When Akihara Kagura began to speak, those present dared not express their anger, forced to obediently listen.
Rock Lee pouted pitifully, his eyes brimming with tears, hardly daring to cry out loud for fear of being banned from competing for life.
Might Guy turned and hugged Rock Lee, the two of them silently shedding tears together, wary of saying anything that might affect Rock Lee's future. The sight of the two grown men crying together was somewhat unseemly.
As Kagura's friend, Hatake Kakashi could only carefully approach and, seeing his friend and his student in tears, he couldn't help but want to plead, "Isn't this a bit too cruel? Let the kid compete. I know he's worked hard and he's strong; he just never had a chance..."
Before the start of the Chunin exams, Rock Lee had fought with Hatake Kakashi's student, Uchiha Sasuke, and had perfectly countered the so-called genius Uchiha Sasuke.
Hatake Kakashi knew that Rock Lee, like his friend, was a diligent child and did not want his efforts to go to waste, even planning to help him appeal.
However, Akihara Kagura was unappreciative.
"First, he is questioning my words."
Kagura glanced at Rock Lee and said, "Second, relying on my strength, I live in constant fear, never daring to call myself a genius..."
"This kid is recklessly shouting that Hyuga Neji is a genius, as if afraid his teammates won't be remember and get assassinated by people from the Mist and Sand Villages?"
Kakashi found himself at a loss for words.
Although he had never seen Kagura live in fear, at this moment, he felt Kagura's twisted logic had some validity...
"We are allies, aren't we?"
The leading Jonin of the Sand Village quickly waved his hand to indicate that the Sand Village had no intention of targeting Konoha's genius ninja.
The people from the Sand Village and the Mist Village truly enjoyed the spectacle, also witnessing Kagura's wanton tyranny and lawlessness in Konoha.
Kagura's strength was overwhelming, and even if Konoha let him become the Hokage, the village would sooner or later fall apart.
"Striking the weak is my mistake."
Hyuga Neji, looking at his weeping teacher and friend, decided to yield to Kagura: "Lord Kagura, Lee was only speaking for me; this should not affect him..."
"Don't play this deep friendship act in front of me."
Kagura looked at Rock Lee and Might Guy, still crying, and continued, "You are ninjas, not children. You should understand that saying the wrong things and making mistakes come with consequences. This is also a lesson for him..."
Hyuga Neji helplessly lowered his head.
"It's not brother Neji's fault..."
Hyuga Hinata coughed up a bit of blood, still trying to argue for Neji.
"It's all because of the drama within the Hyuga clan."
Kagura glanced at Hinata, then at Neji, who seemed somewhat resigned, and coldly said, "From today onwards, if the Hyuga clan causes any strife here between the main and branch families, no matter if it's the branch or the main family, I will cleanly remove all those with Byakugan, to prevent you from affecting Konoha's image..."
"Kagura, calm down..."
Kakashi hurriedly stepped forward to persuade.
The Hyuga clan is one of Konoha's noble ninja clans, and their Byakugan alone is Konoha's strongest reconnaissance force. Such words should not be carelessly spoken.
"Don't worry, I'm not a murderous person."
After saying this, Kagura turned his gaze to a member of the ANBU: "Go inform the head of the Hyuga main family, Hyuga Hiashi, that it is my order to keep quiet until the Chunin exam is over. After the exams, I will visit him!"
"Yes."
The ANBU agent could only reluctantly convey the order.
Kakashi remained silent, probably aware that Kagura intended to use force to compel Hyuga Hiashi to resolve the internal strife of the noble family, but such familial issues within Konoha's noble clans were not so easily resolved.
Several ANBU sensed something was amiss and hurriedly went to notify the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, fearing a major problem.
However, Kagura seemed unconcerned about any trouble, merely looking down at all the bewildered people present, announcing that the preliminary round would continue.
"The exam continues."
There were still three examinees left who had not fought, obviously leaving one to be exempt, but it was unclear whose luck it would be.
On the lottery screen on the exam field, the names of Akimichi Choji and Dosu appeared, with Akimichi Choji not being a match for Dosu and regretfully defeated. Unexpectedly, the one who ended up exempt was the lucky Gaara, who perhaps did not need such luck.
"Are there still so many left?"
Kagura looked around at those who had passed the preliminaries, frowned, and said, "Well, let it be. The main event, the third exam, will be held in a month. Because leaders and nobles from other villages will come to observe your competition..."
"This month, you should train well. When the time comes, you better perform impressively, not disgrace your respective villages, and avoid causing trouble within the village. Otherwise, I might revoke your qualifications to participate in the third exam, or if I find what you do displeasing, I might just kill someone..."
These words left the genin who had passed the preliminaries trembling as they watched Kagura.
"Dismissed."
After Kagura finished speaking, he waved his hand to dismiss the group, leaving only Karin to follow him.
The third class's Might Guy and Rock Lee were still sobbing, and the recovered Tenten could only comfort them with a headache: "Alright, alright, the Chunin exam happens twice a year! Since only Neji passed the preliminaries in our class, and I didn't pass either, Lee, join me next time!"
"Okay..."
Rock Lee tearfully nodded.
Although he was inexplicably eliminated, unable to prove his strength, it was not necessarily a bad thing; next time, he could still join his teammate Tenten in the exam.
Neji stood by silently.
The situation with the eighth class was noticeably strange. Aburame Shino was missing, Inuzuka Kiba was still arguing with Uzumaki Naruto, and Kurenai was still tending to the injured Hinata.
As for the tenth class...
Only Nara Shikamaru had passed the exam.
However, the atmosphere in the exam venue was not quite right, Sarutobi Asuma wisely took his student away, planning to start special training for Shikamaru.
The people from the other villages soon left as well.
Just as Kagura was about to leave the venue with Karin, the head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, came to the venue, wanting to meet Kagura.
This head of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi, had heard about the cause of the conflict involving Neji and Hinata in the Chunin exam, which displeased Kagura, and immediately took a letter from his home and rushed over.
"It seems you've heard about it."
Kagura casually sat on a railing, looking at the approaching Hyuga Hiashi: "I was planning to visit after the Chunin exam was over, but since you're here, I'll ask just one question: when will the drama between the main and branch families stop?"
"I came here to explain to Lord Kagura."
Hyuga Hiashi looked at Kagura, his voice grave as he began to explain: "The separation between the main and branch families, and the carving of the 'Caged Bird' seal on the foreheads of the branch family, is a method passed down through the Hyuga clan for a thousand years..."
Hyuga Hiashi furrowed his brow, continuing in a low voice: "If we stop carving the 'Caged Bird,' clan members could have their Byakugan stolen, and unlike the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, which causes significant complications for transplant recipients, the Byakugan does not..."
In all seriousness, the system of the Hyuga main and branch families is also beneficial to Konoha, as those from the Hyuga clan who go on missions are mostly from the branch family.
These members of the Hyuga branch family have the 'Caged Bird' seal carved by the main family on their foreheads, thus no longer having to worry about their Byakugan being stolen.
If not for this system, the Hyuga clan would have lost countless Byakugan in wars, and those villages that obtained the Byakugan would create numerous problems using its Kekkei Genkai, especially since there are no significant side effects from transplanting Byakugan...
Strictly speaking, anyone can transplant a Byakugan.
"A protective measure? Then treat everyone equally from now on."
Kagura looked at Hyuga Hiashi, continuing softly: "Since it's a method to protect the Byakugan, you might as well add the 'Caged Bird' to yourself in the future!"
Hyuga Hiashi became somewhat conflicted.
This matter, although beneficial for easing the conflict between the main and branch families of the Hyuga clan, comes at the cost of sacrificing the main family's pride. The main family has always prided itself on its noble status. If a slave-like 'Caged Bird' mark were to be carved on their foreheads, wouldn't that appear somewhat...
Kagura, who came from the Konoha orphanage and was not very familiar with the distinction between nobles and commoners, might not fully understand. The Hyuga main family is a genuine noble family, while the branch family serves as the main family's protectors. This is an issue of internal status within their family, not something that can be changed with a few words...
"The Hyuga clan has been passed down for a thousand years..."
Hyuga Hiashi's brows furrowed into a frown, not willing to act according to Kagura's method: "Once the main family also carves the 'Caged Bird,' it will diminish the authority of the main family. The main family has the duty of passing down the Byakugan, while the branch family has the duty of protecting the main family to ensure the lineage..."
"Wait a moment."
Kagura signaled Hyuga Hiashi to pause, explaining according to his words: "Am I to understand that the Hyuga main family wants to use the 'Caged Bird' to control the branch family, thus concentrating the authority of the main family and ensuring the branch family's eternal loyalty?"
Kagura pondered for a moment, curiously asking: "This sounds a bit like the Uchiha? Does the Hyuga main family want to concentrate the clan's power, possibly to oppose the village's higher-ups, resisting their commands?"
Hyuga Hiashi's brow tightened.
Such things are known to all but must not be spoken aloud.
Although the Hyuga main family indeed controls the life and death of all branch members and could use this to oppose Konoha's higher-ups, this kind of opposition is a gamble, not something to be openly discussed.
Hyuga Hiashi realized his mistake, feeling he should not have sought out Kagura but rather should have gone to make peace with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Regardless...
Sarutobi Hiruzen is still a proper politician.
But Kagura, a genius with Wood Release ninjutsu, clearly destined to be Konoha's future Hokage, Hyuga Hiashi still wanted to meet him, only to find this person directly stating his position...
However, as if grasping Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts, Kagura questioned: "Or are you saying, the Hyuga clan is concentrating its power, planning a coup like the Uchiha clan?"
Hyuga Hiashi shook his head, hoping to clarify the relationship between Konoha and the Hyuga clan: "The Hyuga clan has never thought of opposing the village's higher-ups, nor have we ever disobeyed their commands. The Hyuga clan is also one of Konoha's protectors..."
The Hyuga clan is not mad like the Uchiha!
Moreover, the Hyuga clan's strength is far inferior to the Uchiha's, where would they get the courage to oppose Konoha's higher-ups, even forcing their clan head to commit suicide?
"You don't want to oppose the higher-ups' commands, nor have you thought about rebellion, you also thought about protecting the village..."
Kagura looked at Hyuga Hiashi, seemingly not quite understanding: "Then why gather power? Worried about encountering an unbeatable enemy? There's no need for that, the village will protect you."
Hyuga Hiashi remained silent, unable to speak.
This future Hokage shouldn't speak so naively.
Konoha is the Hyuga clan's harbor but also the greatest danger to the Hyuga clan. If the Hyuga clan cannot gather its strength and Konoha deliberately traps the Hyuga clan in a war, leading them to their deaths, what can the Hyuga clan do?
"If you won't remove the 'Caged Bird' from the branch family, nor are you willing to carve it on the main family's forehead..."
Kagura looked at Hyuga Hiashi, sighing: "The conflict between your clan's main and branch families has reached this stage, even causing today's conflict that made outsiders laugh at us. What exactly does the Hyuga clan intend to do?"
"This matter started because of Neji..."
Hyuga Hiashi sighed deeply, shaking his head and continuing: "I want to see Neji first, to talk to him alone..."
Hyuga Hiashi held a letter in his hand.
The letter was left by his brother, Hyuga Hizashi, stating that Hizashi had voluntarily died for his brother, not because of some so-called main family command.
"Now it's not about Neji."
Kagura spread his hands, continuing: "Now, we need to discuss the issue of the Hyuga main family not accepting my proposal, forever wanting to control the lives of all Hyuga clan members, gathering the entire clan's power, possibly planning a rebellion..."
Hyuga Hiashi felt a headache coming on.
He had come voluntarily to resolve the issue, and not only was the problem not solved, but he was also accused of a serious allegation.
~~~
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