Chapter 227: Hiashi, Compared to Fugaku, Has a Much Grander Vision!

In front of the Hyuga clan’s ancestral shrine, the clansmen were all lined up, gathered here. Hyuga Hizashi tactfully stood below, not going up to steal his brother’s thunder, quietly waiting for Hyuga Hiashi to arrive. As for the other main family members... apart from Hyuga Kisai and a few others, the rest had not come. Hizashi sneered inwardly but paid no attention to those fools. Playing dead? Is playing dead useful? These members of the main family, always talking about the greater good, letting the branch family members sacrifice themselves. When it was their turn to become the branch family, they were all unwilling. For the branch family to participate in power-sharing, for the members of the main family to lose their iron-clad positions, this was a rolling tide that no one could stop. Hyuga Hizashi’s gaze was indifferent. The clansmen below looked up one by one. At this moment, a person arrived with a body flicker. Hyuga Hiashi had arrived. He looked around, his face cold, and looked at Hyuga Kisai. "Elder, is someone not here?" Elder Kisai said. "The elders are ill and are recuperating at home." In fact, this was just a more tactful way of putting it. Although these elders were old, with their ninja abilities and physique, they were far from being unable to get out of bed. They were simply unwilling to come as a form of protest. However, Hiashi looked beside Kisai. The middle-aged man immediately stood forward. "Clan Head-sama, my father is unwell and cannot get out of bed. He asked me to apologize to you on his behalf." Although the great elder, Hyuga Kōkaku, had not come, all his sons had, not a single one missing, including the not-so-diligent eldest son, Hyuga Akira. Hyuga Hiashi nodded lightly. The great elder was still different from the other elders. The other few had been secretly contacting each other during this period after returning, but Hyuga Kōkaku had not participated at all—this great elder was completely disappointed with these people below him and no longer had any intention of protecting them. To put it simply... he had despaired! Hyuga Hiashi spoke. "The great elder has worked hard and contributed his whole life to the family. Now that he is not well, we juniors should show our concern. I will send some high-mountain medicinal herbs from the Land of Lightning over later." Hyuga Akira said respectfully. "Thank you, Clan Head-sama!" He then retreated to Hyuga Kisai’s side. Below, the members of the branch family looked at each other, not understanding what Hiashi was going to say today. Mainly because... although Hizashi had solicited some opinions before, it was more about secret techniques and the reasons for casualties. No one knew about the reform of the main family. This was the effect Hiashi wanted. He noted the few elders who had not come, sneered inwardly, turned his back to everyone, and bowed to the shrine. Everyone bowed together, and then heard Hiashi shout. "To all the ancestors above." "The family has been passed down from the first ancestor to this day, for hundreds of years..." Hiashi first spoke of the past history. This was not surprising to everyone. Every time they paid respects to their ancestors, they would basically say these words. It was just that as he spoke, everyone felt that something was not right. "The times are changing." "The laws of our ancestors are no longer suitable for the Hyuga clan of today. To maintain the strength of the family, I, the descendant Hyuga Hiashi, dare to change the laws of our ancestors and reform the system of the main family..." At this point, the whole place was in an uproar. Did we hear correctly? Change the system of the main family? How is that possible! Hyuga Kisai was calm, but the sons of the great elder were all stunned, especially the eldest son, Hyuga Akira—this matter was most related to him! He was dazed for a moment, then quickly looked up, his gaze fixed on Hyuga Hiashi. "The current main family is corrupt and decadent, looking down on the branch family members, having long lost its original intention. The name of the Heavenly Ninja has not appeared in the world again. Therefore, I am preparing to change the main family to a contribution-based system. In the future, as long as one has made a great contribution to the family, leaving a name in Konoha and the shinobi world..." "Or, if a child’s talent is extremely high, comparable to a Heavenly Ninja, then his descendants can become members of the main family!" "I ask the ancestors to bear witness!" After Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking loudly, he bowed deeply. Below, they followed suit, and then one by one, the members of the branch family were shocked on the spot, all with looks of astonishment on their faces. The main family... was no longer always the main family. Even they, the branch family, could become main family members? This! How was this possible! They were all stunned, looking at each other, but seeing hope, fanaticism, and ambition in each other’s eyes. But soon, some people let out a low sigh. The policy was good, but their children had already missed it and had become members of the branch family. The good news was that their children’s next generation might have hope. Hyuga Akira was completely stunned. He ignored Hyuga Kisai and quickly walked forward. "Clan Head-sama, this, this, it can’t be like this!" Halfway through his words, he fully understood in his heart why his father hadn’t come. Today was not a good thing. What was the point of coming? Hyuga Akira’s ability was not bad, but it was only ’not bad’. He wasn’t even a Jonin, just a special Jonin. In the entire Hyuga clan, he was of the less capable type. The position of the main family... he certainly couldn’t keep it. Hyuga Hiashi looked at him, his gaze cold. "Why can’t it? The members of the main family are lazy and corrupt. Their own and the next generation will all become the branch family. The members of the branch family strive hard and make great contributions to the family. It is only right that their descendants become the main family." "The branch family cannot decide their birth, but can they not fight for the birth of the next generation?" Hyuga Akira couldn’t answer Hiashi’s words. Below, the branch family members were discussing among themselves, one by one hesitant and uncertain. They were more disbelieving, afraid that this was a trap to lure them into making a mistake. After all, the Hyuga clan’s system had not changed for thousands of years. For it to suddenly change in this generation... it really made them unable to believe it. But what if it was true? Everyone looked at Hyuga Hizashi. Hizashi was undoubtedly the most prestigious person in the branch family. Everyone trusted him very much. Kisai sighed inwardly. Truly a good-for-nothing! Hiashi was just missing such a target, and Hyuga Akira impatiently jumped out, becoming the perfect object for Hiashi and Hizashi to establish their authority. As expected. The next moment, Hizashi stood up, filled with righteous indignation. "Hyuga Akira, you usually bully my branch family members, being bossy and arrogant, enjoying the peace and status bought by the sacrifices of the clansmen." "Usually when facing my branch family, you always talk about the bigger picture, the greater good. Now that it’s your turn to become the branch family, you’re not happy?" His words were like a stone, directly smashing into the hearts of the branch family members, instantly igniting their anger. That’s right! This bunch of people... they used to oppress us with the main and branch family system at every turn. Now that it’s their turn to become the branch family, they’re not happy? "That’s right, on what grounds!" "On what grounds! We also want the chance to become the main family. This is the right granted to us by the Clan Head-sama!" "Exactly!" The Hyuga clan was in an uproar. Hyuga Akira’s face was pale. At this moment, he finally realized what a foolish thing he had done—he had handed a knife to Hyuga Hizashi, and then, this knife was stabbed into himself. "Hyuga Akira, your abilities and actions are known to everyone in the family. Today, I will personally apply the Caged Bird curse mark to you. Do you submit or not?" "I..." Hyuga Akira gritted his teeth. He really wanted to say "I don’t submit." On what grounds? On what grounds does it have to be my generation that is forcibly made into the branch family! But... at the last moment, he became timid. Because Hiashi’s gaze was the gaze of someone who was about to kill. Secondly, his father and the others must have known about this matter in advance. If there was a way to object, they would have objected long ago. So the current Hiashi’s attitude was very firm. To object is to die! A trace of pleading appeared in his eyes. "I’ve lived half my life as a member of the main family, can’t I just..." "Lived half a life and you’re still just a special Jonin. Your Gentle Fist is not even as good as a branch family disciple’s. Are you worthy of saying the words ’main family status’?" The next second, Hiashi instantly appeared beside Hyuga Akira. Then, the hair on his head grew wildly, piercing into Hyuga Akira’s major chakra points like needles. Every acupoint was restrained, making him instantly lose the ability to resist. The hair directly wrapped around Hyuga Akira, weaving into a cocoon-like state. Then, Hiashi dragged him into the ancestral shrine. No one dared to follow. After dozens of seconds, when Hiashi came out carrying him, the familiar mark had already appeared on Hyuga Akira’s forehead. The Caged Bird curse mark! Hyuga Akira’s face was pale, and he was too weak to speak. Hiashi was too strong! In that one exchange, he had barely had time to react before he was restrained. By the time he came to his senses, he had already been marked with the Caged Bird curse mark by Hyuga Hiashi. "Don’t worry, you are not the only one who will become a member of the branch family. There are more!" "Of course, this year, your children still have a chance..." Hiashi continued to explain the new policy of the Hyuga clan. The branch family members below were cheering and overjoyed, shouting in unison. And in other places, Hiashi’s shadow clones, and his loyal subordinates, one by one went to control the elders and main family members who had not come. Although only the elders controlled the method of activating the Caged Bird, no one could guarantee that these people would not teach it to their own children. This was also why Hiashi wanted to control them. And he directly applied the curse mark in private to those who were unqualified. The standard: Jonin. A main family member who couldn’t become a Jonin, in Hiashi’s view, was a waste of the family’s interests, not qualified to stay in the main family at all. --- In the distance, two people stood in one place, their presence shielded by the surrounding amber. But through their respective ninjutsu means, they could still know the general situation in the distance. "What a grand ceremony. The Hiashi brothers have much more spirit than before." "Indeed." Ryoho Kyohiko nodded lightly. He had to admit. After Konoha became strong enough, the change and spirit shown by Hiashi were also very amazing. Then, he smiled. "Hiashi-senpai, compared to Fugaku-senpai, there is one point where he is indeed very strong." "Oh?" Upon hearing this, a slight smile appeared on Orochimaru’s face. Then, he pondered for a moment. "It’s definitely not strength. In terms of strength, the two are at best fifty-fifty. At most, the current Hiashi is slightly higher." In these years, after Kyohiko and the Hyuga clan cooperated, Hiashi’s ability had indeed been continuously improving. Otherwise, Hiashi should be inferior to Uchiha Fugaku. Since it wasn’t strength... a slight smile touched Orochimaru’s lips. "Are you talking about his judgment?" "Yes! Or rather, this decisiveness after taking a side and clarifying the situation. If only Uchiha Fugaku had learned a few tricks, I wouldn’t have had to get involved in the Uchiha’s mess." "The mess, hahahaha!" Orochimaru laughed out loud. He wasn’t laughing at Kyohiko, but at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo. It could be said that Orochimaru was the one who knew the Third Hokage and Danzo best. He knew all too well what attitude these two had towards the Uchiha. The current Uchiha was the proud layout of those two, especially Shimura Danzo. According to Danzo’s calculations, in a few more years, the Uchiha would only have two paths. Either completely submit, or be eradicated by Konoha! Step by step, this was to force the Uchiha into a desperate situation. However, in Kyohiko’s eyes, the current situation was an out-and-out mess. How laughable! Orochimaru laughed so hard he leaned against the amber stone wall. "Kyohiko, do you know what the biggest difference between you and them is in my opinion?" Ryoho Kyohiko replied with a smile. "It’s definitely not strength either." Orochimaru nodded lightly. "Strength can be increased through various means. Although it may not necessarily reach your level, but... in my opinion, it’s really not that important." "Wasn’t Shodaime-sama strong enough?" Orochimaru chuckled lowly. "If it’s just strength, the Impure World Reincarnation can do it." "I think the biggest difference between you and these mediocre people lies in your vision and perspective!" "They are always looking at one village, one place, including Jiraiya who has always been talking about finding a path to peace. But your vision has always been on the entire shinobi world!" "So, there are many things they can’t see, can’t understand." Orochimaru lamented. Ryoho Kyohiko was slightly silent. Although he had already estimated Orochimaru’s ability and wisdom highly, the facts proved that Orochimaru’s acuity still exceeded his expectations. Vision, perspective. This was indeed the biggest difference between himself and Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya. They had always believed that the shinobi world should be like this. Including Senju Hashirama back then. Multiple countries, multiple ninja villages, everyone coexisting in this form. But... just because it had always been like this, was it right? Ryoho Kyohiko looked into the distance, didn’t answer directly, but smiled and said. "Then what about you, Orochimaru-senpai?" Orochimaru’s tone was indifferent. "I don’t care." "Unlike you, who have high pursuits and aspirations, my wish is to master the method of eternal life, and then always research the mysteries of ninjutsu." Ryoho Kyohiko asked back. "What if one day, you find that the truth of ninjutsu is not that complicated, perhaps not worth you spending so many years pursuing?" Orochimaru was silent. He thought for a long time, and finally sighed. "Perhaps, I would be very disappointed!" If it really came to that, he might actively give up eternal life. Having no pursuit is the loneliest thing. Orochimaru shook his head. "I’m leaving. The Hyuga clan should be fine now." The current Hyuga clan was already under the control of Hiashi and Hizashi. The one to worry about was the Uchiha side. Orochimaru walked a few steps, then suddenly said. "By the way, there’s something strange." "The Uchiha?" "Yes, the Uchiha side has been too quiet. I feel they might be preparing something. You might want to pay more attention." Orochimaru reminded him. The current Konoha was not what he had envisioned, but it was indeed very good. He didn’t want any accidents. Ryoho Kyohiko nodded. "I’ve been paying attention to the Uchiha. There’s someone who seems to be a bit of a problem. I’ll have someone keep an eye on him."