— — — — — — —
"Was it really just these dozen or so people who had become this powerful?" Thinking about this, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but glance at the other branch family members.
Noticing his gaze, the branch family members all gave him a slight nod—an acknowledgment with a relatively positive attitude.
After all, not only was he the biological elder brother of Hyuga Hizashi, but he had also clearly taken a stand in support of them earlier, backing Hizashi to become the new clan head.
He was one of them now.
"It's over! My fellow clan members, from today onward, the Hyuga Clan will step into a new era!"
"I, Hyuga Hizashi, will become the new head of the Hyuga Clan and lead everyone toward a different future!"
"A bright and glorious future."
Hyuga Hizashi turned around and made this declaration to the gathered branch family members.
"Long live the Clan Head!"
"We support you, Clan Head!"
Upon hearing this, the branch family members cheered and waved their hands in excitement.
Hiashi and the other main family members, watching this scene, couldn't help but feel complicated emotions.
It was clear that, in the eyes of the branch family, Hyuga Hizashi held an unshakable level of prestige.
With the main family eliminated and even the former clan head, Hyuga Hiashi, having chosen to align with the branch family, the Hyuga Clan's internal struggle had naturally come to an end.
Afterward, Hizashi gathered all the clan's Jonin for a meeting, swiftly organizing the internal affairs and establishing a new leadership structure.
As Hiashi had expected, because he had switched sides quickly—and was also Hizashi's biological brother—he was granted the position of an elder.
This was essentially Hizashi's way of compensating his older brother for supporting him at a critical moment.
As for giving the clan head position back to Hiashi?
That was absolutely out of the question.
Not just because Hizashi and other clan members were unwilling, but also because Kaito needed him to be the Hyuga Clan's leader. That way, he could fully cooperate with Kaito's plans.
— — —
Inside the Hokage's office—
"That's it? It's already over?"
Tsunade was slightly stunned as she witnessed how easily the main family had been wiped out.
"What else did you expect?"
Kaito spread his hands with a chuckle. "In the face of absolute strength, all schemes, struggles, and resistance are meaningless."
"With Hizashi and the others' power, once the main family lost their ability to control the branch family through the Caged Bird Seal, the outcome was already set in stone."
"In the end, it all boils down to the Hyuga Clan's flawed system of a main and branch family."
"When this system was first established and the Caged Bird Seal was introduced, the first-clan leader likely didn't intend for things to turn out this way."
"It's possible they originally implemented it to ensure the Hyuga Clan's survival," Kaito said, recalling something he had seen on Reddit.
Internally, Kaito remembered, "Back when I watched the anime, there was a theory—"
"The reason the Hyuga Clan created the Caged Bird Seal was actually to defend against the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon."
"Because the Otsutsuki on the moon had merged all their Byakugan into the massive Tenseigan, they themselves no longer had Byakugan.To awaken the Tenseigan, they needed to steal pure Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan."
"It's likely that the Hyuga Clan's ancestors knew about this and created the Caged Bird Seal to protect their Byakugan."
"But over time, even the best intentions can become twisted. The dragon slayer becomes the dragon."
"The Caged Bird Seal, originally meant to protect the Hyuga Clan's bloodline, eventually became a true prison and shackle."
"It turned into an inescapable chain for the branch family, and the main family used it as a means to oppress the branch family."
"That's how things ended up the way they are today. Or maybe just a theory and there were other intentions."
— — —
"True," Tsunade nodded in agreement. "I've always felt that the Hyuga Clan's division into main and branch families, along with the Caged Bird Seal, was extremely inhumane. The whole system was corrupt."
"But in the past, neither I nor anyone else could change it. I never thought that you, Kaito, would accomplish this so easily."
"The Hyuga Clan will be grateful to you in the future."
"By the way," she suddenly changed the subject, "once the Hyuga Clan's bloodline research is complete, make sure to give me a sample!"
"Huh?"
Kaito and the others looked at her in surprise.
"Why?" Kushina asked, confused. "Tsunade-nee, don't you want the Sharingan?"
"Of course, I do!"
Tsunade smirked proudly before turning to Kaito. "But I want both the Sharingan and the Byakugan!"
"In fact, if we're talking about practical use, the Byakugan is actually better suited for me."
"Its abilities would greatly enhance my medical techniques."
"But the Sharingan—especially the Eternal Mangekyō and the Rinnegan—is just too powerful, too tempting to give up."
"So, Kaito, I'm sure you'll figure out a way to make both bloodlines coexist perfectly, right?"
Faced with Tsunade's eager gaze, Kaito chuckled helplessly. "Tsunade, you really think big!"
"The Byakugan and Sharingan originate from the same source but evolved in different directions."
"In theory, it's possible to fuse them and possess both bloodlines at the same time."
"But in practice, it's far from simple."
"Their eye structures, chakra pathways, and even neural connections are vastly different. You can't just inject both bloodline serums and expect them to merge perfectly."
"The best method would be to completely fuse the two bloodlines into a new Kekkei Genkai that retains the strengths of both."
"But that would be incredibly difficult."
"First, we need to successfully develop the Byakugan's bloodline serum. Then, we have to conduct further research and numerous experiments."
"Luckily, we captured Otsutsuki Isshiki and obtained Otsutsuki genetic material from him. Otherwise, this fusion experiment would have been even harder."
"Even now, it's still no easy task. So, we'll have to be patient."
In truth, Kaito wasn't just planning to research this—he was also considering personally testing the Byakugan bloodline serum in the main dimension of the Space-Time Gate.
That way, he wouldn't have to worry about any failed experiments causing irreversible harm to his body or endangering his life.
Additionally, he wanted to push the limits of his talent, 'Heaven Rewards Diligence.'
Could it allow him to wield the two ocular Kekkei Genkai at the same time while continuously enhancing them?
If it worked, he would train both abilities to their maximum potential, surpass his limits, and attempt to merge their strengths through enlightenment.
His goal? To create a brand-new bloodline that perfectly combined the best of the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
He had already decided on its name—The White Sharingan.
.
.
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