Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

"Understood! You two, please follow me..."

Hyuga Takashi sensed that the voices of the Anbu members were somewhat familiar, but he didn't have time to think about it further. He instructed the branch family members beside him, "You two go and inform the clan head!"

The gatekeeper carried out orders without uttering a word, like a puppet.

"Will the main family lead the way for me?"

Looking at Hyuga Takashi's smiling face, who seemed to be trying to make a good impression on him, Hyuga Hizashi felt a mix of emotions.

This appearance is truly appalling...

He didn't want to be like the main family, inexplicably superior to others; he just wanted to live as an independent individual.

only.

Seeing this side of Hyuga Takashi, who used to be so arrogant in the clan's territory.

Hyuga Hizashi couldn't help but feel a sense of pleasure.

This scene proves it.

—The main family, or at least a significant portion of the main family, is merely putting on a show of power in front of the branch family by virtue of being a caged bird!

In the outside world, if you don't have the ability, this identity means nothing!

The reception room in the clan's territory.

Hyuga Tenzo, the head of the Hyuga clan and Hyuga Hizashi's biological father.

He sat upright in the main seat, waiting for Sakumo and Hizashi to arrive.

Below them were several members of the main family discussing the situation, as well as members of the branch families who, as usual, accompanied them and acted as guards.

Seeing the two step into the reception room, Hyuga Tenzo slowly rose, his smile official yet friendly, and walked over: "Gentlemen, what brings you to my Hyuga clan's territory today?"

"Did the third generation give any instructions?"

Hyuga Hizashi stared intently at his father.

Watching his father get up from his seat and walk towards him.

And that smile…

These were all things he had never seen before.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Tenzo was also pondering the intentions of the Anbu.

What happened?

He witnessed the fight between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru.

As the clan leader, he was certainly not a good-for-nothing like Hyuga Takashi; his Byakugan skills were among the best in the clan.

It's not a big deal if there are one or two incompetent members of the clan who hold positions without doing any work.

The Hyuga clan is large and wealthy, and can afford to support them.

All that's needed is to carefully select a successor.

Hyuga Tenzo was quite surprised.

Although the Hyuga clan rarely uses the Byakugan at full power within the village to avoid suspicion, there are always opportunities for Hyuga Tenzo to capture the state of important figures.

For example, today.

In his Byakugan, Hiruzen Sarutobi's meridian vitality and chakra abundance appeared as if he had become more than ten years younger...

How did that old guy do it?

Therefore, he waited anxiously for Hyuga Hizashi's report and asked Hyuga Takashi many times whether Hyuga Hizashi had returned.

To maintain neutrality, allowing the Hyuga to enjoy the protection of the Hidden Village without having to exert themselves and bleed...

However, it is necessary to maintain a keen understanding of the situation in the village...

The wall isn't so easy to ride.

"I voluntarily joined the Dark Division."

Suppressing his excitement and trembling hands, Hyuga Hizashi slowly removed his mask: "The Hyuga clan has something to discuss with the Hokage. If there are any unspeakable difficulties..."

"Please tell me, and I will write a report and promptly inform the Third Generation Lord!"

When Hyuga Hizashi opened his mouth.

Hyuga Tenzo had already sensed that something was wrong.

Although Hyuga Tenzo had always strictly enforced the status and treatment of Hizashi according to the standards of the branch family in order to maintain the ruling and management system of the main family and the branch family.

Since his youngest son had been forced to work as a beast of burden, the other members of the clan were naturally not allowed to object!

This was the best endorsement Hyuga Tenzo had designed for the clan rules, and the effect was remarkable.

It's just that the youngest son suffered a bit, but in return, the rest of the branch family could bear it, and the main family's evaluation of him improved significantly.

Such skill is worthy of a seasoned, caged bird warrior.

But after all, Hyuga Hizashi was still his son, and you could tell from his voice.

Hyuga Tenzo's heart skipped a beat, and his fair eyes slowly widened!

His youngest son joined the Dark Guard without informing him.

"Hizashi, it's you!"

Hyuga Takashi's eyes widened, an unnamed rage rising within him. He roared, "Why are you only coming back now! I told you to go check and report back immediately, are you deaf?!"

Damn it, I was actually smiling at him just now!

I belong to the main branch of the family!

Hyuga Takashi was unusually angry. As a member of the main family who had no real ability, his sense of superiority came from his absolute control over the branch family.

This control has lasted for more than 20 years and has never failed.

His anger did not only represent himself; many of the clan members present also felt resentful.

You, a member of a branch family, dare to privately discuss cooperation with the Hokage?

If there's any talk, it should be our clan that talks; you're just the ones carrying out the work and the bargaining chips!

He even went to the card table himself?

This is a shameful betrayal!

Hyuga Takashi's gaze quickly swept over the reactions of the other main families. He made up his mind and prepared to continue his attack.

This is his true duty.

—As a main branch family without any real power, they can only become mouthpieces for spreading unpleasant rumors.

Lacking both power and diplomatic skills, he could only occupy this niche.

"What's his name?" Sakumo Hatake, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, pointing at Takashi Hyuga.

Hinata Takashi's face stiffened, and a whole bunch of words stuck in his throat.

"Hyuga Takashi." After a moment of silence, Hyuga Hizashi replied with a smile.

"I'll remember you." Hatake Sakumo nodded. "I've worked in the Anbu for a long time, and this is the first time someone has directly asked the Hokage's direct Anbu to report to the ninja clan..."

"Now that I've heard it, I can't pretend it didn't happen."

Sakumo Hatake's tone was calm, but tinged with coldness: "Takashi Hyuga, are you asking the Anbu to serve you? Are you very dissatisfied with Hizashi joining the Anbu?"

Hyuga Takashi, who was just angry, softened immediately when he met Hatake Sakumo's gaze.

"No! That's not what I meant..." Hinata Takashi stammered, "I just..."

He stammered for several seconds without managing to say anything coherent.

Hyuga Tenzo witnessed this scene and shook his head slightly.

While closed management is beneficial for the continuation of the Hyuga clan, it does indeed lead to a lack of perspective and social interaction among clan members, and could even be described as immature.

"But this shortcoming is unavoidable. The Hyuga clan must establish a main branch and branch family structure; the ancestral laws must never be changed!"

"As long as we nurture Hijikata properly, these things are necessary for the continuation of the family line!"

Such a thought flashed through Hyuga Tenzo's mind as he came to Hyuga Takashi's rescue:

"I'm very sorry, Xiao has absolutely no other intentions. He never leaves his clan's territory and has no concept of the Dark Division."

"He's being immature, please forgive him. I will definitely discipline him severely."

At that moment, Hyuga Tenzo noticed the white dagger at Hatake Sakumo's waist, and his expression turned solemn.

Was it that man?

It seems his youngest son really sold him for a good price…

"Is that so?" Hatake Sakumo nodded. "I understand."

Hatake Sakumo was very satisfied with Hizashi's performance, which is why he was willing to stand up for him.

Hizashi didn't say that Hiruzen Sarutobi invited him; instead, in front of his clansmen, he emphasized that he had voluntarily joined the Anbu.

This is the "pledge of allegiance".

This left a way out for the power struggle between the Hokage and the main branch of the family, allowing him to openly take the blame for the matter.

Well done.

"Hizashi, do your best in the future. I have high hopes for you." Hatake Sakumo patted Hyuga Hizashi on the shoulder, and his figure disappeared like a ghost.

"So fast!" the Hinata members present exclaimed inwardly.

Even with your eyes wide open, it would be difficult to keep up with that speed, right?

Even if you can see it clearly, your body probably won't be able to react in time...

Hyuga Hizashi stood in the center of the reception room, scanning the expressions of the Hyuga ninjas present.

No more bowing our heads, no more humility.

Meanwhile, the Hyuga main family, whose eyes met his, were naturally filled with anger, but Hatake Sakumo's question to Hyuga Takashi was still ringing in their ears.

The ANBU mask that Hyuga Hizashi wore on his face was still in his eyes.

For a moment, wherever Hyuga Hizashi's gaze fell, the main family members all snorted coldly and turned their heads away.

At that moment, the eyes of all the Hyuga branch family members present held a deep sense of envy…

What a magnificent and free sight this is!

Finally, Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Tenzo, father and son, locked eyes.

"I'm going to rest now. Please don't send anyone to clean my room from now on," Hyuga Hizashi said slowly. "If you feel you're causing trouble for the clan, I can move out."

"How could that be, Hizashi..." Hyuga Tenzo's knuckles bulged beneath his sleeves, yet he maintained his composure.

"Your family supports you, how could we not grant these requests? Haha!"

Hyuga Hizashi nodded slightly: "Thank you for your understanding."

This action further fueled the anger of the clan elders present…

What does that mean?

That's the head of the family, or your father!

What do you mean by treating me like an equal?

Step out of the reception room.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!" Hyuga Hizashi suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was loud and hearty, yet it also carried a faint hint of a sob.

Laughing loudly, I stride out the door; today I will not be a caged bird…

The laughter echoed throughout the Hyuga clan's territory.

It ignited the anger of the main family, but it also made all the branch families remember it firmly.

Hyuga Hizashi looked up and saw that on the Hokage Rock in the distance, the statue of the Third Hokage seemed to be covered with a layer of gold in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Sandaime-sama..."

Hyuga Hizashi bowed reverently towards the Hokage Rock:

"Thank you for your kindness! I have no way to repay you except with my own life!"

#

On the other side of the village.

Fugaku Uchiha, along with members of the security detail, was also reporting the details of today's events to the current head of the clan, Isshin Uchiha.

Uchiha Isshin puffed on his pipe, smoke billowing around him, his brow furrowed.

As Setsuna Uchiha's younger brother, he was the spokesperson for the Uchiha hawks.

The news brought by Fugaku made him very unhappy.

How can an old man possibly rejuvenate?

"Did they use a forbidden technique from the previous Hokage?"

Uchiha Isshin angrily exhaled a puff of smoke and cursed, "Damn it, that damned Tobirama Senju, even in death he won't stop!"

Fugaku chuckled.

Within the Uchiha clan's territory, this phrase is practically a given among older hawks.

You scold someone if their pupil strength declines, you scold a child if their ninjutsu training isn't going well...

Fugaku sometimes wondered if these old men even blamed the Second Hokage for their constipation.

"Clan Chief Isshin, let's put aside Tobirama Senju for now; we need to face the problem squarely!"

Fugaku Uchiha asked solemnly, "Given the strength displayed by the Third Hokage, do you think anyone in our clan can rival him?"

"His disciple, Orochimaru, has a ninjutsu that even a three-tomoe ninja cannot see through."

Fugaku Uchiha's expression turned strange as he thought about the abilities Orochimaru had displayed.

It wasn't that he lacked emotional intelligence; he deliberately commented on Orochimaru as "like a monster" on the spot.

That posture was simply too grotesque...

The snake spits me out, I spits out the snake, then the snake spits out a sword?

If you get burned by a fire jutsu of the Third Hokage level, you can open your mouth and spit out a snake, and the snake will spit out itself, thus refreshing your status.

No, is this a miniature Izanagi?

He is a powerful figure in the Uchiha clan and the vice minister of the security department.

Fugaku knew of a forbidden technique that could alter the reality of life and death…

Izanagi was once hailed as the Uchiha's second life.

This is also one of the sources of pride for Fugaku Uchiha.

After all, such a powerful and mysterious eye technique is truly unparalleled in the ninja world...

But after seeing Orochimaru's performance, Fugaku couldn't hold back anymore.

The heroes of this world are as numerous as carp crossing a river…

"These fancy tricks and ingenious techniques are not worth mentioning!"

Uchiha Isshin snorted coldly:

"It's absolutely impossible for it to be as miraculous as Izanagi! As for Hiruzen Sarutobi... after all, he's Sarutobi Sasuke's son, so it's understandable that he has some talent."

"It's true that we're not as good, but Orochimaru doesn't need to be blind... You keep saying we need to stay tough, but we can't just be arrogant all the time, can we?"

Fugaku Uchiha sighed, rubbing his forehead. "As you know, there aren't many of our three-tomoe clan members left... and there aren't many geniuses among the younger generation either."

"That Shisui is alright, but he's a descendant of Uchiha Kagami..."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Isshin fell silent.

After a long while, the old Uchiha sighed, "Fugaku, I am not a fool."

"Being a hawk doesn't represent rebellion, but rather the inheritance of an ideology and a form of vigilance!"

Uchiha Isshin slowly said, "The village was jointly created by the Senju and Uchiha clans..."

"Admittedly, the clan head and Lord Hashirama engaged in a deadly battle for some unknown reason, but have we Uchiha not remained loyal?"

Fugaku Uchiha chuckled: "I heard from the elders in the clan that when the clan head left, he didn't call out to anyone and just walked out of the main gate of Konoha. You all thought he was going for a stroll..."

"Then suddenly a fight broke out in the Valley of the End, and the tribespeople didn't even have time to react..."

Uchiha Isshin gave Uchiha Fugaku a sharp rap on the head in a fit of pique.

"You brat! How could you not shout!"

Speaking of this, Uchiha Isshin's eyes also became somewhat cloudy:

"We did call for it, but at the time, everyone really didn't want to live an unstable life anymore, so we said we'd reconsider, and the enthusiasm wasn't very high..."

"Everyone's thinking, with the clan head in charge and Lord Hashirama being a good person, even if Tobirama Senju is bad, he can't do anything to the clan, right?"

"Unexpectedly, Madara and Lord Hashirama suddenly engaged in a deadly battle! Lord Madara perished, and Lord Hashirama was also severely injured, allowing Tobirama Senju to defeat the Second Hokage, all while neither of them were present..."

"Great Clan Head" is a unique title used by the Uchiha clan to refer to Madara Uchiha.

As for Hashirama Senju, this old man who lived through the Warring States period, he also maintained a certain level of respect.

However, when Tobirama Senju is mentioned, the situation is completely different.

Uchiha Isshin's eyes flashed with venom: "This person can never be trusted..."

"Since the Warring States period, his hands have been stained with the blood of countless Uchiha, and he has a morbid desire to research the Sharingan and the Uchiha bloodline. He has dissected countless members of our clan..."

"After the village was founded, he constantly ostracized the Uchiha clan, tarnished the image of the clan head, and made the village children believe he was a murderous monster, all to campaign for the next Hokage!"

"After becoming Hokage, his methods became even more ruthless!"

"In order to divide the Uchiha clan, he recruited the most talented 'Mirror' as his bodyguard, thereby splitting the Uchiha..."

Fugaku Uchiha frowned: "Taking him into the guards, isn't that a way of bringing a clansman into the upper echelons?"

"Just looking at that, it's obvious." Uchiha Isshin sneered, "But why was it that when Tobirama Senju covered the retreat, only 'Kagami' died!"

"Among 'Mirror's' teammates, who are now in high positions, was there anyone who ever helped the Uchiha?"

"Can all of this be explained by coincidence?"

"That Shimura Danzo, his malice toward the Uchiha has never dissipated... and he takes pride in it every day, boasting that he is most like that son of a bitch, Tobirama Senju."

"Those Root ninjas are openly monitoring the clan's territory!"

Uchiha Isshin shook his head:

"I'm telling you to read more history books not to harm you, but because I'm afraid you'll be deceived! How could any of Senju Tobirama's disciples and followers be good people?"

"If we don't maintain a hawkish stance and pass this will on to our children, otherwise, when all the elders have died and no one remembers these things, that will be the day the Uchiha clan is wiped out and exterminated!"

"Do you understand?"

Uchiha looked at Fugaku with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

Fugaku Uchiha nodded, seemingly understanding, "Then when will we be able to regain our glory? Are we just going to stay like this forever...?"

"Wait, be patient."

Uchiha Isshin said slowly, "We're not admitting defeat; we're waiting for a turning point!"

"Our bloodline contains limitless potential; this is the core advantage of the Uchiha clan..."

"Everything will be alright once the next clan leader, the young clan leader Izuna, appears!"

And the following day.

Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage's office early.

He was also pondering questions about the Uchiha clan...

"The Second Hokage left behind a fortune, but he also left behind a mess..."

"It's still a historical problem stemming from a thousand years of grievances, it's not easy to handle!" Hiruzen Sarutobi squinted, lost in thought.

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P.S.: Here comes a 5,000-word chapter! Updates will be scheduled for noon starting tomorrow!