Branch and Main Families, Brothers and Siblings, Different Choices

Branch and Main Families, Brothers and Siblings, Different Choices

The next day.

Explosive news spread throughout Konoha like a stone cast into a lake, stirring wave after wave.

"Hey! Did you hear? Kakashi Hatake, the White Fang's son, got beaten up!"

"No way, right? Super genius Kakashi Hatake actually got beaten up?"

"It's true. Lots of people saw it. Kakashi even cried in the end!"

"Hey! Did you hear? Kakashi got beaten until he cried!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!! I heard he was even rolling around on the ground at the end!"

"What? Didn't Kakashi just lie down before they even fought? Then he cried and begged Hyuga Satoru not to hit him?"

Early in the morning, Hyuga Satoru had just stepped outside.

The moment he heard the rumors filling the streets, his face turned green.

"How did the rumor turn into this?"

What did they mean Kakashi was beaten to tears by me? He cried on his own, what did that have to do with me? And kneeling to beg for mercy, scrambling away in panic... what the hell was all this?

The key was that most of the people spreading the rumors were actually Hyuga clan members.

Walking through the streets of the Clan Compound, he could see groups of clan members gathered in threes and fives, excitedly discussing things like "the New Generation's number one genius," "the one who beat Kakashi to tears," and "even the Uchiha submitted to him."

Hyuga Satoru lowered his head and crept along, terrified someone would notice him. Then, before he knew it, a sudden uproar rose from behind him.

"Look, it's that genius who beat Kakashi until he cried."

In an instant, every clan member's gaze converged on him.

"It wasn't me! I didn't do it! Stop making things up!"

Hyuga Satoru's face darkened, and he immediately sped off, leaving behind a crowd of baffled clan members.

Unlike the noisy Branch Family outside, the Main Hall was utterly silent. The atmosphere was unusually oppressive, and most of the Main Family Elders wore grim expressions.

Hyuga Suigetsu swept his gaze across the elders around him and could not help but feel a headache coming on.

The reason the Hyuga clan had endured for more than a thousand years in the Ninja World and become the oldest clan in history was its rules and system.

Yet now, there was a clan member who repeatedly broke those rules.

Hyuga Satoru, the first Dual Bloodline Limit in Hyuga history, seemed to have never been peaceful from the moment he appeared.

"Hmph! Have these Branch Family members forgotten all the rules?"

One Main Family Elder slapped the table angrily, his face livid.

From yesterday until now, he had seen large numbers of Branch Family members gathering together, disregarding etiquette as they shouted excitedly. There were even many such scenes outside the clan grounds.

"The clan's dignity has been completely disgraced by these Branch Family members."

Another Main Family Elder shook his head.

Beside Hyuga Suigetsu, Hyuga Hiashi sighed inwardly. He knew the Branch Family had been suppressed for too long. After Hyuga Satoru thoroughly defeated Kakashi, that suppression had turned into excitement and exhilaration.

But the Hyuga were not the Uchiha. In the Hyuga clan, rules had to be followed.

"Enough."

Hyuga Suigetsu sighed, feeling an intense headache.

Although Hyuga Satoru had caused this incident, punishing him for it would make little sense. After all, defeating Kakashi could be considered a victory that brought honor to the clan.

But if they truly ignored it, those Branch Family members would soon be running wild.

Furthermore, the Hokage's attitude toward Hyuga Satoru was rather thought-provoking, and they had to consider that as well. With so many factors piled together, he truly could not make up his mind.

Just then, Hyuga Hiashi beside him suddenly spoke. "Clan Head, leave this matter to me."

"Oh? Do you have a plan?"

Hyuga Suigetsu became interested. Hyuga Hiashi was practically the successor he had personally chosen.

Hyuga Hiashi smiled. "The reason this matter is complicated is because Hyuga Satoru is merely an ordinary Branch Family member. Rewarding him is inappropriate, but punishing him is also inappropriate. In that case, we can give him another identity."

Hyuga Hiashi then calmly laid out his idea.

Hyuga Suigetsu's eyes gradually lit up.

"Good. I'll leave it to you!"

Hyuga Satoru had just slipped back from the street, his heart still racing. Nearly the entire way back, he had heard people talking about him.

The key was that almost none of those discussions were reliable.

Even some of the older women in the clan had set their sights on him, bustling about to introduce their granddaughters to him. Hyuga Satoru had been so frightened that he ran for his life, and he was still covered in cold sweat.

"Too terrifying. I'd better not go out for the next few days."

Still shaken, Hyuga Satoru patted his chest.

Just as he was about to rest, he heard a knock at the door.

Hyuga Satoru immediately became alert. He crept over to the front door and cautiously pressed his eye to the gap in the doorframe.

"Password!"

"Password???"

The person outside froze. Why did visiting someone require a password? What password?

Just then, the door opened, making him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Hyuga Satoru was no stranger to the visitor. The clan's most famous pair of brothers looked almost identical, and even dressed similarly. The only difference was that one of them wore a forehead protector year-round.

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"Lord Hizashi, why are you here?"

Hyuga Satoru cautiously looked around, making sure no other Hyuga members had followed him.

"Wu, may I come in and speak?"

Two cups of tea sat on the wooden table, quietly giving off steam. Judging from the quality of the tea leaves, they were not the precious kind.

"Lord Hizashi, I don't usually drink tea, so I can only serve you this inferior stuff."

"It's fine." Hizashi Hyuga smiled and took a sip of tea.

The Hyuga had a tea-tasting culture. When someone served tea, taking a sip was proper etiquette.

After the pleasantries, Hizashi Hyuga looked at the still somewhat youthful Hyuga Satoru, his expression inevitably growing complicated.

"I once guessed that you would become a variable within the clan, but I never expected that variable to grow so quickly."

A genius who surpassed Kakashi, the number one of the New Generation—merely reciting those titles in his heart made Hizashi Hyuga's blood run hot.

Without a doubt, Hyuga Satoru was the greatest genius the Hyuga clan had produced since Konoha was founded!

"I imagine a genius like you would never be willing to wear shackles."

Hizashi Hyuga looked at Hyuga Satoru with a complicated expression.

Hyuga Satoru said nothing. The implication of those words was too serious. If the Main Family heard them, there would likely be no small amount of trouble.

Seeing that Hyuga Satoru remained silent, Hizashi sighed and took a scroll from his robe, placing it on the table.

"What is this?"

"You'll understand once you open it."

Hyuga Satoru opened the scroll and sent a thread of Chakra into it. His expression immediately turned astonished.

The items stored in the scroll were extraordinarily plentiful. It was unquestionably the most valuable thing he had ever seen. In one corner was a massive sum of cash. Hyuga Satoru estimated it to be at least five million Ryo.

On the other side were a large number of cultivation-related secret techniques, including some of the clan's closely guarded secret arts.

The cash was one thing, but the latter involved the clan's secret techniques. If the Main Family found out, Hizashi Hyuga would definitely be severely punished.

"Why?" Hyuga Satoru asked in a low voice.

Hizashi Hyuga smiled helplessly. "Just think of it as an investment."

He then stood and headed for the door.

"I truly hope that your variable can stir up a wind and let this rotten old tree called the Hyuga regain its vitality."

Hyuga Satoru silently watched his retreating back. Rather than an investment, it was more like choosing a side—a declaration of stance.

Knowing that I would never willingly be bound by the Caged Bird Seal, was he planning to resist alongside me?

Had Hizashi Hyuga, who had ultimately recognized his fate and committed suicide in the original story, changed his original path because of my influence?

Hyuga Satoru carefully put away the scroll. Hizashi Hyuga's support would be greatly useful for his training.

About half an hour later, another knock sounded outside.

Hyuga Satoru opened the door and saw that familiar face. The words nearly slipped out instinctively.

"Lord Hizashi, why are you here again..."

The words caught in his throat.

The other man's forehead was perfectly smooth.

"So it's Lord Hiashi. Is there something you need?"

Hyuga Satoru said calmly.

It was still the same wooden table, with two cups of tea set upon it. When Hyuga Hiashi glanced at the tea before him, he frowned slightly. He did not drink it, instead getting straight to the point.

"I came today because I intend to take on a disciple. Wu, how would you like to become my disciple?"

He smiled faintly at Hyuga Satoru.

Taking a disciple was naturally something he had considered carefully. Everyone knew he was the next Clan Head. As for strength, he had already become a Jonin shortly after turning twenty, more than capable of teaching Hyuga Satoru, a mere Genin.

More importantly, once Hyuga Satoru bore the title of the next Clan Head's disciple, all the problems would be resolved.

The Branch Family would become more obedient to the Main Family because Hyuga Satoru was a Main Family disciple. As for the Hokage, since he had already taken Hyuga Satoru as a disciple, he likely would not be able to interfere with anything.

"I refuse."

The smile on Hyuga Hiashi's face instantly stiffened, as though he was still wondering whether he had misheard.

"Are you worried about Aburame Shibi? Don't worry. He is only your instructor, and that does not conflict with becoming my disciple. Once you become my disciple, the clan will give you a monthly subsidy of one hundred thousand Ryo. In addition, some of the Main Family's secret techniques will be opened to you."

Hyuga Satoru looked at him helplessly. "I think you misunderstood, Lord Hiashi. My unwillingness to become your disciple has nothing to do with Teacher Shibi, nor does it have anything to do with anything else..."

"Once I become Lord Hiashi's disciple, I'm afraid many things will no longer be up to me. I don't want to be bound by so many restrictions."

That answer left Hyuga Hiashi stunned. He did not know how to say the words he had prepared.

How ridiculous!

Do you know how many people dream of becoming my disciple?

A trace of anger rose in Hyuga Hiashi's heart. Yet years of family upbringing made him instinctively maintain his so-called composure. He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

"Very well. Since you have already made your decision, I will not force you. Although you have not become my disciple, the monthly subsidy of one hundred thousand Ryo will still be given to you. This is the clan's reward."

With that, he stood and left without lingering in the slightest.

Hyuga Satoru watched his retreating back with deep eyes. Today, both Hizashi and Hiashi, those brothers, had come looking for him, yet their purposes had been completely different.

By refusing Hiashi's offer to take him as a disciple, he had, in a sense, made a declaration of his own.

The future might not be peaceful.

That was how he sighed inwardly.