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"Sorry, I was drinking with a crazy woman last night. I had way too much, and now I’ve got a splitting headache. That’s why I’m late," Kazuki explained as he entered the private room.
"..."
A crazy woman? Surely, he’s not talking about "her"—the one from the Hokage’s office?
"Ahem, actually, I just got here myself. You’re not late," Hiashi said with a forced cough, quickly changing the subject.
When it ca to sensitive topics like the Hokage, Kazuki might be able to get away with it, but as the head of the Hyūga clan, Hiashi needed to remain composed.
"Hinata’s performance yesterday was a bit disappointing. I’m sure it was a source of amusent for you," Hiashi said, steering the conversation in a safer direction.
"Not at all. Hinata is adorable. It’s just that the high-pressure education she’s been under has made her a bit shy and introverted, which is why she’s hesitant around strangers."
’Little Hinata... what a pity.’
If she’d been born into another family, she’d be a sweet and lovable child. Unfortunately, as the Hyūga clan heiress, she has to shoulder the weight of the clan’s responsibilities, growing up under relentless pressure.
Hiashi began cleaning the tea set and preparing the tea.
"Do you think I’ve been too harsh on Hinata as her father?"
"From a father’s perspective, perhaps. But from the standpoint of the clan, it’s not unreasonable. I assu other main family mbers undergo similar education?"
Kazuki offered a neutral response, nodding slightly.
The situation in the Hyūga clan was well-known, and a more pointed opinion might have been interpreted as a veiled criticism. Kazuki wasn’t interested in creating conflict with Hiashi.
Many people outside the clan thought the Hyūga main family were freeloaders, living off the branch family’s efforts. Even so in the branch family shared that view.
But setting aside the issue of exploitation, the main family’s education was undeniably strict—not just for Hinata, but for all its mbers. Hinata’s gentle temperant just didn’t suit such rigid training.
Hiashi didn’t respond to Kazuki’s comnt. He simply focused on preparing the tea, slowly pouring it out and then adding more water to continue brewing.
"By the way, congratulations to the Uchiha for overcoming their predicant. I didn’t expect your predictions back then to actually co true."
Reflecting on it now still felt surreal.
The Third Hokage had truly retired, Tsunade had beco the Fifth Hokage, and the Uchiha had erged from their troubles. Misunderstandings were cleared up, and with Tsunade’s trust in Kazuki, the clan had escaped their quagmire.
Fugaku’s tough decision to make sacrifices for the family had also transford the Uchiha.
Gone were the factional infighting and the village’s hostility and surveillance. The Uchiha were now free of those burdens, making them an object of envy for Hiashi.
The Hyūga, however, still wrestled with severe internal conflicts between the main and branch families, a perpetual knot that couldn’t be untied.
The village might no longer monitor the Hyūga as it once did the Uchiha, but there were still points of contention that couldn’t be avoided.
"How to reconcile the differences between the Hyūga’s main and branch families has always been a headache for every Hokage," Kazuki said casually.
"It’s just that the Uchiha were fortunate enough to encounter a series of events that helped them step back from the brink."
Hiashi knew the Uchiha were reluctant to discuss this topic. Prolonged scrutiny could lead to suspicions that the Uchiha had betrayed the village.
And indeed, there had been no shortage of suspicions, though the Uchiha had no access to core secrets. Otherwise, they would’ve been scapegoated long ago.
"Clan Head didn’t call here just for tea, did you?" Kazuki said, hinting that he’d prefer to get to the point rather than continue with idle chatter.
Hiashi calmly brewed the tea, dodging the question. "The Hyūga, myself included, are curious about the Fifth Hokage’s stance on ninja clans."
"Ah, so that’s what this is about."
Kazuki chuckled and replied honestly, "For clans that have made mistakes, punishnt is inevitable. Soon, a batch of clan-affiliated ninjas will be sent to guard the borders. This is the price they’ll pay for their errors—an entire year of duty without rotation or pay."
A batch of clan-affiliated ninjas?
No need to guess; this clearly involved the Shimura and Sarutobi clans. Only they warranted such serious treatnt from Tsunade. Other ninja clans hadn’t committed any major transgressions.
"As for clans that haven’t made mistakes, things will stay as they are for now. What happens in the future is hard to say—I’m just a Hokage advisor and don’t know all the core details."
Tsunade was far too busy to deal with the Hyūga’s internal issues right now. At best, their situation could be addressed once the village stabilized.
Kazuki had said it before. every Hokage would try to resolve the Hyūga’s issues sooner or later. The difference lay in their thods, shaped by their personalities.
So might use a soft approach to foster cooperation and change. Others might resort to more forceful asures.
"Clan Head, I suggest you prepare yourself. The rift between the main and branch families has always been sothing the village wanted to resolve. It’s only a matter of ti."
"Is change truly necessary?"
Hiashi’s hand trembled slightly but quickly steadied.
"At this point, it seems highly likely," Kazuki said with a slight nod. "Everything the Hyūga do is for the sake of preserving the clan’s legacy, which is understandable. Unfortunately, so of the stricter clan rules conflict with the village’s need for stability."
"No Hokage can tolerate a situation where deploying Hyūga ninjas requires the main family’s approval."
"That creates the impression that the Hyūga’s clan rules override the authority of the Hokage."
"As for the internal conflict between the main and branch families, as long as things remain peaceful, no one will risk angering the Hyūga by interfering—not even the Fifth Hokage."
The Hyūga’s circumstances could improve, but how that happened would depend on Hiashi. After all, this was a family matter, and outsiders couldn’t impose solutions.
How the main family exploited the branch family, or how difficult life was for the branch family—these were internal issues, and even the Hokage would be reluctant to intervene unless there was serious conflict.
"Just make sure the main and branch families resolve their disputes amicably. Whatever you do, don’t let things escalate," Kazuki warned.
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