Half a month later, Hinata Main Family, meeting hall.
The air was filled with a dull scent of old wood mixed with incense. Five Hyuga Main Family members, including Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi, sat in a circle, and the same displeasure was written on each wrinkled face.
"Neji has consecutively missed five sparring sessions with the Main Family, as well as two internal clan meetings," the eldest elder said, his voice as dry as two pieces of decaying wood rubbing together. "Where is he going? To heaven?"
"Hmph, it's more than just absenteeism," another elder slammed his teacup onto the table, splashing a few drops of tea. "He unilaterally joined 'Root' under Uzumaki Naruto... This is openly challenging the Hyuga Clan's rules! When did it become the Branch Family's turn to choose their own master?"
Anger spread rapidly through the oppressive air.
"He must be severely punished!"
"Right! If we don't beat him into submission, won't all those Branch Family youngsters think they can turn the world upside down?"
An elder with a sinister face and high cheekbones, a cruel glint flashed in his eyes. "This is easy to handle. Hasn't he tasted the flavor of the 'Caged Bird'? Isn't he strong-willed?"
He looked around, his voice low and ruthless: "Half a minute, a minute, he can endure. But what about half an hour? An hour? I refuse to believe anyone's bones are harder than the Cursed Seal!"
At these words, even the other elders felt it was a bit much.
Hyuga Hiashi, sitting in the main seat, frowned deeply. He finally spoke, a trace of imperceptible worry in his voice: "Too long, and it will cause irreversible damage to his brain. He will become a cripple."
"So what?" the sinister elder sneered, retorting unceremoniously, "What good is a disobedient tool? Destroy it, and it will serve as a warning to others! The Hyuga Clan's rules are far more important than a Branch Family youngster's brain!"
He stared at Hiashi, his words full of coercion: "Hiashi, don't forget, you are the Clan Head of the Main Family! If you are reluctant to punish your own nephew, we old folks don't mind doing it for you!"
Hiashi's fists quietly clenched under his wide sleeves. As Clan Head, he felt at this moment that he too was bound by an invisible net, a net woven from so-called "tradition" and "rules."
Just as the meeting hall was filled with tension, and a final judgment on Neji's fate was about to be made...
"Lord Hiashi!"
A Hyuga Clan servant rushed to the door, kneeling to report in a panicked voice: "Lord Hiashi! Elders! Officials from the Land of Fire's Daimyos Mansion... have arrived! They say they have important matters to discuss!"
"What?"
The meeting hall instantly fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
The elders exchanged glances, their anger replaced by astonishment. Why would people from the Daimyos Mansion suddenly visit?
Hyuga Hiashi took a deep breath, regaining the Clan Head's authority: "Invite him in."
A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in a luxurious sapphire-blue official robe, with jade ornaments at his waist, slowly walked in, under the respectful gazes of the Hyuga Clan members. He wore a practiced smile on his face, but his eyes held the scrutinizing gaze of someone long accustomed to high positions, and he held a scroll sealed with gold thread in his hand.
"By order of the Feudal Lord, I have come to discuss a matter with the Hyuga Clan Head," the official's voice was neither rushed nor slow, yet carried a natural sense of authority.
Without further pleasantries, he directly unrolled the scroll, cleared his throat, and began to read in a melodious, official tone.
"...It is hereby known that the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan is unparalleled in the world, discerning every detail. A new batch of 'Twelve Guardian Ninja' for the Daimyos Mansion is still lacking reserve candidates, and upon the recommendation of Lord Naruto, Neji of the Hyuga Branch Family is hereby specifically designated..."
Upon reading this, the elders present could no longer sit still, their faces filled with incredulity.
The official seemed not to notice their reaction and continued to read: "...To ensure the utmost safety of the escort mission and to ensure Neji can remain focused and always in optimal condition, it is hereby requested that the Hyuga Main Family remove the 'Caged Bird' Cursed Seal from him."
"Boom!"
The last few words exploded in the ears of every elder like a clap of thunder.
Remove the Cursed Seal?
What a joke!
"This... this is impossible!" Hyuga Yūki, who had just loudly called for severe punishment for Neji, was the first to jump up, his voice trembling. "This is our Hyuga Clan's internal affair! The person behind Neji is that Uzumaki Naruto, isn't he? He's trying to meddle in our Hyuga Clan's internal affairs!"
Hyuga Hiashi said nothing; he just lowered his head, and no one could see the expression in his eyes.
Another elder forced a smile, trying to explain: "Sir, you don't understand. The 'Caged Bird' Cursed Seal is merely a management method within our family and does not affect the execution of any escort missions. On the contrary, it ensures the absolute loyalty of Branch Family members."
Upon hearing this, the official finally raised his eyelids and cast a contemptuous glance at the elder.
"The Feudal Lord does not like his guards having an ugly green pattern on their foreheads."
He spoke these words in a tone as if discussing the weather.
"Is that reason sufficient?"
"Uh..." The elder was instantly speechless, his old face turning a liver-like color. The Cursed Seal, which they regarded as sacred and the foundation of their family's rule, was merely an "ugly pattern" in the other party's eyes?
"But... but this is a tradition of the Hyuga Clan since its founding, it's very difficult..." Another elder still tried to argue.
"Enough."
The official rudely interrupted him, the smile completely gone from his face, replaced by undisguised coldness.
"This is the Feudal Lord's decree. You can refuse, but that will be considered disrespect to the Feudal Lord himself. Furthermore, the Feudal Lord has already discussed this matter with Hokage-sama, and Hokage-sama also stated that for the stability of Konoha, he fully supports the Feudal Lord's decision."
The official slowly rolled up the scroll, tapping his palm lightly with it, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.
"Ultimately, isn't it just a child from the Branch Family? What difference does one more or one less make to your Hyuga Clan?"
He seemed to suddenly have a good idea, and in a tone of sudden realization, he slowly said:
"Ah, how about this. If you truly find it difficult, why not just let that Neji be adopted into the Main Family? Wouldn't that solve the Cursed Seal issue? In short, don't make things difficult for the Feudal Lord."
For a moment, the entire meeting hall was deathly silent.
Casually allowing a Branch Family member to become part of the Main Family? This was more painful than killing them. This lighthearted remark was the most vicious mockery of their entire family system.
Hyuga Hiashi slowly raised his head. He looked at the expressionless official and finally spoke in an incredibly difficult voice: "I... agree. But removing the Cursed Seal requires preparation; we need time."
"Of course," the smile returned to the official's face. "The Feudal Lord is not an unreasonable person. Three days, then. Within three days, I need to see the result."
..."Root" underground base.
Data flowed across the light screen on the cold metal walls. Zero's figure appeared silently behind Naruto.
"Political Commissar-sama, the Daimyos Mansion's envoy has arrived at the Hyuga Clan. The first step of the plan has been successfully completed."
Naruto's gaze remained on the light screen, which displayed the asset distribution and personnel structure of various major clans within Konoha Village.
"The Hyuga Clan will not so easily give up control over the Branch Family," Naruto's voice was calm and unruffled. "They will struggle, they will try every possible means to find alternatives or negotiate."
"Do we need to... apply further pressure?" Zero asked.
Naruto shook his head.
"No need."
He stretched out his hand, pointing to the complex, spiderweb-like personnel relationship chart of the Hyuga Clan on the light screen.
"The 'Caged Bird,' this management method that relies on pain and fear to maintain loyalty, is itself an extremely inefficient and highly prone to internal strife, decaying system. Every day it exists, it weakens the Hyuga Clan's own strength. We don't need to tear it down; we just need to give it a crack, and it will collapse on its own."
"This is just the beginning."
Naruto turned around, the entire map of Konoha reflected in his azure eyes.
"Every corner of this Village, every decaying rule, every inefficient link, needs to be reorganized."
"Until it becomes a perfect, efficient, and formidable war fortress capable of resisting any threat."
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