Was this world really that ridiculous?
Why did it have to be her?
Just because she was the only girl in the Main House?
Hyuga Natsuna felt like crying without tears.
It was a bit absurd. Even Hyuga Arin couldn't figure out how desperately Hyuga Hiashi wanted to marry this granddaughter off.
The older brother died—there was still the younger brother.
If the younger brother died, there would probably be another Main House member lined up.
At present, only Hyuga Hizashi remained in the main family line—but he had already been assigned to the Branch House. That meant the next Main House successor could only be Hizashi's child.
And if Hizashi died too—
They'd just adopt from another Main House branch.
Hyuga Arin patted Natsuna on the shoulder in consolation.
"Make sure the room's cleaned properly."
"Waaahhh—!"
Arin nodded in satisfaction as he walked past her.
That's more like it.
If something's wrong, just cry it out.
He calmly rummaged through the fridge for something to eat and returned to his room.
Machi yawned as she stepped out of her room. She had been the one to open the door for Natsuna that morning.
Walking up to Natsuna, threads of Nen appeared between her fingers.
Natsuna immediately reduced her wailing to soft sobs.
Machi nodded in approval. "If you're going to cry, do it quieter. And remember to make lunch."
Be human, will you?!
Natsuna screamed internally.
…
Hyuga Arin buried himself once more in studying.
The knowledge required for a jōnin was extensive.
And varied.
From trap-setting to ninja world warfare, from squad deployment to contingency plans for facing an entire ninja village.
"So there's already a plan for one team facing a whole village?"
Konoha truly deserved its reputation.
While he was immersed in study, someone knocked on his window.
A masked ANBU member crouched outside.
Arin opened the window and let him in.
"Next time, can you use the door like a normal person?"
When the Hyuga attacked him, they at least used the front door.
Why did these guys always prefer windows?
"Noted for next time," the ANBU member replied awkwardly.
"The Hokage requests your presence."
ANBU?
He had thought it was Root.
Good thing he hadn't said anything careless.
Though lately ANBU and Root were practically wearing the same pants anyway.
"Just got back and already working. The Third Hokage sure has it rough," Arin stretched.
Hiruzen had only recently returned from the Iwa front. Important documents had piled up in his absence.
"Let's go."
Arin stepped onto the windowsill and jumped down.
So you're not using the door either?
The ANBU member stared speechlessly before following him.
…
Arin arrived at the Hokage's office.
The ANBU vanished behind him.
He pushed open the door.
"Yo, Third Hokage. Must've been tough."
Hiruzen looked up from his desk.
He had just returned from the front and was already buried in paperwork.
Recently, Konoha's "learning and work atmosphere" had improved greatly.
Many ninja had gained opportunities to be promoted to jōnin due to the war's heavy casualties.
Konoha fought on multiple fronts.
Its ninja population wasn't particularly large compared to other villages. They relied on powerful individuals leading small units to withstand enemies several times their size.
Even so, the other four great villages couldn't break through.
Honestly—
They were just incompetent.
"What happened with the Hyuga clan?" Hiruzen set down his brush and lit his pipe.
He inhaled deeply.
He had just returned and immediately heard about Arin dragging Hyuga members through the streets.
Half the village had seen it.
The aftermath was significant.
The Hyuga clan's prestige had plummeted.
They had come to him seeking redress.
Hiruzen had issued a gag order to suppress the matter.
At the same time—
He reclaimed part of their authority.
No more private armies.
From now on, all Main House members with ninja aptitude must attend the Ninja Academy.
Regarding this—
Hiruzen had only one thought:
Well done.
Next time, do more.
The Hyuga still retained autonomous governance rights, war merit distribution rights, tax privileges…
The extent of concessions Hiruzen had once made to secure his Hokage position was staggering.
The Hyuga even wanted him to cooperate in seizing Arin.
He had refused outright.
Arin was practically his lucky star.
"Oh, nothing much. They wanted my bloodline limit. I didn't want to give it. They wanted to imprison me and use me as breeding stock. I declined and resisted just a tiny bit."
Arin pinched his fingers together to indicate "tiny."
Hiruzen stared at him speechlessly.
Your "tiny bit" killed two ninja capable of serving as jōnin.
Even comparable to the Three Ninja in raw strength.
True, they lacked battlefield tempering—
But a few campaigns and they would have become formidable.
And now they were ashes.
Fortunately, they weren't on the official ninja registry.
Otherwise—
This would not have ended so lightly.
"Though the Hyuga were in the wrong," Hiruzen said gravely, "shouldn't you reflect on whether you bear some fault?"
Arin lowered his head in thought.
"Next time I'll burn their houses down."
Not a bad idea.
Hiruzen almost nodded.
Wait.
"Is that the kind of reflection I meant?!" Hiruzen slammed his desk.
Arin scratched his ear.
"You seemed pretty happy about it."
If you're going to be angry, maybe control the corners of your mouth first.
They're practically at your ears.
"Cough."
Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"The Hyuga have already been punished. But I cannot let you off without consequence."
He had to give the Hyuga some face.
"From today until you become a jōnin, you are restricted from leaving the village."
…That's it?
Arin rolled his eyes.
He was cramming for exams anyway.
The favoritism was obvious.
But he liked it.
After all—
He was Orochimaru's disciple.
Nawaki's teammate.
He had learned medical ninjutsu from Tsunade.
By every measure—
He was directly from the Hokage's lineage.
Now that the Caged Bird Seal was gone, no one could control him.
If Hiruzen didn't favor him—
Who would he favor?
The Hyuga clan that acted like a "nation within a nation"?
Please.
Hiruzen's expression turned serious.
"I know you possess a technique that can remove the Caged Bird Seal."
"That is why I summoned you."
He fixed Arin with a steady gaze.
"I hope you do not remove the Caged Bird Seal from the Branch House members."
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