The Clan Elder took his silence for hesitation.
The Clan Elder snorted and continued to press him. "I know what you're thinking. But rules are rules. That girl Hinata... ever since she grew close to that boy called Toru Kujyo, she's been getting ideas, yet her strength hasn't improved at all. Do you really expect an outsider to change anything?"
At the mention of Toru Kujyo, Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts drifted.
He remembered the beginning. When Hinata had timidly brought that black-haired boy before him, the Clan Elders had dismissed him with utter disdain.
"An orphan of unknown origins thinks he can get involved with the Main Family's daughter?"
"They're only children playing house. Once Hinata is a little older, she'll understand. We can find any excuse to send the boy away then."
"Our Hyuga Main Family's Byakugan is a noble bloodline. We will never allow it to pass outside the clan. Marry him into the family? What a delusional fantasy!"
Back then, the Clan Elders had acted so high and mighty, their words dripping with arrogance and contempt for a commoner, as though Toru Kujyo were merely a speck of dust they could crush at any moment.
But then Toru Kujyo had shone at the Chunin Ninja Exams. His endless array of exquisite ninjutsu and combat intelligence far beyond his peers had stunned everyone.
And so the Clan Elders had changed their tune.
"This boy... does have potential. Hinata's strength does seem to have improved while spending time with him."
"Hmm. If Hinata truly likes him, we could consider it, provided he's willing to marry into the family. A genius ninja's genes would benefit our Hyuga descendants as well."
From "a delusional fantasy" to "we could consider it," these old men had changed their faces in the blink of an