out Paradise"—to be honest, although the book had a bad reputation, some of its descriptions were indeed exquisite and quite helpful in understanding the subtleties of human nature.

He stood up, as if to see the guest out. But Hiashi did not move.

Neji frowned. "Is there anything else?"

At this moment, Hiashi's expression underwent a subtle change. The patriarch's authority and calculation faded, replaced by something softer and more genuine—the worry of a father.

"Neji," Hiashi's voice softened, even carrying a hint of pleading, "Hinata is your cousin, and you've watched her grow up. This child... is introverted and timid, and she's still like that now that she's a ninja. I'm worried that if I step down as clan leader, she'll be bullied."

He looked up, meeting Neji's eyes directly. "I hope... you can help her."

Neji felt a headache coming on.

He was aware of Hinata's problem, of course. The girl was kind and gentle, but too weak and lacked confidence. In the profession of ninja, which requires decisiveness and courage, such a personality would indeed be a disadvantage.

The problem is that this is essentially a matter of personality, which cannot be easily changed by external forces. In the original work, Hinata gradually became stronger through her feelings for Naruto. That change came from within, from her determination to protect those she cared about, rather than from anyone's teachings or protection.

The best way would actually be to let Hinata spend more time with Naruto, allowing Naruto's never-give-up spirit to subtly influence her. But...

Neji recalled asking Naruto about his feelings not long ago. That guy still couldn't forget Sakura, saying things like, "Even though I know it's impossible, I just can't let go." Typical simp mentality, hopeless.

Moreover, upon closer reflection, the responsibility for this matter might actually be related to myself.

If I hadn't led the main branch of the Main House away before Pain attacked Konoha, preventing Hinata from having the chance to stand up for Naruto on the battlefield... If I hadn't changed that timeline, perhaps Naruto would have noticed Hinata's courage and feelings much earlier.

To some extent, we really have to take the blame for this.

Neji sighed—very softly, but he did sigh.

"I understand," he said, his voice still calm, but less cold than before. "I'll try to handle it. But I can't guarantee the outcome."

Hiashi hearing this, Hijikata's expression instantly shifted from worry to joy. It wasn't a feigned smile, but a genuine, relieved expression of relief.

"Thank you for your trouble, Neji." Hiashi stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Then I'll take my leave."

He Gate of Opening, his figure disappearing into the darkness of the corridor, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Neji sat back down on the tatami mat, but didn't pick up the book, "Make-Out Paradise." He stared at the flickering flame of the paper lantern, lost in thought.

The Hyuga Clan's problems, Hinata's problems, and his and Tenten's plans...

In the original story, Naruto and Hinata's relationship only truly became clear after the Otsutsuki Toneri incident. However, he was planning to leave Konoha with Tenten a year later to travel the Shinobi World. According to the original timeline, the Toneri incident hadn't happened yet.

We must find a way to resolve this matter before leaving.

It wasn't for Hiashi, nor for Hinata, nor even for Naruto.

Rather, it was to... settle a cause and effect, a cause and effect arising from his own intervention.

The moon outside the window had risen high in the sky, its cool light bathing the courtyard. Neji stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the endless rooftops of the Hyuga Clan mansion.

This family, this village, these people...

I will be leaving in a year. But before that, there are still some things I need to finish.

He gently closed the window.