Just as Kairen was persuading Miki and Hyuga Nochika to eat sausages, a shadow clone shouted loudly outside the door:
"Boss, this is bad! The Four Great Ninja Nations have all marched into the Land of Fire!"
Hyuga Nochika seized the chance to escape from Kairen's clutches and reminded him:
"War is coming. Hurry up and deal with it!"
Miki wore a wicked grin, mocking Kairen as she looked at him.
Kairen let out a sigh. Why did something big always happen whenever he was getting impatient?
He stood up and put on his clothes.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to instruct Miki and Hyuga Nochika.
"Trouble the two of you to wash yourselves clean. When I come tonight, get yourselves on the table."
Hyuga Nochika lowered her head, her face flushing red.
Miki stuck out her tongue at Kairen's back:
"Big pervert, keep dreaming. Once you're gone, I'll go out and steal a man."
Without turning his head, Kairen said calmly:
"If you dare steal a man, Not a single one from the Yamanaka clan will be made spared."
Miki scrunched up her little nose:
"You only know how to bully me!"
Kairen smiled, paused in place for a moment, straightened his clothes, and strapped a samurai sword around his waist.
"You two, wish me victory at first strike!"
With that, his figure flashed and he left the room.
The shadow clone outside saw Kairen and began speaking nonstop:
"Boss, Princess Tsunade told you to hurry to the Hokage Building to discuss the war."
Kairen nodded and asked again:
"What exactly happened?"
The shadow clone moistened his throat and began to speak:
"It's like this—"
Kairen's fist, as big as a sandbag, smashed over, instantly turning him into a puff of smoke.
"F*%@/*!"
Kairen slowly received the shadow clone's memories, ignoring the cursing.
So that's how it was.
Kairen had stirred up a revolution in the Land of Fire yesterday. The daimyō was arrested, the nobles were purged—this was the biggest event in the ninja world in a thousand years.
The ninja world had always allowed ninjas to fight until mountains collapsed and earth split, yet it never concerned the daimyō or nobles.
They were like outsiders, or manipulators. For ninjas to lay hands on them already violated the professional rules of this line of work.
In short, Kairen and Konoha's actions had angered the entire ninja world.
Now, a great war was about to erupt, and this one would be even more intense than the previous two.
Because all the daimyō and nobles had mustered their strength to wipe out Kairen's Konoha.
Otherwise, Kairen would have set a precedent, and the authority of the daimyō and nobles would be diminished.
In the future, any random ninja could shit on their heads. How could they tolerate that?
Therefore, this would be a confrontation between old and new forces.
...
Kairen walked out of the small courtyard and smiled faintly.
A bunch of rabble in the ninja world—if he felt like it, wiping out the Four Great Ninja Nations would be effortless.
"Huff…"
The sound of snoring outside made Kairen turn his gaze.
Two bears and one fox were sprawled together asleep. Kairen kicked Wolon with his foot:
"Get up, lazy bear, the sun's already shining on your ass!"
"Mm~"
Wolon rolled over, directly pinning the Nine-Tails to the ground, while he himself continued sleeping idly.
The Nine-Tails was startled awake and immediately realized it was being crushed.
"Fatty, get off me!"
After a round of roughhousing among the three beasts, they followed Kairen to the Hokage Building.
On the way, the Nine-Tails asked:
"Are we going to war?"
Kairen nodded:
"Indeed. Going against the entire ninja world—this game is getting more and more exciting!"
The Nine-Tails said excitedly:
"I want to join too."
When it came to hating humans, the Nine-Tails was top-tier. It wished nothing more than for human civil wars to be as many as possible.
"Mm~ Then you'll be my mount. I'll ride you into battle!"
"Hmph!"
...
Inside the Hokage Building, Kairen walked slowly down the corridor.
Canon and several shadow clones came up to him:
"Boss, we're just waiting for you!"
Kairen nodded, then suddenly looked at Canon's appearance.
The glow on his body was a bit dim, like a battery running low.
Kairen asked:
"How many last night?"
Canon waved his hand, a bit modestly:
"Not many, not many."
Kairen punched him again, turning him into a pile of smoke that transformed into memories flowing into Kairen's mind.
The sudden influx of information sent Kairen soaring in bliss.
His face reddened, steam rising from his whole body, as if he had gone through a fierce battle.
Through Canon's wild night,
Kairen realized he was still too inexperienced—Canon played far more wildly.
Forming a football team with eleven women, betting, playing football, playing with the ball—thrilling.
He shook his head, fresh chakra flowing through his mind.
He was still too restrained. Someone destined to become a tyrant should fully develop his talent for indulgence as early as possible.
...
Inside the ninja headquarters, everything was solemn. All the major ninja clans, ANBU, and jōnin were waiting for one person to arrive.
"Click!"
The sound of the door opening rang out, accompanied by the sound of a suona.
The melody twisted and turned, brimming with heroic spirit.
This person came with his own sound system, walking with the wind, making many ninjas feel that he truly lived up to being Lord Kairen.
Kairen raised his hand to signal the shadow clone beside him to turn off the sound system.
The shadow clone nodded.
Kairen swept his gaze around the ninjas.
Tsunade sat at the Hokage's desk. Her face, previously full of worry, slowly bloomed into a smile when she saw Kairen.
Beside her, Kushina wore a jōnin vest. She was now the Hokage's assistant, above ten thousand, below two.
Yūhi Shinku was also there, wearing an ANBU vest, his face full of seriousness.
The major ninja clans.
Uchiha, Hyuga, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans…
The scene was silent as everyone looked at Kairen.
Kairen cleared his throat and asked:
"Everyone… eaten yet?"
"…"
No one spoke, unsure how to respond.
Hyuga Hiashi, head of the Hyuga clan, clasped his hands and smiled:
"Lord Kairen is joking. Everyone has already eaten and is just waiting for Lord Kairen!"
There was a hint of joy on Hyuga Hiashi's face.
Kairen looked full of springtime vigor—one glance told you he had enjoyed himself thoroughly last night.
It seemed he was very satisfied with Hyuga Nochika. From now on, the Hyuga clan would have to rely on this… Hyuga Hiashi thought to himself.
Kairen smiled, walked up to Hyuga Hiashi, and patted his shoulder:
"Clan Head Hyuga is too polite. We're all family, no need to stand on ceremony."
Hyuga Hiashi's face filled with smiles again. Kairen's words showed his willingness to help the Hyuga clan.
Hyuga Hiashi was very pleased.
Kairen then patted Yamanaka Inoichi on the back:
"The Yamanaka clan head too. Family, family."
Yamanaka Inoichi dared not be presumptuous and lowered his head humbly:
"Our Yamanaka clan are sinners."
Kairen said:
"You're too modest. What happened before won't be pursued anymore. From now on, just follow Tsunade properly."
Yamanaka Inoichi's face lit up with joy. Beside him, Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Chōza also let out a sigh of relief.
This kid truly was a lecher.
The other major ninja clans, seeing this, grew even more envious.
Unfortunately, the women in their clans weren't attractive enough to satisfy Kairen.
The newly appointed head of the Uchiha clan was an old man, full of scheming, with the look of political intrigue on his face.
He had also secretly learned of the Hyuga and Yamanaka clans sending women.
He began plotting as well. Although the Uchiha clan had made great contributions this time and gained over a dozen seats in ANBU, four people who had overseen major Uchiha affairs had died, and they needed more of Kairen's trust.
Thus, they too would have to make use of pillow talk.
In terms of female beauty, Uchiha women were handsome and elegant—how could they possibly lose to others?
Kairen suddenly changed the topic and brought it to the Hyuga clan.
"Clan Head Hyuga, your clansman asked me to pass a message to you."
Hyuga Hiashi straightened up, his heart tightening to the extreme.
In his view, this was the moment to receive rewards.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clans had been absolved of their previous crimes—surely the Hyuga clan's reward wouldn't be small!
Everyone watching also pricked up their ears, eager to know what the Hyuga clan would receive.
Only Tsunade was kept in the dark. After Kairen knocked her out last night, he sent her back to her room.
She didn't know what happened afterward.
Did Kairen do something that wronged me… Tsunade guessed in her heart.
Kairen patted Hyuga Hiashi's shoulder and said gently:
"Your clansman said that the Bird Cage on the branch family's forehead is ugly. She wants to remove the Bird Cage."
Boom!
It was like a bolt of lightning striking Hyuga Hiashi's mind.
He stood there as if stunned, his white eyes turning even whiter.
How could it be? Hyuga Nochika, she—
Fine sweat broke out on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead as he said in a flustered tone:
"Lord Kairen, Hyuga Nochika is still young and ignorant. She speaks without restraint. Lord Kairen must not take it seriously."
Kairen said with absolute certainty:
"That is exactly what she said. Clan Head Hyuga, what is your answer?"
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Hyuga Hiashi roared madly in his heart.
That bitch Hyuga Nochika—being a daughter of the main house, she didn't consider the clan's interests, but instead wanted to dismantle a system that had lasted for a thousand years.
His expression changed violently, turning green then white, making the onlookers click their tongues in amazement.
In contrast was Hyuga Hizashi.
He had originally come just to watch the drama, but unexpectedly received such a huge gift.
Removing the Bird Cage curse seal—Hyuga Hizashi dreamed of it even in his sleep, thought of it every moment.
People are born free—no matter what the main house says.
The Byakugan Kekkei genkai is very precious; if outsiders obtain it, it could lead to a bloodline crisis, so branch family members must protect the main house.
This was the clan rule passed down from the ancestors.
How ridiculous—one family, yet divided into two kinds.
One kind were masters, the other slaves.
They called it protection, but in truth it was a disguised form of oppression.
Members of the main house stayed in the clan grounds, not engaging in production, while branch family members toiled tirelessly.
They had to run themselves ragged outside, constantly doing missions. No matter how hard they struggled, the mission records would all be credited to the heads of the main house.
If the ancestral teachings claimed that the Caged Bird was meant to protect descendants, then that ancestor must have belonged to the main family.
After so many years, Hyuga Hizashi finally saw the light.
In this instant, it was as if he saw a crack in the cage. He no longer cared about his elder brother's long-standing authority and knelt down directly.
"Kairen-sama, please, you must lift the Caged Bird from us branch family members. All of us in the branch family will serve you."
The guards beside Hyuga Hiashi also knelt down. They were all branch family members, and at this moment, they were just like Hyuga Hizashi.
"Please, Kairen-sama, lift our Caged Bird. We are willing to serve you as our lord!"
Hyuga Hiashi suppressed the anger on his face. "You—"
If there were no one around, he would have cursed these people for rebelling.
He formed seals with his hands, just about to activate the Caged Bird curse mark, when his hand was tightly grabbed by another.
Hyuga Hiashi turned his head and looked at Kairen's exposed Six-Tomoe Rinnegan.
"Hyuga Clan Head, your answer is—"
Like a terrifying colossal beast descending from the wilderness, like pressure rising from the earth's core.
Under this overwhelming pressure, Hyuga Hiashi could barely even breathe.
Like a powerless small boat drifting helplessly on the vast sea.
He instinctively felt the pressure of Kairen's eye upon his Byakugan, just like the oppression the main family exerted upon the branch family.
Under that eye, he was nothing but a slave.
The surrounding major ninja clans all watched with interest. No one spoke a word on behalf of the Hyuga clan, and quite a few even clapped in delight.
At most, these ninja clans squeezed the commoners a bit, but none were as disgusting as the Hyuga clan—using brothers and sisters like slaves.
Who knows, maybe they even engaged in incest in secret!
Tsunade also did not speak up to stop it. Although she was the Fourth Hokage, her words did not carry as much weight as Kairen's.
This was normal—after all, the new Konoha had been conquered by Kairen.
She was like a puppet, manipulated at Kairen's will—in the office area, in the bamboo grove, on the rooftop…
Hyuga Hiashi gritted his teeth. "I… I need to discuss this with the clan elders."
The Caged Bird was a matter of great importance. It could not be abolished just because of a single sentence from Kairen.
More importantly, deep down, Hyuga Hiashi had already developed a dependence on the Caged Bird.
The convenience of the main family arbitrarily commanding the branch family—once addicted to it, there was no quitting.
Kairen snorted coldly. "Discuss? I'm afraid it'll take you ten or twenty years of discussion. No need to wait for that. I'll accompany you myself."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kairen grabbed Hyuga Hiashi with one hand and vanished, heading rapidly toward the Hyuga clan grounds.
...
Back when he watched the anime in his previous life, there was one line Naruto said that especially disgusted him.
He kept telling Neji that he would change his destiny, that he would change the fate of the Hyuga clan.
But after he became Hokage, the Hyuga clan was still the same Hyuga clan—the division between main and branch families remained unchanged.
Even though Neji gave his life to protect Naruto and Hinata's happiness?
What Neji received in the end was nothing more than flowers laid at his grave every year on the same death anniversary!
At the root of it all, Naruto changed after becoming Hokage.
A daughter of the Hyuga main family became his wife, and the entire Hyuga main family became his supporters. His youthful promises ultimately lost to the authority of the Hokage.
Perhaps he forgot—but something like that could never truly be forgotten, because that person once blocked a fatal blow for you.
In the end, even the reincarnation of Asura was still human. He would change. He would not always retain a pure, childlike heart.
Just as Hashirama could betray Uchiha Madara for the sake of Konoha.
Naruto, for the sake of stability, could also forget his promises.
...
Those left behind were extremely curious about the fate of the Hyuga clan.
No one cared anymore about the major event of the Land of Fire being besieged by four nations. One after another, they used the Body Flicker Technique and rushed toward the Hyuga clan grounds.
Only Tsunade and Kushina remained at the original spot, along with the kneeling Hyuga branch family members, plus Kairen's three mounts.
Kushina was also full of curiosity.
"Tsunade, let's hurry and follow them. I want to see the lifting of the Caged Bird too."
Tsunade shook her head. "As the Hokage, I won't go. You go ahead!"
Kushina said regretfully, "What a pity!"
Tsunade smiled, then turned her gaze toward Hyuga Hizashi and said,
"Hizashi, the freedom that belongs to you has finally arrived."
"Go. The bird in the cage will eventually soar."
Hyuga Hizashi stood up with an excited expression and thanked Tsunade.
"Thank you, Fourth Hokage. We will never forget your kindness!"
Tsunade shook her head. "If you're going to thank someone, thank Kairen. Oh, right…"
Tsunade thought of something and asked Hyuga Hizashi, "Who is that person called Hyuga Nochika?"
Hyuga Hizashi answered honestly, "She's a woman from the main family."
Tsunade was puzzled.
"Oh? Why would Kairen know such a person?"
Kairen's movements were basically under her control. When would he have met a woman from the Hyuga main family?
Hyuga Hizashi was just about to answer, but he swallowed his words back down.
He couldn't possibly say that the Hyuga clan had sent a main-family woman to Kairen to whisper sweet words at his pillow.
The relationship between Tsunade and Kairen was not simple. He couldn't speak carelessly.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo
