"Thank you, Aunt Ayako," Aoba carefully received the teacup from Hyuga Ayako's hand, in case the tea accidentally spilled onto Hanabi.
"I actually came to deliver this," After placing the teacup on the coffee table, he took out a scroll and pushed it to the front of Hyuga Hiashi.
"What is this?", Everyone's faces revealed curious expressions.
Hyuga Hiashi picked up the scroll, and after opening it, his pupils gradually widened.
'What is it?'
Hyuga Hiashi's reaction made Ayako, Hinata, and Hanabi even more curious.
Hiashi then rolled the scroll back up. First, he explained to his wife and daughters what was inside.
"There is a Byakugan in here."
"""What?"""
Ayako, Hinata, and Hanabi were all extremely surprised. As members of the main family, they understood clearly what a Byakugan lost outside meant.
Hiashi looked seriously at Aoba, "Aoba, this Byakugan couldn't be the one that..."
Since the beginning of the Hyuga clan's recorded history, there had only been one Byakugan lost to the outside.
Thinking again of what happened during Hinata and the others' mission, Aoba had directly defeated the future Mizukage of Kirigakure and even captured her and brought her to Konoha.
In his heart, he already had the answer.
Aoba nodded, "It was indeed retrieved from Kirigakure."
Upon hearing this, Hiashi's expression grew even more solemn.
He stood up and gave Aoba a ninety-degree bow, "Aoba, thank you very much for returning this Byakugan to us. This favor, the Hyuga clan will always remember."
This Byakugan lost to the outside had always been a stain on the Hyuga clan, a great humiliation.
Now, this stain could finally be wiped away.
Aoba only held Hinata's hand, "Uncle Hiashi, that's too much. We're all one family."
When Hinata heard Aoba's words and felt her hand being held by him, her face flushed red as she lowered her head.
Hanabi, sitting on Aoba's lap, happily swayed.
Hiashi saw this scene and, compared to before, found it much more pleasing to the eye.
Having helped the Hyuga clan recover the lost Byakugan, this son-in-law, he now fully accepted.
"No matter what, you helped the Hyuga clan retrieve the Byakugan. In the future, if you ever need help from the Hyuga, we will never refuse," Hiashi once again made a promise.
"Then, Uncle Hiashi, may I have a private chat?", Aoba made his request.
Hiashi was momentarily stunned, then nodded, "Let's talk in the study."
"Okay," Aoba stood up and put down the pouting Hanabi.
He patted Hanabi's head. Compared to Hinata, she was more like a kitten, enjoying the head pats.
After soothing Hanabi, he followed Hiashi into the study.
———
"Is there something you wanted to talk about?", After sitting down in the study, Hiashi asked the purpose.
"Uncle Hiashi, being able to recover this Byakugan, the main reason isn't me, it's because Kirigakure is weak, and Konoha is strong," Aoba hinted at something.
"Aoba, you mean...?", Though Hiashi heard the implied meaning, he didn't yet understand what exactly he meant.
Aoba smiled and shared his thoughts, "Dignity lies only at the tip of the sword. What can truly protect the Byakugan should be powerful strength, not locking up power in a cage."
Upon hearing this, Hiashi's expression changed drastically. He immediately activated the Byakugan to scan the surroundings.
Only after setting up a perception-blocking barrier did he feel safe continuing the conversation, "Aoba, such words cannot be said lightly."
"Uncle Hiashi, seeing your reaction, it seems you also have opinions on the caged bird seal?"
Hiashi fell silent upon hearing this. In his mind, he recalled the scene of Hizashi dying in front of him.
Although he hated it, to speak of hatred, he was perhaps the least qualified one, "Aoba, is this your own thought, or the Hokage's idea?"
"It's my own thought. As far as I know, the caged bird seal limits the Byakugan's abilities, right?", Aoba spoke truthfully.
Hiashi couldn't help but sigh, "The caged bird seal indeed limits the Byakugan's capabilities, but it ensures the Byakugan doesn't leak, uh... doesn't easily leak."
He suddenly remembered the scroll in his hand and changed his wording temporarily.
"This is for the sake of the clan's continuation. Compared to a few powerful clan members, what the Hyuga needs more is the continuation of the clan. For that, even if it means restraining some of the clan's talent."
In theory, even the Hokage has no right to interfere in Hyuga's internal affairs.
But aside from being the Hokage's disciple, Aoba was also the Hyuga clan's son-in-law and had returned the lost Byakugan.
Hiashi had enough patience to talk to him about this matter.
Aoba frowned slightly, "But what if we could train the most talented Hyuga shinobi, and then, like the Uchiha, if any shinobi ever dared target the Byakugan, they would chase them across the world, taking lives to recover it."
"At that point, even without the caged bird seal, no one in the ninja world would dare covet the Hyuga's Byakugan. That would also ensure the Hyuga's continuation."
Hiashi revealed a bitter smile, "That might indeed protect the Byakugan... but in terms of combat, the Byakugan is inferior to the Sharingan. It's very difficult for us to train as many powerful shinobi as the Uchiha."
"Maybe it won't take long to achieve it," Aoba said with a smile.
Hearing that, Hiashi thought of his daughter.
Hinata's talent could be called the number one genius of the Hyuga clan.
And her pair of Byakugan... Were purer than any he had ever seen.
Perhaps in the future, such power might truly come to be.
"Maybe. These things, let's wait until Hinata and the others grow up before discussing," Hiashi chose to trust the wisdom of future generations.
It was also his way of giving Aoba a positive answer.
He didn't have the power to remove the caged bird seal's policy, but maybe his daughter could.
"Then, Uncle Hiashi, could you allow me to research the caged bird?", Aoba revealed his true intention.
"What?", Hiashi's eyes widened.
Although he had said anything could be asked of the Hyuga, he hadn't expected it would be this.
The caged bird, this could be considered the root of the Hyuga clan.
His expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
But before he could question, Aoba added quickly, "I don't want the secret technique of the caged bird. I just want to research the seal mark on the branch family members."
Only then did Hiashi's expression calm down, and he generally understood Aoba's intention, "You want to break the caged bird?"
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