In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

When the Caged Bird imprint on Neji's forehead was revealed, the expressions of the main family's members turned ugly. It felt as though they had been punched hard, leaving them caught between disbelief and frustration.

"The seal is still there?"

"How could it still be there? Doesn't he want to remove the Caged Bird?"

The branch family's members were even more shocked. They naturally knew that Neji had helped them to remove the Caged Bird, so they subconsciously assumed he would be the first to free himself.

But to everyone's surprise, the Caged Bird still remained on Neji's forehead.

"Why didn't Neji-sama remove his seal?"

"Yeah, is he using us as test subjects?"

"Shut up! Don't speak so loudly. Hiashi-sama has done so much for Neji-sama, so removing the seal would make him seem ungrateful. Besides, if we're really test subjects, there are already so many successful cases."

Hiashi remained silent, 'Neji had chosen not to remove his Caged Bird, but the younger generation of branch family's members behind him had. These young people were the future pillars of the branch family.'

'Shall we punish all of them and forcibly reapply the Caged Bird to all the young people of the branch family? This is obviously unrealistic.'

'Even if we managed to do so, the Hyuga Clan would face a massive backlash. Without the branch family to support them, the main family would lose its foundation.'

'Moreover, the fact that the next generation's Caged Bird had all been lifted clearly wasn't a coincidence. If the seal could be broken once, then what reason could it not be broken again in the future?'

'But if we just let it go, there will be no difference between the branch family and the main family. The contradiction between the main family and the branch family has long been established. How should the main family deal with it in the future?'

Even Hiashi, who had weathered many storms, found the current situation exceptionally difficult. His brows furrowed as he hesitated, unsure of how to proceed.

"Hiashi-sama, are you asking for my opinion?" Neji stood up and positioned himself in front of a group of young people from the branch family.

The green Caged Bird imprint on his forehead was glaringly obvious amidst the group of smooth, unmarked foreheads. His black hair hung down, and he lifted his head to calmly gaze at the main family. His face betrayed no emotion.

"I don't have much of an opinion. As for the rest of the branch family, I can't say, but if the lords from the main family need someone to serve them in the future, I'd be happy to oblige."

His words, like a soft thorn, caused further discomfort to the main family's members seated above.

The elders of the main family stared at Neji, their eyes fixated on the unsightly mark on his forehead. The lofty justifications they often cited, sacrifice and dedication to the clan, now seemed deeply ironic.

"The future of the Hyuga Clan's branch family is standing right here, not a single one is missing." Neji said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I think, instead of asking someone like me, who still bears the Caged Bird, you should ask their opinion."

"After all…" Neji paused, casting a glance at the most hot-tempered elder of the main family before continuing, "They are the majority of the branch family, and I am only the minority."

Once again, Neji had thrown the decision back to Hiashi. He wasn't wrong, as Neji was now, indeed, the minority among the younger generation of branch family as he still had the Caged Bird.

The Last Caged Bird, its presence created a stark contrast, stirring emotions.

Standing at the forefront of the branch family, with the Caged Bird still on his forehead, Neji looked like a dividing line in the sunlight. On one side stood the arrogant main family, while behind him were the defiant young members of the branch family.

On one side was the towering authority of the main family, and on the other, the burning fire of revolution.

And there Neji stood, with the Caged Bird, at the very front of the branch family. His existence prevented the main family from condemning the branch family… on the contrary, it made the main family look even uglier.

Because of him, the anger within the branch family continued to build. His presence strengthened the resolve of those who had been hesitant among the younger generation of the branch family.

Better to die standing than to live kneeling like dogs.

Behind Neji, the young branch family's member who had spoken earlier stepped forward again, gritting his teeth as he shouted at the elders of the main family.

"We won't compromise. Either you abolish the Caged Bird, or you kill us. Since you look down on us, why not just let the Hyuga Clan consist only of the main family? Who needs a branch family?"

"I'd love to see how the main family plans to manage without us. Will you mark some of the main family's members with the Caged Bird and turn them into a new branch family? If that's the case, I'm looking forward to it."

Hiashi knew that no matter how this situation was resolved, from this day forward, the Hyuga Clan as it had been known, the division between the main and branch families, would cease to exist.

The issue of the Caged Bird had been laid bare, like dirty laundry exposed for the world to see.

The main family stood frozen like statues, and Hiashi waved his hand and said, "We will discuss this matter later. Since the seal has already been broken, there's no point in putting it again. Give us some time to discuss it, and it won't be too late to make a decision later."

Upon hearing this, Neji respectfully bowed and left. He still held Hiashi in high regard and had not removed his own Caged Bird, which was considered a gesture of loyalty to Hiashi.

Following Neji's lead, the other branch family's members also left the courtyard, imitating him as they exited.

Now, only the main family remained in the courtyard. Hiashi had no choice but to take control of the situation. He swept his gaze over the elders, his expression stern as he declared, "There's nothing left to discuss. The matter is settled."

"Hiashi, are we really going to compromise?" One elder asked, clearly unwilling to accept the situation.

"Yes." Hiashi nodded and said, "From now on, the branch family no longer needs to be marked with the Caged Bird, and all resources within the clan will be made available to every Hyuga Clan's member."

"Are you crazy?" One of the previously silent elders couldn't help but speak out, glaring at Hiashi and said, "Then what about us? Will we be treated the same as them?"

"And why not?" Hiashi's voice turned icy, "Do you think the main family is somehow more noble than the branch family? Don't forget… the Hyuga Clan is weakening. Brothers turn against each other, and sisters become rivals."

Hearing this, the main family members were left speechless. It was true that within the Hyuga Clan, familial bonds had grown cold. Even brothers, though polite on the surface, rarely had anything to do with one another behind closed doors.

But these old men didn't care, as they only cared about their own interests.

"As the Clan Head, I failed to lead the Hyuga Clan to prosperity and instead allowed things to deteriorate to this point. I will take responsibility for this. As of today, I am indefinitely resigning from the position of Clan Head."

"What?"

"Resigning from the position of Clan Head? Over something like this?"

"Hiashi, have you lost your mind?!"

The main family erupted into chaotic chatter, completely abandoning the discussion of the Caged Bird. Hiashi had opened a massive hole in the roof, and now no one had the time to worry about the windows.

With the abolition of the Caged Bird becoming an inevitable fact, it was clear that the branch family was an essential part of the Hyuga Clan.

Without the branch family's support, the main family would struggle to survive in the dangerous Shinobi World, surrounded by threats. Only someone bent on the clan's destruction would think of suppressing the branch family by force.

After all, the seal had already been broken, and there was no turning back now.

In this situation where there is not much difference between the branch family and the main family, if Hiashi suddenly resigns as the Clan Head, the position of Clan Head will definitely be competed for by both the branch family and the main family, and there was no telling who would come out on top.

Especially considering that, among the younger generation, Hyuga Neji was the only one who can be called a genius.

However, he belonged to the branch family. And if he were to become Clan Head…