With immediate departure required, they only had two hours to prepare.
Shindai quickly informed Pakura and Hikaku Uchiha before returning to the Scientific Research Division. He retrieved another scroll from a cabinet.
These scrolls contained fully charged chakra capacitors.
As they gathered outside Konoha Village, Shindai ran into Jiraiya, who was preparing to leave with Naruto.
"Shindai, where are you guys heading?" Naruto asked curiously.
Shindai grinned ominously. "We're off to play!"
Hearing Shindai's words about "going to play," Naruto became eager to join in. "Perverted Sage, can we go together too?"
Jiraiya, knowing what Shindai and his team were heading out for, sighed helplessly. "Our mission is also important—we can't go with them. Besides, they're not really going to play. They're off to fight at Sunagakure. With your abilities, there's no way you could participate in that kind of battle. Just behave yourself and come with me to Tachibana Street."
Naruto pouted. "Fine~"
After counting everyone present, Shisui announced, "Everyone, follow me and move out!"
Following Shisui's lead, the group headed toward Sunagakure.
Inside the Hyuga clan compound.
Within the Hyuga ancestral shrine,
Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga sat facing each other.
Behind each of them stood their respective factions—Main family members behind Hiashi and Branch family members behind Hizashi.
However, there were three to four times more Branch family members than Main family ones, making their side appear significantly stronger.
Hizashi spoke first. "Hiashi, now it's your turn to decide. I'll lay out my demands clearly: abolish the Caged Bird system and eliminate the distinction between Main and Branch families entirely. Furthermore, all the Hyuga clan's secret techniques must be made available to every family member!
If these demands are not accepted, we will declare independence and form a new Hyuga clan. So what's your choice?"
Hiashi remained silent for a moment before responding. "Can we negotiate? Someone must carry on the legacy of the Hyuga clan. Once the Byakugan is stolen, ninja from other villages will continue to target us relentlessly. Surely you understand the strategic significance of the Byakugan."
Hizashi answered solemnly. "The Caged Bird seal has already been deciphered by Danzo—it can no longer protect the Byakugan. Moreover, you have misunderstood something crucial. It's not because we possess the Byakugan that the Hyuga clan exists; rather, it's because the Hyuga clan exists that we have the Byakugan.
Certainly, the Byakugan deserves protection, but even more importantly, we should protect our clansmen. Tell me, how exactly has the Main family treated us? Hiashi Hyuga, can you truly look yourself in the eye and say this treatment of Branch family members was solely to protect the Byakugan and our people?
You haven't regarded us as true members of the same clan. In your eyes, only those from the Main family are genuine Hyugas while we Branch family members are nothing more than servants.
Therefore… there is no room for negotiation. You have only two options—either unite or split. There is no third alternative!"
Hiashi Hyuga closed his eyes, his expression filled with inner turmoil and pain.
After a long pause, Hiashi opened his eyes and conceded, "Fine, I agree to your request. From this day forward, there will be no more [Caged Bird], no distinction between the Main family and Branch family. Everyone will be able to learn the Gentle Fist techniques of the Hyuga clan."
The members of the Branch family were overjoyed, as if they had finally seen the moonlight after enduring endless dark clouds.
Meanwhile, the Main family members looked utterly deflated, like tomatoes struck by frost.
Hizashi Hyuga stood up and said, "Then Hiashi, let's go report this to Hokage-sama."
Hiashi silently rose and followed Hizashi toward the Hokage Building.
Upon hearing that the Hyuga clan would abolish the distinction between the Main and Branch families, Minato Namikaze was momentarily taken aback. Although unsure exactly what had happened, Minato viewed this as undeniably good news.
Minato smiled and said, "I'm genuinely happy to witness your reconciliation."
Hiashi addressed Minato, saying, "Hokage-sama, I wish to resign from my position as the clan leader of the Hyuga and pass it on to Hizashi. Right now... I am no longer fit to serve as the clan leader."
Minato looked surprised at Hiashi, then turned his gaze toward Hizashi.
Hizashi knelt on one knee before Minato, saying, "Hokage-sama, it's still more appropriate for Hiashi to remain as the clan leader. Also, I have come here today to confess my wrongdoing!"
Minato asked in confusion, "Confess? What wrongdoing?"
Hizashi answered truthfully, "A long time ago, Danzo approached me, offering to remove the [Caged Bird] seal in exchange for my cooperation along with my fellow clansmen. At that time... I agreed. If I had informed you earlier about everything, perhaps Konoha wouldn't have suffered such great losses!
Therefore, I bear responsibility for this disaster which has befallen Konoha, and I cannot escape my guilt. I accept any punishment you deem fit for me!"
Hiashi suddenly interjected anxiously, "Hokage-sama, Hizashi did not betray Konoha. When the war began, Hizashi ordered our clansmen to resist the enemy. From beginning to end, he never assisted Danzo!"
When he heard Hiashi defending him, Hizashi's body trembled slightly.
Suddenly, realization dawned on Minato, "Ah! So it was you who sent me that note warning me to be cautious of Sunagakure and Danzo during the last incident?"
Hizashi nodded, saying softly, "It was me..."
Minato walked up to Hizashi, helped him to stand, and smiled gently, saying, "Hizashi, you didn't truly betray Konoha by following Danzo, so there's no need for you to confess or seek punishment. Everything you did was for the sake of your clan, and yet you held onto your moral bottom line.
This invasion was clearly something the Sand Village and Danzo had been carefully planning. Even if you had warned me beforehand, it wouldn't have made much difference—they would have attacked Konoha either way."
Minato Namikaze looked at Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga and said, "You two are brothers. I believe the Hyuga clan will only grow stronger under your leadership. The Hyuga are a pillar of Konoha. Keep up the good work. Konoha has suffered heavy damage, so this period will be especially hard on you."
Hiashi and Hizashi bowed respectfully and replied, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Hiashi and Hizashi walked out of the Hokage Building.
Hizashi asked with confusion, "Why did you help me?"
Hiashi glanced at the sky and replied, "I don't need a reason to help you. You may feel like your older brother died long ago, but I've always been your brother, and that will never change. You have your own realization, and I have my own reasons too. Perhaps… we were indeed too extreme before. Let's go home. There's still much to do."
Hizashi let out a long breath and gave a faint smile, "Yes… it's time to go home."
...
At the border of the Land of Fire,
Danzo wore an expression of resentment and frustration, thinking bitterly that if the Akatsuki organization hadn't betrayed him back then, he definitely would've succeeded in killing Minato Namikaze.
Danzo led his men toward the Rice Country. He had always prepared escape routes for himself—one being the underground tunnels beneath Root headquarters, the other being the Rice Country, which he had carefully arranged beforehand.
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