Chapter 32: Find a Suitable Person to Run for Hokage
Ritsu received no official position whatsoever, merely remaining on standby in the camp with jonin status. This situation undoubtedly left the Hyuga clan members greatly dissatisfied. Elders Takashi and Shinichiro's faces turned iron-blue.
"Clan Head, this—this... the Hokage is going too far!"
Shinichiro had both perception and courage. He understood clearly that Ritsu's failure to receive an official position according to the village's unspoken rules had one root cause—the Third Hokage himself.
"Shinichiro, silence!"
Takashi was greatly alarmed and rebuked him with a frown. "Do you think you're in the clan compound? How dare you say such things!"
"What's there to fear? Since the Hokage dared to humiliate our Hyuga clan like this, he should understand our clan will definitely be dissatisfied. If we just endure this silently, won't it make them think us Branch Family members are weak and easily bullied!"
Shinichiro spoke indignantly.
"Your words make sense, but he's still the Hokage." Takashi was equally indignant, but being more mature, he understood that opposing the Hokage was definitely not a good thing.
"So what if he's the Hokage? He's already been Hokage for decades. Don't they all say after the war ends he'll step down and give his position to the Fourth? Why don't we pick someone with good relations to our clan to support!"
"But the two current candidates with the highest voices are one the Hokage's student and the other the Hokage's grand-student."
Shinichiro was stumped speechless.
After a moment, he complained irritably. "Then what do you think we should do?"
"It's not what I think we should do—the clan head decides."
With that, both looked at the silent Ritsu.
"Why are you both looking at me?"
Ritsu smiled. "You're both correct. We definitely can't oppose the Hokage unless our clan plans to defect and establish independence. Otherwise, we truly can't oppose him. But being looked down upon is indeed infuriating, so we can indeed try to find a suitable person to run for Hokage."
As he spoke, he lowered his head in thought, as though seriously considering this matter.
Takashi and Shinichiro exchanged glances.
"Alright, enough of this topic. Though being humiliated by the Hokage like this is very frustrating, there's no helping it! He's the Hokage. We can't do anything about it. Even if we're humiliated, we can only endure temporarily until we have the ability to strike back. In any case, go do what you can!"
Ritsu ended this largely meaningless conversation.
Things had reached this point. More words were useless.
Being looked down upon, suffering humiliation—find a way to return it, that's all. Why waste breath here?
He stood up. "Two elders, I estimate I'll have an endless stream of missions coming my way. But you shouldn't be too busy, so I'll entrust the important task of caring for our clan members to you. As for recovering the Byakugan, leave it to me."
The village—or rather, the Third Hokage and other leadership's attitude was very clear. The Hyuga clan absolutely could not have problems. But he himself, this clan head who led the Branch Family in rebellion and eliminated the Main Family, wasn't indispensable. In their eyes, he was a completely superfluous existence.
Therefore, if his predictions were correct, he'd receive an endless stream of assignments. Given Danzo's methods, colluding with Mist ninja to kill him wasn't impossible either.
But the other clan members wouldn't receive special treatment. As he'd said before—the Hyuga were Konoha's Hyuga. Weakening the Hyuga clan wasn't beneficial for Konoha.
"Clan Head, you're saying the village is targeting you?"
Shinichiro's mind turned quickly. He was immediately shocked and alarmed. He'd thought the village was merely deliberately humiliating their clan to punish them for slaughtering the Main Family.
"'Targeting' is too strong a word. They won't send me on missions with certain death either. But... enough about this. In any case, I know what I'm doing. Just care for the other clan members as I said. Leave the rest to me!"
"Then, Clan Head, can you explain exactly how you plan to recover the Byakugan? Do you really not need our assistance?"
Takashi asked softly.
"Very simple. If I'm lucky and encounter that 'Byakugan Killer,' I'll kill him and take the Byakugan back. If my luck is poor and I don't meet him, I'll find a way to capture some high-ranking Mist ninja and try to make a trade with them."
The Mist ninja named Ao, after stealing a Main Family Byakugan, earned the nickname "Byakugan Killer"—sounding as though many Hyuga clan members had died at his hands.
"Alright, that's all for now. My teacher has come to find me. You two go about your business!"
Ritsu stood up, waving them away while striding outside.
He arrived at the entrance to the area specifically designated for the Hyuga clan and saw a white-haired middle-aged man waiting there.
"Sensei, you're back!"
Ritsu greeted him happily.
He'd originally planned to find Hiruko, but Orochimaru told him Hiruko was out on a mission and currently not in camp. However, he'd also said that when Hiruko returned, he'd inform him of Ritsu's arrival.
He'd thought he might not see Hiruko before being sent out on missions, but Hiruko had already returned.
"Ritsu, you're truly... incredibly audacious!"
Looking at his familiar yet somehow unfamiliar student, Hiruko felt deeply moved.
Initially, he'd only thought Ritsu could use the Chimera Technique to break the Caged Bird Seal, then flee far away. He never imagined Ritsu's courage was so great that he'd sneak back to the village, overthrow the Hyuga Main Family's rule, and seat himself on the Hyuga clan head's throne.
"When it's time to gamble, you have to take the bet! Besides, rather than living like a rat in the streets hiding and cowering, I'd rather risk my life. Moreover, even if I lose the gamble, it's not a big deal—I'll just flee then. Come on, Sensei, let's go inside to talk."
Ritsu personally led the way, bringing Hiruko into the tent.
The two sat down.
"Akiba! Akiba! Help get some hot water for tea!"
Ritsu called to his cousin who'd also come to the front lines to help.
"Ritsu, you've already adopted the clan head's airs!" Hiruko couldn't help teasing as he watched the girl enter to help pour water.
"Hehe! This treatment is my labor compensation!"
"What do you mean?"
"Akiba helps serve tea and pour water to give me respect. In exchange, I must teach her my clan's advanced Gentle Fist technique—Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists."
"I see!"
Hiruko couldn't help laughing. However, after Akiba finished making tea and left, his expression immediately changed, becoming extremely serious and grave. "Ritsu, Orochimaru told me your situation isn't very good right now. What exactly is going on?"
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