Naruto: I have an attribute panel

Chapter 445 The Art of Compromise

Konoha Hospital.

Tsunade finally completed the initial screening and classification of the many wounded. Judging from the extent of their injuries, Tsunade could imagine how Taiichi had attacked them.

With such precise control of force, even a fraction stronger, at least half of these wounded would not have seen the sun rise the next day.

It can be seen that Taiichi did this intentionally, and considering the circumstances at the time, he probably wanted to cause trouble for the Otsutsuki clan.

However, things changed so quickly that the Otsutsuki clan actually submitted to Konoha, which could be used as a means for Konoha to show its favor.

Of course, these were just thoughts in Tsunade's mind; she would never say them aloud.

After explaining the resettlement and follow-up treatment of his clan members to Katsuya Otsutsuki, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief. The real hard work was about to begin.

Treating more than 20 seriously injured people in a short period of time would require a lot of effort, even if she did it herself.

Fortunately, that guy came back.

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Tsunade had barely looked up when her gaze inadvertently swept across the glass window of the observation area.

That gaze, through the transparent barrier, precisely captured Taiyi standing at the edge of the shadows and the bursting crimson mass on his shoulder.

Tsunade paused slightly, but the smile on her face did not disappear; instead, it deepened.

A gentle curve lingered at the corner of her lips, and the corners of her eyes even curved slightly, as if she had seen something pleasant.

However, beneath this seemingly gentle exterior, a strange emotion was surging deep within those amber eyes.

"Rest assured, Clan Chief Katsuya." Tsunade's voice came clearly through the slightly ajar door, "Your clan members will receive the best treatment in Konoha, including your severed arms, which will be fully restored."

Her gaze remained fixed on Taiichi and Kurama, and that gentle promise, that smile at the corner of her mouth, was like the whisper of death, seeping into Kurama's ears.

"!!!" The Nine-Tails' fur bristled to its limit, and the entire fox suddenly sprang half a foot high off Taiichi's shoulder, letting out a short and shrill scream.

"It's over!"

The Nine-Tails' scream was choked with sobs. Perhaps its size had shrunk, and even its courage had diminished. Minato's earlier warning, coupled with what it had just witnessed, finally broke its taut nerves. "Look at that sinister grin on her face! She's definitely waiting for me to come back! Taichi, run, run! You'll die! I'll be turned into a scarf by her!"

Taiyi's hand, like a pre-prepared iron clamp, firmly pressed down on the furry back of the Nine-Tailed Fox the instant it sprang up. The immense force easily crushed its insignificant struggles, pinning it firmly in place, leaving it only able to kick its hind legs in vain and let out desperate whimpers.

This guy is so insecure that he now sees everything as something that others want to harm.

Tsunade watched everything happening outside, her gentle smile remaining unchanged. She even gave a very slight nod to Taiichi and the red fox that was being held down and struggling wildly. After exchanging a few words with Katsuya, she walked towards Taiichi.

Well, Taiichi was also surprised this time; this really wasn't "Tsunade" at all.

Seeing the teacher walking this way, Taiyi smiled and scooped the nine-tailed pupa from his shoulder into his arms, then went to greet him.

Just as Taiichi was about to speak, Tsunade spoke up.

"Taiyi, you're finally back. Are you tired? Why don't you go home and rest for a bit?"

A warm smile, a caring greeting—but to Taiyi, it was all a completely different story.

A current shot from the tailbone straight to the crown of the head, circled once at the crown of the head, and then went straight to the soles of the feet.

Taiyi was completely distraught. He had just been secretly mocking Kurama, but now he could finally understand Kurama's feelings.

It's a fox after all; its senses are much sharper than a human's.

The Nine-Tailed Fox stopped struggling and instead raised its head to look at Taiyi, as if it were a joke, its fox mouth grinning with a mocking smile.

But before it could be smug for long, the fox froze and was uncontrollably lifted from Taiyi's arms.

"Oh, isn't this Lord Nine-Tailed Fox? This mission must have been tough. It's a pity I'm out of my good wine, otherwise I would have treated you to a proper meal tonight."

The fox was grabbed by the scruff of its neck, its limbs drooping limply in front of it, as if it had resigned itself to its fate, and even the will to resist had vanished.

"Aha!" Taichi scratched the back of his head, gave Kurama a helpless look, and then said, "Look at what you're saying, teacher. I just came out of the Hokage's office and didn't even go home before rushing to the hospital to help. You can ask Minato about this; he can vouch for me."

Taiyi secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking to himself: That was close, we just rushed straight to the hospital.

"Really! I never would have guessed!" Tsunade looked at Taichi "gently," the Nine-Tails in her hand swaying back and forth in the air like a dead fox with her movements. "But work is indeed important, and your presence here has been a great help to me!"

"Ah, no, no, work is not as important as being a teacher. I came to the hospital because my teacher is here." Taiyi's survival instinct was at its peak. He didn't want to become a "dead fox" like Nine-Tailed Fox.

"Alright, these are all the wounded you brought back. They're scheduled for surgery soon, so come along too!" With that, Tsunade tossed the fox in her hand to Taichi and turned to walk towards the operating room.

As soon as Nine-Tails escaped Tsunade's clutches, before it could even land in Taiichi's arms, it twisted its body, dodging Taiichi's hands, and forcefully landed. Then, its four short legs moved quickly, leaving a trail of afterimages, and it disappeared from the spot in a flash.

Then its voice drifted over from afar, "Go have your surgery, I'm tearing this up first, don't come looking for me!"

Taiichi's hands froze in mid-air for a long time before he finally withdrew them. "Sigh, what's going on here!"

Five surgeries in a row, keeping them busy until 9 p.m. It wasn't that there were no other surgeries to be done, but rather that the other medical staff simply couldn't keep going.

Not all medical ninjas possess the strength of Tsunade and Taichi, especially when performing such highly focused surgeries, which takes a much heavier toll on them.

The moonlight cast long, thin shadows of the two. Taiichi followed silently behind Tsunade, his gaze fixed on her straight back as he observed her intently.

When Tsunade walked past the gambling den she frequented most often without even glancing to the side, without the slightest hesitation in her steps, Taichi's heart tightened.

What was even more unbelievable to him was that when she passed by the izakaya filled with the rich aroma of sake, Tsunade didn't even wrinkle her nose, as if the alluring scent had no effect on her.

This "enormous" restraint, whether it was intentional for some purpose or a result of a complete change in her true nature, made Taiyi deeply uneasy.

He knew Tsunade's character well; what she was trying to achieve at such a high price must be worthy of that sacrifice.

At this moment, Taiyi had absolutely no idea what she was up to.

The two returned to their lodgings, said goodnight to each other, and went to their respective rooms.

The only difference is that the silhouette of someone gazing at the moon in the courtyard did not appear tonight.

The night was peaceful and uneventful; even the troublesome Nine-Tailed Fox was unusually timid and did not return home all night.

Taiyi wasn't worried about it getting lost, since the fox had both his and Minato's Flying Thunder God marks on its body, allowing it to be sensed and locked onto instantly from any direction.

The next morning, Taiichi got up as usual to perform his morning training. As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was surprised to see Tsunade already sitting there.

As dawn broke, her profile was silhouetted with her eyes closed in deep concentration; her serene posture clearly indicated that she was practicing meditation.

Taiyi immediately held his breath, tiptoed, and carefully circled around to the other side of the training ground, afraid of disturbing her.

But at the very moment he turned the corner, he couldn't help but turn back and glance once more at the incredible sight in the morning light.

This is simply unbelievable!

In the following days, Taichi and Tsunade were almost inseparable as they worked together to treat the wounded members of the Otsutsuki clan on the moon.

This gave Taiichi an excellent opportunity to observe Tsunade's every move up close and for an extended period of time.

However, no matter how carefully he observed, he could not find anything obviously wrong.

The only change was that the continuous high-intensity work had made Tsunade's face look slightly thinner, which made Taiichi feel a little heartache.

Meanwhile, deep within the Hyuga clan's territory, in the secret chamber of Hiashi Hyuga's house, the atmosphere was as heavy as a leaden cloud.

"Today is the fifth day!" Seated in the main seat, Hiashi Hyuga could no longer tolerate the endless arguing below. His voice, carrying an undeniable authority, delivered the decisive blow: "Although the Hokage has stated that time is ample, he will not allow us to delay indefinitely. Today, a final decision must be reached!"

The once noisy and chaotic secret room instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone kept their eyes down and their minds at ease, with no one willing to be the first to speak out.

Finally, it was the First Elder who broke the silence, his voice aged yet resolute: "Konoha must never have two Byakugan clans."

This statement served as a cornerstone, setting the final tone for this difficult meeting.

All the elders, including Hiashi Hyuga himself, nodded solemnly.

This is an unshakeable ironclad rule. The reality is harsh; the Hyuga clan today lacks the confidence to face the Otsutsuki clan of the Moon, who possess a stronger legacy in developing the Byakugan.

Their only advantage is their status as "elders" of Konoha and their deep-rooted connections with the village's leadership; currently, the leadership will undoubtedly side with them.

However, this advantage will inevitably be gradually eroded as the Otsutsuki clan formally integrates and time goes by.

Ultimately, the power to speak can only be determined by the true strength of both sides.

"The Otsutsuki would never willingly submit to the branch family!" The Third Elder's tone was indignant, filled with undisguised disgust. "As far as I know, they only gained their foothold by turning against the main family from within! Such insubordination is utterly unacceptable!"

"Letting them into the main family is even more impossible!" another elder immediately chimed in. "They now number seventy or eighty! And how many people does our entire main family have? Wouldn't that be inviting wolves into the house and destroying our own foundation?"

"Ultimately—" a voice filled with deep helplessness rang out, "The crux of the problem lies in the caged bird."

How could the outsiders, the Otsutsuki clan, willingly be branded with this curse that binds them to life and death? We—in truth, only have one path to take.

Silence fell over the secret room once again. Everyone knew perfectly well that this so-called "voluntary choice" was in reality the only way out offered by the village, just disguised in a respectable guise.

"Let's vote!" the elder said again, his tone resolute. "The treatment of the injured Otsutsuki at Konoha Hospital is nearing completion. The village will soon be discussing their incorporation with them."

Now is the time for the village to clearly state the Hyuga clan's position! The minority submitting to the majority is the fairest rule!

He surveyed the entire room and said in a deep voice, "Now, please raise your hands if you support those who uphold family traditions and refuse to merge with the Otsutsuki clan!"

No one responded. Each elder was like a meditating monk, eyes downcast, body frozen, as if the words had just passed by as nothing more than a gentle breeze.

The Grand Elder ignored this, waited a moment, and then raised his voice again: "Now, please support those who wish to modify the Caged Bird Seal and welcome the Ōtsutsuki clan to join the Hyuga clan—raise your hands!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already raised his right hand.

A barely perceptible commotion swept through the secret room, with eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and understanding, but it quickly subsided as everyone looked away.

Then, another hand rose. To everyone's surprise, it was the Third Elder, who had been the most vehement opponent!

Facing the incredulous gazes of the crowd, the Third Elder remained calm and unashamed, yet his voice carried a suppressed pain: "What are you looking at? I've long been dissatisfied with this damned caged bird! My sister—"

It was because of this—he committed suicide due to depression!

Upon hearing this, the air in the sealed room seemed to freeze. Everyone turned their faces away, unable to bear to look.

The tragedy of the caged bird is not uncommon in the Hyuga clan, but the case of the Third Elder's sister, who ultimately went to her death, is particularly striking and rare.

Of the four elders, two had already agreed. All eyes, like heavy weights, finally fell on the clan leader, Hyuga Hiashi.

Perhaps touched by the past events mentioned by the Third Elder, the image of his younger brother, Hizashi, involuntarily appeared in Hiashi's mind.

Since Hizashi had his own child Neji, Hiashi could clearly feel the invisible barrier between the brothers deepening day by day, and Hizashi's daily changes were like a thorn stuck in Hiashi's heart.

After a long and agonizing silence, Hiashi Hyuga finally slowly raised his right hand and cast his vote, a vote that would determine the future of the Hyuga clan.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Hiashi Hyuga stood respectfully, reporting the clan meeting's decisions to the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

When Minato confirmed that the Hyuga clan had finally agreed to modify the core function of the "Caged Bird Seal," a genuine smile of joy appeared on his face.

With the Hyuga clan's proactive compromise, he will be in a more advantageous position in subsequent negotiations with the Otsutsuki clan on the moon, and will be able to guide the situation more calmly.

This is not only beneficial to the overall stability of the village, but in the long run, it may also be a good thing for the Hyuga clan itself.

After finishing his report, Riji's face showed a rare hint of embarrassment, and he hesitated to speak.

Minato keenly sensed this and asked gently, "Hiashi, is there anything else? Please speak freely."

"Um—Lord Hokage!" Hiashi's face showed a rare hint of unease, and his voice lowered slightly. "To my shame—it is truly the fault of our unworthy descendants. The clan's in-depth research and improvement techniques regarding the 'Caged Bird Seal' have been lost for many years, and even the core related texts and materials have been scattered and incomplete. Therefore—"

Minato understood. So that's how it is. The Hyuga clan itself was no longer able to complete the modification of the cursed seal, so they came to the village seeking technical assistance.

Without any hesitation, he immediately gave a clear promise: "Chief Hiashi need not worry. The village will do its utmost to assist. I will personally invite Orochimaru and Matsushita Taichi, along with myself, to help the Hyuga clan complete the improvement of the cursed seal."

Before Hiashi could express his gratitude or concerns, Minato added promptly, like a reassuring pill: "Of course, please rest assured, the main body and leadership of this research are still in the hands of the Hyuga clan. The three of us will only provide necessary assistance and technical support, and will never overstep our bounds."

Hearing the Hokage's comprehensive assurance, Hiashi Hyuga finally felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. After all, this concerned the clan's most core secret technique and heritage, and he couldn't afford to be careless in the slightest.