Of course, Satori Hyūga didn't directly argue or retaliate verbally.
Within the Hyūga clan, the hierarchy was strict and filled with many rules. The gravest of these family laws was the prohibition against disrespecting superiors or going against elders' wishes.
Though Satori belonged to the Main House, he was still considered a junior member.
If his behavior were too rash, it would only push him further away from both his family and his position.
Satori adjusted his mindset and carefully prepared his words in his mind before speaking up. "Truthfully, I also wanted to hand over the Ultimate Massage Chair, but this invention isn't solely mine."
"I handled the replication of the massage techniques, while the research on the machinery was conducted by Professor Orochimaru himself."
"Even now, part of my profits must be handed over to Professor Orochimaru."
He knew well that his status within the clan wasn't high enough yet.
Therefore, he directly invoked Orochimaru's name as a shield for himself.
Upon hearing Orochimaru's name, most members of the assembly glanced at each other uneasily.
After all, this was Orochimaru—one of the Sannin, a disciple of the Hokage.
In terms of strength alone, they were dealing with an elite Jonin-level ninja.
Wherever he went, Orochimaru was regarded as one of the very best.
Most importantly, Orochimaru was extremely intelligent, possessing unmatched expertise in scientific research.
Hyūga Ten'yō remarked, admitting he had been genuinely surprised when Satori launched the Ultimate Massage Chair.
Initially, upon hearing the news, he had dismissed it as nothing more than a joke.
The pressure-point techniques were merely basic skills every Hyūga practiced daily.
A massage chair mimicking those techniques was just an inferior imitation—how good could it really be?
However, after Satori released it, its widespread popularity surprised him somewhat.
Something he had paid no attention to was selling so well and generating such massive revenue.
Now, knowing Orochimaru's involvement, it suddenly made sense to him.
Considering Satori's young age, it was unlikely he could have completed such a project on his own.
The Elder's expression darkened, a calculating gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Lord Orochimaru truly knows his methods well. Still, this massage chair has great potential for our clan's development. We should at least try to secure some control over it."
"Hyūga Satori, why not hand over the production method of the massage chair? Let the entire Hyūga Clan manufacture and sell them nationwide; wouldn't that generate even greater profits?"
At the mention of Orochimaru, the Elder hesitated slightly.
But recalling that the Hyūga were a prestigious family within Konoha, he figured they needn't fear Orochimaru if it ever came down to a conflict.
He wasn't about to let go of such a big slice of the pie—the lucrative potential of this new product was simply too tempting.
If he couldn't intimidate Orochimaru, then pressuring Satori Hyūga instead seemed feasible.
Satori maintained a smile as he replied, "Professor Orochimaru said the Ultimate Massage Chair holds his most guarded secrets."
The Elder's face darkened, ready to lash out in anger, when Satori suddenly changed his tone.
"I do feel uneasy keeping the Ultimate Massage Chair outside of the family—but I've devised another way to bring wealth to the clan."
"Oh? What might that be?"
The Elder held back a rebuke and asked instead, "What is it you wish to say?"
Satori Hyūga smiled. "If machines can perform acupoint massage, surely trained hands can as well."
"The Hyūga Clan has always produced exceptional individuals. With our Byakugan bloodline limit, our research on pressure points and meridians is truly without equal—neither matched by our ancestors nor to be surpassed by descendants."
"Across Konoha—and indeed, the entire ninja world—few can match the might of our Hyūga Clan. This is where our strength lies."
With a sweep of his arm, Satori proudly extolled the Byakugan's virtues and the glory of their clan.
"We could open several Hyūga Massage Parlors across the land, providing premium services to nobility and officials—to help them regulate their bodies, improve circulation, and reinforce vitality."
"At that point, we would not only forge connections with high-ranking officials, but also generate continuous income."
"All it would cost us is a bit of time and some completely safe massage treatments."
As soon as he finished speaking, many Hyūga elders immediately turned their attention to him.
"That's actually brilliant! How did I not think of this sooner?"
"Machine-based acupoint massage still lacks precision. Done manually, the results would be far superior."
"It's safe, poses no risks, and offers opportunities to interact with nobles and officials. This might just be a brilliant plan."
...
Everyone present was shrewd—seasoned survivors who had lived half their lives.
They took Satori's suggestion seriously.
The more they considered, the more impressive the idea became.
Ninjas were tools of death—training relentlessly, taking missions within the village, risking their lives daily just to barely earn enough to survive.
Suddenly, an entirely new lifestyle had emerged—one that could earn them money without danger. Naturally, it stirred their interest.
Especially since what Satori said made perfect sense.
The Hyūga Clan's massage techniques, combined with the Byakugan, would definitely surpass mechanical massages by far.
"Elder," Satori gave the Elder a cheerful smile. "You're a veteran expert with decades of experience. There would surely be many willing to pay handsomely for your services."
"As soon as others hear of your reputation, they'd be lining up to hand over huge sums of money."
In Satori's vivid description, nobles from all nations would rush to flatter the Elder, showering him with endless amounts of wealth.
This sent the Elder spiraling into daydreams of sudden riches.
We're talking about real money—solid profit and tangible benefits.
His position was already prestigious—as the Main House's Elder, his authority ranked only below the Clan Leader.
If he now gained wealth as well, wouldn't life become nearly perfect?
Just imagining the bright future ahead almost caused the Elder to lose his composure.
Thankfully, he remembered they were still inside the family meeting hall, so he managed to suppress a laugh, feigning deep contemplation with solemn nods.
"Satori Hyūga, your words do have merit, though we must first consult the senior elders."
"If this plan proves feasible, the Hyūga family will certainly credit you for your contribution."
In truth, he was already scheming in his mind.
How could he seize control of this profitable venture for himself?
This was, in essence, an untouched goldmine—literally a mountain of untapped wealth.
After all, in the ninja world, none could match the Hyūga Clan's mastery of pressure point detection. And massage techniques? That was practically second nature to them.
Seeing Elder's self-assured look, Satori Hyūga curled the corner of his lips into a faint smirk laced with sarcasm.
Opening a massage parlor? Fine. Massaging nobles? Also fine.
But with so many members in the Hyūga Clan, figuring out how to divide the workload would become a serious issue. Poor distribution could turn what should have been golden opportunities into breeding grounds for resentment.
Besides, moving too quickly could mean biting off more than they could chew.
Moreover, the Hyūga were part of Konoha and had a duty to protect peace within their territory. Pulling large numbers of ninja away for noble massages? Konoha's leadership would definitely frown upon that.
If Elder succeeded with his massage venture, Konoha's leaders would surely take offense. And if it failed, the clan members would undoubtedly hold him accountable.
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