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"What do you elders mean by this?" Hiashi's face darkened with displeasure.
"The village and the clan have reached an irreconcilable conflict. Since it can't be reconciled, a coup is the clan's only way out."
You don't want to change. You don't dare to start a coup. What exactly do you want?
Hiashi recalled Kazuki's description of the Hyūga elders – cowards!
He used to think Kazuki, as a Uchiha was just biased against the Hyūga.
Now, seeing these elders, they really were cowards.
"Clan Leader, the conflict between the clan and the village isn't irreconcilable. A coup is truly unwise."
"Yes, I believe that as long as we sit down and talk, any problem can be resolved."
"Clan Leader, you mustn't be impulsive. Don't say such things again. If they leak, it will bring huge trouble to the clan."
Think back. When the Uchiha wanted to leave Konoha and find a new home, what happened?
None of the Uchiha were willing to leave with Madara. That's why Madara lost all hope in the clan.
After over a decade in Konoha, the Uchiha had become accustomed to comfortable lives. And the Hyūga, who had always prioritized stability and compromise for the sake of clan heritage, were even more so.
Talking about a coup was a joke.
"Everyone feels this way?" Hiashi frowned, scanning the room.
The previously fiercely opposing elders were now nodding eagerly like chickens pecking rice. Hiashi's words had scared them.
A coup?
What are you thinking, Clan Leader?
That would destroy the clan.
BANG!!!
No one expected Hiashi to suddenly slam the table and stand up, shouting angrily.
"Are you playing with me? Not long ago, you all demanded that I stand up for the clan and reject the village. Now, I've rejected the village, rejected Kazuki, burned our bridges, and resolved to lead the clan down another path. Now you tell me the conflict between the clan and the village can be reconciled?"
"....."
Hiashi's words made many elders bow their heads in shame.
Because that's exactly what they had done. To be precise, they had always done this.
They thought the village wouldn't truly fall out with the clan. After all, previous Hokages had all wanted to solve the Hyūga's problems.
But none of them ultimately acted. Over time, they got the illusion that the village wouldn't completely break with the clan.
So they chose to be tough.
Now things had blown up and couldn't be contained. Hiashi seemed backed into a corner and was ready to go down fighting.
The elders panicked.
They liked being high and mighty, but they didn't want to drag the clan down with them. Especially since that would include themselves and their families.
"Cough!!"
Seeing things heading toward uncontrollable territory, the Grand Elder coughed and changed the subject.
"Clan Leader, what about Third Elder and the others..."
"I've executed them!"
A flicker of killing intent appeared in Hiashi's eyes as he coldly spat out the words.
"Ah???"
At this, not just the Grand Elder, but everyone looked up in shock.
Executed?
Several elders were just executed?
Including Main House elders? That's... ridiculous?
No, that ruthless?
They used to mock the Uchiha, saying their cowardly clan leader wouldn't show mercy at critical moments and would raise his sword against his own people.
Now, that had happened to them.
The Grand Elder's voice trembled. "Clan Leader, are you serious?"
"Hmph." Hiashi snorted coldly.
"Those few were greedy for power and afraid to die. If the Hyūga clan wants to go down the path of a coup, they are the biggest obstacles. For the clan, for the continuation of our Kekkei Genkai, I had no choice but to execute them."
"...."
The entire meeting hall fell into dead silence.
Everyone present was thunderstruck, their minds buzzing.
If those absent elders had truly been executed, it meant Hiashi was serious about a coup.
He had removed the obstacles.
It was one thing to execute Branch House elders, but even Main House elders hadn't escaped.
Suddenly, everyone looked at Hiashi with fear and wariness.
They were afraid of being the next target.
Once something starts, it often continues.
"Now, as your clan leader, I'll give you one more choice. Accept mediation and peacefully resolve the conflict with the village. I can swallow my pride and personally go to the Hokage's office to beg Kazuki for an audience. After all, he's my future son-in-law. As his father-in-law, if I humble myself, he'll give me that face. But doing so will mean reducing some of the clan's power. If you still find the village's conditions unacceptable, then follow me and forge a new path for the clan."
From Hiashi's expression and tone, no one could doubt his seriousness. He had made up his mind.
Once the elders made their position clear, the clan leader would immediately lead the clan in revolt.
In the meeting hall, many elders had beads of cold sweat on their foreheads. Their hearts were pounding.
"I ask the Clan Leader to go to the Hokage's office as a father-in-law, representing the clan, to negotiate with Lord Advisor."
Not giving other elders a chance to speak, the Grand Elder made the decision for everyone.
A coup? Impossible. A coup would mean the end of the Hyūga clan. Especially with the village already prepared. Starting a coup would be courting death.
Not to mention being watched by Kazuki, Konoha's strongest.
Any suspicious move, and they'd be dead.
The world wouldn't stop turning for anyone, including the Hyūga clan.
The Grand Elder wasn't making this decision out of fear of death. Though he didn't want to die, who would?
His fundamental reason was fear that someone would be foolish enough to provoke Hiashi further.
That would make the clan leader stand up and lead them to "share the good fortune."
Right now, Hiashi couldn't handle any more provocation.
"Are you sure about negotiating with the village? Hiashi asked, frowning.
"Well..."
The elders looked at each other, hesitant.
They didn't want the clan to start a coup, but they were reluctant to give up their power.