Chapter 56: The Hyuga Clan

Konoha, Hyuga Clan Compound.

"It seems we all underestimated the Fourth Hokage from the very beginning…"

Hyuga Hiashi spoke while looking at the clan emblem on the wall. Back in the Warring States Period, this emblem once stood shoulder to shoulder with the Senju and Uchiha.

But now…

The Senju had declined. The Uchiha had been ostracized since the Second Hokage's time. Only the Hyuga remained standing strong.

That was a point of pride, but also a burden of responsibility.

"To bring in the long-isolated Uchiha, especially that man known as 'Shisui of the Body Flicker', he's gained quite the reputation through his mission squads these past few years."

"Then there's the son of the White Fang. Because of certain matters, only the Fourth Hokage dares to use him. A prodigy who graduated at five, became a Chūnin at six, and a Jōnin at twelve. That title alone is a badge of honor among his peers."

"And then there's someone named 'Tenzo', we've received intelligence suggesting he can use the First Hokage's Wood Release."

"After the Danzo incident, the Fourth will have total control over his direct ANBU forces. Even the Third's ANBU may begin to lose trust in their master."

"The Uchiha… now have an opportunity."

As Hiashi finished, his younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi, looked up slowly from across the table, conflicted emotions hidden in his white eyes.

"Why are you telling me all this, Lord Patriarch? The Main House has its elders to deliberate these matters. I'm just a Branch House member, my opinion means nothing."

Hiashi sighed. "Even the Main House elders don't have a brother they can trust…"

Hizashi chuckled bitterly. "Just a little over a year left…"

A year?

He didn't finish the sentence, but Hiashi knew exactly what he meant.

In a little over a year, on the day of his daughter Hinata's third birthday, the Branch House curse mark would be engraved again.

And Hizashi's own son, Neji Hyuga, was said to have already shown tremendous talent in Gentle Fist at just three years old.

No wonder Hizashi resented not being born into the Main House.

After all, his very existence was bound by fate to serve and protect the Main House.

The Caged Bird Seal placed his life and death entirely in the Main House's hands.

"No matter whether it's the fate of the Main House or the Branch House, neither of us can defy it. Hizashi, don't forget your mission."

Then Hiashi's voice dropped low as he revealed a shocking piece of intel:

"The Uchiha Clan… now has two Mangekyō Sharingan users!"

The room fell silent. Hizashi's disinterest vanished in an instant. He stared at Hiashi in shock.

"Those eyes… is it really that kind?"

Hiashi nodded. "Different from the standard three-tomoe Sharingan, each Mangekyō has its own unique abilities. According to ancient records, eyes beyond the three tomoe possess overwhelming power."

Hizashi recalled those descriptions: "A massive chakra avatar formed through shape transformation… unmatched in offense and defense. One blow could shatter the heavens and earth…"

"But that's not all."

Clearly, as clan head, Hiashi knew more than Hizashi.

"The Mangekyō's powers go beyond even that. But the one I'm most concerned about… is Uchiha Yun."

'Uchiha Yun?'

Hizashi frowned. "Why haven't I heard that name before?"

Hiashi replied thoughtfully, "Until the recent incident, I hadn't either. But according to our intelligence, this generation of Uchiha has produced two geniuses."

"One is Itachi, graduated early after one year, became a Genin at seven, awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan at eight."

"The other… is Uchiha Yun. Yet oddly, reports claim he never even awakened his Sharingan."

"But the other day… through my Byakugan, I saw another Mangekyō Sharingan; it belonged to Uchiha Yun."

Stunned silence filled the room.

After a long while, Hizashi asked, "Same age as Itachi? Nine years old?"

Hiashi nodded. "According to the Academy records, he's just three months younger. A prodigy beyond even Kakashi. With eyes like that, he's already beyond the level of a Jōnin."

'Still in school?'

Hizashi blinked. "He's still enrolled at the Academy?"

After getting confirmation, Hizashi found the whole thing absurd.

Konoha has had many geniuses during the war, like Kakashi, who graduated at five and became a Chūnin at six. While rare, such talent wasn't unheard of.

But…

To possess the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet remain at the Academy, hidden from public view, that was truly unprecedented.

After struggling to process it, Hizashi changed the subject.

"The other Mangekyō… is it Shisui?"

Hiashi nodded. "Compared to Yun, Shisui has battlefield experience. No one knows how long he's had the Mangekyō."

"The Uchiha's strength has now reached a level where Konoha itself must weigh the risks. Some of the Fourth Hokage's decisions will now have to account for the opinions of these two."

Hizashi nodded.

His brother was right. With two Mangekyō Sharingan awakened, the village's stance toward the Uchiha would inevitably shift.

Even if the upper echelons still feared the Uchiha, they feared that they'd go mad like Madara once did and try to destroy Konoha. 

That fear, when strong enough, would turn into political compromise.

"Sigh…"

After a moment of silence, Hiashi said, "There's something I need your opinion on."

Hizashi looked up. Hiashi hesitated, then continued.

"Half a month ago… thanks to the Byakugan, a Hyuga member accidentally uncovered something."

"A member of the Shimura Clan, stationed at the maximum security prison for high-risk ninja, is secretly planning to help the Uchiha hardliners break someone out."

'A high-risk convict?'

Hizashi didn't interrupt. Hiashi continued, "Further investigation revealed the person they want to rescue is an Uchiha named Setsuna, who was once imprisoned by the Second Hokage."

"We don't know much about him, but according to Uchiha records, he was one of the most senior figures among the hardliners, second only to Uchiha Madara himself."

After a long silence…

Hizashi asked, "Has the balance of power between the Uchiha hardliners and moderates already shifted? If that's the case… Shisui and Uchiha Yun are moderates, right?"

"So you're asking… should we, the Hyuga, take action? Inform Shisui or Yun? Or…"

.....

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