The Hyuga clan's executives and elites gathered together.
However, these people were surprised to discover that other than Hiashi Hyuga, not a single other member of the main family had appeared. Elders, sons of elders—not even half a shadow of them could be seen.
Hiashi Hyuga looked around at everyone, and a surge of heroic resolve rose within his heart.
Then let the fate of the Hyuga clan begin changing with me!
"Everyone!"
"I believe all of you have felt it. In recent days, our Hyuga clan's situation within the village has grown worse and worse. Within our clan, a major problem has also appeared."
"The conflict between the branch family and the main family is growing increasingly severe."
"And this, in truth, is because someone is sowing discord within our Hyuga clan."
"I can tell all of you now—the rumors spreading outside about Hizashi's matter are the truth."
"At the time, the Hokage threatened me and even sent ANBU shinobi to follow me. That was why I had no choice but to say those words denying the rumor."
"We can no longer remain in Konoha."
"Otherwise, we will become the next Uchiha."
"No. Our situation is even worse than the Uchiha clan's."
"Therefore, I have made a decision!"
"But I need every member of the clan to obey my orders and trust me absolutely. Are you willing?"
The response below was not enthusiastic.
But Hiashi Hyuga had expected this.
After all, over a long period of time, a deep gulf had already formed between the main family and branch family.
The matter of Hyuga Hizashi had undoubtedly deepened that gulf.
In addition, the rumors spreading in recent days had seemingly made the branch family members further recognize their own situation within the Hyuga clan and within Konoha.
They had been exploited far too severely.
They were barely treated as people at all.
Under these circumstances, the members of the Hyuga branch family were becoming more and more clear-headed.
If not for the existence of the Caged Bird Seal, someone would have already raised a rebellion.
"I know that all of you do not trust me. You do not trust me, a member of the main family."
"We of the main family have oppressed the branch family too much over these years."
"I actually never wished to see the gulf between the main family and branch family grow this deep, whether you believe that or not."
"But the Hyuga clan's current situation requires every clan member to be of one heart."
"Only then do we have a chance to survive this crisis."
"To make you trust me, and to make you believe that this time, I, a member of the main family, am not trying to deceive you, I have made a decision."
"I will abolish the Hyuga clan's main family and branch family system!"
As soon as those words fell, the entire meeting room went silent.
The branch family members looked toward Hiashi Hyuga.
Some revealed expressions of disbelief.
Some showed surprise in their eyes.
Others were filled with intense suspicion.
"Abolish the main family and branch family system?"
"Would you main family members actually be willing?"
"You have relied on this system to exploit us for so many years. Would you really be willing to give it up?"
"He must be deceiving us. Right now, he needs us to contribute, to risk our lives for them, to go die for them."
"As long as the Caged Bird Seal exists, how can there be any talk of abolishing the main family and branch family system?"
"If you have the ability, then prove it. Remove our Caged Bird Seals right now."
"That's right! Remove our Caged Bird Seals!"
"…"
Hiashi Hyuga shook his head.
"The Caged Bird Seal cannot be removed. And removing it would not be a good thing for the Hyuga clan."
"The existence of the Caged Bird Seal itself is protection for the members of our Hyuga clan. It prevents others from using any means necessary to attack us and seize our Byakugan."
One person below sneered.
"If you cannot remove the Caged Bird Seal, then what nonsense are you saying about abolishing the main family and branch family system?"
"Do you take us for fools?"
Hiashi Hyuga looked at the person and said, "The Caged Bird Seal cannot be removed. However, I can have every member of the main family branded with the Caged Bird Seal."
"If everyone has the Caged Bird Seal, then everyone is a branch family member."
"If everyone is a branch family member, then there is no distinction between main family and branch family."
"The main family you hate will no longer exist."
An elderly member of the Hyuga branch family revealed a trace of excitement in his eyes.
"Clan Head-sama, have you already done this?"
Hiashi Hyuga nodded.
"That's right. I have already controlled all members of the main family in advance and branded them with the Caged Bird Seal. That includes my own child, Hyuga Hinata."
"Right now, other than myself, everyone has it."
"The reason I have not branded myself yet is because those main family members were not branded willingly. I still need to temporarily use this authority to control them."
"Once the Hyuga clan has settled down, I will immediately brand myself with the Caged Bird Seal as well."
"I swear it on my daughter."
"If I fail to fulfill that promise when the time comes, you may act against her directly."
"As someone who also bears the Caged Bird Seal, she will have no power to resist."
More branch family members' expressions changed.
Because according to what Hiashi Hyuga had said, the Hyuga clan truly no longer had any distinction between main family and branch family.
The main family no longer existed.
By doing this, Hiashi Hyuga had greatly raised the status of the branch family members.
But to the previous main family members, it was an enormous offense.
Putting themselves in his position, they had to admit that if they were the clan head, they might not have been able to go this far.
The way everyone looked at Hiashi Hyuga changed.
"This clan head is different from the previous clan heads."
"In his heart, he has all members of the Hyuga clan, not only those main family members who only care about their own interests."
Hiashi Hyuga looked around once more.
"Everyone, the Hyuga clan's situation truly has deteriorated to the extreme."
"Here, I ask you to believe in me."
"I can promise that everything I do is for the Hyuga clan."
"I will do everything in my power to lead the Hyuga clan out of this predicament."
"I need your trust!"
"I need your support!"
"If you are willing, then please raise your right hand."
The branch family elder who had spoken earlier stepped forward.
"Clan Head-sama, is it true that all members of the main family have already been branded with the Caged Bird Seal? It is not that we are unwilling to believe you, but we have been deceived by the main family too many times."
Hiashi Hyuga thought for a moment.
"Then choose a few representatives. I will take you over to see. Right now, they are being held in a secret room under my control."
Very quickly, more than a dozen representatives were chosen.
Hiashi Hyuga led them toward the secret room.
By this time, the former main family members inside the secret room had already awakened.
The first thing they noticed was the Caged Bird Seal on one another's foreheads.
Immediately afterward, they discovered their own.
When they saw Hiashi Hyuga leading branch family members inside, they instantly understood everything.
They were furious.
"Hiashi Hyuga, what have you done?"
"You have gone too far!"
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