Chapter 196: Poisoned Politics and Palatable Pacts

Neji shook his head. "No, although Natsuo-sama helped us unleash the Caged Bird, he will not directly intervene in the internal affairs of the Hyuga clan... Even the enchantment surrounding the main residence was obtained from other people."

"You don't have to worry about Natsuo-sama intervening."

Yes, Natsuo will not intervene. Even Neji bought the 'Four Violet Flames Formation' from Kabuto at his own expense, and then let the Jonin of the family branch practice it quickly.

Hearing Neji's words, the main family's expression relaxed a little.

It's a good thing Natsuo doesn't intervene...

It's a good thing he doesn't.

Hiashi also breathed a sigh of relief and stood up. "Neji, if Natsuo does not intend to intervene, what chance do you have?"

"Don't think that the main family can be suppressed just by a surprise attack!" The voice fell. The shinobi of the main family lined up behind Hiashi.

Although many times Neji and other shinobi of the family branch despise the main family for obtaining all the benefits of the clan without working at all, in addition to their attitude of not treating the family branch as human beings. But it must be admitted that the elites of the main family are much more numerous than those of the branch family.

This is normal...

Although the main family experiences fewer trials of life and death, they have more resources.

Many of the secret techniques of the Hyuga clan are kept secret from the branch family but can be freely studied by the main family. Like Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven...

No matter how much the shinobi of the branch family pay, the difficulty of becoming stronger is much greater than that of the main family!

Although Neji called a large number of experts from the family branch, many members of the family branch were still unable to return because they were carrying out tasks.

But the number of main family experts here is still more than double that of the branch family.

Not to mention...

"Do you also want to follow their example and rebel?!" The Grand Elder shouted angrily towards the family branch shinobi, who were watching in confusion from afar. "Have you forgotten the mission of the family branch?"

"Following traitors like Neji is an unforgivable sin. It is only a path to death!"

Not all shinobi in the branch family wanted to rebel against the main family. Many of them were lackeys of the main family, as if suffering from Stockholm syndrome, showing a kind of blind loyalty despite mistreatment.

Neji didn't even bring them to Natsuo so he could help them free themselves from the Caged Bird. Because not doing so would put the security of the operation at risk.

But this situation left the shinobi of the family branch in a disadvantageous situation, with the pressure of the Caged Bird still on them...

The result was that, except for two people who joined Neji with determination, the others, with confused looks on their faces, hesitated and finally lined up obediently with the main family.

The difference in numbers between the two parties directly widened, it was now a five to one advantage for the main family.

In terms of skill, considering that the main family had access to secret techniques that the branch family was unaware of, there could be up to a tenfold difference.

"Do you understand now, Neji?" Hiashi sighed softly. "Sit down and dissolve the barrier right now."

"For now, out of respect for Natsuo, I can guarantee your life..."

"Rebelling against the main family is useless, you are destined to fail!"

However, a voice sounded softly. "No, nothing is predestined."

"Father!" Under Hiashi's dumbfounded gaze, Hinata slowly got up and stood beside Neji. Her face showed indomitable determination, with no trace of her usual shyness, only seriousness. "Father, please stop. Resign from the position of clan leader, I can guarantee the safety of their lives in Neji's name."

"Hinata?!" Hiashi was stunned, he couldn't understand why his shy daughter would be next to the family branch at this time. He said with a look of disbelief: "Hinata, why did you..."

"Father, I don't want to see Hanabi suffer like Brother Neji, and..." She paused, her face blushing slightly, but she still said firmly. "The Hyuga clan rules are too archaic, you should keep up with the changes."

'For example, the bullshit regulations that only allow internal marriages should have been changed a long time ago!'

However, Hiashi was puzzled. He knew the feelings between Hinata and Hanabi, but that alone shouldn't have led her to challenge him like this.

And also...

Now that the situation of the family branch was clearly unfavorable, why take this position?

But it must be said that the fact that the heiress of the main family defected directly has deeply moved the hearts of the shinobi of the main family. She was betraying her own class, betraying her own interests...

This has caused countless shinobi to ask themselves: Have we been wrong all this time? Wasn't imposing the Caged Bird on the family branch just to protect the Byakugan from outside leaks?

Not everyone in the main family treated the branch family like Ryoji did, as if they were servants or slaves.

Hinata's action touched the hearts of many shinobi of the main family. Although they couldn't change the course of events, they could change people's opinions.

"Clan leader, since the family branch dares to rebel, we should crush them with relentless force." The Great Elder said without hesitation. "Please command, we will deal with these traitors immediately!"

However, Hiashi was hesitant. Although he shared the stance of the main family, he was the more moderate type. The death of his younger brother made him feel compassion for the family branch. And now, with his nephew and daughter standing there...

This made him hesitate.

Seeing this, the Great Elder simply stepped over Hiashi and ordered: "The people of the clan obey the order and wipe out the traitors in front of us!"

Hiashi's prestige is not enough. Back then the Great Elder forced Hizashi to replace Hiashi, and now...

He can also replace Hiashi and order the traitors to be destroyed!

"Yes!" The shinobi of the main family who did not consider the family branch as human beings accepted without hesitation, activated their Byakugan, and launched the attack.

Other shinobi of the main family hesitated for a moment, but eventually pressed forward, activating their Byakugan.

After all, the former supremacy of the main family makes the branch family completely unable to rebel... They hope to defeat the enemy quickly and then implore the clan leader.

However, as soon as they took a step forward, their expressions suddenly changed. The Chakra in their bodies was disordered for a while, and even involuntarily caused them to deactivate the Byakugan. This is...

"Have they poisoned the food?!" the Great Elder exclaimed, he also felt Chakra's disorder.

"Impossible!" He was perplexed. "This is the main family's territory, how could they poison the food? Wait a minute..." He suddenly raised his head and looked at the only member of the main family who was standing next to the branch family.

Hiashi also stared dumbfounded at the 'sensible daughter' who volunteered to be in charge of the banquet food. "Hinata, you..."

"Father, Brother Neji does not intend to start a massacre. The people of the branch family only want to obtain a small amount of freedom. The branch family and the main family can coexist peacefully. Clearly we can be united!"

Hinata spoke the words with a holy light shining on her face. But in her mind, she added silently. 'This way, I can also be with Brother Natsuo...'

Hiashi, the Grand Elder, and all the shinobi of the main family looked at Hinata in shock.

She gave off a holy and noble aura, so pure and distinguished that it made them retreat, as if they were afraid of staining the girl's purity. But what she did...

"Did you really poison the food?" Hiashi's eyes widened.

As a shinobi, poison was the most commonly used weapon. But how can you poison your own family members?

"Hinata, do you know what you're doing?!" His voice was low, and he gritted his teeth.

"Of course, father." Hinata shook her head gently. "It's just so that the main family can coexist harmoniously with the branch family, so that our Hyuga clan does not suffer internal strife and bloodshed because of this."

"For the sake of the Hyuga clan, I had to resort to this last resort..."

"Don't worry, Hiashi-sama." Neji also bowed slightly and said: "This poison is not fatal. After about half an hour, it will be metabolized automatically."

"We don't want to spill blood today..."

It must be said that Neji had made a lot of preparations for this coup.

In this world, only a few medical-nin like Kabuto and Tsunade can prepare this colorless and odorless poison that not even the elites of the Hyuga clan can detect.

Neji had no intention of destroying the Hyuga clan, he only wanted to reform it. So...

"So Master Hiashi, you don't have to act like you're lacking in Chakra." Neji said softly: "Unlike others, you don't have a single bit of poison on your body.

Hiashi's expression changed slightly, yes, he is not poisoned!

At first, he thought it was because Hinata missed the relationship between father and daughter, or because he hadn't eaten the poisoned dishes. He even planned to pretend to be poisoned and take advantage of the distraction to counterattack...

"Did you do it on purpose?" Hiashi narrowed his eyes slightly. "You didn't do anything to me on purpose?"

"Yes." Neji nodded calmly. "After all, it is not a lethal poison, it can only affect the shinobi's Chakra to a certain extent. Even if I gather many shinobi from the family branch, we would not have an overwhelming advantage in terms of military strength."

The overall advantage of the main family is too great. A tenfold gap in military strength, even if they are weakened by poison, is not enough to guarantee victory.

The lack of a significant advantage means that the main family could still resist, which could lead to the Hyuga clan being stained with blood today.

And really, Neji didn't want that. Not only to avoid being stained with family blood, but also because there were some talented and attractive kunoichi among those present. These women could become Natsuo's wives...

"So I want to make a deal with you and all the members of the main family."

Neji raised his head and said calmly, "A fair fight between you and me. If you win, the branch family will submit and accept the disposition of the main family."

"If I win..."

Neji continued speaking seriously: "Hiashi-sama, you and my father were brothers and also Miss Hinata's father."

"As long as he is willing to formally hand over the position of clan leader to Miss Hinata, he can still be a core member of the Hyuga clan. I guarantee that you will not lose your status."

"Do you want Hinata to be the clan leader?" Hiashi widened his eyes.

"Miss Hinata as a leader is what everyone in the branch family and main clan desires." Neji spoke calmly. "I, for one, will be willing to become the Grand Elder and help Miss Hinata lead the Hyuga clan to greatness."

Neji had thought about it carefully. Hinata had no real interest in power. Being a leader wouldn't change much for her. But that title could significantly reduce the main family's resistance.

After all, no matter how corrupt the main family is, Hinata is the rightful heir of the clan, so it would be more acceptable to them.

At the same time, it can also send a signal to the Konoha shinobi clans: although there are internal conflicts in the Hyuga clan, political rights are still stable, and it is not a simple coup d'état.

Hinata's expression was calm, and it was obvious that she had known about this for a long time. She didn't care whether she was the leader or not.

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