Hyūga Clan Grounds.
That heavy gate appeared particularly silent in the morning light.
As one of the oldest ninja clans in Konoha, the Hyūga clan had always prided itself on being "Konoha's No. 1 Clan".
Their clan grounds occupied a vast area, the buildings simple yet majestic, revealing a heritage passed down for a thousand years everywhere.
But today, within this heritage, a suppressed tension permeated.
In front of the gate, four Hyūga Branch House ninjas stood straight.
Their expressions were stiff as statues; only deep within those pure white eyes did a trace of uneasiness flash faintly.
Footsteps approached.
Not hurried or slow, yet like stepping on everyone's heartbeat.
Uchiha Kaze walked over alone.
He wasn't wearing the Hokage robe; that garment was still being made.
Still dressed in black Uchiha clan robes.
The slight dark red stains on the cuffs were particularly dazzling under the morning light.
"Lord... Hokage."
"The Clan Head is waiting in the reception room."
A Branch House ninja stepped forward, guiding respectfully.
Kaze didn't respond, just raised his eyes to look at that tightly closed gate.
Then, he stepped forward.
The gate opened automatically in front of him.
As if an invisible force pushed open this heavy wooden door that required several adult ninjas to move.
Inside the Hyūga clan grounds, it was dead silent.
In the courtyard, where there should have been sounds of children playing and clansmen training, it was terrifyingly quiet.
Only the rustling of wind blowing through bamboo leaves, and the suppressed breathing sounds faintly coming from afar.
Kaze walked through the corridor. Behind the paper doors on both sides, he could feel gazes.
Vigilant, fearful, resentful, and... expectant.
Expectant of what?
He didn't know.
Nor did he care.
In front of the reception room, Hyūga Hiashi was already standing there waiting.
This Hyūga Clan Head's face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, obviously not having rested well these past few days.
Behind him stood several Main House elders, all looking grave and ugly.
"Lord Hokage."
"Please."
Hyūga Hiashi bowed, his voice hoarse.
Kaze nodded slightly and walked directly into the reception room.
The room was large, in typical Japanese style.
Low tables and cushions were placed on the tatami mats, and over a dozen core figures of the Hyūga Main House sat on both sides.
There were white-haired elders, as well as elites in their prime.
Everyone's eyes were focused on him.
"Clan Head Hiashi,"
"Five days ago, I had someone send a message asking for the Hyūga clan's attitude."
"Today is the sixth day."
Kaze didn't sit down but spoke directly.
"Lord Hokage, there are still some divergences within the clan that need..."
Hyūga Hiashi's body stiffened, somewhat anxious, yet somewhat helpless wanting to explain.
"Divergences?"
"What divergences?"
Kaze interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over the Main House elders present.
A white-haired elder stood up. He was named Hyūga Muneyoshi, one of the oldest elders in the Main House.
"Lord Hokage,"
"The Hyūga clan's attitude is of course not a problem."
"It's just... attitude is one thing, clan rules are another."
"We are discussing how to contribute to Konoha without violating the rules of the Hyūga family."
His voice carried the steadiness unique to elders, but deep in his eyes was unconcealed arrogance.
His rhetoric was also clever: not working for you Uchiha, but contributing to the village.
"Family rules?"
"Are you referring to... the distinction between the Main House and the Branch House?"
"Or referring to that Caged Bird Curse Mark that controls the lives of the Branch House?!"
Kaze repeated the term, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
The air in the room suddenly solidified.
"That is an internal matter of the Hyūga, to protect the secret of the Byakugan and prevent bloodline outflow."
"Even if you are the Hokage, you also..."
Hyūga Muneyoshi's expression changed, but he still braced himself to say.
"Also what?"
"Also have no qualification to intervene?"
Uchiha Kaze smiled.
That smile was so cold it chilled everyone's hearts.
"Are you misunderstanding something?"
"I'm not here to discuss with you."
Kaze slowly walked to the center of the room, raised his right hand, and tapped his index finger lightly in the air.
"I am here to notify you."
"From today on, the Hyūga clan abolishes the distinction between the Main House and the Branch House. All clansmen are equal in status."
"The Caged Bird Curse Mark is to be lifted immediately."
The voice wasn't loud, but it immediately reached everyone's ears.
Including those Hyūga Branch House ninjas guarding the safety of the Main House outside the door.
As his voice fell, the entire reception room fell into deathly silence.
A few seconds later, explosive roars rang out.
"What right do you have to interfere in Hyūga internal affairs?!"
"The Caged Bird is the foundation of the Hyūga! It is a necessary means to protect the Byakugan!"
"Even the Hokage doesn't have this power!"
Main House elders stood up one after another, glaring angrily.
"We absolutely cannot agree to this point!"
"This is my Hyūga's bottom line!"
Hyūga Hiashi's face was deathly pale. He wanted to say something but was pushed aside by Hyūga Muneyoshi.
"Bottom line?"
"Who set the bottom line?"
Kaze seemed to have heard something funny and mocked.
"The first Main House! The ancestors of the Hyūga!"
Hyūga Muneyoshi shouted sternly.
"Oh?"
"Then how long has he been dead?"
Kaze sat down slowly, the mockery at the corner of his mouth unconcealed.
"You...!"
Hyūga Muneyoshi was speechless for a moment, his trembling pupils already showing his anger.
"Why should rules set by dead people bind the living?"
"Moreover, that so-called 'protecting the Byakugan' is just an excuse."
Kaze's tone suddenly turned cold.
He then turned around, looking at the courtyard outside the reception room.
There stood dozens of Hyūga Branch House ninjas.
They were ordered to stand guard outside, but at this moment, everyone pricked up their ears.
"The true purpose of the Caged Bird has never been to protect the Byakugan."
"But... to let the Main House forever ride above the Branch House, to let a part of the people enslave another part forever."
"Talking about bloodline purity, talking about preventing Byakugan outflow."
"All lies."
"The truth is, the Main House is afraid of the Branch House rising, afraid of losing privileges, afraid of... being replaced."
"So, they used the Caged Bird to lock the Branch House's talent, lock the Branch House's freedom, and lock... the Branch House's future."
Kaze's voice clearly reached the ears of these Hyūga Branch House ninjas.
The bodies of the Branch House ninjas in the courtyard began to tremble slightly.
Some lowered their heads, some clenched their fists.
But the curse mark on their foreheads, like an invisible shackle, made them afraid to even show angry expressions too obviously.
"Nonsense!"
"What does an outsider like you know about Hyūga tradition?!"
"The Branch House protecting the Main House is a matter of course! Without the leadership of the Main House, the Hyūga would have long ago..."
Hyūga Muneyoshi's anger had already suppressed his fear of Uchiha Kaze.
"Long ago what?"
"Long ago become stronger? Long ago had no internal friction? Long ago... everyone became like dragons?"
Kaze turned around, the Mangekyō slowly rotating in his eyes.