Chapter 15: All the Way to the End
The Uchiha clan had the Naka Shrine.
The Hyuga clan—whose family history was no less lengthy than the Uchiha's—naturally also had their own Tamaeda Shrine.
Of course, there was no stone tablet recording secrets inside Tamaeda Shrine. It was simply a family shrine that had been relocated multiple times and had even lost the sacred object "Tamaeda" to the passage of time. The deity enshrined within also differed from the Uchiha clan's. The Uchiha worshipped the "Sage of Six Paths, Ancestor of Shinobi."
The Hyuga clan worshipped the legendary Creator Goddess, "Rabbit Goddess."
Just as the Uchiha liked holding secret meetings at Naka Shrine, whenever the Hyuga clan had important matters, they held large assemblies at Tamaeda Shrine.
By the time Ritsu arrived at the shrine's martial arts hall, over thirty clan members had already gathered in the spacious area that could accommodate a hundred people. They sat properly in seiza position on the wooden floor according to clan hierarchy.
"Clan Head!"
The assembled clan members greeted Ritsu in unison as he entered.
"Everyone arrived quite quickly!"
Ritsu walked without hesitation toward the raised platform at the front. Cushions were arranged there—over a dozen of them. He sat cross-legged on the cushion belonging to the clan head.
Twenty minutes passed. The Hyuga clan's jonin and special jonin filled the martial arts hall—nearly a hundred people total. Roughly half were jonin, the remainder special jonin.
Moreover, this still wasn't the Hyuga family's full strength.
Currently in the midst of the Third Shinobi World War, Hyuga clan members could be spotted on battlefields everywhere. Additionally, when former Clan Head Hiashi and others departed for the Eastern Front, they'd taken a full fifteen Branch Family jonin with them.
The Hyuga clan's formidable strength was evident from this alone.
"Time is about up. Everyone who should be here has arrived."
Ritsu broke the silent atmosphere indoors. His gaze swept across the numerous clan members as he spoke slowly. "Some things couldn't be said earlier. Now I'll tell you—since you've all acknowledged me as clan head, certain matters within the clan must change starting today."
Only Ritsu's voice echoed through the martial arts hall.
The assembled Hyuga jonin and special jonin sat quietly in seiza, ears perked, carefully listening to every word Ritsu spoke.
"First is the Main Family-Branch Family system. From now on, there will no longer be a Main Family and Branch Family system. Children without Caged Bird Seals will never receive them. Clan members who've already been sealed needn't worry—as I said before, I'll commission my teacher to research methods to break the curse."
"I personally broke the Caged Bird Seal through a forbidden technique my teacher taught me. However, this method carries extreme risk and is extremely difficult to execute, so it cannot be replicated or widely applied. But with my successful example, I believe a method to break the curse will eventually be developed."
The numerous clan members said nothing.
But light ignited within those pairs of pure white eyes.
"Second matter: managing the family isn't something I alone can easily handle. Aside from certain remnants abroad, the Main Family elders have all been dealt with. So now I need you to recommend six elders to assist me in managing the fam... clan."
Ritsu paused slightly at the end of his words.
Then he continued, "Arima!"
"Clan Head."
Arima answered loudly.
"We have guests. Go welcome them and bring them here."
"Yes, Clan Head."
Arima immediately rushed out energetically.
Ritsu's expression remained unchanged as he continued speaking. "We'll begin recommendations now. I'll recommend one person first: Jonin Hyuga Hizashi. His strength is profound, and he commands deep respect. I believe he deserves a seat among the elders."
At these words, everyone first froze, then envious gazes fell upon Hizashi. So this was the reward for being the first to pay respects to the new clan head? If only they'd been bolder back then!
But regret was useless now.
Fortunately, according to the clan head, five positions remained to compete for.
Hizashi himself was stunned. He truly hadn't expected supporting Ritsu would yield such rewards. His reason for supporting Ritsu—even at the cost of opposing his brother—was solely for his son. Nothing more.
However, after pondering several seconds, he didn't refuse this reward. Whether for himself or for Neji, he had no reason to decline serving as family elder.
"Everyone will speak in order according to position. You may recommend others or yourself. Additionally, if recommendations exceed six people, the six with the most votes win. In case of ties, I'll make the final decision."
Ritsu established simple, clear rules for elder recommendations. This method wasn't very fair—many jonin and special jonin were still outside the compound.
But desperate times called for desperate measures.
Ritsu urgently needed people to assist managing the family. Select them first, then figure out adjustments later if anyone was dissatisfied.
"I recommend myself—Hyuga Hizashi."
Hizashi spoke first. As the former clan head's younger brother, he naturally held the highest status among Branch Family members.
All things are difficult at the beginning.
With this beginning, those following naturally proceeded smoothly. Names were called out one after another—without exception, all outstanding figures among Branch Family jonin, both old and young.
Eight people were nominated total. The two with the fewest votes were eliminated.
The remaining six were: Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Takashi, Hyuga Shinichiro, Hyuga Isamu, Hyuga Karin, and Hyuga Tenma—all famous Branch Family jonin. The oldest, Takashi, was forty-four this year. The youngest, Tenma, was twenty-two.
"...Thus, I appoint Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Takashi, Hyuga Shinichiro, Hyuga Isamu, Hyuga Karin, and Hyuga Tenma as family elders."
Ritsu directly completed the appointments verbally on the spot.
No ceremony, no official documentation. Everything was simplified to the extreme—looking exactly like an unprofessional, informal, makeshift operation lacking proper procedure.
However, with the support of nearly a hundred jonin and special jonin present, even a makeshift operation held actual power.
"Next, everyone can rest briefly. The village's guests have arrived. Six elders, follow me. We'll go meet the village's guests and inform the village of the changes to our clan's situation."
Ritsu stood and walked toward the exit.
Seeing this, Hizashi rose without hesitation and followed. The other five weren't slow either, following closely behind Ritsu. Things had reached this point—could they still retreat? They could only grit their teeth and follow Clan Head Ritsu all the way to the end!