Plainly
Whether Hyuga Hiashi believed it or not, Narutowas telling the truth.
He really wasn't that sort of person.
Though his Shadow Clones might not count as people.
"How do you want to handle this?"
Hiashi didn't care much about the life or death of the clan's main-house elders, but with the Byakugan in play he couldn't afford exposure.
"Leave it to Neji."
After mulling it over, Naruto said, "There shouldn't be any real danger—if they're smart enough."
Hiashi understood what he meant.
If they weren't clever, only death awaited.
He certainly didn't believe the Tianming Organization had grown this powerful by running charities.
Some necessary sacrifices were inevitable.
Besides, handing the matter to Neji didn't bother him.
In a sense, it would even avenge Hyuga Hizashi.
"These two elders are quite old, but their Joninlevel is solid. Be careful; call me if you need help."
Hiashi reminded him.
If you're going to sell a favor, sell it thoroughly.
The Hyuga had survived this long thanks to such decisiveness and to avoiding trouble.
"Piece of cake."
Naruto indicated he had a cheat.
Not the system kind.
It was the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan he'd earned through hard work.
Except for a handful of people, those eyes were practically invincible.
Anyone else would wake up every morning atop a skyscraper ten thousand meters high, waited on by thousands of maids.
With enough Dōjutsu Power, one could rule the entire Ninja World.
Hiashi had no idea where Naruto's confidence came from, but since he'd said as much, there was no point pressing further.
What happened next made him break out in cold sweat.
Under his gaze, Naruto walked up to the two main-house elders.
He'd expected an earth-shaking battle, yet there was only silence.
Three seconds later, the two elders followed Naruto out like puppets under control.
What Ninjutsu was that?
Hiashi couldn't help speculating.
If Naruto wished, couldn't he wipe out the entire Hyuga Clan overnight?
He finally understood why the Uchiha had been annihilated by Uchiha Itachi.
Ninja really could become that powerful.
He began to ponder Naruto's earlier words.
The Caged Bird Seal had ensured the Hyuga produced no truly powerful Ninja.
"So this guy doesn't take me seriously either?"
Hiashi rubbed his chin as the realization dawned.
Naruto was, after all, an outsider.
No matter how strong, he didn't belong to the Hyuga.
When such villains appeared in the future, what could stop them?
With Naruto around now, at least there was no immediate worry.
This was the perfect chance to lift the Caged Bird Seal and let the Hyuga grow strong.
The only change required might be how the clan-head position was inherited.
In other words, before the branch system ended, how to ensure his line kept the advantage.
At least the next generation would be secure.
Hiashi thought for a while, then shook his head and sighed: "Children must carve their own destinies."
He had no power to see the future; no one could guarantee anything.
[Congratulations, host, for achieving "NarutoSpeaks Plainly": +3 stat points, 3 destiny stones.]
After leaving the Hyuga Compound, Naruto was surprised to hear the system's voice.
When he saw the achievement's name, he could only think: Whatever makes you happy, system.
It was handing out free rewards anyway.
No matter how ridiculous the achievement, he'd take it.
Following habit, he dumped the points into defense, then escorted the two elders to Langya Pavilion.
Neji gaped. "Don't tell me you just raided the Hyuga Clan?"
Naruto blinked.
What the—how did my reputation get this bad?
Why did everyone treat him like some marauding bandit?
"I'm not that sort of person."
He waved it off. "Relax, I already spoke with my father-in-law."
Neji froze.
He hadn't expected Hyuga Hiashi to agree.
"Hold on—since when do you call him father-in-law?"
"It's only a matter of time."
"…"
Neji admitted defeat.
No wonder he'd won over Lady Hinata.
Wait—anyone with skin this thick could win anyone.
Neji couldn't be bothered arguing; he led the two elders away.
A week later, Naruto was summoned again.
"Your Sealing Jutsu is pretty solid, right?" Nejiasked.
"Not bad," Naruto said modestly. "Most people aren't as good as me."
"Then help me remove the Caged Bird."
Neji outlined his plan—his "operation."
Use the Reanimation Jutsu to separate soul from body, then unlock the Caged Bird on both simultaneously.
The hardest part was timing.
Because the seal existed only once, while body and soul were two parts.
They had to match perfectly—down to the same second, the same instant.
"That's easy."
Naruto grinned.
What a coincidence.
Synchronizing two different people was tough.
But the original and a Shadow Clone?
Plus a telepathy card?
"Don't mess around,"
Neji warned. "If this fails, the backlash could be severe."
"Hold up, let me call a few people."
Naruto summoned every Shadow Clone except Karen's.
Unaware of the truth, Neji relaxed on seeing so many members of the Tianming Organization.
The Fool, Lord of Heavenless, Merlin, Uzumaki Menma.
The four clones had sealing skills equal to Naruto's.
In the entire Ninja World, almost no one surpassed them.
After all, they were products of the Uzumaki Clan.
Once Neji shared his research, the five spent three days memorizing every step and key point.
"Speaking of souls and sealing, there's another expert."
Before surgery, Naruto suddenly thought of someone.
Shion.
As a millennium-old shrine maiden who spent her days sealing the Spectre, her sealing skill was top-notch.
And when it came to souls—
Because shrine maidens and the Spectre were two sides of the same entity, they'd studied souls extensively.
Besides, after Shion released her own seal, her power had soared.
Though not combat-focused, her support abilities were first-rate.
Since she was a member of the Tianming Organization, Naruto dragged her in.
The medics Karin and Sakura had to be present as well.
Sasuke's eyes had fully fused.
Naruto wasn't sure exactly how strong the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was, but it might prove useful.
At the very least, it could serve as a spectator.
In the end, the assembled operating room had enough firepower to assault the Five Great Villages.
Shion produced an incense burner, claiming the ancestral smoke could nourish the soul.
No idea if it worked, but it smelled great.
And so the group got started.
Complex as the Caged Bird was, it was still a curse seal.
Where something exists, it leaves traces.
After years of study, Neji had mapped every line and function.
Naruto's team had two tasks.
Break it first, then eradicate it.
Simple to say, messy to perform.
Still, with so many experts around, nothing went wrong.
Only Neji screamed a lot.
Physical pain was one thing—anesthesia helped.
And with his soul outside his body, he shouldn't feel anything.
But cutting directly into the soul hurt.
Unbearably.
Naruto considered recording it, but decided that might ruin his relationship with his Brother-in-lawand refrained.