Starting as a working person from Naruto

Chapter 198 Now let's discuss the issue of the Hyuga clan's rebellion.

As soon as Akihara Kagura opened her mouth...

Those present dared not speak out in anger and could only listen obediently.

Lee Lok pouted, tears streaming down his face, too ashamed to even cry out loud, fearing he would be banned from competition for life.

Might Guy turned around and hugged Rock Lee. He could only shed tears with his disciple, feeling wronged. He dared not say anything more for fear of affecting Rock Lee's life. The sight of two grown men crying together was somewhat unseemly.

"This…"

As Kagura Akihara's friend, Kakashi Hatake could only cautiously approach Kagura's side. Seeing his friend and her student crying together, he couldn't help but want to take the opportunity to plead for them: "Isn't this a bit cruel? At least let this little guy participate. I know this child works very hard and is quite strong, but he just hasn't had the chance..."

Before the Chunin Exams began, Rock Lee fought with Sasuke Uchiha, a student of Kakashi Hatake. The so-called genius Sasuke was perfectly countered by Rock Lee.

Kakashi Hatake knew that Rock Lee was a hardworking kid just like his friend, and he didn't want Rock Lee's efforts to go to waste, so he planned to help him try.

however…

Akihara Kagura was completely unmoved.

"First, he's questioning what I'm saying."

Kagura Akihara glanced at Rock Lee and said, "Secondly, even with my strength, I live in constant fear and wouldn't dare call myself a genius..."

"This brat is spouting nonsense about Hyuga Neji being a genius, as if he's afraid his teammates won't be remembered and assassinated by the people of Kirigakure and Sunagakure?"

"..."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

Kakashi Hatake was speechless for a moment.

Although Kakashi Hatake had never seen Kagura Akihara living in such a state of fear, at this moment he felt that Kagura's twisted logic was actually quite reasonable...

"We're allies! How could that be!"

The Sand Village's Jonin leader, Maki, quickly waved his hand, indicating that the Sand Village had no intention of targeting Konoha's genius ninja.

The people of Sunagakure and Kirigakure really got to watch a good show, witnessing Akihara Kagura's rampant and lawless behavior in Konoha.

Akihara Kagura's strength is too formidable. Even if Konoha really made him the Hokage, the entire village would fall apart sooner or later.

"It was my mistake to throw a punch at the weak."

Hyuga Neji glanced at his weeping teacher and friend, and decided to back down to Akihara Kagura: "Kagura-sama, Li was just speaking up for me, this shouldn't involve him..."

"Don't put on this act of deep friendship in front of me."

Kagura Akihara glanced at Rock Lee and Might Guy, who were still crying beside her, and continued, "You are ninjas, not children. You should understand that you have to pay the price for saying or doing the wrong thing. This is a lesson for him..."

"..."

Hyuga Neji lowered his head helplessly.

"This isn't Neji's fault..."

Hinata coughed up blood, still wanting to argue for Neji.

"It all started because of the farce caused by your Hyuga clan."

Kagura Akihara glanced at Hinata Hyuga, then watched Neji Hyuga lower his fist with a hint of helplessness, and coldly said, "From today onwards, if the Hyuga clan causes any more conflict here, whether it's the main family or the branch family, I will clean up all those with Byakugan without hesitation, so as not to let you affect Konoha's image..."

"Kagura, calm down..."

Kakashi Hatake quickly stepped forward to offer some words of advice.

The Hyuga clan is the only powerful ninja clan in Konoha. Their Byakugan bloodline limit alone makes them the strongest reconnaissance force in Konoha. Such words cannot be said lightly.

"Don't worry, I'm not a bloodthirsty person."

After finishing her sentence, Akihara Kagura turned her gaze to an ANBU ninja: "Go and inform Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, that it's my order to keep quiet until the Chunin Exams are over. I'll visit him after the Chunin Exams!"

"Yes."

The ANBU ninja had no choice but to relay the order.

"..."

Kakashi Hatake remained silent. He probably knew that Kagura Akihara wanted to use force to compel Hiashi Hyuga to resolve the conflict between the branch family and the main family. However, how could the internal affairs of a powerful family in Konoha be resolved so easily?

"..."

Several ANBU members sensed something was wrong and rushed to the Hokage Building to inform the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, fearing some serious trouble might have occurred.

However, Akihara Kagura didn't seem to find this troublesome. She simply looked down at all the bewildered people present and announced that the preliminary rounds would continue.

"The exam continues."

"..."

There are still three candidates present who have not participated in the battle. Obviously, one of them will be left out, but it is unknown who will be lucky enough to receive a turn.

The names of Choji Akimichi and Toshi appeared on the lottery screen in the examination room. Choji Akimichi was no match for Toshi and was unfortunately defeated. However, it was unexpected that the lucky Gaara would be the one who lost in the end. Perhaps Gaara didn't need this kind of luck.

"There are still so many people left?"

Akihara Kagura glanced around at those who had passed the preliminary rounds, frowned, and said, "Alright, let's stop here then. The main competition for the third exam will be held in a month, because the leaders and nobles from other ninja villages will be coming to watch your matches..."

"You should all focus on your training for the next month. It's best to perform well and not disgrace your villages. Also, don't cause trouble in your villages, or I might disqualify you from the third exam, or if I don't like what you've done, I might just kill you outright..."

"..."

The genin who had passed the preliminary rounds looked at Akihara Kagura with trepidation.

"Let's disband."

After Akihara Kagura finished speaking, she waved to dismiss the group, leaving only Karin by her side.

Might Guy and Rock Lee from Team 3 were still sobbing, while Tenten, now fully recovered, could only offer a wry smile and comfort them: "Alright, alright, the Chunin Exams are held twice a year! Anyway, only Neji from our team passed the preliminaries, and I didn't pass either. Lee, come with me next time!"

"good…"

Lee Rock nodded, tears welling in his eyes.

Although I was inexplicably eliminated and failed to prove my abilities, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I can still accompany my teammates to take the exams every day next time.

"..."

Hyuga Neji stood silently to the side.

The situation of Team 8 is obviously a bit strange. Shino Aburame, who passed the test, is nowhere to be found, Kiba Inuzuka is still arguing with Naruto Uzumaki, and Kurenai Yuhi is still accompanying Hinata Hyuga, who is still receiving treatment.

As for Class 10…

Only Nara Shikamaru passed the test.

However, the atmosphere in the examination room was not quite right. Sarutobi Asuma wisely led his disciples away, intending to begin preparing special training for Nara Shikamaru.

The people from the other ninja villages also left quickly.

Just as Akihara Kagura was about to leave the stadium with Karin, the head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, arrived at the stadium, wanting to pay Akihara Kagura a visit.

When Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, learned about the reason for the conflict between Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata during the Chunin Exams, which displeased Akihara Kagura, he immediately took a letter from his home and rushed over.

"It seems you've heard about it."

Akihara Kagura casually sat on a railing and looked at Hyuga Hiashi who had rushed over: "I originally planned to visit you after the Chunin Exams, but now that you're here, I only have one question: when will this farce between the main family and the branch family finally end?"

"I'm here to explain to Lady Kagura."

Hiashi Hyuga looked at Kagura Akihara and explained in a deep voice, "The main family and the branch family are separated, and the Caged Bird Seal carved on the heads of the branch family members is a method passed down in the Hyuga clan for thousands of years..."

Hiashi Hyuga frowned and continued in a low voice, "If we don't carve the Caged Bird Sequence, our clansmen will have their Byakugan bloodline taken away. And the Byakugan bloodline can't cause as many side effects on the transplant recipient as the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan..."

To be honest, the system of the Hyuga main family and branch families is actually beneficial to Konoha, because most of the Hyuga clan members who go out on missions are from the branch family.

The members of the Hyuga branch family had the Caged Bird Seal carved on their heads by the main family, so they no longer had to worry about the Hyuga clan's bloodline limit, the Byakugan, being taken away.

If it weren't for this system, countless Byakugan would have been taken from the Hyuga clan during the war, and the ninja villages that obtained the Byakugan would have caused countless problems by using the Byakugan bloodline limit. Besides, there are no side effects to Byakugan bloodline transplantation...

Strictly speaking, anyone can have a white eye transplanted.

"Protection measures? Then let's treat everyone equally from now on."

Akihara Kagura glanced at Hyuga Hiashi and continued softly, "Since it's a means to protect the Byakugan bloodline limit, add the Caged Bird Seal to yourself from now on!"

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga was starting to feel conflicted.

While this would certainly ease the conflict between the main and branch families of the Hyuga clan, it comes at the cost of the main family. The main family has always prided itself on its noble status; if they were to have a caged bird mark on their foreheads, like a slave, wouldn't that seem rather...

Kagura Akihara, a high-ranking member of Konoha, came from the Konoha Orphanage. Doesn't she understand the difference between nobles and commoners all too well? The main family of the Hyuga clan is a proper noble family, while the branch family members are the main family's guards. This is a matter of status within their family, and it can't be changed in just a few words...

"The Hyuga clan has a history spanning a thousand years..."

Hiashi Hyuga's brows furrowed deeply, unwilling to follow Kagura Akihara's suggestion: "If the main family also carves the Caged Bird Seal, it will cause a decline in the main family's authority. The main family has been responsible for passing on the Byakugan for generations, while the branch family has been responsible for protecting the main family and ensuring its inheritance for generations..."

"Wait a mininute."

Akihara Kagura gestured for Hyuga Hiashi to pause, and then explained according to his words: "Can I understand this as the Hyuga main family using the Caged Bird Seal to control the branch family, thereby concentrating the main family's authority and ensuring that the branch family will always be loyal to the main family?"

Akihara Kagura pondered for a moment, then asked curiously, "Doesn't this seem a bit like the Uchiha clan? Is your main clan's desire to concentrate the Hyuga clan's power to oppose the village's higher-ups and resist their orders?"

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga frowned.

Everyone knows this in their hearts, but it can't be said out loud, right?

While the main family of the Hyuga clan does indeed hold the power of life and death over all the branch families, and can use this to fight against the Konoha leadership, such a confrontation is a game of strategy, and it shouldn't be said outright.

Hiashi Hyuga realized his mistake and felt that he shouldn't have gone to Kagura Akihara, but should have gone to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to mediate.

No matter what...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was still a respectable politician.

Kagura Akihara, a genius Wood Release ninja, clearly aspired to become Konoha's future Hokage, so Hiashi Hyuga still wanted to pay her a visit. However, he never expected that this guy would so openly reveal his intentions…

However, Akihara Kagura seemed to have grasped Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts and questioned, "Or are you saying that your Hyuga clan is concentrating its forces to stage a coup like the Uchiha clan?"

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga shook his head, hoping to clarify the relationship between Konoha and the Hyuga clan: "The Hyuga clan has never considered opposing the village's higher-ups, nor has it ever disobeyed their orders. The Hyuga clan is also one of Konoha's guardians..."

The Hyuga clan aren't like the Uchiha clan—they're not crazy!

Moreover, the Hyuga clan's strength is far inferior to that of the Uchiha clan. Where did they get the courage to confront the Konoha leadership? In fact, the Konoha leadership could even force him, the head of the main clan, to commit suicide!

"You didn't want to defy the orders from above, you never thought of rebelling, and you even wanted to protect the village..."

Akihara Kagura looked at Hyuga Hiashi, seemingly a little confused: "Then why gather your strength? Are you worried about encountering an insurmountable enemy? There's no need for that. The village will protect you."

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga remained silent, unable to speak.

This future Hokage shouldn't be so naive.

Konoha is the haven of the Hyuga clan, but also their greatest danger. If the Hyuga clan cannot gather their strength, and Konoha deliberately harms them in the war, causing them to collectively fall into a trap and die, what can the Hyuga clan do?

"You refused to release the Caged Bird Seal from the Hyuga branch family, and you refused to carve the Caged Bird Seal above the main family's head..."

Akihara Kagura looked at Hyuga Hiashi and sighed, "The conflict between your clan's main family and branch family has reached this point. Even today's conflict has become a laughing stock for people from other villages. What exactly does the Hyuga clan intend to do?"

"This whole thing started with Neji..."

Hiashi Hyuga sighed, shook his head, and continued, "I want to see Neji first and talk to him alone..."

Hiashi Hyuga has a letter in his hand.

That letter was left by his younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi. The letter stated that Hyuga Hizashi was willing to die for his brother, not because of any orders from the main family.

"This is no longer a problem with Hyuga Neji."

Kagura Akihara spread her palms and continued, "Now we need to discuss whether the Hyuga main family's refusal to accept my proposal, their attempt to forever control the lives and deaths of all Hyuga members, and their gathering of the entire Hyuga clan's power, constitutes a coup d'état..."

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga felt a slight pain in his forehead.

I came here on my own initiative to solve the problem, and it's one thing if the problem isn't solved, but why am I being unfairly labeled?

Third update!

That concludes today's daily quota!

To be continued tomorrow! Goodnight everyone.

(End of this chapter)