Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 272 Neji Ascends the Throne and Purges the Hyuga

Hiashi Hyuga was actually prepared for this day, after all, he could sense that war was approaching, and Touko Uchiha would never allow a powerful ninja clan that he could not fully control to exist in the rear when war was about to break out.

After all, the Hyuga clan has a history of rebellion. Moreover, given the current situation of the Hyuga clan, if it weren't for the relationship between Uchiha Touko and Neji holding them back, the other main branches of the clan would probably have already started to make trouble for them. This is because even though the young clan leader has already been chosen, his two daughters have not yet been put in captivity.

Under these circumstances, some of the more talented members of the branch families have become quite restless lately. After all, none of them are qualified to be members of the main family. Why is it that Hinata, who is already 14 years old, has not been put into the Caged Bird Seal? Is it just because they are the daughters of the clan leader?

To be honest, Hiashi Hyuga felt ashamed. For the past two years, Neji, the young clan leader, had been bearing the brunt of the pressure. After all, he was Hinata and Hanabi's father, so he lacked confidence in whatever he said, and he didn't have the ability to make a one-man show within the Hyuga clan.

Now that Uchiha Touko has almost made it clear, Hyuga Hiashi feels that there's nothing wrong with handing over the position to Neji. He knows he's not cut out to be a clan leader, otherwise he wouldn't have been helpless about his brother's death. Besides, Uchiha Touko has given him a position as a border commander as compensation.

Thinking of this, Hiashi Hyuga did not hesitate any longer and immediately said, "Lord Hokage, there is no need to worry. National affairs should naturally take precedence over family affairs. It is an honor for me and the Hyuga clan that Lord Hokage is willing to entrust me with important responsibilities. As for clan affairs, Neji has grown up and I think it is time to give him more responsibilities."

“Since Clan Chief Hiashi thinks so, that’s perfect.” Uchiha Touko nodded.

"I wonder if Lord Hokage would be so kind as to attend Neji's inauguration ceremony as clan leader in a few days?" Hiashi Hyuga asked.

“Of course, Neji is my disciple, so I naturally have to be there for such an important moment in his life,” Uchiha Touko said.

……

After Hiashi Hyuga left, a figure slowly emerged from a shadowy corner of the Hokage's office.

"Fifth Hokage, you should know what kind of impact it would have on the Hyuga clan if your disciple became the clan leader," Tobirama Senju said, emerging from the shadows.

Seeing the person walking out of this corner, Uchiha Touko was speechless. He now understood where Danzo's habit of liking to hide in that corner of the office came from. You see, this corner had been used as a place to pile up junk for a long time after Uchiha Touko came to power, but Senju Tobirama managed to clear this place out, and occasionally the staff would come here to hide when there was nothing to do.

"Second Hokage, don't stay there unless it's absolutely necessary next time." Uchiha Touko first gave a helpless reminder, and then said, "What impact would it have on Neji becoming the clan leader? Neji is already the strongest in the Hyuga clan. Putting aside his advanced equipment from the Konoha Ninja Tool Research Institute, his Gentle Fist technique alone makes him the most talented person the Hyuga clan has ever produced since the Warring States period. Whether it's his improvement on their Hyuga clan's Bagua Step or the staff technique he developed by combining it with Gentle Fist, these are things that the Hyuga clan has never seen before. If he doesn't become the clan leader, who will?"

“But he used to be a member of a branch family with a caged bird on his head, right? If he becomes the clan head, the Hyuga clan will inevitably be thrown into turmoil,” Tobirama Senju said. “If your disciple learns your techniques, then the final result will probably be the complete abolition of the caged bird system.”

"Isn't this good?" Uchiha Touko shrugged. "If Neji hadn't become my disciple, his talent would probably have been buried by this Caged Bird. From the Warring States period to now, how many geniuses like Neji from the Hyuga clan have you thought have been buried by the Caged Bird? You know, as far as I know, the Hyuga clan has the same Sage bloodline as your Senju and our Uchiha clans."

“However, not every branch family member is as talented as your disciple, and almost everyone in the Hyuga clan can awaken the Byakugan at a certain age. If the Caged Bird Seal is removed, ordinary Hyuga clan members will be coveted by the entire ninja world,” Tobirama Senju warned.

“Second Hokage, I think your thinking is still stuck in the Warring States period,” Uchiha Touko said. “I don’t deny that the Caged Bird Seal can protect those branch clan members who don’t have enough talent. Given the conditions of the Warring States period, without the protection of the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga clan would probably have been wiped out long ago. However, this is the era of ninja villages. Every war in the village involves more than just the Hyuga clan. I think the village is capable of taking on the responsibility of protecting its comrades in the Hyuga clan.”

"Furthermore, didn't the Second Hokage always think that our Uchiha clan couldn't integrate into the village because of our arrogance? Don't you think that the Caged Bird Seal is also an obstacle to the Hyuga clan's complete integration into the village?"

After hearing Uchiha Touka's words, Senju Tobirama fell silent. He knew, of course, that the Hyuga clan, with the existence of the Caged Bird Technique, had never fully integrated into the village since its founding. While the Caged Bird Technique had ensured the stable inheritance of the Hyuga clan to some extent, it had also artificially created two opposing classes. The main family of the Hyuga clan remained secluded for years, while the branch family members were born slaves. Under such circumstances, how could they possibly integrate into the village?

Tobirama Senju hadn't paid much attention to this issue before. After all, compared to the Uchiha clan, which produced a superhumanly powerful lunatic every now and then, the Hyuga clan, which had crippled itself, didn't require his excessive concern. Moreover, with the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga clan didn't need him to worry about the Byakugan, a strategic-level bloodline limit, falling into the hands of other villages. Therefore, Tobirama Senju had always adopted a laissez-faire attitude towards the Hyuga clan, focusing his energy on guarding against the Uchiha.

"Didn't you ever think about what would happen if the white-eyed look fell into the hands of other villages..."

“If such a thing happens, it would be a dereliction of duty on my part as the Fifth Hokage, or the future Hokage!” Uchiha Touko said resolutely.

Tobirama Senju gave Uchiha Touko a deep look, and after a while, he laughed self-deprecatingly: "It seems that I, who grew up in the Warring States period, am indeed a bit outdated."

……

When Hiashi Hyuga brought the news back to the clan and announced at the clan meeting that Neji would soon officially inherit the position of clan leader and that he himself would become the commander of a new garrison in the village, the Hyuga clan was immediately thrown into an uproar.

“Hiashi, it’s certainly a good thing that you’ve become the village’s garrison commander, but Neji is still so young. Isn’t it a bit too hasty to let him succeed as clan leader? I think it would be better to proceed gradually and let Neji take over the clan leader’s duties slowly. It would be better to formally succeed him in a few years,” said an elder of the Hyuga clan at this moment.

“Is it too hasty? I don’t think so.” Hiashi Hyuga shook his head and then said, “Neji has been helping me handle some of the clan’s affairs over the years. Neji is already very skilled at handling the things that the clan leader needs to do.”

“But Hiashi, don’t forget the clan rules.” At this moment, the successor of the main branch of the Hyuga clan, who had been removed from power for forcing Hiashi to abdicate, spoke up. “Rules? Elder, why don’t you remind me?” Neji, sitting to Hiashi’s left, suddenly turned to look at him, his gaze sharp as a knife, scrutinizing him. He didn’t activate his Byakugan at this moment, but even the Hyuga’s eldest elder felt a thorn in his side under that gaze.

Neji's gaze immediately suppressed the idea that Neji was going to suggest putting Hinata and Hanabi in the Caged Bird Seal.

"Elder, what rule do you need to specifically bring up?" Neji continued to ask when he saw that the other party had fallen silent.

"Uh... Hiashi, Neji, as you know, the clan head must get married before taking over the position; this has been a rule for many years." The elder, who was being targeted by Neji, racked his brains to come up with this reason on the spot.

"Really? The clan has such a rule?" Hyuga Neji turned to look at Hyuga Hiashi and asked.

“Well, strictly speaking, there is such a rule. It’s written in the clan rules, but both my father and I were already in our twenties, married and had children, when we became clan leaders, so no one specifically brought it up.” Hyuga Hiashi thought for a moment and then nodded. “But it’s easy to handle. Just get engaged before you officially become clan leader.”

"Then I'll trouble you, Uncle, to deliver the betrothal gifts to Tenten's family these next few days." Neji was also a bit troubled upon hearing this news. He didn't want to break such trivial rules and cause trouble when it came to what he wanted to do, so he said to Hyuga Hiashi.

"Tenten?" At this moment, the elders looked at each other, their eyes seemingly asking each other, whose branch family girl named Hyuga Tenten was so lucky to have caught the eye of the young clan leader?
After exchanging bewildered glances, as if asking, "It's not me?", one of the clan elders finally spoke up and asked, "May I ask which family's daughter the young clan leader has taken a fancy to?"

"She's the only daughter of Tenten, the largest ninja tool retailer in the village, and currently the deputy director of Konoha's Scientific Ninja Tool Research Center," Neji said.

"Uh, young clan leader, I'm afraid that won't work. The clan leader's partner can only be chosen from within the clan; that's the clan's rule," the elder of Hyuga said, forcing himself to speak.

“However, over the years, thanks to my relationship with her, Tenten has provided our Hyuga clan with a lot of convenience in acquiring new inventions from the Ninja Tool Research Institute,” Neji said. “Moreover, with her talent in this area, it’s not impossible for her to take charge of the Konoha Ninja Tool Research Institute in the future. You should know how much our teacher values ​​this and the Konoha Medical College. If I marry her, our Hyuga clan will be able to achieve greater development in the future.”

Neji patiently revealed Tenten's identity, attempting to persuade the elders from the perspective of mutual benefit.

“Young clan leader, I’m afraid that won’t do. For our Hyuga clan, the purity of the main family’s bloodline is the most important thing,” an elder insisted.

"These are all family rules, right?" Neji sneered upon hearing this. "In that case, I think it's time to change the Hyuga clan's ancestral precepts."

"Young clan leader, please be careful with your words." Upon hearing Neji's words, an elder immediately spoke up.

"Is there a problem with what I said?" Neji sighed. He had originally wanted to resolve some of the family's historical issues peacefully, but the elders didn't seem to be willing to give him that face, so Neji decided to just flip the table.

As the member of the Hyuga clan who had direct contact with Touko Uchiha, Neji understood better than anyone that a huge change would occur in the entire ninja world in the near future. However, it seemed that the Hyuga clan was still planning to adhere to the rules of the Warring States period.

Both are large clans in the village, and both are young clan leaders, so why doesn't Sasuke have so many old fogies dragging him down?

After Neji sighed inwardly, his eyes hardened.

"Never mind, Uncle, there's no need to propose marriage," Neji said slowly.

“That’s more like it, young clan leader. The reason our Hyuga clan has been able to survive from the Warring States period to the present day is because of the rules passed down from our ancestors.” When an elder of the main clan heard Neji say this, he thought Neji was going to give in, and he was immediately delighted.

"Once I become the clan leader, I will personally propose to her," Neji said. "As for the time being, I remember that in a few days, it will be the day when the clan puts the children of the branch families into caged birds, right? Let's stop this for now."

"What do you mean by that, young patriarch? The ceremony of putting a caged bird in the branch family is the most important thing in the family. Even if it involves the change of the patriarch's position, we must give way to this ceremony." At this moment, an elder said.

"Is that so?" Neji slowly stood up, looking down at the kneeling Hyuga elder in front of him. "I think this matter can be postponed for a few days. After all, the first thing I will do after becoming the clan leader is to abolish the Caged Bird system. I have experienced the pain of being released from the Caged Bird system. If possible, I think it is unnecessary to let the children of the branch family experience that feeling again."

"Hyuga Neji! Do you know what you're saying?" At this moment, the eldest elder, who had been yielding all along, finally couldn't hold back any longer and immediately shouted angrily, "The Caged Bird Seal is the foundation upon which our Hyuga clan has survived to this day! Allowing you to release the Caged Bird Seal and become the young clan leader is already an extraordinary favor from the clan out of respect for the Hokage! How dare you shake the foundation of the clan?"

"The foundation of the family?" Neji couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

(End of this chapter)