Chapter 42: Why Didn't You Report Something Like This Sooner?!
Hyuga Hiashi's eyes flashed with surprise, then quickly returned to normal.
It had been a long time since he'd heard the term "genius ninja."
Konoha used to be overflowing with talent.
Just the geniuses Hiashi had personally witnessed were numerous!
Like Uchiha Shisui and Itachi from the Uchiha clan in the past.
Or the son of Konoha's White Fang—the Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi.
Without exception, they were all geniuses among geniuses.
Elites among elites.
How old was Naruto?
Yet he had already learned and unleashed Rasengan.
His future was promising…
Hiashi was well aware of Rasengan.
During the Third Great Ninja War,
he had led the Hyuga clan into battle.
On the battlefield,
Minato Namikaze's Yellow Flash had shone brilliantly with this self-created technique.
Countless ninjas from other nations trembled at the name.
For many years,
the only one rumored to know it besides Minato was one of the Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya.
One could imagine how difficult it was to master!
Hiashi knew full well it wasn't that Jiraiya didn't want to teach it to other ninjas in the village.
Even if he taught hand-in-hand,
most jonin still couldn't learn it.
The gap between people isn't something effort alone can bridge.
Sometimes, if your comprehension isn't enough, that's your limit.
No amount of training to death will help!
How many ninjas in the world train desperately?
Don't joke!
Every single one trains with their life on the line.
But some have poor talent and can only ever reach chunin.
Some even stay genin forever.
Hiashi nodded and said gravely:
"Indeed—self-taught Rasengan. He deserves to be called a genius!"
He was simply giving an honest evaluation!
Hyuga Ichiro looked stunned.
He stared foolishly at Hiashi.
He had served the clan head for so long.
Rarely did he hear Hiashi praise any ninja.
And now—a boy who had just graduated from the academy and become a genin—
had earned such high praise from the clan head!
His future was limitless.
So he mustered his courage and reported the other thing he'd discovered.
"Clan Head—our people saw that the Young Lady has been getting quite close to Naruto lately."
Hyuga Ichiro kept his eyes fixed on Hiashi,
afraid of saying the wrong thing
and getting slapped to death by the clan head.
In the past—
he might not have been slapped to death…
at most he'd be thrown out and punished.
But this concerned Hinata!
Hinata was Hiashi's eldest daughter.
Still so young…
yet already being approached by Naruto.
Simply outrageous!
Hugging Naruto's future thigh tight
would skyrocket the Hyuga clan's status.
But that was just Hyuga Ichiro's thinking.
Not Hiashi's.
There's a saying…
subordinates shouldn't overstep their boss.
Otherwise Hyuga Ichiro would immediately be sent to run laps on the training ground!
Running while shouting "Sorry, Lord Hiashi!"
Until Hiashi was satisfied!
Upon hearing that his daughter had been getting close to Naruto recently,
Hiashi's Byakugan widened slightly.
His thoughts were complicated!
No matter what—she was still his daughter, the future heir of the Hyuga clan!
By all rights,
she could not marry outside the clan!
To preserve the purity of the Byakugan bloodline!
Marriage must stay within the clan.
No exceptions for outsiders.
Especially as the future clan head successor.
If Hinata married Naruto—who lacked bloodline limit—
their children's Byakugan would be severely weakened!
(This is a fact set in stone.
Basic common sense.
Many major clans with kekkei genkai forbid outside marriage for exactly this reason.)
Hiashi's expression showed neither joy nor anger.
"Why wasn't this reported sooner?"
"I…"
Hyuga Ichiro was momentarily speechless.
"Enough—leave for now."
"Yes! Clan Head!"
The wooden door gently closed.
The room was left with only Hiashi alone.
After a long silence, Hiashi slowly opened his closed eyes.
He murmured to himself:
"Marrying Hinata outside the clan is impossible!"
"But with Naruto's current displayed strength and talent—he is someone worth pulling in."
"If Naruto can truly reach his father Minato's level—become a Kage-level ninja…"
"This marriage would not be without room for discussion…"
Reaching Kage-level strength was extremely difficult!
Not only that—
even with that kind of talent,
every village only had a handful of Kage positions.
You could count them on one hand.
Let alone the Hokage of one of the Five Great Nations—Konoha.
That was a position watched by the entire world.
Absolute authority.
Having a Hokage as son-in-law—
how glorious would that be!!!
Hiashi couldn't help but fantasize.
Then he quickly shook his head.
"Heh… becoming Hokage is not easy, nor simple."
"I don't know how many clans have been eyeing that seat for how many years."
"Even if Naruto is strong, he can't sit on that throne."
"At best—he's just a genius ninja."
Was Uchiha Shisui strong?
Extremely!
Yet he still couldn't become Hokage.
Only a pawn.
Was Hatake Kakashi strong?
Very!
He had many awe-inspiring battle records!
Still couldn't become Hokage!
Konoha had produced too many geniuses.
Hiashi had seen plenty.
In his mind, he subconsciously classified Naruto as a genius ninja.
Not a freakish monster.
In short—
Hiashi didn't want to marry his daughter outside the clan.
Simply put—
Naruto's current chips weren't enough.
His future achievements were limited.
Not enough to make Hiashi
go against his ancestors' teachings.
Right now, Hiashi wasn't yet single-mindedly pursuing maximum benefit!
No choice.
The Hyuga clan had passed down its traditions for generations.
The Byakugan was gradually weakening.
Each generation worse than the last.
As clan head, Hiashi had many branch families depending on him.
One wrong decision—and everything collapses.
If the Hyuga name vanished from history—
he could never allow that.
Hiashi wasn't wrong.
After all—a leader in high position cannot prioritize family.
If he prioritized family—what about all the branch families?
Should they suffer together?
Knock knock knock…
"Clan Head—the Young Lady has returned."
Hyuga Ichiro's voice came from outside again.
Hiashi frowned slightly, tone calm:
"She's back—so what? Why make a fuss?"
"Reporting every little thing to me?"
"Are you saying I don't have enough to do? Not busy enough?"
Hyuga Ichiro panicked, voice trembling with fear:
"No, Clan Head—that's not what I meant. It's just… the Young Lady brought Naruto back with her. They came together."
"So… I thought I should inform you."
Rip—
The wooden door was yanked open.
"What?! Why didn't you report something like this sooner?!"
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