Chapter 196: Hyuga Seeks a Master! (First update, seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)
Time skipped ahead to the year 52 of Konoha.
Konoha's deep reforms continued.
Namikaze Minato divided the Konoha Military Police Force into two branches: one for law enforcement and one for judicial matters. The responsibility for guarding the prisons was also taken away from the Uchiha clan.
New recruits were selected from various ninja clans and civilian ninjas to join both the law enforcement and judicial branches.
Although the Konoha Military Police Force was still led by Uchiha Fugaku, it was no longer exclusively an Uchiha affair.
Simultaneously, the Uchiha clan's influence expanded into various other departments within Konoha.
For example, the intelligence department.
And the external patrol force, responsible for scouting Konoha's periphery.
From this point on, the Uchiha began to move away from being a specialized force.
...
The Hyuga Clan.
After respectfully greeting his elder brother, Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Hizashi sat down, his expression solemn. "Clan Head, I intend to request that Asuma-sensei become Neji's teacher!"
"Hm?"
Hyuga Hiashi's gaze sharpened. "Neji indeed possesses outstanding talent, but... do you think Asuma-sensei will agree?"
"Moreover, compared to Neji, Hinata is the one who truly represents the Hyuga Clan!"
The Hyuga Clan wasn't blind; they naturally saw the changes occurring within the Uchiha Clan.
While the Hyuga Clan had always been excessively involved in Konoha's political center, this didn't mean they didn't desire greater strength!
The foundational training methods Sarutobi Asuma implemented in the Chunin and Jonin Special Training Classes, as well as the Genin Preparatory Class, had already become popular throughout Konoha.
However, not everyone could achieve the same results.
The same textbook could yield vastly different outcomes depending on the teacher.
Furthermore, when it came to many detailed aspects, no one could match Sarutobi Asuma.
At the same time, regarding mastery of Ninjutsu and the application of Chakra Nature Transformation, no one could compare to Sarutobi Asuma!
The spots in the Chunin and Jonin Special Training Classes had become highly coveted in Konoha.
Over the past year, the Hyuga Clan had fallen far behind the Uchiha in the competition for these spots.
Konoha was flourishing, yet the Hyuga Clan remained stagnant.
As the Clan Head, how could Hyuga Hiashi not feel a sense of crisis?
Now that his eldest daughter, Hinata, had finally turned four years old, Hyuga Hiashi also planned to seek a teacher.
Hyuga Hizashi, unable to change his talented son's branch family status, still hoped to provide his son with an opportunity to change his own fate.
And that opportunity was the legendary Sarutobi Asuma!
Sarutobi Asuma had taken Uchiha Shisui as a disciple but not Uchiha Itachi. While there were political considerations behind this, it also indicated that Sarutobi Asuma valued talent over status!
In terms of talent, how could Hinata possibly compare to Neji?
"Clan Head, while Neji cannot represent the Hyuga, he is still a member of the Hyuga Clan," Hyuga Hizashi stated gravely. "Asuma-sensei does not prioritize status. Hinata-ojōsama's talent may not be enough to impress him!"
Hyuga Hiashi fell silent, then said, "Then let Hinata and Neji go together. Whoever becomes Asuma-sensei's disciple will be chosen by Asuma-sensei!"
His objective achieved, Hyuga Hizashi respectfully bowed. "Thank you!"
Fifteen minutes later.
Neji was brought by Hyuga Hizashi.
Hyuga Hiashi held the small, delicate Hinata's hand.
"Neji-niichan!" Hinata called out.
Neji bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Clan Head!"
"Hinata-ojōsama!"
Looking at the silent and stoic Neji, Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "Let's go!"
Neji looked at his father, and Hyuga Hizashi nodded. "Go! Earn Asuma-sensei's favor and become the most outstanding ninja of the Hyuga Clan!"
"Yes, Father!"
Neji nodded heavily, brimming with fighting spirit.
Sage Domain, under the Sage Tree.
Sarutobi Asuma had already received a formal invitation from the Hyuga Clan in advance.
To take the Hyuga Clan as disciples?
To train little Hinata?
Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but glance at Naruto, who was climbing a tree not far away.
He just didn't know if this pair would end up together in the future.
"The Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird..."
Sarutobi Asuma pondered.
He had no intention of breaking the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird seal.
In fact, he and Konoha's higher-ups had not disclosed the recent matter of the Otsutsuki Clan from the moon to the Hyuga Clan for the time being.
Judging from the war that broke out between the main and branch houses of the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon, the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird seemed to be a good thing.
"There are no perfect solutions in this world!"
Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
The main family of the Hyuga Clan was almost always a single-line inheritance.
This way, with the vast majority of clan members bound by the Caged Bird, many talented individuals had likely been buried over the generations.
However, the Konoha Hyuga Clan was far from as prosperous as the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon; even if they gouged out everyone's eyes, it wouldn't be enough to create a giant Tenseigan.
As he was thinking, Sarutobi Asuma sensed that Hyuga Hiashi had arrived with others.
Not long after, three figures appeared within Sarutobi Asuma's sight.
Tsk!
Little Hinata was indeed incredibly cute!
"Mr. Asuma!"
Upon approaching, Hyuga Hiashi bowed respectfully.
"Hyuga Neji pays his respects to Mr. Asuma!"
Hyuga Neji followed suit with great politeness.
Hyuga Hinata was a bit timid, and greeted softly, "Hinata pays her respects to Mr. Asuma!"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and nodded slightly, then called out to Naruto and Karin, who were training in the woods to his left, "Naruto, Karin, come here!"
"Asuma-sensei!"
"Uncle Asuma!"
The two youngsters sprinted over, then looked curiously at Hinata and the other two.
"This is the Patriarch of the Hyuga Clan!"
Sarutobi Asuma offered an introduction.
Naruto and Karin quickly paid their respects.
Afterward, Sarutobi Asuma said, "Naruto, Karin, take Neji and Hinata to play over there. I need to discuss some matters with Patriarch Hiashi."
"Understood!"
Naruto and Karin nodded in unison.
Hinata and Neji looked towards Hyuga Hiashi.
Hyuga Hiashi nodded, "Go ahead!"
After the four youngsters left, Sarutobi Asuma smiled and said, "Patriarch Hiashi, please have a seat!"
As the words fell, green vines grew from the ground, forming a woven mat.
This wasn't Hyuga Hiashi's first time here, so he wasn't surprised. He leaped onto the mat and sat down cross-legged.
Sarutobi Asuma got straight to the point: "Patriarch Hiashi, are you aware of the origins of the Hyuga Clan?"
Hyuga Hiashi froze for a moment, completely taken aback by Sarutobi Asuma's question.
And it concerned the Hyuga Clan's most core secret.
The three great dōjutsu of the Ninja World.
The Rinnegan belonged to the legendary Sage of Six Paths.
The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan, respectively, inherited the Sage of Six Paths' Sage Body and Sage Eyes.
This was widely known throughout the Ninja World and wasn't a particularly hidden secret.
However, the true origins of the Hyuga Clan were known to very few.
People like Sarutobi Hiruzen had no idea that the Hyuga Clan was also related to the Sage of Six Paths, and that their bloodline originated from the Sage of Six Paths' younger brother.
On the moon, there was also a powerful group of ninjas. Although only two remained now, they were secretly preparing to destroy the Earth.
So.
Did the Hyuga Clan themselves know the source of their bloodline?
Sarutobi Asuma was somewhat curious.
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