Chapter 96: The Ignored Fact
Since the decision had already been made, there wasn't much left to discuss.
Though the night was still young, Hiashi Hyuga already felt exhausted and quietly retired to his room to rest. He hadn't been on any dangerous battlefield, but from yesterday until now, he had been in nonstop meetings with the village's upper echelon, constantly writing reports and organizing intelligence.
This kind of intense mental strain, coupled with high-pressure negotiations, was no less exhausting than standing on the front lines.
After their father left, Ryosuke and Hinata remained in the study. Instead of leaving right away, they continued talking about the discussions they'd just had.
It had become a habit.
Every time the three of them gathered in the study to handle important matters, Ryosuke would always stay behind afterward to explain things to Hinata. Even though children in this world matured early—Hinata more than most—she still lacked experience. There were often things she couldn't fully understand. She would silently note them in her mind, saving her questions for Ryosuke afterward.
Over time, this routine became second nature.
"The village's leadership only accepts those who center their loyalty around Konoha," Ryosuke explained. "You can tell just by reviewing the village's past appointment records."
He leaned against the desk, voice calm. "So, taking full control of the Police Force might not actually benefit us. At first, it'll seem like a win—especially before the clan alliance is formed—but eventually, we'll become a target."
He paused, organizing his thoughts before continuing. "That kind of situation is hard to predict. Rather than gambling on the village not reacting, it's smarter to reduce potential conflicts of interest from other angles."
As he spoke, Ryosuke's words became more structured, more purposeful.
Explaining it all to Hinata helped him process everything more clearly. It wasn't just for her benefit—it was like a mental review for himself, sharpening his own understanding as he turned vague thoughts into clear language.
Hinata listened in silence, committing his words to memory. She didn't take notes—some things were too sensitive to risk being written down.
By the time Ryosuke finished, not only had he clarified his thinking, but Hinata also came to understand the Hyuga clan's current position in Konoha. She began to grasp the level of insight Ryosuke and their father had about the shifting state of the ninja world.
She always knew Ryosuke was talented.
She also understood now that her father had deliberately kept many things hidden, all to give Ryosuke the time and space to grow. Maybe, once Ryosuke matured, Konoha's future would be rewritten.
But what she hadn't expected... was just how complicated that process would be.
Before, Hinata had always thought that staying quiet and avoiding unnecessary interactions was enough. Wasn't survival just about staying hidden and keeping your head down?
It wasn't until tonight that she realized how naive that thinking was.
To grow stronger—and more importantly, to grow safely—they would have to take matters into their own hands.
"I feel like you and father think differently from most ninjas," Hinata said softly, hesitating before voicing her thoughts. "Other people seem focused on gaining power, chasing benefits, trying to become stronger. But your priorities... they feel different."
Ryosuke chuckled, amused by her observation. "Being able to notice that means you're growing up."
He then turned the question around. "What do you think of Father's strength within the clan?"
"...Second place?" Hinata replied uncertainly after a moment of thought. "If anyone's in first place, it should be you."
It only made sense.
After all, her father was the clan head. Logically, he should be the strongest. But she had noticed something strange some time ago—wounds on her father's body. That wasn't normal. He hadn't been on any missions, and few people had the strength—or the opportunity—to harm him.
Only Ryosuke fit that criteria.
And yet Ryosuke had acted completely normal during that time.
From those small details, Hinata had started suspecting that Ryosuke might actually be stronger than her father. But...
She was wrong.
Ryosuke shook his head. "If we're talking purely about combat strength, Father doesn't even rank in the top five. He's probably sixth."
He leaned back slightly. "To be fair, I haven't seen everyone in the clan fight. I'm making estimates based on mission reports and available intel. But honestly? His actual rank might be even lower."
Take Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Iroha, for example—both of whom had gone with him to the Land of Waves. Their real combat ability surpassed Hiashi's by a fair margin.
Sure, none of the clan's Jonin would dare challenge the clan leader directly. But if you removed the restrictions of the Caged Bird Seal, many of them could probably take him down.
Hinata's brows furrowed in disbelief. "How... how is that possible?"
"He's the clan head…"
"That doesn't necessarily mean he's the strongest."
Ryosuke stood and walked to the nearby bookshelf, shaking his head. "I told you before—being a good clan leader requires more than just raw strength."
"To be qualified, you need more than combat power. You need strategy, leadership, a willingness to sacrifice for the clan, and the ability to always put the clan's future first."
He pulled a scroll from the shelf and tossed it to her. "Here—this has information on a Jonin named Hyugada. It also includes Father's personal evaluation of him. Read it."
Hinata caught the scroll, slightly stunned.
Before she could even react, another scroll came flying her way.
She hurriedly placed the first on the desk and caught the second. Ryosuke was already reaching for another.
"This one's about Hyuga Karamon. You've met him before—he used to be one of your bodyguards."
One by one, scrolls landed on the table. Five in total.
Each contained detailed information about a senior Jonin in the clan—mission records, performance assessments, and personal evaluations from Hiashi himself.
It didn't take long for Hinata to realize the truth.
All of them were stronger than her father.
"Is this... authority?" she murmured.
Despite being weaker, her father still commanded these powerful individuals. He led them without question or resistance.
It shattered something fundamental in her worldview.
She had always assumed that strength determined leadership—that the strongest naturally rose to the top.
But now she realized she'd been ignoring a crucial truth all along.
"So... just because I was born into the main family, I'm the heir to the Hyuga clan? Even if I'm not the strongest, even if I don't have enough talent... everyone still has to listen to me?"
Hinata looked up at Ryosuke, her eyes full of confusion. "That's... weird. Don't you think we Hyuga are kind of strange? Why don't we choose our leader based on talent and ability? Why base it on bloodline?"
"If one generation ends up with a terrible clan leader... wouldn't that be a disaster for us?"
Ryosuke didn't answer immediately.
For a moment, he simply looked at her, a complicated emotion passing through his eyes.
When she first started speaking, he had assumed she would accept the system as it was—that she'd never question the advantages she was born into.
But to his surprise, Hinata—the very person who benefited from the main family's privilege—was openly pointing out its flaws.
She wasn't blindly loyal to the system.
She had started thinking for herself.
And that, more than anything, gave Ryosuke hope for the future of the Hyuga clan.
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