Chapter 180: Changed in Hyūga Clan

The gates of the Hyūga estate slammed shut behind them, the echoes of the past few days lingering in the air. Inside, the estate was a scene of ruin—buildings in disarray, bodies sprawled on the ground, their fates uncertain. Hiashi Hyūga knelt, unable to rise, a once formidable figure now brought low. The Anbu members who had witnessed it all lowered their heads, pretending they hadn't seen anything.

Kakashi took a moment, processing the scene before him, then finally pulled back his foot from the estate's threshold. He turned to his team and gave a curt order, "Let's go back."

Back in the Hokage's office, the two elder advisors wore grave expressions.

"He was involved in this as well?" Koharu Utatane spoke with an air of certainty, her tone sharp. "Did you find out why?"

Kakashi shook his head.

"You didn't even manage to get a reason?" Homura Mitokado said quietly, his voice carrying a hint of reprimand. "As the Hokage, this is unacceptable."

"If you want to know, then go ask him yourself," Kakashi responded, his tone flat, his patience worn thin. After hearing Naruto's words and reviewing the unsealed memories, he felt a deep impatience toward these two advisors.

"Kakashi!" Koharu snapped, her voice laced with disapproval.

Kakashi chuckled dryly, his masked face obscuring any trace of emotion. "And what about Danzo?"

Homura averted his gaze slightly. "He's not feeling well."

"Really not feeling well?" Kakashi asked bluntly, his gaze hard. "Or is it just that hearing the name 'Naruto Uzumaki' scares him into hiding in his dark little hole?"

The elder advisors' faces immediately darkened, their authority challenged.

"Kakashi, no matter what, Danzo is still your senior, and a high-ranking advisor of Konoha..." Koharu began to reprimand, but her words fell on deaf ears.

Kakashi ignored them, his voice tinged with quiet resolve. "Of course, I'm not a perfect Hokage."

"If I were... I wouldn't have done things this way from the start."

He turned his gaze out the window, the bustling village below a stark contrast to the turmoil within the office.

He wondered why, back in Rōran, his teacher had seemed to approve of Naruto's plan to remove the "Caged Bird" seal. Could it be that even back then, his teacher had already been contemplating the "meaning of a ninja," considering the difference between a "tool" and a "person"?

His thoughts drifted to his father—the man who, after saving his comrades by abandoning a mission, couldn't bear the village's scorn and ultimately took his own life.

For so many years... Kakashi had never understood why. He couldn't accept it.

Obito had once said, "Those who don't value their comrades are worse than trash." Kakashi had always believed that.

But... that sentiment seemed incomplete now.

When he thought about it using Naruto's recent words, everything became clearer.

His father, at that time, had transcended his role as a "tool" and found the part of himself that was a "person," which was why he abandoned the "mission" to save his "comrades."

Kakashi let out a self-mocking laugh. But how could a "tool" understand a "person"? That's why the village's ninja had cursed his father. That's why the very ninja he saved had turned on him. That's why no one acknowledged his father.

But... how could a "person" ever be a "tool"?

He raised his hand, took off his hat, and placed it on the desk in front of him.

The elder advisors watched him, their expressions unreadable.

"Konoha needs to undergo some changes," Kakashi said, his gaze fixed on the red "Fire" symbol on his hat, his voice firm. "Things can't go on like this."

"What do you intend to do?" Homura asked, his tone cautious.

Kakashi didn't answer immediately, but the determination in his eyes spoke volumes. The two veteran advisors realized something significant was brewing.

This should be good news; Kakashi no longer instinctively resisted the role of Hokage as he once did. But it also made them uneasy.

Back at the Hyūga estate, Neji had invited Naruto inside.

The surviving elders looked up, their gazes heavy with despair as they fixed on the golden-haired figure.

So it's true—this man was involved.

"Thank you, Naruto-sama, for granting me this opportunity," Neji said, bowing deeply, his back bent at a sharp angle.

Naruto smiled gently. "You've thanked me many times already."

"But..." Neji took a deep breath, trying to bow even lower, though his strength was no match for Naruto's casual hand that lifted him upright. "I have one more request to ask of you."

"Go ahead," Naruto said with a wave of his hand.

"Perhaps the Caged Bird really is meant to protect the Byakugan," Neji began, his words heavy with the weight of the Hyūga's history. But even as Naruto held him upright, he felt compelled to continue. "They say the Byakugan can evolve, but it requires the plundering of many clansmen's ocular powers."

Naruto pondered this, his expression thoughtful.

Neji pressed his lips together, pausing as he carefully chose his next words. "And there are indeed many ninja outside the clan who covet the Byakugan."

"So I beg of you, Naruto-sama, to develop..."

Naruto interrupted him, finishing his thought. "You want me to create a seal similar to the Caged Bird that would protect the Byakugan without enslaving the bearer?"

Neji nodded, his eyes filled with hope.

"That wouldn't be difficult," Naruto replied, shaking his head lightly.

Neji's face lit up with joy, a rare smile breaking through his usually serious demeanor.

"But why not do it yourself?" Naruto asked gently. "You've already taken the first step."

Neji blinked, frowning in confusion. "I don't know how to use sealing techniques."

"You can learn," Naruto encouraged, a smile playing on his lips. "Something that involves the lifeblood of the Hyūga clan should stay within the Hyūga clan, don't you think?"

Neji lifted his head, the weight of Naruto's words settling in. "Then I ask Naruto-sama to..."

"I have other matters to attend to," Naruto cut him off, his tone firm but kind. "But if you're willing to learn, would you consider leaving the village?"

Neji didn't hesitate, his resolve clear. "I will follow your guidance, Naruto-sama."

"And what do you plan to do with the Hyūga clan?" Naruto smiled, throwing out a question. "If you leave the village, aren't you worried they might try something underhanded?"

Neji turned to look at Hinata.

The girl, who had been standing behind Naruto, staring at his golden hair, felt her cousin's gaze and met his eyes, nodding firmly. "I can take responsibility for the Hyūga clan!"

"I... I'm going to change the Hyūga clan with Neji-niisan."

Naruto glanced back at her, his eyes softening.

Hinata blushed, her bold declaration catching up with her, but she didn't look away this time.

Karin's soft giggle gave her the final push of courage she needed to meet Naruto's sky-blue eyes.

"I will place the Caged Bird seal on the former clan leaders as well," Neji continued, his voice steady as he laid out his plan. "It's long overdue, but they should understand what it means to be 'protected' by this seal."

The elders looked up, a mixture of fear and resignation in their eyes.

Hiashi Hyūga still kept his head bowed, showing no reaction, his once formidable presence now diminished.

Naruto made no comment, his expression unreadable. This was a matter for the Hyūga clan; he wouldn't interfere. Besides... he was curious to see how far Neji could take this.

A few days later, as the Hyūga clan members returned to the village from their missions, they gathered in the estate's courtyard. Naruto, Karin, Nine-Tails, and the Fifth Hokage, Hatake Kakashi, were invited as witnesses.

This was a joint decision by Neji and Hinata.

Having Naruto-sama alone would have been enough—one could even say that having him as a witness was a blessing for the Hyūga clan.

But as the Hyūga clan was still a "ninja clan" rooted in the "village," it was also necessary to have someone with influence within the village to witness the proceedings.

Most of the branch family members were already aware of what had transpired. Those who had just returned to the village stared in disbelief at the seals on Hiashi's and Neji's foreheads.

Had they swapped roles? Why would the clan head have the Caged Bird seal? And where was Neji's?

Hiashi knelt before the gathered clan members, his voice heavy. "I am old and have brought shame to the Hyūga clan. From today onward, Neji Hyūga will succeed me as the head of the Hyūga clan."

He relinquished his position hastily and retreated to the side after speaking, a shadow of his former self.

No one paid him any mind. All eyes were focused intently on Neji.

What would the new clan head say?

Neji stood before the gathered members, not kneeling, but standing tall with his back straight. "From today, the Hyūga clan will begin a new chapter."

"Thanks to Naruto Uzumaki-sama."

He turned, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

The branch family members weren't entirely sure what role Naruto had played in all this. But if the new clan head was showing such respect, then so would they.

And Naruto Uzumaki was certainly worthy of such reverence.

They bowed in unison.

After Naruto waved his hand in acknowledgment, Neji turned back to face the crowd, raising his hand high. "Now, I will issue my first decree as the new head of the Hyūga clan."

"From this day forward, the Hyūga clan will no longer distinguish between the main family and the branch family. We are one family; we don't need so many 'classes.'"

The branch members held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The main family members had already accepted this outcome—when they were implanted with the Caged Bird seal, they had accepted it.

Neji continued, "As for the Caged Bird seal... bear with it for now. Too many people covet the Byakugan. Even those we thought were 'allies' want to take it from us."

"Next, I will leave the village with Naruto-sama to study sealing techniques. I will bring back a seal that can replace the Caged Bird, one that will protect the Byakugan without enslaving or oppressing the wearer."

The branch family members nodded, cheered, and applauded, their spirits lifted.

The few main family members who were scowling couldn't dampen the crowd's excitement.

Someone realized something and voiced their concern. "Neji, are you leaving the Hyūga clan?" a quiet voice asked from the crowd.

Neji nodded, his tone steady. "Yes, to study sealing techniques."

"So from now on... Hinata Hyūga will serve as acting clan head."

The crowd buzzed with conversation, surprise and uncertainty rippling through the gathered members.

When Hinata stepped forward to stand beside Neji, someone questioned, "But she's from the main family."

"There is no main or branch family in the Hyūga clan now," Neji shook his head, refuting the statement. "We are all Hyūga."

"She's not suitable," another voice bluntly dismissed her.

Neji was about to respond, but Hinata stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "I'm the only one from the main family who supported Neji. And I fought alongside Neji against the former main family members just a few days ago. I even defeated Kō Hyūga."

The crowd was shocked.

Kō Hyūga? He was an elite jōnin. Had this timid, weak "main family eldest daughter" suddenly become so powerful without anyone noticing?

Thinking about it... Hinata was a year younger than Neji, who had become a jōnin last year. So did she have the same talent as Neji-sama?

"So, no one here is more qualified than I am to serve as acting clan head," Hinata's voice wasn't loud, and she still seemed to have a "soft" presence, but her words carried weight, commanding respect.

Karin, watching from the sidelines, was surprised. Could her teasing that night have had such an effect on Hinata?

~~~

Ok, ok Hinata you go!

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