Chapter 19 — Is the Hyūga Clan Planning a Rebellion?
When Minato reappeared on the rooftop of the Hokage Tower, rain still pouring around him, he didn't waste a second. His sandals splashed against the wet stone as he raced down the stairwell and threw open the door to the Hokage's office.
"Lord Hokage! There's been a major upheaval in the Hyūga Clan!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated behind his desk, arched a brow but remained composed, exhaling a thin stream of smoke from his pipe.
"Calm yourself, Minato," he said evenly. "Take a breath and explain."
The calm in Hiruzen's tone grounded him. Minato drew in a deep breath before speaking.
"Lord Hokage, I met with Hyūga Ritsu."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's eyes glinted with interest. "I thought the Main House had decided to punish him?"
But Minato shook his head gravely. "There is no Main House anymore—at least, not within the village."
"...What?"
For the first time, the Third Hokage's composure cracked. His pipe nearly slipped from his hand as his eyes widened.
"What do you mean, no Main House?"
Minato recounted everything as clearly as he could.
"According to Hyūga Ritsu, the Branch members could no longer endure the Main House's tyranny. He led them in open rebellion, executed Hyūga Masamune and the other Main House members, and—through a clan assembly—stripped Hyūga Hiashi of his title while he was still away at the eastern front.
"Afterward, Ritsu was unanimously chosen as the new clan head. He then convened a meeting of over a hundred jōnin and special jōnin and had six elders elected from among the Branch members."
Hiruzen was silent for a moment. Then his hands slammed down on the desk. His face, usually calm and grandfatherly, hardened into something fierce.
"Are they insane?" he thundered. "What are they planning? Is the Hyūga Clan trying to rebel against the village!?"
He stood, eyes blazing, killing intent flickering like lightning behind them.
Slaughtering the Main House, deposing their leader, establishing a new government—
these weren't the actions of a family dispute.
This was a coup.
And if it was a coup, then the Hokage had to prepare for the worst.
Had the Branch House merely struck back in vengeance?
Or was this the spark of something larger—something that could engulf all of Konoha?
If the Branches could turn on their own kin, what would stop them from turning on the village that had stood by and done nothing for decades?
If the Hyūga truly meant to rebel… how should the village respond?
One scenario after another raced through Hiruzen's mind, each one darker than the last.
Just then—
"Please, Lord Hokage," Minato interjected quickly. "Let's not jump to conclusions. I don't believe things have reached that point yet. Hyūga Ritsu told me himself—word for word—that the Hyūga Clan remains one of Konoha's founding families, and that every Hyūga is still a Konoha shinobi.
"He said that once the clan stabilizes, he'll personally come to meet you."
Hiruzen froze. "He said that himself?"
"Three minutes ago," Minato replied firmly.
The old man's expression softened slightly, though suspicion still lingered behind his eyes.
"And do you believe him, Minato?"
Minato nodded. "I do. This feels like an internal power shift, not a rebellion. Ritsu was calm, composed—he knows exactly what he's doing and what lines not to cross. I don't believe he intends to oppose the village."
Hiruzen studied his student's face, then slowly sank back into his chair.
He turned toward the rain-streaked window. The downpour outside had turned heavier, the wind slamming fat droplets against the glass in relentless rhythm. The storm blurred the view of the village beyond; only the dim orange glow of lanterns flickered through the sheets of rain.
What a cursed night for this to happen…
For ordinary shinobi, this weather would have been crippling.
But for the Hyūga, whose Byakugan could pierce fog, darkness, and even solid walls, this storm was no obstacle.
That was the very reason the Hyūga had been stationed on the eastern front against the Mist—
the Byakugan could easily counter the Kirigakure's infamous Hidden Mist Technique.
Now, though… the very same advantage made the thought of a Hyūga uprising even more chilling.
Hiruzen clenched his pipe and barked an order:
"Bring in more men!"
At once, four masked ANBU appeared in the room, kneeling in a perfect line before his desk.
"Ape," Hiruzen addressed one of them sharply, "go find Danzō. Tell him everything Minato just reported about the Hyūga Clan. Have ROOT agents spread around the Hyūga compound—surround it, monitor every movement, and report immediately if there's so much as a whisper of disturbance.
"And tell Danzō to come see me in person."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The ANBU vanished, leaving only the thunder outside and the acrid scent of pipe smoke curling in the air.
The Third Hokage exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing into the storm.
He could only hope—pray—that Minato was right.
Because if he wasn't…
then the Hyūga Clan's internal revolt
might soon become Konoha's civil war.
"Wisteria," Hiruzen said sharply, his tone carrying the weight of command, "go to the Police Department and tell Uchiha Fugaku to quietly assemble his jōnin. They're to be on standby for immediate deployment—but don't tell him the reason."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Jackal," the Third continued, "notify the two senior advisors—Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane. Tell them to come to my office at once."
He turned to the last masked operative. "Leopard, contact the heads of the major clans—no, wait. Split up. You and Jackal will each go to fetch one of the two advisors."
One order after another left Hiruzen's mouth, crisp and decisive.
The ANBU squad bowed as one, their voices echoing through the smoke-filled office: "Understood, Lord Hokage!"
Then, in a swirl of movement, the four operatives vanished into the storm outside—silent shadows darting across rooftops under the pounding rain.
Minato stood quietly beside the desk, saying nothing.
It was clear that the Hokage, despite Ritsu's assurances, had no intention of lowering his guard. He was preparing for the worst.
And honestly, Minato couldn't blame him.
If he were Hokage, he would have done the same. Trust was one thing—but preparation was survival. Because in the shinobi world, nothing was more dangerous than the word "what if."
Hiruzen turned to him. "Minato, I'll have to trouble you further. Stay here with me for now."
In times like this, having someone of Minato's caliber nearby eased the mind. One Yellow Flash was worth more than a hundred men. And if the unimaginable happened—if the Hyūga truly rebelled—Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki, as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, would be the village's final assurance of control.
Minato gave a faint, rueful smile. "I told Kushina I'd be home early tonight… looks like that's not happening."
Hiruzen's pipe glowed faintly in the dim light. "Minato, tell me again—what's the situation inside the Hyūga Clan? That boy, Hyūga Ritsu… he's only fifteen, isn't he? Genius or not, can someone that young really hold the seat of clan head?"
Minato shook his head slightly. "It's hard to say. But from what I saw, the new six elders were absolutely loyal to him. Their obedience wasn't forced—it felt like genuine conviction."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's brows lifted slightly. "I almost forgot to ask—these six new elders, who are they exactly?"
"I don't know many in the Hyūga personally," Minato admitted, "but I happened to recognize all six names. They are Hyūga Hizashi, Hyūga Takashi, Hyūga Tenma, Hyūga Shinichirō, Hyūga Isamu, and Hyūga Karin."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "All Branch House… and all formidable shinobi."
He recognized every name. Each one was a proven jōnin of exceptional ability—war-hardened, loyal, and respected within the clan. The youngest, Hyūga Tenma, had already earned multiple commendations for valor on the battlefield. The fact that these six now stood behind Ritsu spoke volumes.
But what truly unsettled Hiruzen… was one particular name.
Hyūga Hizashi.
Hiashi's own brother.
The Third Hokage exhaled slowly, his eyes clouding with unease.
If even Hiashi's blood brother had turned his back on the Main House—
—then perhaps the Hyūga's old order hadn't merely fallen.
It had collapsed beyond repair.