Chp-40: Branch and Main Family, Brothers and Choices

In Konoha Village, a bombshell of news spread like wildfire, rapidly reaching every corner of the village.

"I have a secret to tell you. Kakashi Hatake, son of the White Fang, got beaten up!"

"Wha-what? The super genius Kakashi got beaten up? No way!"

"It's true. Many people saw it, and Kakashi even cried in the end!"

"Hey! Have you heard? Kakashi got beaten up and cried!"

"No way! Is it true?"

"Let me tell you a secret. Kakashi was beaten up and cried, rolling on the ground!"

"Huh? Are you saying that Kakashi hadn't even started fighting and just laid down? Then he cried and begged Satoru Hyuga not to hit him?"

The next day, as Satoru stepped out of his house, he heard the widespread rumours, and his face turned green.

"How did the rumours spread like this?"

"What do they mean Kakashi cried because of me? He cried on his own. What does it have to do with me? And kneeling and begging? What nonsense is this?"

The key point was that most of the people spreading the rumours were members of the Hyuga clan.

Walking through the clan's streets, he saw many clan members gathered in groups, excitedly discussing. Words like "new generation's top genius," "made Kakashi cry," and "even the Uchiha submit" were being thrown around.

Satoru kept his head down, walking quietly, hoping no one would notice him. But then, he heard an uproar behind him.

"Look, it's the genius who made Kakashi cry."

Instantly, all eyes were on him.

"No, that's not me!"

Satoru's face darkened, and he quickly sped away, leaving behind confused clan members.

Unlike the bustling branch family outside, the main hall of the Hyuga clan was eerily silent and oppressive. The faces of the main family elders were mostly grim.

Hyuga Suigetsu's gaze swept across the faces of the surrounding elders, feeling a headache coming on.

The Hyuga clan, the longest-standing family in the ninja world, relied on its rules and system to sustain itself for over a thousand years.

But now, there was a clan member who repeatedly broke the family's rules.

Satoru Hyuga, the first double-bloodline in the Hyuga history, seemed restless from the moment he appeared.

"Hmph! Have the branch family members forgotten their manners?"

One of the main family elders, with a face ashen with anger, pounded the table indignantly.

Since yesterday, he has seen many branch family members gathered, disregarding etiquette and loudly and excitedly talking, even outside the clan compound.

"They've lost the family's face."

Another main family elder shook his head.

Beside Hyuga Suigetsu, Hyuga Hiashi sighed quietly. He knew the branch family had been suppressed for too long. Satoru Hyuga's decisive victory over Kakashi had transformed that suppression into excitement and enthusiasm.

However, the Hyuga weren't like the Uchiha. In the Hyuga clan, rules had to be followed.

"Enough."

Hyuga Suigetsu sighed, feeling a headache coming on.

Although the incident stemmed from Satoru Hyuga, it wouldn't be fair to punish him. After all, his victory over Kakashi had brought honour to the clan.

But if they did nothing, the branch family members would become even more unruly.

Moreover, the Hokage's attitude towards Satoru Hyuga was quite intriguing, adding another layer of complexity. With all these factors combined, Hyuga Suigetsu was uncertain about what to do.

At this moment, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly spoke up, "Clan leader, let me handle this matter."

"Oh? Do you have a plan?"

Hyuga Suigetsu was intrigued. Hiashi was almost his designated successor, far more outstanding than his disappointing younger brother.

Hiashi smiled, "The complexity of this matter stems from Satoru Hyuga being an ordinary branch family member. Rewarding or punishing him is tricky. So, why don't we give him another identity?"

He then laid out his plan in detail.

Hyuga Suigetsu's eyes gradually brightened.

"Alright, it's in your hands!"

Satoru had just returned home from the bustling streets, his heart still racing. Throughout his journey, he heard people discussing him.

The problem was that these discussions were mostly unreliable.

Even some of the clan's older women had started eyeing him, trying to introduce their granddaughters to him. Terrified, Satoru had to flee, still sweating from the encounter.

"Too scary. I better stay home for the next few days."

Satoru patted his chest, still shaken.

Just as he was about to rest, he heard a knock on the door.

Satoru immediately grew cautious, tiptoeing to the door and peeking through a crack.

"Password!"

Password???

The person outside was stunned. A password? What password?

Just then, the door opened, and the visitor sighed in relief.

Satoru was not unfamiliar with the person. The clan's most famous brothers looked almost identical, with only their headbands distinguishing them.

"Lord Hizashi, what brings you here?"

Satoru cautiously checked the surroundings, ensuring no other clan members had followed.

"Satoru, may I come in to talk?"

-----

On the wooden table, two cups of tea sat, gently steaming. From the quality of the tea leaves, it was clear they weren't of the finest grade.

"Lord Hizashi, I don't usually drink tea, so I can only offer you this inferior kind."

"No problem." Hizashi smiled and took a sip of the tea.

In the Hyuga clan, tea culture was significant. If someone offered you tea, it was polite to take a sip.

After the formalities, Hizashi looked at the still somewhat youthful face of Satoru with a complex expression.

"I had guessed earlier that you would be a variable within the clan, but I didn't expect this variable to grow so quickly."

A genius surpassing Kakashi, the top of the new generation—just reciting these titles in his mind made Hizashi's heart burn with pride.

Without a doubt, Satoru Hyuga was the most outstanding genius in the history of the Hyuga clan!

"I think that a genius like you would never be content with being shackled, right?"

Hizashi looked at Satoru with a complex gaze.

Satoru remained silent. This statement carried significant implications, and if overheard by the main family, it could lead to trouble.

Seeing Satoru's silence, Hizashi sighed and took out a scroll from his robe, placing it on the table.

"What is this?"

"Open it, and you'll see."

Satoru opened the scroll, channelling a bit of chakra into it, and his expression immediately turned to one of surprise.

The contents of the scroll were lavish, far more valuable than anything he had ever seen. One corner contained a large sum of cash. Satoru estimated it to be at least 5 million ryo.

On the other side were numerous secret techniques related to training, some of which were even the clan's forbidden secrets.

While the cash was impressive, the inclusion of the clan's secret techniques was much more significant. If the main family discovered this, Hizashi would undoubtedly face severe punishment.

"Why?" Satoru asked in a low voice.

Hizashi smiled wryly. "Consider it an investment."

Then he stood up and walked towards the door.

"I truly hope that your presence as a variable can stir up a storm and bring new life to the decaying ancient tree that is the Hyuga clan."

Satoru silently watched his departing figure. Rather than an investment, it was more of taking a stance, choosing a side.

Understanding that he would never be content being shackled by the Caged Bird Seal, was Hizashi planning to join him in rebellion?

In the original story, Hizashi recognized his fate and ultimately committed suicide. Had his trajectory changed because of Satoru's influence?

Satoru carefully put away the scroll. Hizashi's support would be incredibly beneficial to his training.

-------

About half an hour later, there was another knock at the door.

Satoru opened the door and saw a familiar face. He almost blurted out instinctively,

"Lord Hizashi, why are you back again—"

The words stuck in his throat.

The forehead of the person before him was perfectly smooth.

------

"Lord Hiashi, is there something you need?"

Satoru quickly corrected himself, feeling a tightness in his chest.

…

The same wooden table, the same two cups of tea. Hiashi glanced at the tea before him, frowned slightly, and chose not to drink it. Instead, he got straight to the point.

"I've come to take you as my disciple, Satoru. How would you like to be my student?"

He smiled at Satoru.

Taking on a disciple was a decision Hiashi had carefully considered. Everyone knew he was the next clan leader. In terms of strength, he had just passed twenty and was already a Jonin, more than qualified to teach Satoru, who was a lower-ranked ninja.

More importantly, once Satoru bore the title of the next clan leader's disciple, all issues would be resolved. The branch family would be more compliant due to Satoru's status as a main family disciple, and the Hokage, seeing that Hiashi had taken him as a disciple, would likely refrain from interfering.

"I refuse."

The smile on Hiashi's face froze instantly as if he couldn't believe his ears.

"Are you worried about Shibi Aburame? Don't worry; he is just your instructor, which doesn't conflict with being my disciple. Once you become my disciple, the clan will give you a monthly stipend of 100,000 ryo. Additionally, some of the main family's secret techniques will be open to you."

Satoru looked at him helplessly. "I think you misunderstood, Lord Hiashi. I don't want to be your disciple. It has nothing to do with Shibi-sensei or anything else. I simply want more freedom."

This response left Hiashi dumbfounded, unsure of how to respond to the words he'd prepared.

"Once I become your disciple, I fear that many things will be beyond my control. I don't want to be so constrained."

Ridiculous!

Do you know how many people dream of becoming my disciple?

A surge of anger welled up within Hiashi. Years of family training made him instinctively maintain his composure. He took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Very well, since you've made your decision, I won't force you. Even though you won't be my disciple, the monthly stipend of 100,000 ryo will still be given to you. Consider it a reward from the clan."

Without lingering any longer, he got up and left.

Satoru watched his departing figure with deep eyes. Today, both Hizashi and Hiashi had come to see him, each with very different purposes.

By refusing Hiashi's offer to become his disciple, he had, in a sense, taken a stance.

The future might not be so peaceful after all.

He sighed inwardly.