CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 155: FORCED TO TAKE ACTION

Chapter 155: Forced to Take Action

"Miss Hinata is the daughter of the Hyuga clan head, Hiashi-sama. From the moment she was born, most of the clan acknowledged her as the rightful heir. That isn’t something that can be changed on a whim."

The annual Hyuga clan meeting had always been a solemn event. As one of the most important family traditions, nearly every Hyuga shinobi had gathered in front of the ancestral mourning hall, waiting for the statue of their heroic ancestors to be brought out and honored.

The ceremony of burning incense and inviting the ancestral spirit was no casual matter—it was reserved for the current clan leader or the designated heir alone.

Today, that honor belonged to Hinata.

As she knelt on the steps of the high platform, the long stick of ceremonial incense in her hands, Hinata was poised to begin the ritual. But before she could bow, voices rang out from the crowd, stopping her mid-motion.

Several members of the clan had stood up in open protest.

They claimed she lacked the strength, the presence, the qualifications.

And, of course, others soon stepped up in her defense.

"As the daughter of the clan head, Hinata-sama has received education and training in family affairs since she was small," said a calm but firm voice. "Neji may be more advanced in taijutsu, but what does he know of leadership? Of clan responsibilities?"

It was a jonin from the main house, standing opposite one of the Hyuga branch family representatives. His gaze was unwavering as he addressed the crowd.

"Neji is an exceptional talent—yes. But talent in combat alone doesn’t make a leader."

He turned to look at Hinata with quiet respect.

"I admire her determination. At her age, few would endure the weight of expectation the way she has. But leadership is not just about strength—it’s about vision, resilience, and heart."

The branch family jonin offered a polite nod in return, but his words were sharp.

"I don’t mean to belittle her, and I respect her will. However, if strength and ability to lead are essential, then she falls short. Miss Hinata failed to graduate early. Her performance has even been eclipsed by Uchiha Sasuke. If not for his early graduation, would she have even ranked at the top of her class?"

He paused dramatically.

"What does that say about the Hyuga? That even the Uchiha outshine us? Will we let the heir to our clan be second best in everything?"

It was a skillful attack—subtle, yet layered with social pressure. It claimed objectivity, even concern for the clan’s dignity, while sowing doubt.

Ryosuke narrowed his eyes. Even knowing the man’s intentions were calculated and self-serving, he had to admit—his speech was effective. Reasonable enough on the surface to convince the uncommitted.

Worse, others in the crowd began nodding.

The branch family jonin pressed on.

"All this time, Miss Hinata has been groomed for leadership—trained, resourced, guided. But if Neji had received the same treatment from birth... would he not have done better? Perhaps even far better?"

As he said this, he turned toward the young shinobi standing silently nearby—Hyuga Neji.

As a newly graduated genin, Neji had no business standing at the front, but his recent achievements had earned him that privilege. The crowd parted for him without question.

"I..." Neji looked briefly toward Ryosuke, then back at the jonin. "If I were trained in leadership from childhood, I might be able to handle those duties. But... that would also come at the cost of my growth as a shinobi."

His voice lacked conviction. There was hesitation in it—uncertainty. And that only seemed to embolden the speaker.

"Neji," the jonin said with fire in his eyes, "you are the pride of the branch family. You would never lose to anyone. Even if you had to balance leadership and strength, I believe you could do both."

Then, raising his voice, he looked toward the clan head himself.

"Clan Leader Hiashi! Was it not your daughter who once declared that only the capable should lead? That the role of clan head should go to whoever best serves the clan, regardless of lineage?"

He let the words hang in the air before continuing.

"You yourself established the new clan rules. You promised reform. So now, if someone more qualified stands ready—even from the branch family—would you deny your own decree?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Another elder stood and echoed the sentiment.

"I agree. Neji shows greater talent."

A chūnin added, "A weak clan head only weakens the entire clan."

More voices joined in, some hesitant, others bold. With their seniority and respected positions, their words carried weight. The pressure in the air was thick.

Hiashi remained still on the high platform, silent.

The elders beside him were less composed. Several were visibly furious, scolding the protesters, demanding they stop embarrassing themselves during such a sacred ceremony. But their voices were ignored.

"Kazuo!" one elder barked. "Take care of this nonsense!"

Surprisingly, Elder Kazuo—who had been critical of Hinata the year before—stood in her defense.

"She has shown remarkable growth in the past year," he said gruffly. "These fools act like clan leadership is a sparring match. They don’t understand the burden of managing a legacy centuries old."

The other elders turned their eyes on Hyuga Hizashi.

"Speak to your son," one said sternly. "This has gone far enough."

But Hizashi said nothing.

He stood beside his brother, unmoving, his expression unreadable.

To the crowd, this silence was taken as consent.

And that only added fuel to the fire.

Cries of support for Neji grew louder. Those who once stayed silent now raised their voices. Some genuinely believed Neji was the better choice. Others simply followed the loudest voice, swayed by the growing tide.

People are herd creatures, after all.

And while some still defended Hinata, arguing back against the dissenters, the courtyard was quickly turning into a battlefield of words and divisions.

Hiashi remained silent, but the flicker of conflict in his eyes was evident.

It was on the verge of unraveling.

Then...

"That’s enough."

The voice that cut through the tension was calm, almost relaxed—but carried an unmistakable authority.

All heads turned toward the high platform.

Ryosuke.

He hadn’t spoken once throughout the chaos, watching it unfold in silence. But now, his voice brought a strange stillness over the courtyard.

His tone wasn’t loud, but it sank into everyone’s ears like a weight dropped in water.

Ryosuke’s gaze swept across the crowd, cold and sharp.

He had always been powerful—but what many didn’t understand was that his transformations hadn’t just sharpened his body. His mind had evolved as well. His thinking was faster. Sharper. Clearer.

In less than ten minutes, Ryosuke had committed the expressions and reactions of everyone in the gathering to memory. With a subtle glance, he leaned over and whispered something to Hyuga Hiashi.

His voice was low, but those nearest to him heard the shift in the atmosphere.

Hiashi, who had remained silent through the escalating dispute, now stepped forward.

"Everyone."

The crowd fell still as his voice rang out—loud, clear, and unshaken. Even the most agitated ninjas paused and turned their attention upward.

"As clan head, I am naturally aware of the new clan rules that were proposed and approved by majority consensus."

He looked out across the gathering.

"It is written—clearly—that if any individual believes themselves more suitable than the designated heir, and they receive a nomination from a sufficient number of clan members, then they may challenge for the right of succession."

His words rippled through the audience like a dropped stone in a quiet pond.

The murmuring began again, but Hiashi continued before it could gain traction.

"And so... your nominated candidate is Neji?"

"Yes!" shouted several of the ninjas who had led the opposition. Their faces were flushed with triumph, voices full of expectation.

"No!" one elder roared. "You can’t possibly agree to this, Hiashi-sama! These traitors are turning on Hinata—the very one who proposed the reforms they’re abusing!"

"Shameless!" another elder added. "She gave them freedom, and now they use it against her!"

But the senior jonin who had initiated the challenge remained composed. He turned toward the elders, face solemn.

"Betrayal? Hardly. I’ve already said—I respect Hinata-sama deeply. But this isn’t about personal feelings. It’s about what’s best for the clan."

He spoke with convincing sincerity, the kind that could sway a crowd.

"If even those who support Hinata believe Neji’s strength is superior, then why resist this? Why not let ability speak for itself?"

The man’s measured tone, cloaked in concern for the clan, masked the ambition behind it all. Ryosuke knew better. These weren’t concerned patriots—they were schemers who’d long operated in the shadows, rising through the ranks while leaking clan secrets and feigning loyalty.

Still, even Ryosuke had to admit: they wore their masks well.

"The age gap between Hinata and Neji is just two years," Hiashi continued. "Both have reached the minimum age required to qualify for succession. Therefore... the challenge is valid."

The crowd held its breath.

"In accordance with the rules, the challenge will proceed," Hiashi declared. "There will be three parts: individual combat, team coordination, and a test of theoretical leadership knowledge. These trials will be held in one month. The one with the higher total score will become the heir."

Then he looked directly at Neji, eyes unwavering.

"Neji. Are you prepared to accept this challenge?"

The entire assembly fell silent once again.

All eyes turned to Neji, who stood near the front—still, calm, and thoughtful. Those who had nominated him leaned forward instinctively, eager to answer for him. But Ryosuke smiled faintly.

This wasn’t their stage.

It never had been.

"I’m sorry," Neji said at last, his voice calm but firm. "I’m not ready for the challenge."

Gasps scattered through the crowd.

"I don’t wish to oppose Miss Hinata," he continued. "In fact... I fully support her becoming the next clan head. I will follow her orders without question."

The quiet only deepened.

Even as he spoke, Neji’s eyes remained locked on one figure—Ryosuke.

"...Neji?" The senior jonin’s face contorted. "What are you saying? You’ve always questioned Hinata’s strength! You said if given her resources, you’d surpass her!"

The smile tugging at Ryosuke’s lips widened.

The entire affair now reminded him of an old tale—of a rebellion gathering under the banner of righteousness, only for the leader to accept a royal pardon mid-march, leaving the rest bewildered. In this case, the rebels had their numbers, their script, and their plan. But their star player had just gone off-script.

"I do think Hinata isn’t the strongest candidate—at least not in combat," Neji admitted without hesitation. "But I’ve never said I could lead better than her just because of strength."

He turned now to address the entire clan.

"I thought about the rules she proposed. I asked myself, honestly—if I were in her place, could I have offered so much, even if it meant undermining my own authority?"

He paused, letting his words settle.

"And no matter how I tried to lie to myself... I know the truth. I couldn’t have done it. Even if it helped the clan, I wouldn’t have risked myself like she did."

The air thickened with realization.

"I learned something today," Neji said, his tone sincere. "It’s not just about skill or power. A true leader needs the heart to sacrifice—for the whole clan. Even now, Hinata-sama has endured all this in silence, refusing to lash out. Not because she’s weak. But because she knows that breaking the new rules so soon would divide us."

The moment was electric. His words, spoken with conviction, rang louder than any shout.

"And that," Neji said clearly, "is why I will follow her."

For a moment, silence reigned.

Then cheers erupted from those who had remained neutral—fence-sitters who, in that instant, tipped toward Hinata. Shouts of her name echoed across the courtyard. Her defenders, once outnumbered, now rallied behind Neji’s declaration.

The faces of the instigators twisted with disbelief and rage.

And in that growing chaos, a few others looked around with dawning panic.

They weren’t the vocal rebels—the loud challengers—but hidden figures. Quiet ones. Fence-sitters who, at some point, had been drawn into the web of manipulation. And now, realizing the shift in tide, their eyes flicked nervously toward the platform.

They met the cool gazes of Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi.

And in that silent exchange, they understood.

They had already been caught.

They were players in a game they never even realized had begun.

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