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From the very beginning, Hiashi had decided he absolutely would not carry the burden.

First, he removed himself from the equation, conveying Kazuki’s exact words to the elders.

No matter what they chose, it didn’t matter. As long as he made his position clear, that was enough.

As clan leader, he would always act in the best interests of the clan.

Since everyone disagreed, the minority would follow the majority, and they would reject the village’s proposal.

"Uh..."

Hiashi’s words made the elders hesitate.

In the past, wouldn’t Hiashi have first said something from the village’s perspective, then they’d continue discussing?

Why was he now directly siding with them?

Something seemed off. But the Main House elders couldn’t pinpoint what.

They only remembered one sentence: that Kazuki was notifying them, not discussing with them.

A notification was compulsory. It didn’t matter whether they agreed or not. Discussion meant sitting down and talking it over.

At least, if the deal fell through, goodwill remained.

But now, there was no need for discussion.

Either accept or reject.

"Why is Lord Advisor targeting our Hyūga clan like this?"

"Exactly! Lord Advisor is our Hyūga clan’s son-in-law. How can he be so harsh with us?"

If someone else had said this, the Main House elders would probably have cursed.

But they didn’t dare curse Kazuki. The various clans in the village all remembered Kazuki’s fearsome reputation.

You could curse him in your heart. If you dared do it to his face, you could expect retaliation.

Others might retaliate indirectly. Kazuki was different. He would do it openly.

The Shimura clan was the best proof.

Even the Sarutobi clan had suffer. What was the Hyūga clan in comparison?

Hiashi’s heart remained calm. He spoke flatly.

"It’s not targeting our Hyūga clan specifically. It’s targeting all clans in Konoha. All must comply, not just us. Also, I should remind you, esteemed elders, that while the Hokage Advisor is the clan’s future son-in-law, his decisions are made from the village’s standpoint, personal."

If he acted from the standpoint of a son-in-law to target the Hyūga clan, that would be ingratitude. Acting from the village’s standpoint was upholding righteousness.

He wasn’t granting special treatment to the Hyūga clan based on personal relationships.

"This..."

All clans have to accept?

The elders’ reactions seemed to cool significantly.

Humans are complex creatures. Often, when misfortune befalls oneself, the emotional reaction is fierce.

But if they know others are suffering the same fate, that agitation subsides.

Because their thinking shifts: "I’m not the only one having a bad time. Everyone’s losing out. Maybe a few individuals are worse off." That brings emotional balance.

So that’s Kazuki’s true intention.

The Grand Elder now understood why he’d felt something was off. Kazuki had anticipated the Hyūga clan’s response.

No matter what, the Hyūga clan would be in the wrong.

Other clans agreed. Only the Hyūga made a fuss. What were they trying to do?

Cause trouble?

"Ahem."

The Grand Elder knew he couldn’t remain silent any longer. He coughed to draw everyone’s attention and asked the crucial question.

"Clan Leader, what exactly do these village reforms entail?"

It was a notification, not a discussion.

That meant implementation was inevitable, regardless of internal Hyūga clan agreement. Kazuki would enforce it.

So, how the Hyūga clan handled this to satisfy Kazuki was very important.

The most troublesome elder remains the Grand Elder.

Hiashi glanced at him without leaving any trace and calmly answered.

"The village requires that from now on, for any clan member’s transgressions, the clan may not handle or punish them privately. Such matters must be reported to the village for the village to decide."

This reform directly stripped away the disciplinary powers of clan leaders and elders.

Especially for the Hyūga Main House.

In the past, if a Branch House member offended a Main House member, especially a Main House elder, as long as the offender wasn’t high-ranking, the Main House elder could order them killed instantly.

If the reform was accepted, those powers would be completely lost.

They could still try to handle things secretly, but if someone reported them, the trouble would be major.

Because such actions would be slapping the village in the face. The consequences of that were easily predictable.

At these words, both Main House and Branch House elders were thunderstruck, dumbfounded.

Kazuki’s decision was to cut them directly, severing quite a bit of their power.

Knowing they could no longer easily discipline any clan member, both Main and Branch House elders felt deeply uncomfortable. This meant their elevated status as elders would decline.

Anyone with grievances could come to them, and they couldn’t directly punish.

Otherwise, if it reached the Hokage ears, they’d be in trouble.

This move is truly poisonous.

"Secondly, the clan’s ninja, whether Main or Branch House, must obey the village’s deployments. The situation where the village needs clan permission to deploy its ninja must also end."

"No!!"

"I absolutely refuse!!!"

"I refuse as well!!"

At this, both Main and Branch House elders stood up in opposition. Even the Grand Elder didn’t remain silent.

These terms are absolutely unacceptable.

If these two conditions were accepted and the reforms implemented, the elders’ authority would decline infinitely. That was unacceptable. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Yes, I understand everyone’s position. I will faithfully report this to Lord Advisor."

Hiashi remained as calm as ever, as if he were merely a messenger, an outsider, unconcerned with the elders’ thoughts.

Whatever decision the elders made, he would firmly side with them.

"Clan Leader, you cannot do this."

Hiashi’s attitude made the Grand Elder uneasy.

Hiashi looked back in confusion.

"Grand Elder, what do you mean? Am I siding with the village against the clan? I haven’t said anything. I’m just doing as you all say, faithfully reporting. Why so agitated?"

"Cough!!"

The Grand Elder quickly spoke, "Clan Leader, that’s not what I meant. I meant... I meant..."

Yes, what did I mean?

Hiashi made it clear he was listening, but the Grand Elder himself was stuck. Because Hiashi had never opposed them. He’d never tried to persuade them. He’d consistently followed the elders’ advice.

Everyone said oppose, so he said oppose. What was wrong with that?

I’m on your side. What more do you want?

Damn it!!!

A sense of unease rising in his heart, the Grand Elder grew anxious, but momentarily didn’t know what to say.

Because Hiashi’s position was too firm.