CHAPTER 25

(A/N: Dear gentle readers, who should be the love interest of hiruzen, please comment your suggestions.)

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After leaving the Senju clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi soon arrived at the Hyuga clan residence.

The towering gates of the Hyuga compound stood before him, a testament to the clan's long and proud history. The guards, noticing his arrival, instantly straightened up.

"Inform the Hyuga head and elders of my visit," Hiruzen instructed the guards calmly.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," one of the guards replied promptly, bowing low before flickering away to deliver the message.

Within minutes, an entire contingent of Hyuga members arrived at the gate to welcome the Hokage. Leading them was none other than Hisashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan.

Hisashi, with his white eyes and dignified posture, stepped forward with a respectful bow.

"Welcome to the Hyuga residence, Hokage-sama," Hisashi greeted, his tone polite but his eyes sharp, as he gestured for Hiruzen to enter.

Hiruzen returned the gesture with a warm smile. "Thank you, and I apologize for the unannounced visit."

"How could it be anything but an honor for us to host you, Hokage-sama?" Hisashi replied smoothly, not at all troubled by the sudden visit.

They walked through the grand hallways of the Hyuga residence, lined with intricate wooden panels and traditional architecture.

Soon, they arrived at a large hall, where chairs had been arranged in a neat, orderly manner. As Hiruzen settled down in his seat, the other elders of the Hyuga clan also took their places, greeting him with polite smiles.

"Please, everyone, take your seats," Hiruzen gestured, inviting them to sit down.

Hisashi, still standing, spoke with a smile. "What brings you to the Hyuga compound, Hokage-sama? How may we be of service?"

"I came here to discuss Konoha's police force, and how the Hyuga clan can contribute to it," Hiruzen began, his tone friendly yet purposeful.

Hisashi's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a look of puzzlement crossing his face. "But, Hokage-sama, isn't the Konoha Police Force traditionally managed by the Uchiha clan?" he asked, his voice curious.

"Yes, that is true," Hiruzen said with a nod, "but Konoha is growing larger, and the Uchiha alone cannot handle everything."

Hisashi understood immediately. A knowing smile crossed his face as he caught the hidden meaning behind Hiruzen's words. "I see... And are the Uchiha clan willing to cooperate with this expansion?" Hisashi inquired, his voice steady but full of curiosity.

"I'll speak with them tomorrow," Hiruzen reassured him. "I also plan to include the Yamanaka clan in the police force. Their exceptional mind jutsu would be invaluable for interrogation, and this would greatly improve the village's security."

"Certainly, Hokage-sama. It sounds like a well-thought-out plan," Hisashi replied, nodding in agreement. The elders around him murmured in approval as well.

Hiruzen leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked around the room. "Hyuga's Byakugan is a remarkable kekkei genkai, Hisashi, but in all honesty, your clan has yet to reach its full potential—unlike the Uchiha, who have mastered their Sharingan."

Hisashi's calm face faltered slightly, and the other elders shifted in their seats. A few exchanged wary glances. "What exactly do you mean by that, Hokage-sama?" Hisashi asked, his tone becoming slightly colder.

Hiruzen's expression turned serious. "What I mean is that your clan's strength has been stagnating. Since the founding of the village, not a single shadow-level ninja has emerged from the Hyuga clan, despite your large numbers and the powerful Byakugan."

An elder sitting nearby smiled faintly, though there was a trace of anger in his voice. "And how exactly have we limited our own strength, Hokage-sama?" he asked, his voice tinged with disdain.

Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "The Byakugan is known as the 'All-Seeing Eye,' capable of seeing everything. Yet you've limited it almost entirely to taijutsu. Even then, you haven't produced a single ninja who could truly stand at the peak of the taijutsu world."

He continued, his voice firm, "With your chakra-seeing abilities, the Hyuga could become the greatest medical-ninja clan in Konoha, even surpassing the Senju. Your telescopic vision could allow you to see far across the elemental nations. Your infrared vision could help you explore your own genetic potential, purifying your lineage and increasing your power."

As Hiruzen continued with various examples of the byakugan prowess, the elders' expressions grew darker. Hisashi's face, too, was contorting as he tried to maintain his composure. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Furthermore," Hiruzen added, "your clan's focus on taijutsu alone is a limitation. The Uchiha use a variety of ninjutsu, genjutsu, and even advanced fire-style techniques. But the Hyuga, with all its potential, remains stagnant. You've confined yourselves to a single path—and you haven't even mastered it too."

Hisashi's temper finally flared. "What arrogance, Hokage-sama, to compare us to the Uchiha! Our Gentle Fist is unparalleled. Do you doubt our strength?"

Hiruzen's smile faded. His voice grew colder. "Defeating a few low-level jonin without kekkei genkai does not make you powerful, Hisashi. When you face a true powerhouse, you'll realize just how limited you are."

The mocking tone in Hiruzen's voice pushed Hisashi over the edge. His Byakugan activated, veins bulging around his eyes. The other Hyuga elders followed suit, activating their Byakugan in unison.

"You've crossed a line, Hokage-sama," Hisashi growled, rising to his feet, his voice shaking with anger.

But before he could take another step, something strange happened.

A sharp ting filled the air, and suddenly, Hisashi's vision was overwhelmed.

Dozens of kunai, laced with chakra, appeared at the throats of every Hyuga in the room, wielded by masked ANBU agents who had materialized out of nowhere.

Hisashi's eyes widened in shock. "When...? I already had my Byakugan activated! How could they have entered without me noticing?"

Hiruzen chuckled, watching their stunned faces. "Did you see that? These are simple clan ninja and civilians, without a kekkei genkai. Yet even with your Byakugan, you couldn't see them."

He rose from his seat, his voice cold and commanding. "WAKE UP TO REALITY, Hisashi. Stop playing games with your branch and main family politics. If you don't unlock the full potential of your kekkei genkai, you'll be left behind by the other clans, which you disdain to look at."

Without another word, Hiruzen and the ANBU disappeared, leaving the Hyuga elders in stunned silence.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Finally, one of the elders, Kisuke Hyuga, broke the silence, his voice trembling with fear. "W-What just happened? How could they escape our Byakugan?"

The same disbelief spread across the faces of every elder in the room. The overwhelming display of power by the Hokage's faction had left them thunderstruck.

Hisashi, collecting himself, spoke with a grave expression. "This was Hokage-sama's way of showing us our arrogance. It's time for the Hyuga to change."

"You're right, clan head," another elder agreed. "We cannot remain stagnant any longer. If we do, we'll be reduced to a mere mid-tier clan in Konoha."

As the elders absorbed the gravity of what had just happened, Hiruzen, back atop the Hokage Rock, watched the scene unfold through his crystal ball. A satisfied smile crept across his face.

"Hahaha... The sooner they realize it, the sooner it benefits the village," Hiruzen mused to himself.

He stood, readying himself for his next visit. "Now, let's discuss the police force with Inochi Yamanaka as well."

With a flicker, the Third Hokage vanished, heading toward the Yamanaka clan.

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