The day after Fugaku returned to Konoha, the Hokage Tower announced the details of the upcoming Jonin Confidence Vote.
It was scheduled for next Friday. Clearly, The Third didn't want to give Fugaku too much time to campaign.
Soon after, both sides began their campaigning efforts.
Their first stop, without prior coordination, was the noble Hyuga family.
As the second most powerful clan in Konoha besides the Uchiha, the Hyuga had dozens of Jonin members. Their votes held decisive weight and could tip the balance of the entire election.
Inside the Hyuga clan residence...
"If the Uchiha becomes Hokage, your Hyuga clan will surely face suppression," Homura Mitokado said earnestly.
Due to the incident with Hizashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't personally attend, so he sent Homura along with Jiraiya to visit.
Hiashi replied calmly, "We'll make our choice based on what's best for Konoha's future."
Jiraiya chuckled, "We're counting on you, Hiashi."
After saying this, the two stood up and took their leave.
Not long after Jiraiya and Homura left, Fugaku and Hachidai were led by Hyuga clan members into the Study.
Hiashi spoke directly, "Fugaku, I oppose The Third, but that doesn't mean I will support you."
Fugaku nodded, "I understand. After all, you are the leader of the Hyuga clan."
Fugaku understood completely. As a clan leader, many decisions couldn't be based solely on personal preference; more often than not, they needed to consider the family's interests.
Hiashi gave a slight nod and asked indifferently, "Then, what is the Uchiha clan's sincerity?"
With that, he curiously looked at Fugaku.
What could the Uchiha offer to gain the Hyuga's support?
Would they promise an Elder seat in the future, promote many Hyuga ninja, or even establish a special department for them?
To his utter shock, Fugaku made a suggestion Hiashi hadn't even imagined before.
Fugaku said, "If I become Hokage, I will share all Konoha Sealing Techniques with the Hyuga, helping you break the Caged Bird Seal."
"What?!"
Hiashi thought Fugaku had gone mad. "Don't you know what the Caged Bird Seal means to us Hyuga?"
Unlike the Uchiha, nearly every Hyuga could awaken the Byakugan, and they weren't strongly opposed to sharing it outside the clan.
Moreover, the Byakugan was extremely practical and held significant strategic value. Without the Caged Bird Seal, many Hyuga would lose protection, becoming tempting targets for others.
Back then, countless Hyuga might be killed and their eyes harvested, reduced to mere livestock bred solely for producing Byakugan.
That was why only one branch was permitted to inherit the pure lineage—they bore the threats from those coveting the Byakugan, while the other branches merely had to protect the main line.
"I certainly know," Fugaku sighed slightly. "The Caged Bird Seal has been key to preserving your heritage across generations."
When Aozora first mentioned this condition to him, he himself had been shocked speechless.
"Not only that, I also know it limits the Hyuga's potential."
"In each generation, only a handful possess the pure Byakugan. All others within the Hyuga clan have their Byakugan integrity compromised by the Caged Bird Seal even before they can refine their chakra, which similarly creates spiritual flaws, permanently preventing them from reaching higher realms."
"Therefore, in every generation of the Hyūga Clan, only a few from the Main Family even get the chance to approach Kage-level strength."
"But reaching Kage level is incredibly difficult; among those few from the Main Family, how many truly possess the aptitude required to step into that realm?"
"Moreover, members of the Main Family rarely even get the opportunity to fight on the battlefield. Without experiencing the trials of blood and fire, how could they possibly ascend to such heights?"
"This is the predicament your Hyūga Clan now faces. While your bloodline allows you to stand as one of the great noble families in the ninja world, you will never be able to grasp the Hokage seat, forever remaining subordinate to other ninja until your clan withers away into irrelevance!"
Upon hearing these words, Hiashi's temple throbbed with visible veins as he glared furiously and snarled, "You've got guts!"
As Hiashi's voice fell, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from his body, sweeping toward Fugaku like a raging storm.
Provoked by Hiashi, Fugaku's eyes flashed crimson, the black Three Tomoe within them spinning rapidly. A terrifying beast-like pressure surged outward from his form.
In an instant, Konoha's two greatest dojutsu—Sharingan and Byakugan—locked in a fierce standoff.
The space between them crackled with invisible energy, and the air in the study grew thick as if before a storm.
Hachidai quickly channeled chakra to shield himself from their clashing auras, but the air grew denser by the second, making it hard for him to breathe. Terror radiated from the two men, causing cold sweat to pour down Hachidai's forehead.
After a long moment, Hiashi let out a cold snort and was the first to withdraw his aura.
He had already mobilized his full chakra reserves, yet Fugaku before him had merely used his Tomoe Sharingan, without even revealing his legendary Mangekyo Sharingan.
Hiashi knew then that his strength paled far behind Fugaku's.
Seeing this, Fugaku also quickly retracted his aura, returning his expression to calm.
After all, he had come seeking an alliance, not a fight. Strength must be demonstrated at the right moment, and always with restraint.
Only then did Hachidai finally catch his breath, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.
Fugaku spoke first, complimenting, "Based on the power you've displayed, you might indeed be able to reach the domain of Kage-level."
Then Fugaku asked, "But can you guarantee your children will inherit your talent? And would you truly bear to divide your own offspring between Main and Branch Families?"
These two questions left Hiashi silent.
Hinata was barely two years old but had already shown signs of cowardice and timidity, lacking the extraordinary talent of a true ninja.
Yet if he were to have another child, he'd be forcing his own children to endure the same pain he and Hizashi had suffered.
After a long silence, Hiashi finally said, "Tell me your idea!"
At these words, a faint smile finally surfaced at the corner of Fugaku's lips. "To be precise, it's not about breaking the Caged Bird Seal, but optimizing it."
"Optimizing?" Hiashi asked in surprise. "Optimize what exactly?"
Fugaku replied, "There are many directions we could take. For example, modifying the Caged Bird Seal so that it can be released automatically when one reaches jonin-level strength. That way, the seal still protects weaker clan members while not restricting talented Hyūga youths."
"Furthermore, with a jonin-level Hyūga's perception ability, even if they face an enemy beyond their capacity, they'll still have sufficient capability to self-destruct their Byakugan. There would be no worry about the Byakugan's secrets leaking outside the clan."
Fugaku paused, then continued, "In that case, the Main Family will no longer hold absolute control over the Branch Family. The thousand-year-old System of Main and Branch Families within your Hyūga Clan will likely collapse soon."
"The System of Main and Branch Families will collapse soon?"
Hiashi repeated the words, then fell into a long contemplation.
He needed to consider not only the influence of optimizing the Caged Bird Seal on clan members' strength and safety but also its impact on the clan's system and traditions.
After a long while, seeing that Hiashi still hadn't reached a conclusion, Fugaku spoke again, "Hiashi, what I mentioned is just an optimization direction. You can explore it further based on what your clan needs.
Right now, you just need to decide—do you want to become the one who leads the Hyūga into a new era of revival?"
Hearing this, Hiashi set aside his detailed concerns about the implications of optimizing the Caged Bird Seal and asked Fugaku, "Fugaku, aren't you afraid that the Hyūga might rise because of this and surpass your Uchiha?"
Fugaku smiled confidently and replied, "The Uchiha don't fear strong rivals—we'll always rise above them!"
Upon hearing these words, Hiashi shook his head and said, "Typical Uchiha arrogance… But this time, the whole Hyūga casts its vote for you."
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