Chapter 18: The Hyuga Clan Will Always Be Konoha's Hyuga Clan
Under Arima's guidance, Minato entered the Hyuga clan's Tamaeda Shrine for the first time. Though he'd visited the Hyuga compound before, he'd always gone to his target's home. He'd only heard of this shrine, never seen it.
However, at this moment, Minato's mind was preoccupied with matters, and the torrential rain poured down like a waterfall. He had no leisure to examine or observe Tamaeda Shrine.
He was led by Arima into a tea room where Arima ordered tea to be served.
"Please wait a moment, distinguished guest. The clan head is still busy with something. Once finished, he'll immediately come over..." Before Arima could finish speaking, he heard a series of dense footsteps outside the sliding door.
Then the door slid open.
Ritsu strode into the tea room with broad steps, greeting him with a smile. "Minato-senpai, we meet again!"
"Huh?"
Minato was shocked, nearly losing control of his expression. He tensed his muscles, desperately controlling his emotions on the verge of losing composure. Then he saw Hizashi and six other famous Hyuga Branch Family jonin file in one after another, all following behind Ritsu like attendants.
Now Minato couldn't hold it together. His face truly showed shock and alarm.
What the hell was going on?
Wasn't he told Hiashi was waiting for him? Why were Ritsu and numerous Hyuga Branch Family jonin appearing before him instead?
In that brief instant, his mind raced through hundreds of thoughts and ideas, born and dying in succession.
Fortunately, Minato's psychological fortitude was formidable. He quickly controlled his expression and, looking at Ritsu who had knelt across from him at the low table, asked with a solemn expression, "Ritsu-kun, what's the situation? Earlier, this Arima-kun said he came to receive me by order of your clan head, Hyuga Hiashi. Isn't Hiashi-senpai here?"
"Hmm?"
Ritsu looked at Arima standing to the side.
"I said I came by the clan head's order."
Arima explained.
Ritsu understood. This guy Arima had essentially tricked Minato. When he said "clan head," he meant Ritsu, but Minato mistakenly thought the clan head was Hiashi, thus bringing Minato here through this misunderstanding.
He smiled and looked at Minato. "Minato-senpai, you may have misunderstood. The clan head Arima spoke of is not Hyuga Hiashi. Hyuga Hiashi is our clan's previous clan head. The current clan head is me!"
"What?"
Minato felt like an entire year's worth of shock was being used up in this single day.
"Hiashi-senpai is no longer clan head?"
Honestly, Minato couldn't help wondering if he was dreaming. "Ritsu-kun, can you explain more clearly? What exactly has happened to your clan? The Hokage ordered me to visit Elder Hyuga Masamune. Where is Elder Masamune? Can you ask him to come speak with me?"
"Regrettably, Hyuga Masamune and other Main Family members were cruel traitors, brutal and heartless. They treated us Branch Family members like cattle and slaves, whipping us at will. Unable to endure such humiliation, we rose up in resistance today and have already captured and executed all Main Family members. Though former Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi was not in the compound, popular sentiment ran high. After collective deliberation, we removed Hiashi from the clan head position. Subsequently, at the clan members' recommendation, though unworthy, in order not to disappoint the clan members' great affection and expectations, I could only shamelessly assume the clan head position temporarily!"
Ritsu fabricated facts without changing expression.
Behind him, Hizashi and the others had their eyes opened wide. Yet they were even more convinced in their hearts. Just based on this ability to lie without batting an eye, Ritsu deserved to be clan head. The six of them couldn't speak these words so smoothly even if they tried.
Minato was dumbfounded.
He felt his head buzzing.
He had to use all his strength to force himself to maintain composure. It was only because Ritsu and the others showed no killing intent otherwise, he might not even be able to sit still right now.
Ritsu wasn't finished speaking. He turned and pointed at the six people behind him. "Minato-senpai, look. When you were coming over, our clan's jonin and special jonin were here in the shrine's martial arts hall electing elders. These are the six elders jointly recommended by our clan's hundred-plus jonin and special jonin."
He emphasized the phrase "hundred-plus jonin and special jonin."
"So... are you all the Hyuga clan's new Main Family?"
After a moment of silence, Minato asked.
"No. From now on, the Hyuga clan will no longer distinguish between Main Family and Branch Family. All clan members will be treated equally."
"Ritsu-kun, may I ask how you... dealt with the Main Family?"
Minato stared at Ritsu and asked in a low voice.
"Very simple. I erased my Caged Bird Seal. Those Main Family wastes naturally weren't my match." Ritsu openly removed the headband from his forehead. This matter couldn't be concealed, nor was there any need to hide it.
"How did you do it?"
In his shock, Minato blurted out.
Ritsu merely smiled without speaking, retying the Konoha headband.
He could tell Hizashi and the others he'd relied on a forbidden technique to erase the Caged Bird Seal, but he absolutely wouldn't mention forbidden techniques before Minato, who represented the Third Hokage. Forbidden techniques were forbidden precisely because they were prohibited from contact, training, research, and use.
Once violated, the village had the authority to punish the violator.
"I was presumptuous."
Minato lowered his eyes in thought. It was natural for Ritsu not to want to say. This question shouldn't have been asked, he'd blurted it out earlier due to emotional turmoil without careful consideration.
"No matter. I understand your feelings, Minato-senpai. However, what's done is done. Please relay to the Hokage our clan's current status on my behalf. Though the clan has undergone some relatively major changes, the Hyuga clan will always be one of Konoha's founding families. Every Hyuga clan ninja is also a Konoha ninja. This point will absolutely never change!"
"The clan still has urgent matters to handle. Once the clan is stabilized, I will personally visit the Hokage!"
Ritsu spoke word by word, steady and forceful.
Minato's mouth twitched. "Some relatively major changes"? This was clearly earth-shattering change, the very sky of the Hyuga clan had changed!
However, fortunately Ritsu's attitude was proper. He hadn't forgotten the Hyuga clan was Konoha's Hyuga clan.
Thinking carefully, such change wasn't necessarily a bad thing. With the Hyuga clan's internal conflicts eliminated, this clan might burst forth with even greater power and make more contributions to Konoha.
Of course, the one qualified to make decisions was the Hokage. All he could do was report the changes in the Hyuga clan to the Hokage as quickly as possible.
"I understand."
Minato stood up.
Looking at Ritsu who also rose, he spoke gravely. "I will truthfully report everything I've seen and heard to the Hokage. Ritsu-kun, I'll take my leave!" After speaking, his figure directly vanished from Ritsu's field of vision.
"Flying Thunder God Technique, truly impressive!"
Ritsu exclaimed in admiration, then flicked his sleeve and looked at everyone. "The guest has left. Let's return and continue the meeting."
Regardless of the Hokage's reaction, what he needed to do now wouldn't change. Continue consolidating the family's power, making his position as clan head truly substantive. Only by tightly binding the entire Hyuga clan to himself would he have greater confidence negotiating with the village.