"Father."
As soon as Hyuga Yamatsubaki returned home, Hiashi Hyuga came looking for him.
Coming with him was Hizashi Hyuga.
Although brothers, their statuses were worlds apart.
One was of the Main Family, high and mighty.
One was of the Branch Family, humble as a servant.
"Father."
Hyuga Yamatsubaki nodded.
"What is it?"
"Regarding the rumors about the Byakugan, have you heard, Father?"
"Let's go to the study to talk."
Hyuga Yamatsubaki led the way to the study.
Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga followed behind.
"Father."
Entering the study, Hiashi couldn't wait to ask.
"Is the content of those rumors true?"
Hyuga Yamatsubaki frowned.
"Hiashi, why do you think so?"
"Because it's very suspicious, isn't it?"
Hiashi Hyuga said, "Before you returned, Father, I met some clan members who came down from the front lines. They all felt there were huge problems with this matter."
"Given Konoha's current situation, there is absolutely no need to ally with the Mist Village."
"For Konoha, the disadvantages clearly outweigh the benefits."
"In addition, our Main Family members have never gone to such frontline positions before. Only that one time, and then they were killed by the Mist Village, and the Byakugan was taken."
"Also, the Kaguya clan, their relationship with the Mist Village wasn't that bad before."
Hyuga Yamatsubaki looked at Hiashi Hyuga with disappointment.
"Fool!"
"The alliance between Konoha and the Mist Village has Lord Hokage's own considerations. Are you supposed to let your imagination run wild here?"
"The Kaguya clan and our Hyuga clan have indeed been on good terms for generations, but in different ninja villages, serving different masters. During the war between Konoha and the Mist Village, it's not like the Kaguya clan hasn't killed people from my Hyuga clan."
"How could they fall out with the Mist Village for the sake of our Hyuga clan?"
"If they fell out with the Mist Village, it was only for themselves."
Hiashi Hyuga wasn't quite convinced.
"Father, do you mean that the content of that rumor is all fake?"
"That's not necessarily true either."
This confused Hiashi Hyuga even more.
Looking at Hiashi Hyuga, Hyuga Yamatsubaki shook his head and said, "Whether true or false, it has already happened."
""
"As the head of a ninja clan, what we need to consider is not right or wrong."
"But what to do that is most beneficial for the clan."
"With the example of the Uchiha clan before us, can't you see clearly enough?"
"After experiencing that rebellion, what is the current situation of the Uchiha?"
"Wandering outside, homeless, lives hanging by a thread——"
"Even those remaining in the village are like prisoners. Only Shisui Uchiha receives some special lenient treatment and can move relatively freely."
"There's also Obito Uchiha, relying on his status as Minato Namikaze's disciple, and he was originally a marginal figure in the Uchiha."
"Hiashi, at your age, your thinking should be more mature."
Hiashi Hyuga fell into deep thought.
"Father, do you mean that our Hyuga clan cannot leave Konoha, so all premises must be conducted under this condition?"
Hyuga Yamatsubaki raised an eyebrow.
"Correct. It seems you understand a bit. Then let me ask you, what do you think we should do next?"
Hiashi Hyuga thought for a moment.
"First, we must express our attitude to Lord Hokage, stating that we will always stand united with the village, to reassure Lord Hokage."
"Second, we must ensure such things cannot happen again. That is, in the future, absolutely no Main Family members will be allowed to go to the front lines, or even refuse outside missions."
"Third, we must control the situation within the family and not make the same mistake as Uchiha Sangaku."
Hyuga Yamatsubaki revealed a smile.
"Now you look a bit like the future head of the Hyuga clan."
"In the adult world, where is there so much right and wrong? All our considerations must revolve around the survival of the Hyuga clan and the interests of the Hyuga clan."
"Hiashi, Hizashi, I'll give you a task."
"Go and control the emotions of the clan members. Don't let them do anything drastic."
"If necessary, you can use the Caged Bird."
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga's face instantly changed.
Because regarding the Caged Bird, Hiashi Hyuga was the user, while he, Hizashi Hyuga, was the recipient.
After speaking, Hyuga Yamatsubaki realized it.
But as a father, Hyuga Yamatsubaki didn't lower himself to apologize to Hizashi Hyuga.
"Go."
Hiashi Hyuga went out with the task.
Before those Hyuga clan members who came down from the battlefield could speak up to ask Hyuga Yamatsubaki, the clan head, to inquire about the situation from the Kaguya clan, they first received the news brought by Hiashi Hyuga.
"The rumors are all fake."
"That was our Hyuga clan's own problem."
"It was that Main Family member being too careless and falling into the Mist Village's trap."
"It was the Branch Family members at the time failing to protect them well."
However, this was not the reply all Hyuga ninja wanted.
"Not even verify? Not even verify a little?"
A Hyuga ninja said, "Why not ask the people of the Kaguya clan?"
Seeing that Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga hadn't settled it, Hyuga Yamatsubaki walked out with a sullen face.
"It's already an established fact. What are you still questioning?"
"This is a strategy of alienation by other ninja villages. Can't you see it?"
"You just insist on being fooled and used as a gun by them to be satisfied, right?"
"Harming the Hyuga clan, harming Konoha, what benefit is there for you?"
"Or were you bribed?"
"Then I'll have to use the Caged Bird Curse Mark to investigate properly."
The deterrence of the Caged Bird Curse Mark was too strong, so these Branch Family members quickly dispersed.
In the Uchiha compound not far away, Fugaku Uchiha tsked.
"This Hyuga Yamatsubaki's attitude is exactly the same as Father's back then."
"But is this really good?"
"Blindly giving in, blindly compromising for the sake of the whole—what will be gained in the end?"
"The Hyuga clan's situation won't be much better than the Uchiha's."
Sand Village.
Kazekage Building.
Rasa sat behind the desk, looking at the system panel.
The points number was constantly changing, but the speed of change wasn't very fast.
This was within Rasa's expectations.
After all, he had just let Ebizo spread this rumor.
Even with the Rock army and Sand army fueling the flames, the effect was limited.
"In that case, let's start printing small cards."
"This time I can design a card game."
"How about 'Kingdoms'? No, 'Three Ninja Villages Kill'?"
Just at this moment, Rasa suddenly noticed that the speed of points on the system panel increased significantly.
Before long, Rasa received a message and instantly understood the reason.
"The Kaguya clan publicly stated that the content of the rumor about the Hyuga clan is true? They can testify?"
Rasa couldn't help but reveal a subtle expression.