[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
Rengoku didn't have Hyuga Sota come to the meeting room but went to another room instead.
When Sota saw Rengoku, the first thing he did was thank him.
"Thank you, Elder Rengoku, for your assistance. Thanks to you, our people were able to retreat safely."
Rengoku waved his hand dismissively. Fugaku had gone to capture one of the Third Hokage's subordinates anyway. Saving the Hyuga was just a side effect.
"No need for courtesy. Sota, if you came here to ask something, just ask directly. I'm quite busy."
Sota's eyes lowered slightly, "I want to ask… is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki still Naruto?"
Rengoku answered truthfully, "Not anymore. The Third Hokage has been colluding with Senku, the monk from Akatsuki."
"They've already extracted the Nine-Tails without endangering Naruto's life."
"Now, the Nine-Tails is in the Third Hokage's hands."
Although Sota had already been mentally prepared for the Uchiha and the Third Hokage to turn against each other, hearing that the Hokage had actually taken the Nine-Tails still came as a shock.
After all, the Uchiha had noticed something beforehand. Otherwise, they wouldn't have deliberately sent Fugaku to rescue their people.
That meant there were only two possibilities.
Either the Uchiha intentionally let the Hokage take the Nine-Tails, or Senku's sudden appearance caught the Uchiha completely off guard.
The implications of these two scenarios were vastly different.
If it was the first one… then the Uchiha were clearly plotting something big.
"Elder Rengoku, what do you plan to do next?", Sota probed carefully.
Rengoku smiled faintly, "Tonight, I'll notify all the elders. Tomorrow, we'll hold a high council meeting, and I'll move to forcibly dismiss the Third Hokage."
"Forcibly dismiss?"
After being promoted to elder, Sota had studied Konoha's political systems.
A forced dismissal required both advisors to vote at the same time before it could be activated.
This authority of the advisory council had existed since its creation, but no one had ever used it.
After all, the advisors had always been the Hokage's old teammates.
He didn't know whether Rengoku had persuaded Mitokado Homura or Koharu Utatane.
But the fact that Rengoku told him so directly meant that this would definitely happen.
It seemed… Konoha was about to change hands.
But that was just as well, during this transition, no one would have time to interfere with the Hyuga clan.
Rengoku noticed the flicker in Sota's gaze and thought he was considering how the Hyuga should conduct themselves afterward.
So he confirmed, "That's right. Tomorrow, the Third Hokage will step down in the most disgraceful way possible."
"Your Hyuga clan should start making preparations."
Sota rose to his feet, "If that's the case, we'll discuss it among the clan."
Rengoku nodded slightly, "I have clan matters to attend to, so I won't see you off."
Sota hesitated a moment, then said meaningfully, "The Hyuga's kekkei genkai is very beneficial to Konoha's development. I hope Elder Rengoku will continue to look after us in the future."
"Besides myself, there's Hyuga Asahi, Hyuga Kei, Hyuga Aoto, Hyuga Ryu, and Hyuga Teru. They're all outstanding juniors, capable of easing your burdens."
"If Elder Rengoku needs anything, please feel free to call on them."
Rengoku took it as a gesture of loyalty and chuckled, "Don't worry. The Byakugan of the Hyuga is irreplaceable."
Sota bowed, then left the Uchiha compound.
Rengoku didn't give him much thought, he still had to meet with others to plan the details for tomorrow.
He had no idea what Sota's words truly implied.
———
[Hyuga Clan Grounds]
After returning, Sota went straight into his office.
The clansmen he had sent earlier to deliver messages had already returned.
"Lord Sota, we've already notified Lords Yuto, Motou, and Shuji."
"Lord Shuji has also finished contacting all of our people."
Sota took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
"Go inform everyone, we're holding a full clan assembly."
"Yes, sir!"
Sota ran his hand across the desk before him. A few years ago, Elder Mitsunaga used to work here.
His once-calm eyes now regained their vitality, glowing brighter and brighter.
He slowly closed them again, concealing the sharp light within.
Then he walked toward the largest courtyard, the place where full clan assemblies were held.
It was only early evening; most of the Hyuga had just eaten dinner.
At this hour, nearly everyone was still within the compound. The main family usually ate at home.
Those who went on missions were, of course, members of the branch family.
The full clan assembly could only be convened by an elder.
Although, in theory, a branch family elder had this authority as well, no one from the branch family had ever used it.
When Sota arrived, Hiashi was already there, along with several other main family members arriving one after another.
Sota had already briefed Hiashi about today's Chnin Exam situation and the attack on the Uchiha.
He'd also made some predictions about the coming conflict between the Uchiha and the Third Hokage.
Since Sota had just returned from the Uchiha side, Hiashi more or less knew what was going on.
Therefore, he had no objections to Sota calling a full clan assembly.
But while he had no objections, some of the main family members clearly weren't happy.
They didn't need to go on missions. Every day they just practiced Gentle Fist at home, supported by the branch family.
They weren't exactly fat and bloated, but every one of them had pale, delicate skin, spotless clothes, and lazy, unhurried expressions.
Now, suddenly called into a meeting, they naturally felt confused and annoyed.
Their gazes toward Sota weren't friendly, but the Hyuga clan's rules were strict. Since Hiashi hadn't spoken, they didn't dare act up.
As time passed, more and more people filled the courtyard.
The main family had a total of thirty-five members. Among them, five were children like Hinata and Hanabi, who didn't need to attend the full clan assembly.
That left thirty main family members, all of whom were present.
The branch family was much larger, over three hundred people in total.
However, some were on patrol or away on missions.
At least two hundred branch members were outside the compound.
Of the hundred-plus who remained, only forty-one had the right to attend the full clan assembly.
Among them, twenty-eight were participants in the Rebellion Project.
That was already a considerable number. After all, the branch family was constantly dispatched for work, unlike the main family, which just lived comfortably doing nothing.
The courtyard was large enough, and the main and branch families stood sharply divided, each on their own side.
Hiashi, Grand Elder Sarumito, Second Elder Kenshi, Third Elder Hisashi, and Fourth Elder Sota stood at the front.
After years of planning, Yuto, Motou, and Shuji had each become loyal hounds to the three senior elders, standing right behind them.
At first glance, the difference between main and branch members wasn't obvious. But now, seeing them side by side, Hiashi's brow furrowed deeply.
The branch members all had sharp eyes and an aura of killing intent.
The main family members, accustomed to comfort, stood straight physically, but their spirits were sluggish and lax.
At this rate, the main family would rot away.
It seemed the time had come to reform the main family.
Hiashi thought quietly to himself.
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