Inside the Hyuga Main House's council chamber, after the officials from the Daimyō's Palace had left, the oppressive pressure hanging over their heads had yet to fade when their pent-up fury erupted.
"This is outrageous!" Hyuga Yuki slammed a palm onto the low table, making the teacups buzz. "Who the hell does he think he is? He's nothing but the Daimyō's lapdog! How dare he meddle in the traditions of the Hyuga Clan!"
"That 'ugly green pattern'... How dare he call it that!" Another elder was so furious that his beard trembled. "This is blasphemy against Hyuga glory! A betrayal of our founding ancestor!"
Curses rose one after another. Every elder was filled with righteous indignation, as though they might storm the Daimyō's Palace to demand an explanation the next second. Yet they all knew perfectly well that this was nothing more than impotent rage.
In the end, everyone's gaze gathered on the silent Hyuga Hiashi seated at the head of the room.
"Hiashi, what do you think? We cannot let this matter end here!"
"That's right! We must petition the Daimyō. That brat Naruto Uzumaki is behind this—he wants to use the Daimyō's hand to divide the Hyuga Clan!"
Hyuga Hiashi raised his eyelids and swept his gaze across the agitated clan elders, his expression unchanged.
He lifted his teacup and blew away the floating leaves. His voice was not loud, yet it reached every ear with perfect clarity.
"I think this was the Daimyō's idea all along. Naruto merely added fuel to the fire. Since it is the Daimyō's will, it will be difficult for us to defy it."
With that single sentence, the uproar in the council chamber came to an abrupt halt.
Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Hyuga Yuki sprang to his