Chapter 181: I like you! Naruto-kun

Hinata's transformation had been nothing short of remarkable. She had evolved from a timid girl into a responsible and determined leader. It wasn't just Karin who noticed—everyone in the Hyūga clan was stunned. The hesitant, uncertain heiress they once knew was now a completely different person.

"I... I know you don't trust me much," Hinata said, addressing the clan members. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the golden-haired figure standing nearby, giving her the strength to continue. She clasped her hands tightly against her chest. "But I will fulfill my duties and do my best as the acting head of the clan until Neji-niisan returns."

"Right now, I'm the only one who can do this."

The expressions of the former main family members softened slightly. Despite everything that had happened in the past few days, Hinata was still a member of the main family, Hiashi's daughter. With her leading the clan, perhaps their situation would improve.

However, the branch family members murmured among themselves, hesitant to accept her leadership. After all, Hinata was the "heiress" of the main family. Even though she and Neji had defied the Hyūga clan's oppressive system, the title of "heiress" was still a label she had carried since birth.

Neji stepped forward, and the branch members immediately fell silent. Before he could speak, Hinata quickly interjected, "Neji-niisan, please place the Caged Bird seal on me as well."

Neji was taken aback, as were the branch members. They looked at her in disbelief.

Hinata was the only member of the main family who had not been marked with the Caged Bird seal. The branch family had no objections to this; as she had said, she was the only one who had opposed the main family's system of enslaving the branch family. Her lack of a seal was one of her "rewards" as the victor.

But now, she was asking for it?

"Every Caged Bird seal will eventually be lifted," Hinata said as she brushed her bangs aside. "Since I'm to act as the head of the clan, coming from the former main family, I must do something to earn their trust."

"It's necessary."

Hinata's eyes reflected an unusual resolve as she looked into Neji's.

The once-timid girl now had a determination that was unmistakable.

"Understood," Neji replied with a nod.

He had Hinata kneel, performed the necessary hand signs, and left the green, cross-shaped seal on her forehead.

The branch members were visibly moved. One of them stood up and bowed, saying, "Hinata-sama, we look forward to working with you."

It seemed that having someone like her as their leader might not be so bad after all.

With the major matters resolved and some minor adjustments made—especially to the rituals related to the main and branch families—Neji discarded the unnecessary formalities. Once everything was settled, Neji followed Naruto and stepped out of the Hyūga clan's gates.

Hinata hurried after them.

"N-Naruto-kun." She stopped a few steps away and called out.

Naruto turned around.

"I've been thinking..." Hinata gathered her courage. "It was my weakness and fear that kept me from expressing my feelings or taking any action before."

"But I'm going to change now."

"And—"

She took a deep breath and shouted, "Naruto-kun, you were wrong!"

"Completely wrong!"

"My feelings aren't some illusion I created for myself."

"I've always loved Naruto-kun!"

Those words drained all of her strength.

It was just like a year and a half ago.

But what was different now was that she was no longer confused.

She knew what outcome she wanted after confessing: "I won't try to bind Naruto-kun with my feelings like I did before."

"I just want Naruto-kun to know."

"No matter how long it takes."

"I'll work hard and eventually be worthy to stand by your side."

"I've always, always, always loved Naruto-kun."

Her expression and tone were filled with conviction.

"Hinata," Naruto said with a smile.

Hinata looked tense.

Karin squeezed her hand.

"You made a great decision today," Naruto said, grinning as he gave her a thumbs up.

Hinata blinked in surprise, then beamed back at him.

Naruto waved goodbye.

Hinata didn't try to stop him; she stood at the gate until his silhouette disappeared, then turned back to the estate.

Tenten was standing on the wall of the Hyūga estate.

"Aren't you going with Neji?" Guy asked softly as he stood beside her.

Tenten shook her head. "No, Neji will come back."

"As for me..."

Although she had helped yesterday, she hadn't made much of an impact.

The Hyūga clan's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven technique was particularly effective against a ninja like her, who specialized in tools and weapons. Fighting two or three chūnin had already been a struggle for her.

She used to think she was stronger than Hinata.

Now, the gap was much wider.

"Guy-sensei, I'll need you to lead the team again," Tenten said quietly.

Might Guy scratched his head. "I'm glad you figured this out on your own. I'm not very good at comforting girls."

Lee looked pitiful.

Neji had left...

Konoha hadn't even tried to keep Naruto.

Like Hinata, he watched until Naruto was out of the village's sight before he finally felt at ease.

The changes in the Hyūga clan hadn't caused much of a ripple in the village.

The only noticeable difference was that the Byakugan users had become more open.

But in the upper echelons of Konoha, there was a storm brewing.

Kakashi had suddenly become more assertive, working with the jōnin to limit the power of the elder advisors. He even supported Nara Shikaku in his efforts to dismantle the Root division.

A few days after Naruto left...

At the Root headquarters in Konoha...

Danzo's face was tense.

A new Hokage who hadn't even been in office for three years, no matter how much he had accomplished in that time, should not have been able to challenge them—those who had held power for decades, who were practically invincible. The daimyo of the Land of Fire's understanding of Konoha was largely controlled by the three of them.

But the problem wasn't Kakashi.

The problem was Naruto Uzumaki.

The Fifth Hokage had only become so assertive after meeting with Naruto at the Hyūga estate.

Had he been promised something?

If so...

Then the card he held, supported by the daimyo, wouldn't be as effective.

Before him, the space began to warp.

A figure wearing a mask, his right eye exposed, revealing the Sharingan.

Several hidden Root ninjas immediately reacted, leaping out with kunai, short swords, and jutsu, aiming to restrain the intruder.

"Madara," Danzo said, standing up and looking down at him from a distance. "You've got some nerve, coming here now."

He squinted his eyes.

The room was dimly lit.

Root couldn't be exposed to the light.

Two people who couldn't be exposed to the light were now shrouded in darkness together.

At this moment, they looked somewhat alike.

Both wore loose robes, both had only one eye exposed.

The difference was that one had his right eye, the other his left.

"We're old friends."

"Is this really how you treat me, Danzo?"

Danzo's expression remained unreadable.

"Alright, I'll get to the point. I'm here because I know what you need," the masked Uchiha said with a grin. "Naruto Uzumaki is a real headache, right?"

"Let's work together," the masked Uchiha stepped forward. "Just like we did over ten years ago."

The Root ninjas tensed under their masks.

His figure became hazy, stepping out of the solid bindings as if they were nothing.

"You want to go against Naruto Uzumaki?" Danzo asked in a low voice.

The masked Uchiha tilted his head. "If you don't want to, do you have another way to deal with him?"

"He's ridiculously powerful."

"Not even the legendary Rinnegan could defeat him."

Danzo remained silent.

He had great confidence in a trump card he held. If he could use it, not only would he eliminate the "Naruto Uzumaki" problem, but he would also elevate Konoha to a higher status, making it the leading village among the Five Great Ninja Nations.

However...

While he had confidence in the card itself, he wasn't sure he could play it.

Even Itachi Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, two Sharingan masters, were clearly no match for "Naruto Uzumaki."

"What's your plan?" he asked.

The masked Uchiha spoke softly, "Naruto Uzumaki..."

"He doesn't see himself as a ninja."

"He possesses power far beyond any ninja, yet he's not content with being just a 'ninja.'"

"And there's more."

"I've learned from another ally—do you know what Naruto Uzumaki is pursuing?"

Danzo frowned. He wasn't in the mood for the masked Uchiha's games but still asked, "What is he pursuing?"

"He wants to control the order of life and death," the masked Uchiha said in a hushed tone. "In a way, he wants to become a true god."

Danzo's eye widened. "His ambitions are that grand?"

"I think that's something the daimyo wouldn't be able to accept," the masked Uchiha said, tilting his head. "If you become Hokage and then call a summit to convince the daimyo, you could rally the entire ninja world against Naruto."

"Become Hokage..."

Of all the things the masked Uchiha said, those words stood out the most, resonating deeply within Danzo.

"How can I become Hokage?" Danzo leaned forward, his voice still calm, a composure honed over decades, though the desire and greed in his remaining eye were impossible to hide.

The masked Uchiha raised his hand. "I've heard..."

"Kakashi is planning to move against the elder advisors."

Danzo made a pointed remark, "It seems Madara's intelligence network is quite effective."

"I survived my battle with the First Hokage only by losing my right eye," the masked Uchiha's tone lost its earlier oddity, becoming low and steady, with an inexplicable undertone. "It just so happens that the Fifth Hokage has a left eye."

"I think it would suit me well."

Danzo frowned and shook his head. "You're planning to target Kakashi?"

"He's the jōnin who once mentored Naruto Uzumaki."

"When he was inaugurated as the Fifth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki sent a shadow clone to congratulate him. Their relationship isn't as simple as it seems."

The masked Uchiha spoke softly, "Don't worry, I know my limits."

"I only want to take his Sharingan."

"I won't kill him."

The last bit of reluctance Danzo felt dissolved with that reassurance.

"Our last collaboration was pleasant and successful," Danzo smiled, agreeing to the proposal. "Let's hope this one is just as successful."

~~~

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