"I advise you to drop this idea. Otherwise, the Uchiha will come after you with everything they have.
I'm not joking—try it and see what happens."
That so-called forbidden technique? It was completely fabricated.
But Tsunade had no problem making up a lie!
After all, she needed a plausible excuse. Otherwise, many things simply wouldn't make sense.
Just the matter of the Sharingan alone was already complicated enough.
Before, she hadn't paid much attention. But after learning that Takuya didn't need to swap eyes to evolve his Mangekyō into the Eternal Mangekyō, Tsunade had been completely stunned.
If that little secret got out, the Uchiha would never sit still.
Seeing Hiashi Hyūga and the Hyūga elder hesitating, Tsunade pressed further.
"The Yagami clan's forbidden technique is special—it offers unique benefits to the Uchiha. If word of this gets out, do you think the Uchiha will just let it slide?"
"Oh, and by the way, even Uchiha Mikoto, who has been by Takuya's side for years, hasn't gained access to this forbidden technique."
What the hell?!
If even Mikoto hadn't learned it, then how had Suzune?
Hiashi was completely floored.
The Hyūga elder was equally dumbfounded.
If they had discovered a technique that could enhance the Byakugan, wouldn't they go to any lengths to acquire it?
By the same logic… if the Uchiha found out, they'd definitely come for blood.
And if Takuya and Tsunade decided to pin the blame on them, the Hyūga would be finished.
The rivalry between the Hyūga and Uchiha had been intentionally orchestrated by the Third Hokage.
But if you actually made the Hyūga face off against the Uchiha in a real battle? They wouldn't dare.
The Hyūga were known for their conservatism and rigidity—going head-to-head with the Uchiha was simply out of the question.
"Suzune Hyūga is no longer part of your clan, nor will she be subjected to the Caged Bird Seal. However, since this outcome is somewhat unfair to your clan…"
Tsunade tossed a scroll toward Hiashi.
"This information comes from ancient Uchiha records that Takuya deciphered. It suggests that the Hyūga clan may have ancestral ties to the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Whether it's true or not depends on your own lineage's records."
With that, Tsunade waved them away.
Hyūga elders can't leave the clan?
The Caged Bird Seal?
I'll wait and see how long you can keep this up.
Outside the Hokage Office, Hiashi turned to the elder with an apologetic look.
He had done everything he could, but there was no way to bring Suzune back.
And to make matters worse, he had been the one who assigned her the task in the first place. Her capture was, in a way, his fault.
"Clan Head, there's no need to say anything. Perhaps this was Suzune's fate… but her Byakugan—"
Damn it!
The Hyūga elder clenched his fists, seething with frustration.
Losing Suzune wasn't even the worst part—her pure Byakugan was now outside the clan.
It was like having a dagger twisted into their pride.
He could already picture the chaos awaiting him back at the clan estate.
They would demand her return.
But did they have the nerve to confront Takuya and demand her release?
Tsunade had made it clear—she wasn't going to help them.
If they wanted to get Suzune back, they'd have to negotiate with Takuya directly. And if they did that, they'd have to reveal their own secrets as well.
"Consider this an investment," Hiashi murmured. "From what I know of Yagami Takuya, he isn't the type to send Suzune into danger. As long as she stays in Konoha, she'll be safe. The real concern is her future children…"
Damn it. The more I think about it, the worse I feel.
I was supposed to be comforting the elder—how did I end up making myself feel even worse?
What happened within the Hyūga clan, Takuya didn't care. All he knew was that Tsunade had taken care of his unfinished business for him.
"I'm sorry, but you've learned the Yagami clan's forbidden technique. You can't return to the Hyūga. You're officially separated from the clan. But hey, at least you won't have the Caged Bird Seal placed on you."
When Takuya informed Suzune of this, her mind went blank.
How did I end up as a free agent?
She had simply carried out a mission for the clan, and suddenly, she could never go back.
She had always wanted to escape the burdens of the clan—the suffocating rules and expectations.
But this… this was too abrupt.
That night, chaos erupted at the Hyūga estate.
The elders were outraged. Some wanted to march to the Hokage Office and demand answers, while others wanted to take their anger out on Takuya.
Hiashi watched them bicker, sipping his tea in silence.
To him, the entire scene was a joke.
"Enough! Do you all still not understand the current situation?"
When Hiashi refused to intervene, the Hyūga elder finally snapped.
"Every clan in Konoha has complied. Even the Uchiha have aligned themselves with the Hokage's administration.
With Yagami Takuya as a key player in the Hokage's inner circle, do you really think we can continue as before?"
The Hyūga-Uchiha rivalry had always been artificial, a divide deliberately maintained after the Senju stepped away from power.
Someone needed to serve as the Uchiha's opposition, and the Hyūga had been chosen for the role.
"But the Hokage promised—"
"Enough. The Fourth Hokage made no such promises!"
The elder's voice was sharp.
"Or do you think the Third Hokage will intervene on our behalf? Have you all forgotten what happened to the Sarutobi clan?"
Even the Sarutobi had bowed their heads. Did they really expect Hiruzen to help them now?
Many of the Hyūga's privileges had been granted by the Third Hokage, not Tsunade. If they made a scene now, it would backfire spectacularly.
"Are we just going to let Suzune go? Her Byakugan purity is among the highest."
One of the elders voiced his resentment.
The Hyūga clan had always been obsessed with preserving their bloodline.
And now, with the way things were going, their carefully protected lineage was being pried open.
That was why the elders were so furious.
They could accept losing one person.
What terrified them was the possibility that this was only the beginning.
If they yielded now, what if the village kept pushing?
The clan simply wasn't large enough to withstand such losses.
As the arguments finally started focusing on the core issue, Hiashi calmly spoke.
"Tomorrow, I will personally meet with Takuya Yagami. We will negotiate with the Hyūga clan's true heritage at stake.
Suzune… will have to be the exception."
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(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read the rest of the Chapter at Patreon com/ Emik01.
DO NOT FORGET POWER STONE AND CHATTING