The domineering Uchiha drove the Third Hokage mad!

Chapter 430 Hyuga Neji's Changes

The copper bells on the eaves outside the hall occasionally tinkled softly in the wind, their tinkling sounds echoing through the quiet manor.

Today, Hinata Hyuga has shed the timidity of her youth and gained a more mature and gentle demeanor.

She gently held her younger sister, Hinata Hanabi's, hand with her left and slowly walked into the manor.

Hinata Hanabi wore a cherry-pink flutter-sleeved dress, with blooming wisteria flowers embroidered on the hem using the Suzhou embroidery technique. The dress swayed gently with her steps, as if butterfly wings were fluttering on the hem.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and the joy in her eyes was almost overflowing. She walked a fraction faster than Hinata. If she hadn't been held tightly by her older sister, she probably would have shouted out the good news long ago.

The two sisters walked to within three steps of Hiashi Hyuga, then simultaneously knelt and bowed in greeting, their robes brushing the ground with a soft rustling sound.

"Father, we're back!"

Hinata Hyuga looked up at Hiashi Hyuga, who was sitting on the clan leader's throne, her gaze clear and unwavering.

Only when her gaze fell upon the white hair at her father's temples did a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of guilt cross her eyes.

"My daughter has come back this time to tell you something important, concerning my lifelong happiness with Hanabi."

As soon as Hinata finished speaking, Hyuga Hanabi could no longer contain herself and suddenly gripped her sister's hand tightly, her eyes sparkling with boundless anticipation for the future.

"Father! Lord Sanfeng has agreed! He says he will marry both my sister and me, so we sisters can stay by his side forever!"

After she finished speaking, she nodded vigorously, as if to emphasize the truth of the matter, her face beaming with a lighthearted rhythm.

Hiashi Hyuga sat upright on the clan leader's throne, his fingers caressing the celadon teacup on the table, feeling the warmth of the tea.

Upon hearing this, his pupils suddenly contracted, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously wanted to ask further questions, but found his throat tightening.

He could only stare intently at his two daughters, trying to discern even the slightest trace of a joke on their faces.

He saw that his eldest daughter, Hinata Hyuga, had a calm expression and a gentle look on her face.

The youngest daughter, Hinata Hanabi, beamed with joy, her hands clasped in front of her, radiating happiness.

"I understand about this! But I will convene a clan meeting to discuss it."

A short while later, many high-ranking members of the Hyuga clan arrived at the clan council hall.

The solemn expression on Hiashi Hyuga's face was like a dark cloud pressing down, making the clan elders standing below dare not even breathe.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his turbulent emotions.

But her mind was filled with images of her two daughters, one gentle and sensible, the other lively and charming, who were now to be married into the deep and unfathomable royal palace.

The elders looked at each other, their eyes secretly glancing at Hyuga Hiashi, who sat in the main seat. Seeing his gloomy face and his brows furrowed into a deep frown, no one dared to speak.

Everyone knows that the Uchiha Three Peaks' current power and strength already make them the rulers of the ninja world and even the planet. They can create stars with a wave of their hand and suppress all discontent with a wave of theirs. For the Hyuga clan to be able to establish this relationship with them is an immense opportunity, enough to elevate their clan's status to another level.

On the surface, Hiashi Hyuga had to show respect for the Hyuga clan and the three peaks of the Uchiha clan, and even prepare a generous gift to demonstrate the friendship between the two clans. This was an inevitable choice for the survival of the clan.

But deep in his heart, an unspeakable conflict and entanglement was quietly spreading, tightly entwining his heart like vines.

He was not dissatisfied with Uchiha Mitsunaga's lecherous behavior; on the contrary, it was the greatest blessing for his daughters that Mitsunaga had taken a liking to Hinata and Hanabi.

What he was truly struggling with was the future of the Hyuga clan.

The fact that both of his daughters married Sanfeng meant that the heirs of the clan, whom he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, were completely removed from the clan's succession order, and the direct line of the clan was effectively cut off from any hope of inheritance.

This worry about the family's interests and future tormented him.

The once vast Hyuga clan, with its main branch having been passed down for centuries, now has only him left as its leader.

Ultimately, the position of clan leader could only be passed on to Hyuga Neji.

That boy, whom he once regarded as a discarded son of the divided family, was actually exceptionally gifted.

When this thought popped into his head, Hiashi Hyuga felt as if an invisible hand was clenching his heart, filled with complex emotions and resentment.

Hiashi Hyuga couldn't help but sigh heavily, his eyes filled with struggle and confusion.

He never underestimated Neji. On the contrary, he always admired Neji's talent and resilience, and he knew that with Hizashi Hyuga assisting him, Neji's abilities were already sufficient to stand on his own.

With guidance from the three peaks of the Uchiha clan, and Neji's own hard work and determination, he was able to achieve his goal.

However, in his deeply ingrained belief, the direct descendant of the main family is the only candidate for clan leader. This is a rule that has been passed down for hundreds of years and is the foundation of the Hyuga clan.

Now, however, this century-old rule is about to be broken, and Neji, a member of a branch family, is to take charge of the entire clan. He can't help but feel a little uneasy, and he is even more afraid that the old stubborn members of the clan will come forward to oppose it, causing turmoil within the clan.

He looked up at the elders below, their heads bowed, and seeing their varied expressions, he felt even more agitated.

After much deliberation, Hiashi Hyuga finally gritted his teeth and suppressed his inner turmoil.

"Someone, summon Hyuga Neji to the council chamber."

The attendant dared not delay, bowed in agreement, and quickly left the council hall. His footsteps faded into the distance and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The hall fell silent once more. The elders all bowed their heads, their gazes fixed on the light and shadow on the ground. No one dared to guess the clan leader's thoughts.

A moment later, the doors to the council chamber were gently pushed open, and a tall figure walked in slowly.

Hyuga Neji was dressed in a light blue outfit with a black belt around his waist, and his figure was agile.

His aura was calm and restrained, exuding both authority and sharpness, yet when he looked at Hiashi Hyuga, he deliberately concealed his aura, displaying just the right amount of respect.

"Chieftain, I heard you were looking for me?"

Hyuga Neji walked into the hall, bowed slightly, and showed no emotion whatsoever.

His gaze swept over the clan elders in the hall, then lingered briefly on the Hinata sisters. Seeing their composed expressions, he had already vaguely guessed what was going on.

Hiashi Hyuga looked at him, scrutinizing him repeatedly, as if trying to see through him from the inside out.

"Neji, you should already know about Hinata and Hanabi. Now that both sisters are marrying Lord Mitsumine, there's no one left in the main branch of the Hyuga clan to inherit the position of clan leader. After preliminary discussions with the elders, we've decided to pass the position to you, to lead the entire Hyuga clan. What do you say?"

After he finished speaking, the council chamber fell into a deathly silence.

The Hyuga clan elders all raised their heads, their gazes fixed on Hyuga Neji, their eyes filled with scrutiny, expectation, and envy.

In their eyes, this was an immense honor, the pinnacle of power that countless people dreamed of. As a member of the branch family, Hyuga Neji had no reason to refuse such an opportunity.

Some were already plotting how to curry favor with the future clan leader in order to solidify their own positions.

However, to Hiashi Hyuga's utter surprise, Neji Hyuga merely raised his eyes slightly, his gaze showing no surprise or excitement, but rather a hint of apology.

His eyes were unusually firm, and he bowed slightly: "Clan Chief, thank you for your trust and the elders for their kindness, but I really cannot accept this position of clan chief."

His voice was clear and steady, and when it landed in the silent council chamber, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

"What did you say? This is the position of clan leader! It's the highest power in the entire Hyuga clan, a position that countless people dream of. Why are you refusing?"

Hiashi Hyuga suddenly stood up, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

The Hyuga clan elders were also in an uproar, their faces filled with disbelief. Some even couldn't help but whisper, "Neji, you need to think this through! This is an incredible opportunity; how can you give it up so easily!"

A chorus of voices broke the previous silence.

Neji raised his hand to signal the elders to be quiet, and slowly explained, "Clan leader, it's not that I'm ungrateful for the clan's kindness or unwilling to serve the clan, but rather that I have a more important mission to fulfill. Lord Sanmine helped me awaken the Tenseigan with his supreme divine power, and I can never repay this kindness. More importantly, Lord Sanmine entrusted me with a grand task: to transform this life-bearing planet and create a new home for the ninja world."

Not long ago, he had been summoned by Lord Sanfeng. That night, the Milky Way was dazzling, and Lord Sanfeng led him and Nawaki to the starry sky above the desolate stars below.

"Neji, your Tenseigan possesses the talent to control gravity and manipulate the core of planets, making you the perfect candidate for terraforming life-bearing planets. Of course, I've also found you a partner, Senju Nawaki. He can use Wood Release to create forests and bring life to the earth. The two of you complement each other and can revitalize barren planets."

At that moment, Neji felt his blood boil; it was a yearning for a grand mission, a pursuit that transcended personal honor and disgrace.

Listening to Hyuga Neji's account, Hyuga Hiashi stared in astonishment, speechless for a moment, his aura instantly dissipating.

He slowly sat down, leaning back against the cold patriarch's throne, his fingers unconsciously gripping the armrests of the chair, and fell into a long silence.

The Hyuga clan elders also quieted down. The commotion they had just felt was replaced by shock. No one had expected that Hyuga Neji's refusal of the position of clan leader was for such a grand mission.

It was a vision that transcended family and individual, a level of thinking they had never considered before.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that in the face of the grand blueprint drawn up by the three peaks of the Uchiha clan, which covered the entire star field, the position of the head of the Hyuga clan was really so insignificant and so narrow.

Their previous hesitation and resentment seemed so selfish and ridiculous in the face of this grand mission...

Hiashi Hyuga sighed, somewhat bewildered, and said, "Neji, you should carry out Lord Mimine's mission properly. As for the clan matters, we'll discuss them with the elders again..."