Watching Aoba carry away the unconscious Hinata.
The few guards secretly protecting Hinata's safety hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not step forward to stop him.
After a brief discussion among them, one person left the team and returned to the Hyuga clan's estate.
———
That guard went directly to Hyuga Hiashi's study.
He raised his hand, knocked on the door, and respectfully said, "Clan Leader, I have something to report."
A few seconds later, he received a response from Hyuga Hiashi.
The guard pushed open the door and knelt on one knee at the entrance.
As a guard, he did not rashly enter the clan leader's study.
Hyuga Hiashi sat at the tea table, taking a sip of tea at an unhurried pace.
He looked at the guard, his voice carrying a hint of surprise and anticipation, and asked, "You returned so quickly. Did something happen with Hinata?"
"Yes."
The guard bowed his head and quickly responded.
"Lady Hinata has just awakened the Byakugan."
The guard took a deep breath and said.
"What did you say?"
Hyuga Hiashi's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, causing several droplets of tea to spill.
"We all saw it with our own eyes. And after awakening the Byakugan, Lady Hinata… also seemed a little different."
The guard said seriously.
"What exactly happened?"
Hyuga Hiashi placed the teacup on the table, immediately stood up from his seat, walked up to the guard, and questioned him.
He no longer had the mood to drink tea.
The guard quickly recounted the events that had just taken place.
After listening, Hyuga Hiashi almost couldn't keep his expression in check.
'Isn't it obvious at a glance that this was Aoba's setup? How did Hinata not notice?'
'And with things like this, won't my daughter feel even more attached to Aoba?'
As a father, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly felt a little regretful for letting Hinata interact with Aoba so soon.
But as the clan leader, he couldn't help but feel grateful to him.
According to the guard's account, after awakening the Byakugan, Hinata immediately knocked out several children. This change in personality might really be significant.
From this perspective, Hyuga Hiashi indeed had to thank Aoba.
Moreover, this made Hyuga Hiashi realize Hinata's true potential.
Awakening the Byakugan at four years old meant that Hyuga Hinata's talent was not only not inferior but was actually quite outstanding.
Even Hyuga Neji, hailed as the Hyuga clan's greatest genius, had only awakened his Byakugan at six years old.
It was just that Hinata's personality had affected her ability to demonstrate her strength. Now, with Aoba's help, perhaps she could change significantly.
"Sigh—", Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but sigh with a complicated mood and asked, "You said Hinata fainted. What's her condition now?"
"…That Aoba directly carried Hinata back to his own house. We're not sure of the exact situation… It should just be that awakening the Byakugan suddenly caused a strong emotional shock and a large chakra consumption, leading to exhaustion and fainting."
The guard hesitated slightly in his response, unsure if the clan leader would be angry because of this.
"So, you didn't bring the unconscious Hinata back but let her be taken away by that Aoba kid?", Hyuga Hiashi's gaze bore into the guard with an unreadable tone, yet it sent a chill down the guard's spine.
He quickly asked, "Clan Leader, should we go retrieve Lady Hinata now?"
The guard worried that if he delayed answering, he might find eight shuriken lodged in his back tomorrow as a form of forced suicide.
In Konoha Village, although the Hokage was the highest authority and there were rules forbidding harm among villagers, the great ninja clans, especially the Hyuga and Uchiha, had their own set of laws.
If Hyuga Hiashi chose to execute a guard, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no right to interfere.
Hyuga Hiashi pondered for a long time before finally waving his hand, "Forget it. As long as there's no danger, let them be for now."
"Yes!", The guard felt as if he had been granted amnesty and hurriedly left.
Watching the guard leave, Hyuga Hiashi fell into deep thought.
He hadn't expected this turn of events. Aoba seemed to have some clever tricks up his sleeve.
Although he was concerned about Hinata's current condition, since she had awakened due to Aoba, letting Aoba guide her might yield the best results.
Perhaps next time, when Hinata fights, she won't hesitate because of her personality anymore.
Originally, he had been willing to let Hinata meet Aoba and had even given Aoba 100,000 ryo in hopes that he could change Hinata.
Now, it seemed this decision was indeed correct.
Aoba not only seemed capable of changing Hinata's personality but had even uncovered her talent, exceeding expectations.
Hyuga Hiashi suddenly sighed again, remembering another matter.
Previously, he had been deeply disappointed with Hinata's performance, which was why he planned to have another child—Hanabi.
But according to Hyuga clan rules, only one of them could inherit the main house.
The other would, on their third birthday, receive the Caged Bird Seal, becoming a branch family member, forever bound by a different fate.
Yet now, with Hinata suddenly displaying incredible talent, by then, it might be Hanabi who would receive the Caged Bird Seal.
The once-close sisters might end up like himself and Hizashi…
Hyuga Hiashi thought of Hyuga Hizashi, and his face became melancholic.
No matter how close siblings were, once the Caged Bird Seal was placed, they would gradually drift apart, eventually becoming master and servant.
He had once considered abolishing it, but he couldn't. It was a rule passed down for hundreds of years.
Moreover, the original intent of the Caged Bird Seal was to prevent the Byakugan from leaking. But now...
It had become merely a means to maintain the main house's authority.
The elders of the main house would never give up the power their status granted them.
If neither Hinata nor Hanabi were given the Caged Bird Seal, not only would the main house oppose it, but the branch family would also object.
People don't resent scarcity; they resent inequality. Why should they all bear the Caged Bird Seal while the clan leader's daughters receive special treatment?
"Aoba, I hope you can truly surprise me."
For now, Hyuga Hiashi could only let things take their course and observe further.
Currently, Aoba had yet to show the true potential to become Hokage.
———
Meanwhile.
Aoba had already carried Hinata home.
"Aoba, though you have talent, you can't do something that violates the village's rules."
Hayame, who was about to leave the house, immediately spotted Aoba carrying a delicate, doll-like little girl inside.
His expression became extremely odd.
Aoba rolled his eyes and said exasperatedly, "Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"
"I brought her here to rest. Hinata fainted due to excessive chakra consumption. I couldn't just leave her outside."
Hayame skeptically examined Hinata's condition and found it to be exactly as Aoba had said.
He felt much more at ease and also noticed people secretly watching, likely Hinata's guards.
Confirming that his nephew hadn't gone astray, he left reassured.
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