“Kitazawa, what brings you here today?” Hyuga Hiashi raised his hand with a faint smile and said, “Please, come in. Let’s talk inside the study.”

“There’s something I need to discuss with Clan Head Hiashi.” Kitazawa nodded and followed him into the study.

“If something needed to be said, you could have sent an ANBU to inform me. There was no need to come in person.” Hiashi spoke while brewing tea.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.

He suddenly realized his status had grown so high that even the Hyuga Clan Head treated him with this degree of courtesy.

“Please, have some tea.” Hiashi placed a cup of freshly brewed tea before him.

After Kitazawa displayed his Wood Release, both his strength and reputation had already marked him as Konoha’s future Hokage.

More importantly, his relationship with the Hyuga Clan was excellent—Neji and Hinata were both his disciples.

For the Hyuga, showing warmth and respect was not merely courtesy—it was a necessity.

“Thank you.” Kitazawa picked up the tea, took a sip, and said, “Good tea.”

“If you like it, you can take some with you when you leave,” Hiashi replied casually.

The tea was expensive, but he—and the Hyuga Clan—were far from short on money. Especially after partnering with Kitazawa on the Ocean Heart Jewelry Store, their wealth had skyrocketed.

“Kitazawa, what did you come to see me about today? For you to visit personally, it must be important.” Hiashi asked with genuine curiosity.

“Clan Head Hiashi, I heard you’ve been troubled lately.” Kitazawa put down his teacup and smiled.

“How come I don’t know that I’m troubled?” Hiashi asked with genuine surprise.

“Hanabi.” Kitazawa hinted.

Hiashi paused—then immediately understood.

Kitazawa was referring to the issue of whether Hyuga Hanabi should receive the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

“This is an internal matter of the Hyuga Clan,” Hiashi said after a moment of thought.

“Internal matter?” Kitazawa chuckled softly. “Does the Hyuga Clan not place the Hokage in its eyes?”

“Kitazawa, you misunderstand—I didn’t mean it that way.” Hiashi quickly clarified.

Though the Hyuga Clan was powerful, it was still insignificant before the might of the entire Konoha Village.

“Kitazawa,” Hiashi said suddenly, as though recalling something, “if you are willing to assist, this matter can indeed be resolved.”

“How do you want me to help?” Kitazawa asked calmly.

“If Hokage-sama—or you—were to establish a deeper relationship with Hanabi, you could intervene and prevent the application of the seal.”

Hiashi paused, then added with slight hesitation, “For example, you could pretend to take her as a student.”

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. He had to admit—this was a viable approach.

If Hanabi became Tsunade or Kitazawa’s student, she would be considered part of the Hokage’s lineage. This identity was equivalent to being acknowledged as the disciple of a Hokage candidate.

If she lost that potential because of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, it would be an enormous loss to the clan.

Hyuga Teikyō, weighing the pros and cons, would most likely abandon the idea. And if he insisted, Hiashi could use the Hokage-lineage argument to persuade the other clan members.

Eventually, Hyuga Teikyō would become isolated, and the matter would resolve itself.

But there was one problem: Why would Hanabi suddenly become Tsunade or Kitazawa’s disciple?

This was why Hiashi lacked confidence—he even used the word “pretend.”

Though in truth, he likely wished Hanabi would become Tsunade’s or Kitazawa’s student.

“This method only treats the symptoms, not the root cause,” Kitazawa said evenly. “Even if Hanabi’s problem is resolved, what about her children—and Hinata’s children?”

“By then, I’ll be the main family’s elder. I can help them.” Hiashi answered after thinking.

“And the generation after that?” Kitazawa asked again.

“This…” Hiashi finally understood.

Kitazawa wanted to fix the Caged Bird Cursed Seal permanently. But abolishing the seal was thought to be impossible.

Ever since Hizashi’s death, Hiashi had considered abolishing it. But the moment he mentioned it, the main family elders reacted violently.

Their reason was logical: Without the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, the Byakugan could not be protected. Enemies would hunt the Hyuga Clan relentlessly.

“Is Clan Head Hiashi unwilling to be honest with me?” Kitazawa smiled. “I came with the intention of solving your problem.”

“You… your solution is to abolish the Caged Bird Cursed Seal?” Hiashi hesitated. “But that’s not realistic.”

“Why is it unrealistic?” Kitazawa countered. “Because the Byakugan cannot be protected—or because the main family’s authority cannot be maintained?”

Hiashi’s expression stiffened. Such things were unspoken rules—never to be voiced aloud.

If it were anyone other than Kitazawa, he would have ordered them to leave immediately.

“Clan Head Hiashi, you know I have talent in creating Ninjutsu.” Kitazawa pulled out a Ninjutsu scroll. “This is a new Ninjutsu I recently modified. Please take a look.”

Hiashi was stunned, not understanding the sudden shift in topic. Still, he opened the scroll.

The moment he saw it, his pupils shrank sharply. Improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal? What is this?!

As the Hyuga Clan Head, he understood better than anyone the terrifying complexity of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

The Hyuga Clan had existed for more than a thousand years—and throughout that time, both the main and branch families had researched the seal.

In truth, the entire Ninja World had researched it, including the Five Great Villages.

After all, anyone who could decipher the Caged Bird Cursed Seal could obtain countless Byakugan.

But no one had ever succeeded—not even the Hyuga Clan’s main family. Because of this, the main family always felt secure.

Yet this nearly impossible task had been completed by Kitazawa? If it could be improved, then it could be deciphered. That was beyond question.

This improved version removed the side effects and eliminated the main family’s control, leaving behind only pure protection for the Byakugan.

Kitazawa’s intention was self-evident.

Hiashi’s heart trembled, sensing a storm about to break.

If Kitazawa had not approached him first, but instead gone directly to the branch family, what would have happened?

No—perhaps he had already approached them.

As the next Hokage, the Hyuga branch family was far more valuable to him. Once the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal was implemented, the branch family would inevitably be grateful to him, becoming loyal to Konoha Village.

By then, the Hyuga main family would be pushed aside. Thinking to this point, cold sweat slowly seeped down Hiashi’s forehead.

“Clan Head Hiashi, don’t worry. You are the first Hyuga to see this Ninjutsu scroll.” Kitazawa noticed the change in his expression and smiled.

Hiashi finally felt a slight sense of relief.

At this moment, the scroll in his hands felt like a time bomb—one capable of blowing the Hyuga main family apart at any time.

“Kitazawa… what are your plans?” Hiashi calmed himself and asked.

“That depends on your plans,” Kitazawa said casually. “I am merely an outsider. You are the Head of the Hyuga Clan.”

Hiashi fell silent.

He had indeed once considered abolishing the Caged Bird Cursed Seal. But now that the opportunity had fallen directly into his hands, he found himself hesitating.

Kitazawa, however, was not surprised.

Hyuga Hiashi was somewhat similar to Uchiha Fugaku—both were conservative, both valued stability.

The Hyuga Clan was not as aggressive as the Uchiha; they preferred to maintain the status quo.

Since joining Konoha Village, they had always supported the Hokage, following the side with the advantage.

“I have already discussed this matter with Tsunade-sensei,” Kitazawa added. “She supports you as well.”

Hiashi naturally didn’t believe it. Tsunade supported Kitazawa, not him.

“The modified Caged Bird Cursed Seal is indeed better,” Hiashi admitted after a long deliberation. “But there are two problems.”

“What problems?” Kitazawa asked calmly as he picked up his tea.

“The first problem,” Hiashi said, taking a deep breath, “is that once it is implemented, the distinction between main family and branch family disappears.”

He continued, “I worry that the branch family, bearing old grudges, may act against the main family.”

“On that matter, you don’t need to worry,” Kitazawa said seriously. “Both main and branch family members are ninja of Konoha Village. Harming fellow villagers is not permitted.”

“That is reassuring.” Hiashi nodded, then sighed. “The second problem is that the other main family members will likely refuse to accept it.”

“That’s also simple,” Kitazawa said indifferently. “The minority obeys the majority—hold a clan vote.”

Hiashi froze. A clan vote would be decisive.

After all, the Hyuga main family had no more than five members. The overwhelming majority of the clan belonged to the branch family.

“Don’t you think this is a perfect opportunity to reinforce your position as Clan Head?” Kitazawa reminded him. “Unite with the branch family against Elder Tekiyo. Once the plan succeeds, the branch family will be eternally grateful to you.”

Hiashi’s eyes widened in disbelief. Was Kitazawa actually giving him the credit?

Under normal circumstances, Kitazawa could easily win the branch family’s loyalty by himself with the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

“I’ve said before—both main and branch families are ninja of Konoha Village,” Kitazawa said with a light smile.

He naturally understood Hiashi’s thoughts. He had also discussed this with Tsunade.

But ultimately, Kitazawa didn’t intend to divide the Hyuga Clan; he wanted both main family and branch family loyalty.

This approach was simply a win-win.

With Hiashi leading the reform, all hostility could be focused solely on Elder Tekiyo. Meanwhile, both Hinata and Kitazawa would gain broad acceptance from the entire branch family.

Would Konoha or Kitazawa lose credit? Of course not.

As long as the branch family knew that Kitazawa created the improved seal, their gratitude toward him would remain.

And truthfully, Kitazawa didn’t care.

In the ninja world, strength reigned supreme. Whether the Hyuga branch family swore loyalty to him was largely irrelevant.

He was mainly doing this to complete a system mission and to help his students.

Hinata and Neji respected him deeply—and system missions often came from them.

Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth several times, wanting to speak but hesitating. This conversation had completely reshaped his impression of Kitazawa.

At first, he thought Kitazawa was reckless—bringing up the taboo of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal so bluntly.

But now, there was only one thought left in his mind:

This young man is magnanimous, decisive, and far-sighted. He truly deserves to be the next Hokage.

“What do you plan to do next?” Kitazawa asked while sipping tea.

“First, I’ll gather several branch family Jonin for discussion,” Hiashi replied after thinking. “Then we’ll hold a clan meeting and conduct an internal vote.”

He nodded to himself. “As long as the internal vote passes, Elder Tekiyo’s objections will be meaningless.”

Kitazawa nodded. That was exactly the plan they had just laid out.

“Elder Tekiyo may act out of desperation,” Hiashi warned. “I wish to invite you to observe during the clan meeting.”

“All right.” Kitazawa agreed immediately.

After all, he had a system mission to complete. Participating was necessary.

“Thank you,” Hiashi said with rare sincerity.

“It’s nothing.” Kitazawa set down his teacup and said, “I’m only doing this for my students.”

Hiashi’s heart stirred.

Kitazawa had gone this far for Hinata and Neji… Did that mean both children possessed the qualifications to become future Hokage?

If that were the case, then even if the main family lost the branch family’s support, it wouldn’t matter in the long run.

“The matter’s settled. I’ll take my leave now. Just inform me when the clan meeting is arranged.” Kitazawa said as he stood.

“Thank you, Kitazawa.” Hiashi personally walked him to the door.

“Kitazawa-sensei, goodbye!” Hanabi waved her tiny hand, voice bright with excitement.

Kitazawa smiled and turned to leave.

Once he was gone, Hiashi’s expression immediately hardened. He knew the Hyuga Clan was about to undergo tremendous upheaval.

Fortunately, he had already prepared himself—and he had no choice but to follow through.

If he didn’t act, Kitazawa could simply bypass him and push the reform through himself.

In that case, disaster would befall the main family.

Between sacrificing Hyuga Tekiyo… or sacrificing the entire main family, the choice was obvious.

Not to mention—Hiashi had long harbored resentment toward Tekiyo. If not for him, Hizashi would never have died.

“Tokuma,” Hiashi called.

“Clan Head-sama.” Hyuga Tokuma appeared before him.

He had once been Hinata’s bodyguard, but after she joined the Genius Class—and became as strong as an average Jonin—he was reassigned to watch over Hanabi.

With Hinata’s current strength and Kitazawa and the Third Hokage leading her missions, she faced no danger. Keeping Tokuma as her bodyguard would have been a waste.

“Go bring these Jonin to my study.” Hiashi listed several branch family Jonin.

He did not summon all Special Jonin or Jonin—it would attract attention and alert Hyuga Tekiyo.

“Yes, Clan Head,” Tokuma replied without hesitation and left.

“Hanabi, continue training,” Hiashi instructed as he turned back to the study.

He sat down on the sofa and poured himself a cup of hot tea. Only after taking a sip did he finally feel grounded again.

Everything that happened today had come too suddenly. Such a historic decision had been made in just a few words.

Hiashi let out a long sigh. Times were changing too quickly.

This feeling began the day Hinata and Neji received those two bows.

Tsunade was understandable—but Kitazawa was young, monstrously strong, and full of potential. How much would Konoha’s future change because of him?

Luckily, the Hyuga Clan had established a favorable relationship with him beforehand. And now—this was the most critical juncture.

Time passed as Hiashi pondered until the Jonin he summoned began to arrive.

Five in total—core members of the branch family, spanning different generations. Together, these five could steer the direction of the entire branch family.

“Clan Head-sama, why have you gathered us?” Hyuga Hizashi asked first.

“Take a look at this Ninjutsu scroll.” Hiashi handed them the scroll Kitazawa gave him.

“Understood.” Hyuga Hidetoshi accepted it, unrolled it—and froze.

What was this? A Caged Bird Cursed Seal… that the main family could not control?

What was the Clan Head trying to do? Cut off his own hands? Or was he testing them?

His mind exploded with question marks.

It wasn’t strange for him to overthink. Even though five Jonin stood here, if Hiashi activated the Caged Bird Seal, they would all drop to their knees instantly.

Hyuga Iroha noticed Hidetoshi’s expression and leaned forward with curiosity.

After reading, Hidetoshi silently passed it to Iroha.

“…?” Iroha skimmed it—and his face changed the same way.

He hesitated, then handed it down the line.

Before long, all five had read it. Their expressions were identical—stunned, confused, uncertain.

Finally, they looked toward Hiashi, unsure what he intended.

“I believe this improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal is excellent,” Hiashi said slowly. “In the future, all clan members will bear this version.”

All… clan members? Hidetoshi and the others stiffened.

If everyone bore the same seal… Would there even be a main family and branch family anymore?

“Unfortunately, Elder Tekiyo disagrees.” Hiashi continued.

“…?” Hidetoshi and the others nearly fainted from frustration.

If Tekiyo disagreed, Hiashi couldn’t enforce the reform. Within the Hyuga Clan, the Elder’s authority was nearly equal to the Clan Head—sometimes greater.

They even suspected Hiashi himself opposed the idea and was pushing the blame onto Tekiyo.

Hidetoshi and the others were bewildered.

If he couldn’t implement it, why show them this scroll at all? Just to scold them?

“However,” Hiashi said with emphasis, “Elder Tekiyo alone cannot decide this matter. I intend to hold a clan meeting and put it to a vote.”

“What!?” Hidetoshi blurted without thinking.

The other four reacted similarly, eyes wide.

A clan vote? The branch family was the overwhelming majority.

The outcome was obvious. Was the Clan Head… truly serious?

“The Caged Bird Cursed Seal exists to protect the Byakugan,” Hiashi said solemnly. “I simply intend to let it return to its original purpose.”

“The Clan Head speaks wisely!” Hyuga Hidetoshi and the others responded immediately.

In that instant, they felt genuine admiration for Hyuga Hiashi.

After all, not everyone could willingly relinquish power already in their grasp. If it were them, they knew they definitely couldn’t do such a thing.

“This matter must remain confidential,” Hiashi said in a deep, steady tone. “Do not inform the other branch family Jonin until the day of the clan meeting.”

“Yes, Clan Head!” Hidetoshi and the others replied in unison.

Their faces were filled with barely contained excitement. Even though Hiashi treated them well, no amount of kindness could erase the fear of having their lives bound to the main family.

“You may go.” Hiashi paused, then added, “The clan meeting will be held on the first day of next month. Tell the other branch family Jonin to return if possible.”

It was already late August—just over a week until September 1st.

Most Hyuga Jonin were currently on missions outside the village, but a week was more than enough time for them to return.

Kitazawa returned to the ANBU Base.

His system mission had not yet been completed.

The mission required him to help the Hyuga branch family ninjas replace their existing Caged Bird Cursed Seals.

But first, he needed to determine how to transform the old seal into the improved version.

At present, Kitazawa only knew how to apply the improved seal to those without one—such as Hyuga Hanabi.

But the other branch family members already had the original seals engraved onto them.

Kitazawa planned to experiment on Hyuga Neji first. He had mentioned this matter to Neji years ago, and now he was finally preparing to fulfill his promise.

“Kitazawa.” Konan noticed him return and immediately stood up.

“Sit,” Kitazawa said as he approached. “I need to think about something. Don’t disturb me.”

Konan understood instantly, letting him rest his head on her lap.

Kitazawa closed his eyes and began mentally working through the steps of replacing the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

—

Summer vacation passed quickly, and a new week began.

After breakfast, Kitazawa arrived at the Ninja Academy. Many of the Genius Class students were already training.

He went to another training ground—one filled with wooden stakes, normally used for practicing projectile accuracy.

During the summer break, it had effectively become Neji and Hinata’s private training space.

Kitazawa stood quietly, observing.

Neji was practicing Multiple Arrows. Hinata was practicing Explosive Arrow.

Hinata’s progress was noticeably faster. Multiple Arrows required an extremely high level of mastery—reaching the point of firing ten thousand arrows at once was extraordinarily difficult.

Once Hinata mastered Explosive Arrow, she would also begin training Multiple Arrows.

“Neji, come here,” Kitazawa called out.

“Teacher Kitazawa.” Neji quickly set down his bow, hurried over, and asked, “Did I make a mistake somewhere?”

“No.” Kitazawa shook his head.

Neji froze, confused.

“Stand still.” Kitazawa extended his hand, stopping just a centimeter from Neji’s forehead.

Though confused, Neji obeyed.

Immediately, he felt Chakra enter his forehead. It circled inside his head, flowing through channels he rarely sensed.

Neji’s confusion deepened. Is something wrong with my head?

“This seems correct.” Kitazawa nodded.

He had spent an entire week researching how to replace the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, and now it appeared his method was viable.

“Teacher Kitazawa, what are you doing?” Neji finally asked, unable to restrain himself.

“You’ll know soon. Don’t rush.” Kitazawa said lightly, raising both hands.

A denser wave of Chakra surged into Neji’s head.

Neji instinctively furrowed his brows. It wasn’t painful, but his instincts rebelled—this was someone else’s Chakra flooding directly into the core of his head.

If Kitazawa made even a slight mistake, the consequences could range from mental disability… to instant death.

Neji suddenly made a small sound of surprise.

He felt movement behind his eye sockets. Kitazawa’s Chakra was threading through the region like finely woven silk.

What on earth was happening? Neji wanted to ask, but in the end, chose to endure in silence.

Half an hour later, the Chakra finally withdrew.

“That was truly troublesome.” Kitazawa exhaled deeply.

It felt like he had just completed an incredibly delicate surgery. And that was expected—this was the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, one of the most complex S-rank techniques ever created.

No wonder no one had broken it after a thousand years. If he hadn’t obtained the improved version from the system, even he would’ve been helpless.

“Neji, activate your Byakugan,” Kitazawa said with a smile.

Neji, still filled with questions, immediately activated his Byakugan.

He was about to ask what this was about—but his face suddenly froze.

Because of the Caged Bird Seal, Neji’s Byakugan had always lacked one degree of vision.

Every activation produced a single blind spot.

But today…the blind spot was gone. His vision stretched into a perfect, uninterrupted 360-degree sphere.

Hyuga Neji suddenly raised his head and looked at Kitazawa, disbelief written across his face.

There was no doubt—this change was caused by the process Kitazawa had performed over the last half hour.

This completely overturned everything Neji had ever believed.

He had always thought the Caged Bird Cursed Seal was absolute and unchangeable.

Even when Kitazawa had once encouraged him to try unlocking it, Neji had viewed it only as a hopeful thought, never something truly achievable.

“It seems it was successful. How does the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal feel?” Kitazawa asked with a gentle smile.

“Teacher Kitazawa… how did you do it?” Neji asked, utterly shaken.

“Good luck.” Kitazawa winked. “I just casually researched the Caged Bird Cursed Seal a bit.”

“…” Neji was completely speechless.

“Not only is your Byakugan’s blind spot gone,” Kitazawa continued, “but you also won’t be controlled by the Main Family anymore.”

“What…?” Neji froze.

His hatred toward the Main Family had always stemmed from two sources: his father Hyuga Hizashi’s death, and the absolute control the Caged Bird Seal held over the Branch Family.

Now Kitazawa told him he could no longer be controlled.

The shock was so enormous that Neji genuinely wondered if he was dreaming. It felt too unreal for him to even decide whether it was true or false.

“Teacher Kitazawa…” After a long silence, Neji finally found his voice, though halfway through the sentence, he paused, unsure of how to phrase his thoughts.

“I know what you want to ask.” Kitazawa smiled at his conflicted expression. “If you’re free, you can attend the Hyuga Clan’s next clan meeting.”

Although Neji was young, he was mature and steady—his early trauma had forced him to grow quickly. He immediately understood what Kitazawa meant.

Hyuga Hiashi and the others must already be aware of this matter.

“Alright, continue training,” Kitazawa said.

His purpose today had been to replace the Caged Bird Cursed Seal. Now that it was done, there was nothing more to add.

“Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa!” Neji replied sincerely, overflowing with gratitude.

Kitazawa nodded and began walking away.

Neji subconsciously tightened his grip on the Fate-Breaking Bow in his hands.

He hadn’t expected the day of his freedom to arrive so soon. From this moment on, the Caged Bird Seal could no longer confine him.

Neji stood motionless for a long time, his mentality transforming—more confident, more resolute.

—

Kitazawa went to practice Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique.

Around noon, Konan appeared before him.

“What’s the matter?” Kitazawa stopped his training and looked at her.

“Asuma is looking for you,” Konan replied.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. That must mean there was news regarding Mukade.

He nodded and headed toward the ANBU office in the Hokage Building.

“Kitazawa, here is Mukade’s information.” Asuma stood when he saw him and handed over a scroll.

“Thank you,” Kitazawa said, taking it.

“It’s my duty.” Asuma waved it off before asking curiously, “But why are you interested in an ordinary Jonin from the Hidden Sand Village?”

Mukade was far too mediocre; normally, he shouldn’t have caught Kitazawa’s attention.

“The situation hasn’t been confirmed yet,” Kitazawa answered vaguely.

“Alright then.” Asuma didn’t push further. “If you need anything, come find me.”

“Mhm.” Kitazawa nodded, took the scroll, and walked to his Hokage Building office.

It was technically his office as the Hokage’s secretary, but he rarely used it.

Kitazawa sat down and opened the scroll. As expected, Mukade was still a Hidden Sand Village ninja and had not defected yet.

According to the original story, he would eventually learn about the Power of the Dragon Vein and immediately run to Rōran.

After great effort, he would break Minato Namikaze’s seal.

Naruto and the others would later appear and accidentally trigger the Dragon Vein’s power, sending them back in time.

Mukade, by sheer luck, traveled back several years earlier. He became Anrokuzan, a minister of Rōran.

As Rōran’s minister, he used the Dragon Vein to control puppets and create a massive puppet army.

Kitazawa fell deep into thought.

It seemed he would need to “guide” Mukade—just as he had guided Yomi before. In simple terms, he would tell Mukade about the Dragon Vein beforehand.

Originally, Kitazawa thought about directly controlling him to unseal the Dragon Vein immediately…but the butterfly effect could be disastrous.

Guiding him to actively explore the Dragon Vein was safer.

And Kitazawa wasn’t in any rush; he had plenty of time. His top priorities were still the Hyuga Clan situation and Kimimaro’s system mission.

Naturally, the best person to guide Mukade was Uchiha Itachi. But since Itachi had gone to the Hidden Mist Village, this matter would have to wait until his return.

Kitazawa touched his chin, thinking.

It was a pity that awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was so difficult. Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to rely solely on Uchiha Itachi.

As for Uchiha Sasuke, he was still far too young to awaken the Mangekyo.

Uchiha Izumi, though Itachi’s age, wasn’t as talented—she likely couldn’t awaken it either.

He wasn’t familiar enough with the other Uchiha clan members to consider them.

Kitazawa shook his head and stopped thinking further.

—

Time moved into September.

Konoha Village remained peaceful on the surface, but within the Hyuga Clan, things were quietly stirring.

The Uchiha Clan held their clan meetings in the Naka Shrine.

The Hyuga Clan had no shrine of their own, so their clan meetings took place in the large conference hall within the compound.

Nine in the morning.

Neji arrived at the conference hall right on time.

Normally, attending a clan meeting required being a fully recognized ninja. But as Hyuga Hizashi’s son—and an exceptionally talented one—Neji had special permission to participate.

“Neji.” Hyuga Hidetoshi noticed him, waved him over, and said, “Come, sit here.”

“Thank you.” Neji walked over and sat beside him.

“I heard you defeated Hyuga Himon?” Iroha asked with interest.

The Genius Class’s final exam only allowed a select audience. Although Iroha was a Jonin, he wasn’t high-ranking like Uchiha Fugaku and the others, so he hadn’t seen the battle firsthand.

But the results had spread, and the names Hyuga Neji, Uchiha Sasuke, and others were already gaining notoriety.

“I only won because I relied on Ninja tools.” Neji shook his head.

“A win is a win, a loss is a loss.” Hyuga Hidetoshi said, very open-minded. “Ninja tools are part of a shinobi’s strength. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“Between you and Hinata, who’s stronger?” Hyuga Iroha leaned in, lowered his voice, and asked quietly.

“Overall, we’re about the same.” Neji thought for a moment and answered honestly.

He and Hinata were nearly equal in both Gentle Fist and archery. Every sparring match ended with the loser falling short by only a margin.

“Work hard and surpass her.” Iroha patted his shoulder, encouraging him.

“…?” Neji blinked, confused.

“Iroha, why are you telling him this?” Hyuga Hidetoshi shook his head.

He understood Iroha’s intention—he hoped Neji would compete for the position of the next Hyuga Clan Head.

The reason behind such thinking was simple: the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

Without the Main–Branch distinction, the position of Clan Head would depend solely on one’s own strength.

But Hyuga Hidetoshi thought Iroha was being naïve. In his view, the true deciding factor for the next Clan Head would be Kitazawa.

After all, Kitazawa was the teacher of both Neji and Hinata—and the future Hokage.

Just then, a commotion spread through the conference hall.

Neji instinctively looked up, and his eyes widened in shock. Because he saw Kitazawa.

Even though Kitazawa was a high-ranking member of Konoha, he wasn’t part of the Hyuga Clan. So why was he here at a clan meeting?

Could it be related to the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal?

Neji was smart—very smart.

He immediately realized the significance. Something major was indeed going to happen today.

“What’s all the noise about?” Hiashi said coldly. “Everyone, quiet.”

“Hiashi, what is going on?” An elderly man in his sixties or seventies asked. This was Hyuga Tekiyo.

“Elder Tekiyo,” Hiashi said calmly, “the topic of today’s clan meeting is related to Kitazawa. So we invited him to observe.”

“Discuss what?” Hyuga Tekiyo frowned, displeased. “Why wasn’t I informed?”

“This matter arose suddenly. I didn’t have the chance to tell you yet.” Hiashi replied as calmly as ever.

“Since everyone is here, let’s begin,” Kitazawa said casually, glancing at Hyuga Tekiyo.

Hyuga Tekiyo felt an ominous premonition but did not speak.

As an elder of the Main House, as long as he hadn’t committed any wrongdoing, he had nothing to fear—even from Kitazawa.

“There is only one subject for discussion today.” Hiashi’s gaze swept across the many Branch Family ninja.

Many of the Branch Family Jonin who already knew the situation couldn’t hide their anticipation and excitement.

“To improve the Caged Bird Cursed Seal,” Hiashi said slowly.

“Hiashi!” Hyuga Tekiyo shot to his feet immediately, blurting out, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”

Branch Family members who had not been informed exchanged confused looks.

“Elder Tekiyo, what is the purpose of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal?” Hiashi asked calmly.

“Naturally, to protect the Byakugan,” Tekiyo answered without hesitation.

The part about controlling the Branch Family was an unspoken taboo—something no one would dare to openly acknowledge.

“Correct.” Hiashi nodded. “So let the Caged Bird Cursed Seal retain only that function.”

“Do you even understand what you’re saying?” Hyuga Tekiyo stared at him, feeling as though he didn’t recognize his own Clan Head anymore.

“I understand perfectly.” Hiashi pulled out a scroll. “With Kitazawa’s help, the Caged Bird Cursed Seal has been successfully improved.”

“…?” Tekiyo instinctively glanced at Kitazawa, then grabbed the scroll.

He opened it and began reading. As he saw its details, his pupils shrank sharply.

Kitazawa’s Ninjutsu-creation talent was well-known throughout Konoha, but the Caged Bird Cursed Seal was not just any technique.

Could something like this truly be modified?

No—that wasn’t the real issue.

“I disagree!” Tekiyo roared. “The Caged Bird Cursed Seal has been passed down for thousands of years! Even as Clan Head, you have no right to change it!”

“If I don’t have that right,” Hiashi replied calmly, “then does the Hyuga Clan as a whole have it?”

“What do you mean?” Tekiyo’s grip tightened around the scroll.

“We will now hold a clan vote.” Hiashi declared. “If more than half agree, the improved Caged Bird Cursed Seal will be implemented.”

The entire hall fell silent, then exploded into noise like boiling water.

“I agree!” Hyuga Hidetoshi stood up immediately and shouted.

With him taking the lead, the other Branch Family ninja instantly understood—and one after another, they voiced their agreement.

“This won’t do!” Hyuga Tekiyo objected immediately.

But his voice was instantly drowned out by even louder cries of agreement.

A wave of unease surged through Hyuga Tekiyo. Everything had been arranged beforehand—except he was the only one left entirely in the dark.

Hyuga Hiashi raised his hand. The entire conference room fell silent at once.

“Elder Tekiyo, the minority follows the majority. What else do you have to say?” Hiashi asked.

“Hyuga Hiashi, you are destroying the Main House!” Hyuga Tekiyo shouted furiously.

“From this day forward, there will be no Main House or Branch House. All members will be Hyuga Clan members, equally.” Hiashi replied calmly.

“The Clan Head is right!” Hyuga Hidetoshi and the others immediately shouted in support.

“Silence!” Hyuga Tekiyo roared, his face contorting in rage. “You were born as the Branch House and will ALWAYS be the Branch House! Looks like I’ll have to remind you!”

He suddenly formed a hand seal.

Hyuga Hidetoshi and the others felt their hearts jolt violently. It was the sign to activate the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.

“Elder Tekiyo.” Kitazawa caught his wrist and asked lightly, “Do you know the punishment for harming fellow Konoha ninja?”

“This is the Hyuga Clan’s internal matter!” Tekiyo snarled, livid. “You have no right to interfere!”

“I think you’ve grown senile.” Kitazawa tightened his grip mercilessly.

A crisp crack echoed. A terrifying force burst out, shattering the bones in Tekiyo’s right hand.

Kitazawa let go.

“Ahhh!” Tekiyo clutched his ruined hand and screamed in agony.

“You all saw that. He made the first move.” Kitazawa said with a pleasant smile.

Hyuga Hidetoshi and the others nodded one after another. Tekiyo had lorded over them for years—they had long been fed up with him.

Seeing Kitazawa punish him felt deeply satisfying.

“YOU BRAT! DIE!!” Hyuga Tekiyo suddenly lunged upward and struck toward Kitazawa’s back with a palm.

Kitazawa instantly turned, seizing his wrist.

Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!

Forming a seal with his left hand, Kitazawa’s right arm morphed into wooden tendrils and branches that surged across Tekiyo’s body, binding him completely in seconds.

“Is that really Wood Release?” Hyuga Iroha’s eyes widened.

Though rumors of Kitazawa’s Wood Release had spread everywhere, none of them had ever witnessed it personally.

Hyuga Hidetoshi and the others were equally stunned. They were fully aware of Tekiyo’s strength, but seeing him subdued so effortlessly left them speechless.

Wood Release was truly worthy of its legendary reputation.

“Hyuga Tekiyo has repeatedly refused to repent and has attacked me several times. According to Konoha regulations, he should be arrested.”

Kitazawa said indifferently. “Clan Head Hiashi, what do you think?”

“Kitazawa, you are the captain of the ANBU. This matter should naturally be handled by you.” Hiashi responded without a moment’s hesitation.

“Hyuga Hiashi!” Tekiyo struggled wildly, shouting, “You are a traitor to the Main House!”

Kitazawa waved his hand. Two ANBU operatives immediately appeared and dragged Tekiyo away.

With his removal, the entire conference room went dead silent. Every Branch House ninja felt as though they were trapped inside a Genjutsu.

First, the improvement of the Caged Bird Cursed Seal—

Then the arrest of Hyuga Tekiyo—

These were things they had believed impossible in their lifetime.

“Next, I will replace the Caged Bird Cursed Seal for you,” Kitazawa said.

He formed hand seals and used Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.

But he didn’t dare create too many—he needed precision—so only twenty shadow clones appeared.

[Current Mission: Help the Hyuga Clan’s Branch House replace the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.]

[Mission Reward: 20% Byakugan purity.]

[Host has completed the mission. Reward issued.]

By noon, Kitazawa finally received his reward.

[Current Byakugan purity has reached 80%. Special ability unlocked: Byakugan—Pressure.]

[Byakugan: Pressure — Emits overwhelming pressure through the Byakugan, instantly stunning surrounding targets.]

[Note: The target’s strength, mental fortitude, and other factors affect the success rate.]

Kitazawa couldn’t help but utter a soft sound of surprise. He had actually gained a new ability.

And immediately, he thought of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. She had used this very ability.

Undoubtedly, like Byakugan: Puppet Control, it was a god-tier technique for overwhelming weaker opponents. Knocking out a crowd with a single glance sounded undeniably cool.

But Kitazawa now felt he needed the ability to activate the Byakugan without its visible features—and wondered when the system would give him a mission for that.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep