Konoha
Uchiha Ryun was in the Hokage's office handling administrative affairs with Nara Luming. Whether it was due to a sudden pang of conscience or something else, he had been working diligently all morning without any sign of slacking off.
This gave Nara Luming some relief. 'Ryun finally understands the importance of administrative work. My burden can be a little lighter now!'
However, the very next moment, the office door opened. The person entering was Hyūga Hiashi. His expression was serious, his brows furrowed, clearly indicating he had something important to report.
"Teacher, I have an important matter to report..." After saying this, he immediately regretted it because he saw Nara Luming was also in the office. He swallowed his words.
"What is it? Sit down and tell me slowly." Uchiha Ryun waved at him, smiling and signaling for Hyūga Hiashi to sit down. But Hiashi kept a stern face, didn't speak, and just stood there looking at Ryun.
Uchiha Ryun frowned. The next moment, Nara Luming said, "Hokage-sama, I just told you, I have some business to attend to today. I need to go back for a bit. I will return this afternoon."
After saying that, he walked out. Uchiha Ryun was startled, then said, "Let me see you out."
"No need, you are busy." Nara Luming smiled and left.
After Nara Luming left, Hyūga Hiashi breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Uchiha Ryun sit down again, he couldn't wait to speak. "Teacher, something major has happened. While cleaning the battlefield, I found a member of the Hyūga Main Family. He committed suicide."
"After his death, only one Byakugan was destroyed. The other one, it is inferred, was taken." Hiashi's face was filled with worry.
The Hyūga family's protection of their bloodline and the Byakugan had reached an extreme level. Not only did they establish the Caged Bird Seal, but they also created the Branch and Main Family system.
The Branch Family members are marked with the Caged Bird Seal. They go out on missions to earn money to support the Main Family and the clan. Because of the Caged Bird Seal's existence, whenever a Branch Family member dies, their Caged Bird activates, destroying their Byakugan.
This Caged Bird Seal has both advantages and disadvantages. It is true that because of the Caged Bird's existence, the other four great ninja villages discovered that obtaining the Byakugan bloodline limit was practically impossible. Even if they managed to get one, it was a destroyed Byakugan, utterly worthless. Over time, no one targeted the Hyūga Branch Family for their bloodline limit anymore.
The disadvantage is that because the Caged Bird Seal is a brand on the spirit, it seals the Byakugan and prevents its evolution. This has led to the Hyūga family's Byakugan becoming weaker and weaker over the years.
Compared to Hyūga Tenjin from the Warring States Period, it now only retains the ability to discern truth from falsehood.
"Hmm, any speculation? Who took it?" Uchiha Ryun calculated the timing. It should be that guy named Ao, right.
"I don't know. But according to local villagers, the forehead protector was confirmed to be from Kirigakure." As he spoke, Hyūga Hiashi frowned.
"So, Hiashi, what do you want to do?" Uchiha Ryun stared intently at Hyūga Hiashi.
Hyūga Hiashi spoke, "Teacher, I want to ask you to retrieve the Byakugan!" He stated firmly. He absolutely could not let a Hyūga Byakugan remain outside the family. Absolutely not!
This was what Hyūga Sekijō had told him. For thousands of years, it has been the Hyūga family's ancestral teaching. Back in the Warring States Period, the relationship between the Main and Branch Families wasn't as clearly stratified and hierarchical as it is now.
In those days, the Hyūga family implemented the seal to prevent the Byakugan from being lost. Those ninja who went out to fight voluntarily received the mark.
The Main Family, tasked with protecting the bloodline, did not receive the Caged Bird Seal.
At that time, the Main Family admired the Branch Family members. The two families were like one. But, no one knows when it started, everything changed.
Because the Main Family had no restrictions from the Caged Bird Seal and held the method to activate it, they began to use the Caged Bird to enslave and exploit the Branch Family. Due to the Caged Bird's existence, the Branch Family could not resist and could only be reduced to servants.
Uchiha Ryun knew the opportunity to end the Caged Bird Seal had come. He looked up at his student. "I can. But I have one condition, Hiashi."
Hyūga Hiashi looked up at Uchiha Ryun. "Teacher, please state your request. Hiashi will definitely do his utmost to fulfill it!" As long as he could retrieve the Hyūga Byakugan that had been taken, what did a little money or goods matter?
Uchiha Ryun looked at him deeply. "Hiashi, I can take action to get the Byakugan back for you. But I demand that you abolish the Branch Family system and remove the Caged Bird Seal."
Boom!
Hyūga Hiashi immediately felt this was... Remove the Caged Bird Seal? Was this something he could decide on his own? If he did this, wouldn't the old folks of the Main Family tear him apart alive?
"Teacher, this matter is of great importance. I cannot make this decision." Hyūga Hiashi sighed.
Uchiha Ryun glanced at him. He knew his disciple, as clan head, had to have every little thing commented on and directed by those old men from the previous generation before he could proceed.
"You just need to tell me, if I want to break the Caged Bird Seal for the Branch Family, do you support this suggestion or not." Uchiha Ryun looked deeply into Hiashi's eyes.
He remembered asking this question four years ago, when Hiashi was still his student. At that time, Hyūga Hiashi was not yet the clan head. He had said, "I hope the Hyūga family no longer has Main and Branch Families. I hope everyone can live equally under the Hyūga name."
Uchiha Ryun had praised Hyūga Hiashi in front of everyone back then. What Hiashi had been thinking about at the time was his younger brother, Hyūga Hizashi.
They were only born mere seconds apart, yet he became the Main Family, and his brother became the Branch Family. It was extremely unfair.
Now, Uchiha Ryun was asking again to see if his disciple, after four years and inheriting the position of clan head, had changed his original intention, if he was still willing to fulfill the promise he made back then.
Hyūga Hiashi did not hesitate. His expression was firm. "Teacher, I support you!"
Uchiha Ryun smiled. He smiled with great relief. His student was indeed still the same as before. It's just those old men of the Main Family... Tsk, tsk, having lived so long without much achievement was one thing, but they loved to give orders and criticize.
"I will help your Hyūga family resolve this matter. But when I return, Hiashi, you must act out a play with me. Just say that you agreed with me to remove the Caged Bird Seal. If those old men disagree, tell them to come find me." Uchiha Ryun's lips curved upwards.
Making some old folks shut up, without them having to die or become puppets, wasn't a difficult method.
Don't forget the abilities of the Sharingan include control, confusion, and genjutsu. Back then, when Uchiha Madara controlled that squinty eyed, long haired Third Mizukage, he used the ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Ryun now possessed the Eternal Six Tomoe Ringed Mangekyō Sharingan, along with the Sage Body, and the Golden Rinnegan. You tell me, is that difficult?
If, by then, those old folks don't cooperate, then don't blame him for using some unconventional methods.
Hyūga Hiashi nodded. He had long been displeased with those old men. They didn't have much strength, but loved to flaunt their seniority and act entitled, nitpicking and criticizing every major and minor issue, or else tormenting the Branch Family for their own amusement.
If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't appropriate for him to take action, he would have wanted to get rid of them himself. They weren't the clan head, yet they were so attached to power.
"Teacher, I agree. But by doing this, will it affect your reputation?" Hyūga Hiashi's eyes were full of concern.
Uchiha Ryun laughed. He laughed with unrestrained boldness and ease. "I would rather bear the criticism of a lifetime, if it makes Konoha stronger. A united Hyūga family would bring a significant boost to Konoha's power."
Hyūga Hiashi couldn't help but admire Uchiha Ryun. As expected, his teacher was his teacher. Whether when he was a child, or now that he had grown up and become the head of the Hyūga clan, he still respected him as much as ever!
"If it truly comes to that, this disciple will not let his teacher bear it alone." After saying this, Hyūga Hiashi stared intently at Uchiha Ryun.
Uchiha Ryun smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "I will set off now. In a moment, tell Luming that he'll have to work overtime alone tonight. It will be hard on him."
"Yes! Teacher!" Hyūga Hiashi cupped his hands in a salute. Just as he stood up, a flash of golden light appeared, and Uchiha Ryun's figure vanished.
The next moment, Nara Luming opened the door and walked in. "Oh, Hiashi, you're still here? I just finished my business and was heading home. Where is the Hokage-sama?"
"Luming-sama, the Hokage-sama has gone out to handle some business. He requires you to..." Hyūga Hiashi said apologetically.
Nara Luming nodded. "Alright, I understand." After saying that, he very naturally sat down in Uchiha Ryun's seat.
"Is there anything else?" Nara Luming asked with a smile.
"N... no, nothing else. In that case, Luming-sama, I will take my leave." Hyūga Hiashi cupped his hands.
Nara Luming nodded. "Go ahead. Hyūga Clan Head." After saying that, he immediately began dealing with administrative affairs, not looking up again.
Hyūga Hiashi also tactfully exited the Hokage's office and headed towards the clan compound. Regarding what his teacher said about helping him bring back the Byakugan, he had no doubts.
Uchiha Ryun used the Flying Thunder God Technique and instantly arrived at the docks of Kirigakure. Back when he had caused trouble in Kirigakure, he had been careful and left a Flying Thunder God mark at the docks, in case he needed to fight Kirigakure again in the future, he could teleport directly via the mark.
He never thought it would come in handy today.
Uchiha Ryun, smelling the salty sea water and feeling the sea breeze, appeared at the dock. The nearby fishermen saw him but didn't pay him much mind, thinking he was a new fisherman from some family.
Uchiha Ryun didn't stay long either. He headed towards Kirigakure. He was very familiar with Kirigakure, like walking through his own backyard.
Soon, he reached the village entrance. The two guards at the entrance were young and didn't recognize Uchiha Ryun. However, out of professional duty, they reached out to stop him.
"Halt. This is Kirigakure. Who are you? What is your purpose here?" Guard 1 stopped Uchiha Ryun and inquired.
Uchiha Ryun looked at him and said, "Please inform them that Konoha's Hokage, Uchiha Ryun, is here to visit Mizukage Yagura."
After saying that, he found a rock and sat down, waiting for Yagura to come out.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━