Tobirama spent two days looking for Uzumaki Shio and still couldn't find her...
After asking around, he learned that recently both Shio and Kushina had been undergoing special training under Mito's guidance, awakening their talent for Fūinjutsu and the power hidden within their bloodline...
Tobirama hesitated for a moment, then went to ask Minato about the duration of his closed-door training. After learning there were only two or three days left, he decided not to visit the Senju ancestral estate...
Tomie wasn't going to die in the next few days anyway. She had endured all these years already...
At worst, he'd just have to wash out a little more blood afterward.
Tobirama really didn't want to interact with Mito.
Even though his body and soul had already been fused into one through Sukunahiko Iyume, and Izuna's existence had already been exposed.
Tobirama still didn't want Mito paying attention to him again...
His sister-in-law's sixth sense was sometimes far too bizarre!
He had finally managed to obtain a relatively free and relaxed environment for his research. He had no desire to return to the days when the Mind's Eye of the Kagura would sweep over him every so often...
Besides, he wasn't the Hokage right now. He was merely an ordinary genius of Konohagakure. He had even less ability to resist...
"Let's wait."
"Judging from what Minato said, it'll only be another day or two."
Thinking of that blond kid, Tobirama couldn't help but smile.
Ever since becoming Danzō's disciple, he finally had a legitimate reason to study the Flying Thunder God Technique and could openly exchange ideas with Minato.
Both of them were geniuses and shared common interests, so they got along extremely well now...
Tobirama, who rarely smiled, would occasionally be amused by Minato's airheaded moments and his peculiar naming sense during their conversations. For the first time in a long while, he experienced the feeling of equal exchanges between companions...
The Hokage stood too high above others, and Tobirama's governing style had been too forceful, so back then there hadn't been many people he could casually chat with.
After all, he had gone from being the First Hokage's shadow to becoming Hokage himself...
And while Tobirama was thinking about Mito and Shio—
At the Senju ancestral estate.
Orochimaru and Hyūga Tenzō sat in the guest seats. Mito occupied the seat of honor, while Kushina and Shio sat nearby.
"Mito-sama, I truly apologize for troubling you..."
"Our Hyūga Clan has actually wanted to reform the Caged Bird for a very long time, but due to technical limitations and the clan's internal circumstances, we were never able to achieve it..."
"Now that the environmental issues have been resolved, and inspired by Hokage-sama's and the First Hokage's will, the clansmen have reached a consensus. So we've shamelessly come to ask you to take a look..."
Tenzō spoke with utmost sincerity.
Was that truly what he thought?
One could only say that it was now. A few days ago, it wasn't.
Back then, Tenzō had still been thinking that perhaps the Main Family would remain the Main Family for centuries to come...
But after Hiruzen left, Orochimaru, acting under instructions from a certain kind-hearted Hokage who preferred to remain anonymous, paid him a visit with a smile and discussed the details of the Hyūga Clan's reforms.
After all, this was a major matter. The brief conversation between Hiruzen and Tenzō could never have settled everything. It had only established the basic framework and direction.
This was how Orochimaru put it:
"Committee Member Tenzō, since you've already agreed to restrict the lethal function of the Caged Bird, I think it would be better to solve the problem once and for all."
"My sensei and I both trust that you wouldn't violate village regulations and carry out private executions."
"Within the village, because of various factors, people may not be equal in strength or treatment. But as Sensei says, people should be as equal as possible in dignity."
"No one wants a ticking bomb inside their head, even if it's a dud. Right?"
Tenzō found it difficult to argue.
After all, he had already agreed to seal away the memories of the other Main Family members regarding the Caged Bird...
Viewed from that angle, extending the logic further was perfectly reasonable.
As far as the village and the Hokage were concerned, there was one aspect of the Caged Bird that couldn't be ignored.
Its existence created a powerful master-servant relationship between the controller and the controlled—one enforced at the cost of life itself...
Even though a large number of Branch Family members had now joined the ANBU, creating a balance that prevented the Main Family from harming clan members directly under the Hokage's command, and indirectly protected their relatives as well...
That was still only a balance. The core problem remained unresolved and could still change in the future.
Hyūga Tenzō actually understood this as well.
Whether he would use the Caged Bird to build a force of loyal death squads wasn't the important part.
The important part was that such a possibility existed at all...
But after holding control of the Caged Bird for so many years and carrying the ingrained mindset of a clan head, when the matter landed on his own shoulders, his normally clear judgment and sharp thinking had dulled.
He needed someone to give him a push...
"Committee Member Tenzō, Sensei has offered the Hyūga Main Family treatment comparable to that of diplomats of the Land of Fire because he understands how difficult the Hyūga Clan's transformation will be. That is his generosity."
"But as a village committee member and Sensei's disciple, I must remind you that your thinking and your level of understanding must keep pace as well. Both sides should consider each other's perspective. Learning to put yourself in the other party's shoes is the only path to lasting prosperity."
That day, Orochimaru played the role Danzō usually played.
Yet his words were far easier to accept:
"Sensei merely established the framework. But if you take the initiative to reform the Hyūga Clan in accordance with the Will of Fire, then I believe such a story will be included in the Ninja Academy textbooks and celebrated by the Hyūga Clan for the next thousand years."
"Your name will be remembered forever by the Branch Family, and Sensei would be delighted to see that. It would be a profound embodiment of the union between the Will of Fire and the Hyūga Clan."
Then Orochimaru suddenly changed the subject and continued:
"You may feel that if the restrictions of the Caged Bird disappear, then in the future both Main Family and Branch Family members will bear the same seal, and there will no longer be any distinction between them."
"You may worry that the Main Family's responsibility for dealing with the nobility could eventually be taken away by the Branch Family."
"But you should know that Sensei has already given the Main Family a head start. Until the improvements to the Caged Bird are completed, that sector will remain under the Main Family's responsibility."
"If they fail to establish themselves and perform poorly, should they really continue holding those positions forever?"
"You must understand that if you want the Hyūga Clan to remain vibrant, positions must be earned through competition. If you keep trying to hand the so-called Main Family an iron rice bowl forever, how could that possibly lead to a good outcome?"
"Look at Hizashi. Coming from the Branch Family, how quickly has he improved?"
"Now look at Hiashi and Kō. So what if they're from the Main Family?"
"The Hyūga Clan was never truly divided into Main and Branch Families to begin with. Hizashi and Hiashi are brothers by blood."
"You're the clan head of the Hyūga. Your goal should be to strengthen the entire clan, not limit your vision to the Main Family alone."
After that relentless series of arguments from Orochimaru, Tenzō found himself completely speechless.
If one really examined the issue in detail, there were simply too many accusations that could be leveled against the Caged Bird...
And they weren't baseless accusations pulled from thin air, either...
They were real hidden dangers that genuinely existed and wouldn't earn any sympathy from others.
After Orochimaru left, Tenzō spent the entire night thinking. He pulled out the cigarettes he had quit over ten years ago and smoked through the night.
Then he made a decision that went against his ancestors' teachings!
He would reform the Hyūga Clan's Caged Bird!
He would completely eliminate its lethal component and turn it into a technique devoted purely to protecting the Byakugan. And Tenzō had also decided that if Orochimaru and Mito could truly eliminate the hidden dangers of the Caged Bird...
Then he would be the first to bear the seal himself!
'Kujō Gen was willing to compensate the Madoka Family with the ancient mirror that symbolized the Land of Fire's heritage in order to forge an unbreakable friendship with Hokage-sama. Could my resolve really be inferior to that of a noble?'
'It's just a Caged Bird seal!'
'Am I, Hyūga Tenzō, only capable of accomplishing things because of my status as a member of the Main Family? My talents in dealing with outsiders alone surpass those of most shinobi!'
Tenzō made his decision.
Of course, the contrast between Hizashi and Hiashi also played a part.
As a Branch Family member, Hizashi had flourished after the environment changed.
Though Tenzō never said it aloud, he had gradually come to acknowledge his son and feel proud of him.
And what about Hiashi?
He hadn't done anything wrong, but what great achievements could someone make while remaining confined within the clan compound as a member of the Main Family?
Not to mention someone like Hyūga Kō...
If not for Hokage-sama's generosity, where would he ever have found such an excellent position as handling noble diplomacy?
If he performed well, that was one thing. But if he did a poor job, he'd be out in a couple of years. Did he really expect to enjoy that position for life?
The shinobi world didn't work that way!
After reaching that realization, Tenzō felt as though some kind of shackle had been broken. Suddenly, he saw endless possibilities stretching before him.
On one hand, the Caged Bird had strengthened his rule.
On the other hand, it would inevitably make the Hokage and pro-Hokage factions wary.
But if he used its reform as a gesture of loyalty, then the Hyūga Clan would be able to participate in far more affairs, and do so openly and confidently, without fear of suspicion...
If even a thousand-year-old clan law had been changed for the sake of the Will of Fire, who could possibly be more loyal than they were?
'My most perfect creation, Nakamaro...'
'If he truly has the ambition and luck to accomplish something in Kirigakure...'
'The Hyūga may become Konoha's greatest contributors! After all, that would be the achievement of expanding the nation's territory!'
'And I believe Hokage-sama won't keep all that glory for himself.'
That was what Tenzō thought to himself.
As always, Hiruzen's reputation hadn't been built on empty praise.
His preferential treatment toward the Main Family and his efforts to reassure the Branch Family were all genuine and practical measures.
Of course, once the overall framework was established, the subsequent oversight and regulations would be monitored by Danzō, Tobirama, Orochimaru, and even Hanzō.
But Tenzō would still remember the Hokage's kindness.
Partly because institutional oversight was necessary to begin with.
And partly because, while his Byakugan couldn't read minds, it could see the Hokage's goodwill.
'Though honestly, I can't tell anymore...'
'Are Lord Hokage and Orochimaru playing good cop and bad cop, or not? Maybe they really aren't. Otherwise, why not send Danzō, who's far more intimidating?'
'Hokage-sama really is too kind-hearted. I should find a chance to talk to him about that...'
A glimmer flashed through Tenzō's eyes.
By voluntarily taking such a huge step forward, it also meant that the day he could call the Hokage "Big Brother" was rapidly approaching...
While Mito pondered the matter, Tenzō's mind replayed his conversation with Orochimaru.
He couldn't help but sigh.
The current Orochimaru already carried a trace of Hokage-sama's shadow...
"The Hyūga truly are a thousand-year noble clan. This curse seal incorporates advanced techniques from multiple sealing arts and is extraordinarily intricate..."
Holding the scroll containing the Caged Bird seal, Mito studied it carefully for a long time before speaking with admiration.
The Caged Bird seal was deeply integrated with the Byakugan.
In terms of functionality, the Caged Bird Technique was undoubtedly a success.
When two Branch Family members bearing the curse seal had children, the purity of the bloodline wasn't affected in the slightest. The only side effect was the loss of one degree of vision...
One degree out of three hundred and sixty.
And such a loss was actually acceptable. In real combat, as long as one paid a little attention, the missing degree of vision was almost negligible.
The problem lay in the Main Family's control over the Branch Family.
"If you're talking about completely removing the Caged Bird curse seal, that would be extremely difficult..."
Mito said thoughtfully: "But if we're only making adjustments—removing the lethal components and reducing the blind spot to some extent—then it's certainly possible."
"However, it will take time..."
Mito smiled as she continued: "Hiruzen also needs my help researching space-related sealing techniques. I've already got ideas for modifying the Caged Bird, but the seal structures will have to be tested one by one."
Kushina and Shio spoke in unison: "Mito-sama, leave it to us!"
During their period of special training under Mito, both Shio and Kushina had grown rapidly.
Besides their desire to contribute to the village, Kushina was determined to catch up to Minato and didn't want to spend her life as a mere decoration...
As for Shio, she hadn't really figured things out yet. After Tobirama gently rejected her feelings, she found herself somewhat lost. She was using intensive training to numb her thoughts and avoid dwelling on it...
Busy people had less time to think.
Because of that, however, Mito had gained two dependable assistants in her sealing research.
Even with the Nine-Tails' support and renewed determination, her physical age remained a reality. Much of the repetitive research work was no longer suitable for her...
And the high barrier to entry in Fūinjutsu meant that reliable assistants were hard to find, which was why Mito had shelved many of her research ideas for quite some time.
But things were different now...
These two girls could work harder than anyone!
Both were first-rate research workhorses... assistants!
"Three to five years, most likely. This isn't something that can be rushed. Constructing sealing formulas requires not only deduction, but also flashes of inspiration..."
Even now, whenever Mito thought about the structure of the Caged Bird curse seal, she couldn't help clicking her tongue in amazement.
No one knew what kind of extraordinary genius the Hyūga Clan had produced in ancient times. Even if her father, Uzumaki Ashina—the greatest master of sealing techniques of his era—were here, he would probably find it astonishing.
He would likely call the Hyūga Clan's ancestor the "God of Fūinjutsu."
"That's more than enough, more than enough!"
Tenzō nodded repeatedly.
"Thank you, Mito-sama!"
As long as children born from now on no longer had the Caged Bird branded onto their foreheads, that would be enough...
After all, three to five years at most would only bring them to the age when they were just entering the Ninja Academy. Since they wouldn't be leaving the village, there would be no need to apply the Caged Bird as a protective measure.
As for the existing Caged Bird seals borne by the older Branch Family members, that truly was a historical issue that couldn't easily be solved at present. Still, at least some measures could be taken.
The only option was different solutions for different generations.
The Main Family would do its best to offer a portion of its earnings from its "sales" work as compensation, using material benefits to ease tensions for the time being, while promising that if a complete solution became possible in the future, it would be implemented immediately...
The memories of the other Main Family members concerning the Caged Bird had already been erased, leaving Tenzō as the sole person who still possessed knowledge of the original version.
And now, with Tenzō at the height of his influence as a Konoha committee member, looking forward to making a name for himself through projects in Amegakure and even Kirigakure, the last thing he wanted was any stain on his record...
Naturally, he would never resort to private punishment.
If there were truly any clan members who refused to obey, his status as a Konoha committee member was now more useful than his title as Hyūga Clan Head.