"It's not about teaching, just some suggestions. You can consider them if they seem reasonable," said Haruki with a smile, returning to his usual demeanor.
Kazushi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan, certainly had the ability to adapt and endure. This showed there was hope for him. If he remained stubborn... well, as the saying goes, everyone dies eventually, but some people might need a little help.
"The elder's suicide can indeed quell some anger, but abandoning the caged bird seal can completely eliminate the branch family's doubts."
"But the main family..." Kazushi began but then stopped.
"Without the caged bird seal, there would be no distinction between the main and branch families," Haruki replied, shaking his head.
Kazushi didn't realize that even if he disagreed, his son would eventually abolish the caged bird seal in the future.
"The destruction of the old system brings the birth of a new one. To prevent the branch family from seeking revenge, you need to establish a new concept," Haruki said, squinting his eyes and smiling. "The concept of family—parents and children. For example, your family currently includes your wife and two sons. When your sons get married, they form new families. This eliminates the divide between the main and branch families."
Kazushi considered this seriously. "But this would mean the main family would lose its inherent advantages, and in the long run, we might even lose the position of clan leader."
Haruki frowned and asked, "Do you want the Hyuga clan to prosper, or do you want to sacrifice others to preserve the main family's power?"
Kazushi hesitated, unable to change his thinking so quickly.
"The Hyuga clan is as renowned as the Uchiha clan, but have you ever wondered why the Uchiha have far more Jonin than the Hyuga? Is it because they are more talented or have better abilities? I don't think so. The main reason is that the main family suppresses most of the Hyuga clan."
Kazushi was stunned, and so was his son, Hiashi. They both had a sudden realization.
The Hyuga clan, despite being one of the prominent families in Konoha, was far behind the Uchiha. While the Uchiha were said to be unbeatable one-on-one, what about the Hyuga?
"The caged bird seal has trapped not only the branch family but also the future of the Hyuga clan," Haruki continued.
"Hiashi, do you believe you can become the best among your peers in the Hyuga clan?"
"Yes!" Hiashi replied without much hesitation.
"Excellent."
Haruki held up one finger. "There's one way to unite the Hyuga clan and make it more prosperous and powerful than ever."
The atmosphere became tense.
Kazushi eagerly asked, "Please, Lord Haruki, enlighten us!"
"Create more opportunities for advancement. A clan can only thrive if everyone works hard and contributes. Advancement opportunities mean rewards for effort. Without rewards, it's hard to maintain motivation for long," Haruki explained.
Kazushi was still somewhat confused.
He understood Haruki's point but didn't see how to implement it. Was it about the position of clan leader?
Thinking about it, his face changed. This touched on his core interests. He was willing to give up the caged bird seal mainly to preserve his position as clan leader.
Haruki saw his hesitation and explained further. "I'm talking about a system for selecting the clan leader."
He raised his hand to stop their interruptions. "Hear me out first."
Kazushi reluctantly nodded, curious about Haruki's proposal.
"The Hyuga clan should be organized by families. Anyone over the age of twelve should have a vote. Genin have one vote, Chunin have five votes, and Jonin have ten votes. Before the current clan leader retires, ten candidates are selected.
These candidates then have three years to present their ideas and plans for the clan's future. After three years, they compete in a show of strength, with the winner automatically receiving 30% of the vote.
The remaining 70% is split: 20% goes to the current clan leader and elders, and 50% is determined by votes. The candidate with the most votes becomes the new clan leader, while the other nine become elders and advisors.
Each term lasts ten years. Afterward, the clan leader cannot run again but automatically becomes an elder and can run in subsequent elections."
Haruki finished and waited for their reaction.
This system was based on his previous life's experiences but adjusted for the world of Naruto. It was a rough draft, but practical experience would refine it.
Kazushi felt disoriented. He couldn't immediately grasp this new mechanism. Instinctively, he looked at Haruki, then at his son, Hiashi.
After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Lord Haruki, what advantage does the main family have in this system?"
"Out of the 100% qualification, you initially hold 50%. The next clan leader will undoubtedly be Hiashi. If in the future, you can't even hold half of it, there's no need to harm your own clan."
Kazushi fell silent.
"Father, don't you have faith in our descendants?" Hiashi asked.
Kazushi was taken aback and then nodded.
If they couldn't secure an advantage with such a significant head start, their descendants would be unworthy of leading the clan.
"Lord Haruki, I have one more question. Why give votes to Genin and Chunin? Even the Hokage's election only involves Jonin."
"Are you worried that the main family will be outnumbered among the lower-ranked ninjas?"
Kazushi didn't deny it.
"You're shortsighted if you only seek your own benefits. Think about the overall advantages."
Haruki waited a moment, seeing that Kazushi was still puzzled. He shook his head and continued:
"Anyone aspiring to be clan leader or elder will need to secure votes. The Hyuga clan currently has about a thousand members, so votes are relatively fixed. How can they increase their votes? There are two ways: quickly advancing to Chunin or Jonin, or increasing the population. Over time, the Hyuga clan will grow significantly.With a larger population, the likelihood of geniuses emerging increases, leading to a surge in top-tier warriors. Within ten years, I guarantee your clan's strength will double."
Kazushi and Hiashi were moved by the vision of their clan's future.
Such a simple truth had escaped their notice.
Thinking about the potential future, Kazushi looked at Haruki with admiration and respect.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, but then thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Hokage, and his enthusiasm waned.
"Lord Haruki, if the Hokage learns of this, he might not allow our clan to grow so powerful."
"That's easy."
Haruki casually replied, "Just change the Hokage."