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Seeing this, the Grand Elder was so angry his face turned red. He roared.
"What are you hesitating for? Do you really want the village to annihilate the clan? Want the Hyūga to become a footnote in shinobi history? Do you want to be the clan's sinners?"
At the Grand Elder's furious shout.
The still-hesitant elders finally made up their minds. They nodded one after another.
"We ask the Clan Leader to go to the Hokage's office, representing the clan, to negotiate with the village."
Choosing to give up their power, the elders felt relieved, yet also felt an emptiness, as if they'd lost something important.
Hiashi frowned, his gaze sweeping over each elder, seemingly hesitant.
What? You're still hesitating?
Hesitate, my foot! Everyone's decided. As clan leader, you should move quickly.
Seeming to notice the elders' urgent, urging gazes, Hiashi gritted his teeth.
"Since that's the case, I'll go on behalf of the clan..."
"No need to go to the Hokage's office."
Before Hiashi could finish, Kazuki's voice came from the darkness.
Uchiha Kazuki?
Hearing Kazuki's voice, the elders' hearts nearly jumped out of their throats.
Because they were afraid Kazuki had heard Hiashi's words.
If Kazuki took them seriously, the Hyūga clan would truly be finished.
Footsteps, eerie under the cover of night and carrying a heavy oppressive weight, gradually approached.
Kazuki's figure emerged from the darkness.
"It seems I underestimated your Hyūga clan. Planning a coup? Interesting."
His gaze, both mocking and amused, swept over each Hyūga elder, finally stopping at Hiashi.
"I heard my father-in-law wants to stage a coup? Such excitement. Why didn't you inform your son-in-law? How about taking me along?"
"Cough!"
Many elders coughed right there.
"Humble Hiashi would not dare." Hiashi also bowed his head promptly.
"Lord Advisor, they were just angry words. The clan has decided to negotiate with the village to resolve our conflicts. This so-called coup was just venting. Don't take it seriously."
"Is that so?" Kazuki looked unconvinced.
"Did I hear wrong? Weren't you going to 'go big, go strong, and create glory'?"
"Cough!"
Another round of urgent coughing. Faced with Kazuki, these elders didn't dare utter a word of excuse, only using coughs to mask their panic.
Faced with Kazuki's questioning, the Grand Elder's mouth twitched as he excused.
"Lord Advisor, you jest. The Hyūga have always been part of the village. We would never do something so treasonous. Please trust us."
"I hope so."
Giving the Grand Elder a long, hard look, Kazuki casually found a seat and sat cross-legged.
Kneeling? Forget it. Uchiha Kazuki didn't have that habit.
"Regardless, Hinata is my fiancée. The Hyūga clan is her family. If possible, I wouldn't act against you. It's just that your Hyūga clan has quite a few stubborn elements. But Clan Leader Hiashi did well. Eliminating troublemakers is more efficient. Look at how harmonious the Uchiha are now."
"...."
Harmonious, my foot!
You're an Uchiha. Uchiha Fugaku would clear obstacles for you, of course the clan would be harmonious.
Are you trying to goad the clan leader into targeting us?
"Clan affairs need not trouble Lord Advisor."
Hiashi stepped in at the crucial moment, backing up the elders.
"Fine. Then let's sit down and talk. I'll represent the village. The previous terms remain unchanged. If you agree, nod. From now on, the Hyūga clan will still be part of the village. Don't bargain. My patience is limited. We also has many matters. I don't have time to waste on you."
The terms are non-negotiable. If you agree, nod. If not, I'll start calling in reinforcements.
The Hyūga are plotting a coup!
That reason is enough to cripple the Hyūga.
"Can't you compromise at all?"
"We agree!!"
Hiashi and the Grand Elder spoke simultaneously. But while the Grand Elder immediately accepted Kazuki's terms, Hiashi frowned, ready to continue negotiating.
Clan Leader, now's not the time for this. Since the terms can't be changed, accept them.
We can't provoke him further.
Agreeing to Kazuki's terms, the Grand Elder kept signaling Hiashi.
He was truly scared now.
Afraid Hiashi might blurt out something shocking again.
He'd already mentioned a coup. What else wouldn't he dare say?
Even more embarrassing, they'd been caught red-handed.
Could there be anything more awkward?
But Kazuki's timing was quite coincidental. Fortunately, no one suspected Kazuki and Hiashi of conspiring to trap the Hyūga elders.
Kazuki and Hiashi hadn't conspired.
He was just curious about whether the clan meeting after Hiashi's return would have any interesting moments. And then...
Good heavens!
My father-in-law wants to rebel against me?
What should I do?
Receiving the Grand Elder's signal, Hiashi reluctantly lowered his head and said no more.
This was the first time Kazuki realized Hiashi had such dramatic flair, such a convincing performance. Could it be that his father-in-law truly intended to stage a coup?
"Tomorrow, the Hokage's office will issue an announcement clearing the Hyūga clan's name. As for the terms, I hope you'll abide by them. Don't let me catch any issues. Many people in the village aren't as easygoing as I am. And next time you want to plot a coup, find a more secluded place – a secret room would be better. Discussing such matters in a formal setting like the meeting hall is easily overheard."
"....."
Tossing out a couple of remarks, Kazuki promptly left.
"Shikaku, pull out. It's resolved."
Leaving the order to withdraw, Kazuki left the Hyūga compound and returned to the Hokage's office. He wasn't lying. There was still a mountain of work waiting for him.
As for going to the Hyūga compound, he was just curious and took a stroll.
He ended up inadvertently overhearing that his father-in-law was planning a coup.
"Withdraw!"
Since Kazuki said it was resolved, Shikaku didn't ask further. He ordered the surrounding forces to pull out.
Even the Anbu withdrew.
After being trapped for days, the Hyūga finally gained their freedom.
"Clan Leader, we..."
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was strange. The Grand Elder looked helpless. The others had complex expressions.
Only Hiashi, his fists clenched, head bowed, ignored everyone.