Chapter 672: People's hearts turn away

"When it comes to ninja talent, Kakashi is indeed a formidable being."

Thinking of the boy who often quarreled with him, Kai's expression quickly turned gloomy, even after so many years.

Rubbing the slightly painful temples, Asuma sighed helplessly in his heart.

"Kai, can you still not forget the bond with Kakashi?"

Seeing that both Kurenai and Gai were beginning to remember their deceased friends, Asuma, who didn't want to see such a sad atmosphere, immediately changed the subject.

"By the way, it seems that except for the Hyuga clan, all the jonins of Konoha's big and small ninja clans are on the list for this battle, right?"

Hong was startled and raised his head. "It seems true! The fourth generation's revenge is too obvious, isn't it!?"

Kai sneered, but he revealed the truth with one word.

"The third generation has retired, two of the three ninjas have been eliminated, and the elders are only a neutral faction with no effect. Coupled with the full support of the Uchiha, the largest wealthy family, today's Konoha is said to be the fourth generation who can only cover the world with one hand. Heaven is no exaggeration!”

Kurenai and Asuma were slightly silent.

Also.

Under such a situation, after losing the two backbones of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, how could the Konoha ninja clan, which was already greatly weakened, have the confidence to resist the fourth generation of government orders?

Thinking of this, Asma was suddenly startled, then shook his head and sighed.

"It's the Hyuga clan leader who has a far-reaching view. Although he has lost his Byakugan, that clan has already begun to make preparations..."

......

"Father, you are here!"

As soon as he walked out of Hizashi's study, Hizashi heard Neji's respectful address and quickly looked back, his eyes falling on his child, a little surprised.

"Neji? Why are you here?"

"I just heard the conversation between you and my uncle."

Neji slowly raised his head and looked at his father, but he didn't answer the question.

Before Hizashi could speak, Neji spoke again.

"Although my uncle's practice of hedging his bets has preserved the foundation of our Hyuga clan, as a result, our Hyuga clan will inevitably be squeezed out by other ninja clans. Moreover, you and your uncle often argue about the true existence of the clan and branch clans. What is the meaning?"

Neji's eyes showed confusion and confusion for the first time.

He has been immersed in this doubt since he heard several quarrels between his father and the clan leader's uncle.

In the past, apart from being immersed in the joy of not being marked with the curse of a caged bird, he had never cared about these in-depth issues that had nothing to do with cultivation.

Hizashi was keenly aware of Neji's emotional changes, and he knew that something must have happened that he didn't know about.

"Can you tell me what you heard just now?"

Although his expression was solemn, his tone remained restrained.

As an experienced ninja, Hizashi knew that Neji might have noticed some dirty "dark side" in Konoha's top brass or the family!

That is, political power trading!

Although this idea came a bit early, Hizashi still hoped that Neji could try to avoid thinking about these complicated issues prematurely.

This is undoubtedly very detrimental to a child's healthy psychological growth.

"I heard father and uncle arguing about the family reputation..."

"Besides this, is there anything else?"

"...You scolded uncle for being too cold."

With just a slight hesitation, Neji gritted his teeth and told the truth, because he knew that his father was the only person he could talk to, and he also expected to find the answer deep in his heart from his father, Hizashi.

After hearing this, Hizashi was silent for a moment.

Seeing that his father remained silent, Neji asked again. "Is it true? My uncle took the lives of many separated ninjas with his own hands!? As a result, the clan members are now complaining?"

Hearing this, Hizashi sighed and closed his eyes tiredly.

"You only saw the surface. The grievances between the branch family and the clan family have existed since ancient times. Even if there was no such thing, those selfish people would still blame your uncle, the clan leader. But..."

Hizashi didn't know how to say the next words to his young son.

It can't be said that in order to ensure the survival of the family, we have to sacrifice those ninjas who have turned to the roots, right?

After thinking for a while, he changed the topic to a relatively relaxed topic.

"In order to prevent the loss of Byakugan, the caged bird became the only choice for the original clan members. Just like... the curse mark that the clan branded on our foreheads. Now it is just another way to remove the traces of the curse mark. It’s just displayed within the clan.”

Hizashi sighed helplessly.

If you want to survive in the Hyuga clan, you must suppress your emotions.

Especially for these branch families, the existence of family ties, friendships, and love with the main family is bound to bring tragedy.

Just like him and Rizu, they were obviously brothers born at almost the same time, but in the end they became "master and servant" with a clear hierarchy!

This in itself means unfairness.

It also indicates that the emotional concepts of people who are separated from the Hyuga family are destined to be gradually distorted as they grow up.

Even if the original intention of our ancestors was not this, it would eventually evolve into such an inhumane situation.

Hizashi had mixed feelings in his heart.

"Ningji, please put aside your sympathy for other branch families in the future. Treat them as enemies! This way you can be more relaxed. The main family has its own way of survival, and the branch family also has its own rules of survival. Although we belong to the same clan , but in fact they are two different classes. As for the other ninjas of the branch family, they are all enemies who want to kill you and compete with you as the candidate of the clan! "

Hizashi warned Neji earnestly, and his tone was particularly serious when he mentioned the word "enemy".

Neji silently chewed the rice in his mouth, as if the taste was as unbearable as chewing wax.

"Father... why do relatives from the same family become enemies?"

Neji asked tentatively with a bit of unwillingness.

Hizashi sighed, then responded with a smile.

"We are not losers, we are just born like this. Only one day when you become the new clan, will you have enough voice to tear up these rotten rules..."

"Is this..."

Although he didn't understand much, Neji was still shocked.

......