Naruto: I am the Hokage
Chapter 200: I, Hizashi, Am Flipping the Table Today!
CHAPTER 200: CHAPTER 200: I, HIZASHI, AM FLIPPING THE TABLE TODAY!
A panic broke out outside the Hyuga clan’s territory in Konoha, and then a group of people rushed to the Konoha Hospital.
In the early morning, Tsunade, Sarutobi Biwako, and others walked out of the operating room. "Mother and son are both safe!"
"That’s great, that’s great!" Several women were very happy. The standard of Konoha Hospital was much higher than that of Kirigakure, and this time Tsunade and the others had personally handled it, a truly luxurious lineup. This also made them feel sincerely "valued."
Tsunade looked around, finally looking behind her. "How is Eisuke’s physical condition now?"
"Not bad. Although we still can’t cure the Kekkei Genkai disease, with the help of Orochimaru-sama and Kyohiko, it has been partially suppressed. He has regained some color now. Specifics will require further observation," Kurenai reported.
Tsunade nodded. "In that case, I’ll go and see. If it’s appropriate, I’ll tell him the good news!"
"No need, I’ve already helped him over." Kyohiko smiled.
Kaguya Eisuke’s face was filled with excitement, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He looked towards the back of the group with apprehension and longing. After a short while, Hebiame came out holding the cleaned and cared-for child, carefully placing him in an incubator.
"Make way!" The crowd immediately opened a path. Kyohiko pulled Kaguya Eisuke, signaling him to step aside as well. He looked at the incubator. Inside was a wrinkled child, looking very ugly, as most newborns are. What made him excited was... he felt an inexplicable closeness to the child. My child!
"My child!" Kaguya Eisuke clasped his hands, then bowed deeply. "Thank you! If it weren’t for you, I might not have seen my child’s birth!" In the Kaguya clan, dying in battle was a matter of honor. A patient with his kind of bloodline disease would often go into a great battle before becoming completely bedridden, and finally... die in a final "dance." According to his previous condition, he might not have lasted this year and would certainly have died in battle before the birth.
"It’s nothing. Since you’ve joined Konoha, you are a part of us. This is what we should do." Tsunade helped him up, comforting him along the way. This was the first child born among the seven pregnant women. At present, he looked very healthy and would likely awaken the Kekkei Genkai in the future. At the same time, they also represented seeds, a future!
"How wonderful!" On the outskirts of the group, Hyuga Hizashi sighed softly.
Kyohiko glanced at him. "In the future, you will also have a child. Perhaps a genius as well."
"A genius? If I can’t... perhaps I would rather he be an ordinary person," Hizashi sighed in a low voice.
Kyohiko glanced at him, then said, "Let’s go. I have one more thing I need your help with."
"Yes!"
---
Leaving the hospital and heading to the outskirts, Kyohiko confirmed there was no one around before saying softly, "Not going very smoothly?"
"I don’t know." Hizashi let out a long sigh. "I believe the Hyuga clan will become better and better in his hands, but for myself and my child’s future, I am filled with confusion and uncertainty." As time passed, there had been no movement on what Hiashi had promised. He couldn’t be sure of Hiashi’s attitude, whether he was really willing to help him, or was just painting a big picture for him.
"Hiashi-senpai is not one to take the initiative. He prefers to wait for opportunities to arise. The clan head of that other family is the same." Speaking of which, Kyohiko couldn’t help but smile. "Perhaps this is the inertia of the great clans?"
Hizashi was stunned for a moment. The person Kyohiko is talking about is Uchiha Fugaku? That clan head did seem to be like that. The difference was that Uchiha Fugaku was not as cunning as Hyuga Hiashi, so he might be slightly easier to get along with. In essence, neither of them was the type to take the initiative and make changes.
"Do you know why?"
"Because... of comfort?" Hizashi thought of some reasons. The inheritance of the great clans was too comfortable, especially the Hyuga clan, which often had no setbacks at all.
"Yes. Especially Hiashi-senpai. He can spend time slowly mastering and trying things. He needs stability and control more..." Kyohiko sighed softly. Then, he suddenly stopped, thoughtful. "You couldn’t be having a child, could you?"
"Perhaps. It’s not very certain at the moment." Hizashi’s eyes were downcast.
Kyohiko was silent for a few seconds. The premature end of the war and the large amount of reparations obtained from outside had allowed the ninjas in the village to live a relatively comfortable life. The graduation of the next generation of ninjas also allowed the village’s commissions to be handled. So, in fact, many jounin were relatively free. For example... Hyuga Hizashi. The early birth of Neji was not impossible under such circumstances. Even Uzumaki Naruto might be born early in the next year or two.
In that case. Kyohiko said, "Then his needs and your urgent needs are running in opposite directions."
"Yes, so..." Hizashi let out a long sigh. His mind was a mess, and for a moment he didn’t know how to handle it.
"You can only take the initiative!" Kyohiko said.
Hizashi was a little surprised and taken aback. "You mean, actively..."
"Don’t think too far ahead! What I mean is, stir up the main family’s affairs. Since what you want is to reformulate the rules of the main family, you must expose their foolishness. Otherwise, how can you propose institutional reform and replace them?" Kyohiko reminded him.
Hizashi thought for a long time. Stir up the main family. Foolishness.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, as if he had an idea. This matter was difficult to say, but simple to say, it was actually very simple—the Kaguya clan!
Regarding the few members of the Kaguya clan, this group of old fossils had long had their own ideas. Now there were a few. In the future, as children multiplied and intermarried, there might be more than just a few or a dozen. In Konoha, there might be hope of slowly developing to the scale of the Land of Water. Therefore, the idea of "using the Caged Bird to control the Kaguya clan" had long existed in the Hyuga clan. The ones secretly promoting this news were precisely a few elders of the main family.
"It seems you already have an idea."
"Mm, now is a good opportunity." Hizashi let out a breath.
"Good luck!" Kyohiko smiled. As a transmigrator, he hated this group of old men from the Hyuga main family. Secondly, by inciting Hizashi to "set things right" and clear up the internal conflicts, he would surely get a reward himself. So he was very happy to see changes happen within the Hyuga clan. This would not bring chaos to Konoha, but only make Konoha’s future better and better, because—cutting off the rotten, withered branches and leaves was the best choice.
---
In the Hyuga clan, the family meeting that hadn’t been held for a long time was held again. One reason was the recent flying rumors; the discussion about the Kaguya clan within the clan was becoming more and more intense, to the point where it had to be dealt with. Another reason, naturally, was that the elders believed the time was ripe.
With the cooperation over the past year or two, the relationship and tacit understanding between Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi had become better and better, and their control over the family had also become stronger. Some control was subtle. But some operations were seen by everyone, and everyone knew it in their hearts. Everyone understood very well—Hyuga Hiashi wanted to control the entire family! Not just the branch family, but also to truly control the entire main family, not satisfied with the past scene of co-governance by the main family.
This meeting, said to be discussing the future of the Hyuga, was actually inseparable from the "right to speak" of the Hyuga clan. The elders wanted to show their presence and make themselves seem more important.
"Hiashi, the Kaguya clan has been in our village for some time. Before, it was said that we would promote the union of the Hyuga and Kaguya clans. Should we go and mention it to the village?"
"Yes, a few rents are not important to our Hyuga clan. What’s important is that our original plan and goal was to combine with the Kaguya clan and give birth to more powerful descendants." One by one, the elders spoke.
At this time, a voice finally sounded. "We should control the Kaguya clan. Many clansmen support this point. We are also representing the opinions of the clansmen."
"Right, right!" At once, this voice received unanimous praise.
Elder Kisai looked around, a look of bewilderment on his face. Finally, he looked at Hyuga Hiashi above and moved his hand under the table. He knew nothing about this matter! This group of idiots hadn’t discussed it with him at all, completely excluding him, as if they had defaulted to him being on Hiashi’s side. Since that was the case... he had no need to help these people.
Elder Kisai’s eyes were downcast, as if he hadn’t heard the discussion at the meeting, quietly waiting for things to change.
Hyuga Hiashi’s face was calm, without a trace of anger. Instead, he nodded lightly, occasionally agreeing with some of the remarks, as if he also approved. But Elder Kisai knew one thing very well—don’t look at what the other person says, but at what they do. This sentence was very suitable for Hyuga Hiashi. From beginning to end, Hyuga Hizashi said nothing, silently holding a pen and recording quickly. Elder Kisai found it hard to imagine what the other was writing.
After some deliberation, he coughed lightly. "Has everyone finished speaking? This old man has some humble opinions, I wonder if I should speak..."
The whole room was silent. The elders naturally didn’t want him to speak. Hiashi was thoughtful, then nodded faintly. "Elder Kisai, you are highly respected and have contributed a lot to the family over the years. Everyone can see that. If you have any good suggestions, please speak freely." His attitude... he didn’t say it directly, but Kisai had already understood.
"Suggestions are out of the question, Hiashi-sama. When the Kaguya clan was willing to follow us to Konoha, the condition the village promised was that they would have autonomous rights. Now, that piece of land is also actively leased by our Hyuga clan, not at their request..." Hyuga Kisai swept his gaze around. "How is it that in your mouths, the Kaguya clan has become a soft persimmon that we can knead at will, just because they only have a few people now? But don’t forget what kind of clan the Kaguya are. They are a fighting race! Even women and children will fight to the last person when faced with such an insult!" Hyuga Kisai’s face was serious. "If it comes to that, who will bear the consequences? You? Or will you let the entire Hyuga clan pay the price for your foolishness?"
No one would have thought that Hyuga Kisai would suddenly say such a series of words. One by one, the elders looked at each other, feeling some regret in their hearts. If they had known earlier... they would never have excluded Kisai. At least then they could have seen his attitude and thus probed Hiashi’s inclination, so as not to be so passive now. To put the interests of the entire clan on the line, and for Hyuga Kisai to be the one to say it, they didn’t know how to refute. Offending an honest person often didn’t end well.
Hyuga Hiashi swept his gaze around. Seeing everyone was silent, he immediately said, "Elder Kisai, what is your meaning? How should we get along with the Kaguya clan?"
"Of course, we should befriend them. They are naturally friendly with our Hyuga clan and are allies. And the essence of the Caged Bird is to protect the Byakugan, not to control others..." Kisai swept his gaze over the elders present, snorted coldly, his dissatisfaction growing stronger as he spoke. "I see, some people have already forgotten the meaning of the Caged Bird curse mark, acting wantonly with the power they have!"
"Kisai, you!!! You..." The elders trembled with anger. In their eyes, this was Hyuga Kisai’s revenge! But everyone was for the rights of the "elders," why couldn’t they endure for a moment?
The atmosphere was silent for a while. At this moment, Hiashi said seriously, "Elder Kisai, what you said reminds me of something from before. An elder in the clan used someone from the branch family for experiments... This kind of thing, even if Orochimaru used ninjas from other villages, was still explicitly forbidden. If I report this matter, those elders will at least be sentenced to death, and might even be designated as rogue-nin! Are such people suitable to be elders?" Hyuga Hiashi’s tone was serious.
Those elders immediately turned pale and waved their hands. "We, we are just representing the voice of the clansmen!"
"Clansmen? Hiashi-sama, I have a sentence I’ve been holding back for a long time. Perhaps today I will offend the main family elders, but for the sake of the branch family members, I must stand up!" The only member of the branch family finally stood up. Hyuga Hizashi. The one who had been writing with a pen just now finally stood up and presented what he had just written. "This is the list of elders who advocated for controlling the Kaguya clan that I just wrote down. The next page is some situations I learned from investigating and inquiring about the clan’s situation. It has been verified that a main family elder ordered the branch family disciples of the corresponding lineage to promote such rhetoric, otherwise..." A look of grief and indignation appeared on Hizashi’s face. "Otherwise, they would use the Caged Bird to kill them!"
"Hizashi, you’re spouting nonsense!"
"I’m spouting nonsense? Don’t you all use the Caged Bird as a means of punishment and threat all day long? This has the bloody handprints of the clansmen on it. Everyone has reached their limit..." Hyuga Hizashi swept his gaze over the elders, finally settling on the one who had been jumping the most.
That person’s face was flushed. "Hizashi, you want to throw my main family into chaos! You cannot be forgiven!" He had just formed a seal with his hands.
Hizashi immediately let out a painful howl.
Bang! Hiashi raised his hand and sent him flying with one blow, crashing heavily into a wooden pillar. Hyuga Hiashi stood up, his face cold, his tone filled with killing intent. "Elder Satoshi, first of all, Hizashi is my younger brother. Secondly, he is the head of the branch family. You want to kill him just for saying a few words. Isn’t your temper a bit too big?"
A few old men were scared silent. Including Kisai, he was also stunned, not reacting for a moment—Hiashi actually made a move!
"Who else thinks they can easily control the life and death of the branch family members? You can try and see if your hands are faster, or mine!" Hiashi’s gaze swept over.
Hizashi’s gaze was fearless. For his child, he was willing to gamble once. The branch family members within the clan... were also willing! He said loudly, "Hiashi-sama, the main family members are of the Hyuga family, but aren’t the branch family members also of the Hyuga family? If it’s to protect the main family, then I think it’s enough to keep the clan head’s lineage. Why have so many main family members!"
"What did you say?!!" A group of old men exploded. They stood up one by one, their expressions of shock and anger. Because they realized that Hizashi was going to flip the table and make everyone become a branch family member!
"Hizashi, the main family system itself is to help the clan head better maintain the stability of the family. The original intention was good. It’s just that some people were too foolish and broke the rules!" Kisai hurriedly said. How could he flip the table? He didn’t want all his descendants to become branch family members.
Hizashi sneered. "They are foolish, so can their descendants be smart? And are our descendants not smart?" He looked up. "Hiashi-sama, you are wise and powerful, but these few elders... my branch family does not accept! Today’s words are only for the branch family, with no selfish intentions. But to offend a superior is indeed deserving of punishment. Please punish me!" After speaking, he knelt on the ground to show his loyalty.
A light flashed in Hiashi’s eyes. "You should be punished, but what you said is indeed a long-standing problem in the development of the Hyuga clan. Elder Kisai, what do you say?"
"This, this..." Hyuga Kisai was numb. He swept his gaze around and suddenly understood in his heart. I am different from them. I have always helped Hiashi! And Hiashi’s previous words were already a clear indication that he had merit and seniority, and would definitely be fine.
He immediately said, "Since we are having a meeting today, everyone should speak their minds. Hizashi is pleading for the branch family out of his responsibility. I think he is not only innocent, but has merit."