Hazan kept his attention focused on the movements behind him. In the "diffused vision" state of the Byakugan, he could perceive everything within a ten-kilometer radius; in the "focused vision" state, his sight extended beyond fifty kilometers.
"They didn't pursue me… So, just as I suspected, I wasn't their target? In that case, they're heading for Konoha?" he muttered. "Looks like the war is about to begin again."
Hazan finally let out a breath. The brief and risky contact he had made with the Mist ninjas had served a single purpose: to determine whether they would chase him, and thus confirm whether he himself was their objective.
If the goal of Kirigakure's ANBU had been to seize the Byakugan, he would have had no choice but to completely revise his plans.
Being targeted by the ANBU of an entire village was undoubtedly a nightmare. It meant living under constant pursuit, never knowing peace.
Such pursuit forces were terrifying. Among them were shinobi skilled in sensing, barrier techniques, medical ninjutsu, and many other specialties. When working together, they were more than capable of overwhelming most so-called "Kage-level" fighters.
"If I hadn't chosen the right moment to defect… I'd be struggling right now under Konoha's ANBU pursuit," Hazan sighed inwardly.
The Hyūga Clan
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stepped through the gates of the Hyūga compound.
It had been many years since his last visit. Thinking back, the previous time he had come was shortly after he assumed the title of Hokage.
Back then, he had still been young. Although he had been appointed by the Second Hokage, his strength and prestige were not yet enough to convince everyone. He had personally visited each of Konoha's major clans, seeking their support one by one.
Fortunately, influential elders such as Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's wife, and his own father, Sarutobi Sasuke, had stood firmly behind him.
Time passed, and now there was no one in Konoha whose prestige surpassed his.
Even so, Hiruzen had come in person, for there were matters too important to be handled indirectly.
Several key figures of the Hyūga clan came forward to receive him:
the clan head Hyūga Hiashi, his younger brother Hyūga Hizashi, their father, and two elders of the main branch.
As they passed through part of the compound, the Third Hokage lingered for a moment, gazing at an area still marked by ruins.
"Reconstruction is already underway. The destruction that night was extensive," Hiashi's father explained.
"A truly violent jutsu…" Hiruzen remarked thoughtfully.
The expressions of the two main-branch elders darkened noticeably.
"Indeed, Hokage-sama. In fact, I believe that jutsu was extraordinary," Hiashi said calmly. "In a thousand years of Hyūga history, no one ever thought to incorporate chakra nature transformation into the Kaiten."
Hiruzen glanced at him, clearly impressed.
"So not everyone here is rigid and stagnant… Hiashi truly seems inclined toward reform," he thought.
Known as the 'Professor of Ninjutsu,' Hiruzen immediately grasped the principle behind the technique after hearing its description.
It was a shame that only the Hyūga could perform it; otherwise, he might have seriously considered registering it as a forbidden technique in Konoha's archives.
"If the Hyūga clan is interested in ninjutsu," Hiruzen said kindly, "I can authorize access to part of Konoha's technique library."
At those words, the two elders grew even more somber.
Hiashi and Hizashi, however, clearly showed interest.
"The Hyūga clan is deeply grateful for the Hokage-sama's support," Hiashi replied.
Hiruzen nodded. It seemed the upcoming discussion would be much smoother.
He pretended not to notice the elders' expressions, maintaining his gentle smile. After so many years in power, he was extremely sensitive to shifts in political balance.
In just a short exchange, he had already sensed that the internal structure of the Hyūga clan had changed considerably.
First, Hizashi—a member of the branch family—was now participating in confidential discussions alongside the main family. Second, Hiashi had openly voiced opinions that would once have been politically unacceptable within the clan, yet the elders raised no objection.
In the past, authority had been jointly held by the clan head and the council of main-branch elders, whose collective decisions often outweighed the leader's own.
But after that night, the main branch had suffered heavy losses: two lineages had been extinguished, one was now led by a child, and only three elders remained—one of whom was Hiashi's father.
Under such circumstances, the elders no longer had the power to restrain the clan head.
Once they were seated in the reception hall and hot tea had been served, Hiruzen went straight to the point.
"The forces stationed along the borders cannot do without members of the Hyūga clan. What arrangements have you made regarding this?"
Hazan possessed a method to remove the Caged Bird Seal, and because of that threat, the clan now hesitated to send members outside the village.
After all, any branch family member dispatched on a mission could have their seal removed and potentially betray the clan—and Konoha itself.
"Simply send those who have families and children," one of the elders suggested. "Surely they wouldn't dare abandon their loved ones to follow that traitor."
"Using their families as hostages…" Hiruzen lit his pipe, falling silent for a moment. "It is a practical solution, but…"
Morally, it was difficult to justify.
"From now on, the main family will also go to the battlefield," Hiashi said evenly. "The application of the seal to branch family children will be delayed for several years. Those who display exceptional talent may be considered for absorption into the main family."
With every word Hiashi spoke, the elders' expressions worsened, yet none voiced opposition.
It was clear this decision had already been discussed internally.
"Providing the branch family with a path for advancement…" Hiruzen said, nodding. "That could indeed ease internal tensions. However, it also increases the risk of the Byakugan being lost."
"There is no other choice," Hiashi's father replied. "Otherwise, the clan would no longer dare send anyone outside the village on missions."
Hiruzen frowned, pondering briefly.
"When faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser. In that case, I ask the Hyūga clan to dispatch as many elite shinobi as possible to the borders with Kumogakure and Kirigakure."
"The Hyūga clan will give everything for the village," Hiashi declared. "Hizashi and I will personally take to the battlefield. Hokage-sama may deploy us as he sees fit."
Noticing that Hiashi consistently addressed him as "Hokage-sama" rather than "Third-sama," Hiruzen already understood the answer to the second matter he had come to discuss.
There was no need to bring it up—the Hyūga clan supported his return to full authority.
That left only one final issue.
"And what is your stance regarding the Uchiha clan?"
/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/
Read more chapters on my Patreon: https://patreon.com/SailorTranslations?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink