Chapter 19: Is the Hyuga Clan Planning Rebellion?
Reappearing on the Hokage Building's rooftop terrace, Minato didn't dare delay a single moment. He rushed down the stairs and pushed open the Hokage's office door. Upon entering, he immediately declared loudly, "Hokage-sama, major changes have occurred within the Hyuga clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his chair, raising an eyebrow but remaining steady. "Minato, don't rush. Speak slowly!"
Infected by the Hokage's unhurried demeanor, Minato took a deep breath before speaking. "Hokage-sama, I met Hyuga Ritsu."
"Oh? Didn't those Hyuga Main Family members say they'd punish Ritsu?"
Hiruzen's eyes flickered.
However, Minato shook his head. "The Hyuga clan no longer has a Main Family. At least, the Main Family in the village is gone."
"What?"
Hiruzen truly couldn't hold it together. He cried out in shock, "What do you mean the Hyuga clan no longer has a Main Family?"
"According to Ritsu's account, the Hyuga Branch Family members couldn't endure the Main Family's brutal rule. So he led the Branch Family in rising up in resistance, executing Hyuga Masamune and numerous Main Family members. After collective deliberation, they removed Hyuga Hiashi—who wasn't in the village—from his clan head position. Then Ritsu was elected as the new clan head. Afterward, he assembled over a hundred Hyuga jonin and special jonin and selected six elders from among the Branch Family members."
"..."
Hiruzen's eyes widened. He stood up, pressing both hands forcefully on the desk. Extremely fierce killing intent appeared in his eyes as he growled in a low voice, "What are they planning to do? Is the Hyuga clan trying to rebel?"
Slaughtering the Main Family, removing the clan head, electing a new clan head and elders—such behavior was complete rebellion!
He had to consider the worst-case scenario.
The Hyuga Branch Family had lost control and devoured the Main Family. Was this the end? Or the beginning? Would those Branch Family members, while hating the Main Family, also resent the village that had watched all this while remaining silent, uncaring, and uninvolved?
After killing all the Main Family, where would the blade turn next?
Was the Hyuga clan truly planning rebellion?
If the Hyuga clan truly intended to rebel, how should the village respond? Draft plans targeting the Hyuga clan emerged one after another in Hiruzen's mind.
Just then—
"Hokage-sama, please remain calm for now. From what I observed, the situation hasn't deteriorated to that extent. Ritsu personally told me that the Hyuga clan is one of Konoha's founding families, and Hyuga clan ninjas are all Konoha ninjas. He also said that after stabilizing the clan's situation, he would come to visit you, Hokage-sama."
Minato spoke up timely, roughly repeating Ritsu's original words.
"He truly said this?"
"Three minutes ago, Ritsu said it himself."
"Minato, do you think his words are credible?"
Hiruzen's expression softened somewhat, but doubts remained.
"I believe this is merely internal turmoil within the Hyuga clan. This upheaval will be confined to the Hyuga clan internally. Ritsu's behavior appears very lucid. He knows what he's doing and understands what cannot be done. I don't believe he'll oppose the village."
Minato sincerely stated his view.
After hearing Minato's words, Hiruzen sat back down.
He turned his head toward the window. The heavy rain continued falling. Bean-sized raindrops, pushed by strong gusts of wind, battered against the windows with crackling sounds. The thick curtain of rain obstructed vision—nothing could be seen clearly at even a slight distance.
Such terrible weather made everything inconvenient!
However, Hyuga clan members were affected far less than ordinary people. The Byakugan bloodline allowed them to ignore the visual limitations this harsh weather brought. Rather, weather with poor visibility was precisely when the Hyuga clan could fully display their abilities.
The reason the Hyuga were dispatched to the Eastern Front to fight Mist ninja was because the Byakugan countered the Mist ninja's signature "Hidden Mist Technique." The Byakugan could easily see through the thick fog that left ordinary shinobi unable to see their own hands.
"Send more people!"
Hiruzen called out.
The next second, four ANBU lined up in a row, kneeling on one knee before the desk.
"Saru, find Danzo. Tell him what Minato just said about the Hyuga clan. Have him release 'Root' and scatter them around the Hyuga compound to constantly monitor the Hyuga. Report any disturbances immediately. Additionally, have him come to my office himself."
"Fuji, go to the Police Force. Order Uchiha Fugaku to assemble the jonin and remain on standby, but don't tell him why."
"Jackal, notify Advisor Elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Have them come to my office immediately."
"Leopard, notify each clan's... forget it. You and Jackal split up to find the two advisor elders."
Orders were issued one after another.
Minato stood silently to the side.
Clearly, the Hokage hadn't relaxed his vigilance. He still guarded against the possibility of the Hyuga causing trouble. Putting himself in those shoes—if he were Hokage, he'd likely make similar decisions. Even if he trusted the Hyuga clan, the necessary preparations truly couldn't be neglected.
In this world's many matters, the most feared thing was that one-in-ten-thousand chance!
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU squad answered in unison.
The four left the Hokage Building and departed separately through the heavy rain.
"Minato, I'll have to trouble you further. Stay with me for now as well!"
Hiruzen looked at Minato.
At such a time, having a top-tier jonin like Minato stationed here brought greater peace of mind. Minato alone was worth a hundred people. Moreover, Minato's wife, Uzumaki Kushina, was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
If things truly came to that worst case, they might need the Jinchuriki's power to quickly suppress the rebellion.
"When I left, I told Kushina I'd be back early. Looking at this situation now, I'm afraid I won't be able to return." Minato smiled bitterly and helplessly.
"Minato, explain the Hyuga clan's current situation in more detail. I remember this Ritsu is only fifteen this year, right? Even if he's called the Hyuga clan's greatest prodigy, can he truly sit firmly in the clan head position?"
"Whether he can sit firmly as clan head, I can't say. But looking at the Hyuga clan's six new elders, their obedience to Ritsu is quite high!"
"Six new elders—I almost forgot to ask. Who are these six elders?"
"I don't know many people from the Hyuga clan, but I happen to know all six of them. They are Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Takashi, Hyuga Tenma, Hyuga Shinichiro, Hyuga Isamu, and Hyuga Karin."
Minato reported these six names.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, murmuring, "All skilled fighters from the Hyuga Branch Family!"
He also knew these names because all six were outstanding among Hyuga jonin. The youngest, Tenma, had repeatedly distinguished himself on the battlefield. That Hiruzen remembered their names and general situations was proof of this.
However, what concerned him most was still Hizashi.
This was Hiashi's own younger brother!