"..."
Hyūga Hiashi remained silent for a long while. Then, glancing once more at his brother Hizashi, who was currently being threatened by a Rasengan, he let out a long sigh.
"All right… I agree. Lint can stay. He may remain within the Hyūga clan."
A subtle smile curved Hinata's lips.
"Good. That's the first condition."
?!
The first condition? Could it be there's a second one?
The next second, Hiashi saw his daughter raise a second finger.
"The second condition is that once Lint stays, he must receive the same treatment as me."
The same treatment as Hinata—meaning the status and privileges of a main branch heir.
As expected, Hinata hadn't given up. She really wanted to raise Lint as her child groom!
No way… absolutely not!
If I agree to this condition, once word gets out beyond the clan, everyone in Konoha will think my daughter found herself a fiancé at such a young age. Her reputation will be utterly ruined!
Thinking this far, Hiashi turned to look at his younger brother Hizashi, who had been subdued by his own daughter. He grit his teeth.
Hizashi, you're a jōnin! How could you let my underage daughter take you down like this?! Damn it!
Hiashi's heart was caught in a storm of conflicting emotions—pride in his daughter's strength, and frustration over her outrageous demands.
He hesitated, uncertain whether to accept this second condition.
Granting Lint the treatment of a main branch heir would, in outsiders' eyes, be no different than the Hyūga clan officially choosing a child groom for Hinata.
It would deeply affect her future reputation.
And just then, the clan elders spoke up:
"Clan Head Hiashi, this old one believes we can agree to Hinata's request."
"Let Lint remain in the Hyūga clan and receive the same treatment as Hinata."
"As long as Hinata continues her diligent training!"
?!!
Hiashi turned, stunned, to look at the elder who had spoken.
Then it hit him—this was the same elder who, not long ago, had fiercely criticized him.
He still remembered the elder's furious words:
"Hiashi, look at how you raised your daughter. So young, and she's already trying to find a man? This is too early! It's completely abnormal!"
"You must stop her! If she inherits the position of clan head and starts collecting men, the entire clan's fortune might get squandered on them!"
And now, that same elder was speaking on Hinata's behalf?
Hiashi was filled with confusion and disbelief.
The elders, of course, noticed his reaction—but none of them explained. Instead, their minds drifted back to decades ago…
To the days when Hyūga Tennin was still alive—the pride of the Hyūga clan!
And now, Hinata, who had just defeated a jōnin, had proven herself worthy of becoming the new Tennin of this era.
If that's the case, what's the harm in supporting an ordinary boy?
Even ten… a hundred of them—the Hyūga clan could afford it!
As for her second condition, granting Lint the same privileges as her?
No problem!
After all, the Hyūga are one of Konoha's great clans.
If nothing else—we're rich!
Meanwhile, among the branch family, witnessing the elders support Hinata—and with their own clan head Hizashi in her grasp—they all began to speak up as well:
"Clan Head Hiashi, please agree to Lady Hinata's conditions."
"Besides… Clan Head Hizashi is still in Lady Hinata's hands, and she's still young.
She might not know how to control her strength.
If something happens to Hizashi… it'd be terrible."
"Clan Head, please consider it."
"Yes, Clan Head…"
The voices of many branch members reached Hiashi's ears, and his expression grew increasingly complicated.
He realized a harsh truth:
With Hinata defeating Hizashi and holding him captive, and with the elders backing her, even the hearts of the main family members had begun to shift in her favor.
"Hoo..."Hiashi took a deep breath, steadying his emotions, then finally spoke:
"I agree to your conditions. From this day forward, Lint shall receive the same treatment as you within the Hyūga clan. Now, will you release my brother Hizashi?"
"Not yet. I have a third condition."
Hinata glanced around and said calmly:
"Father, elders, none of you are allowed to ask where Lint and I went yesterday. Even if you ask, we won't answer."
Hiashi frowned.
"Your father and the elders only want to know because we care about you… how can you speak like this—"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by an elder. Stroking his white beard, the elder smiled kindly at Hinata.
"A genius is allowed to have their little secrets. Hiashi, don't be so hard on your daughter."
The other main family elders all nodded in agreement.
In their eyes, geniuses deserved special privileges.
Especially since Hinata now showed the potential to become the new Tennin of the Hyūga clan and lead them to greatness once again. If she wanted to keep a few secrets, that was acceptable.
"..."
Left speechless by the elders' words, Hiashi finally fell silent for a while before saying:
"Since the elders have spoken, I won't pursue the matter of your and Lint's disappearance. Now, can you finally let your uncle go?"
"Okay."
Hinata nodded lightly, and the Rasengan in her palm vanished.
Then she bowed respectfully to Hizashi and apologized:
"Sorry, Uncle Hizashi."
"It's not your fault. I lost fair and square. For someone your age to have such strength—it's unbelievable."
Hizashi looked at the hand where the Rasengan had been and the goosebumps still on his arm, unable to stop his sigh.
Many present shared the same thought:
Hinata was a true genius.
Among the branch family, six-year-old Neji—Hizashi's son—was now staring at Hinata with a completely different expression.
Lady Hinata… actually succeeded!
She stood firm under the pressure of the main family elders and even the clan head himself.She protected her little man Lint and even secured him the best treatment possible!
It was nothing short of a miracle.
She had shattered the cruel fate that would have separated them.
If I could become as strong as her…Could I one day break free of this destiny too? The fate of a bird in a cage, a fish in a net…?
Something fundamental shifted within young Neji's heart.