Naruto: Getting Observation Haki By Sacrificing The Byakugan

While Kawaki Aoba was modifying all of the Caged Bird Curses and hadn't prepared for the next step, a subordinate came to report.

"Lord Aoba, the Hokage is here and is currently being blocked outside the barrier. Your subordinates haven't taken any rash actions."

"The Hokage? Which one?" Kawaki Aoba asked, his interest piqued.

"It's the Fourth Hokage," the subordinate replied.

"Oh, it's Minato, I see," Kawaki Aoba said, somewhat disappointed. It was within his expectations that Minato would return early, but it was somewhat unexpected that Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't shown up yet.

He had caused such a commotion, yet Sarutobi could still sit still?

Kawaki Aoba waved his hand and said, "Let's go. Follow me to welcome the Fourth Hokage."

With that, Kawaki Aoba led thousands of people in a mighty procession to welcome Namikaze Minato.

Only a small portion of these thousands were ninjas; the rest were ordinary branch family members with the Caged Bird Seal engraved on their foreheads.

Kawaki Aoba even brought along two Hyuga main family members who had already lost their influence.

When Kawaki Aoba saw Namikaze Minato through the barrier, the latter was staring at him and the group behind him with a look of astonishment.

"Elder Aoba, what are you doing? What's going on with these Hyuga clansmen?" Namikaze Minato asked, bewildered. Clearly, the current scene was very different from what he had expected.

Minato, who had just received the news, originally thought that Kawaki Aoba had taken advantage of his absence from the village to deliver a fatal blow to the Hyuga clan.

Hadn't he even set up a barrier? People outside couldn't get in, and people inside couldn't get out.

It was so frightening; it was a posture of wanting to exterminate the entire Hyuga clan.

But after rushing over in a panic, the scene he saw through the barrier left him dumbfounded.

Kawaki Aoba was actually leading all the Hyuga branch family members to welcome him. What act was he putting on?

If it weren't for the barrier still in place, and seeing the Hyuga Second Elder on the other side without arms, looking like he wouldn't live much longer, Minato would have thought that Kawaki Aoba was being warmly entertained by the Hyuga clan.

Just then, Kawaki Aoba said enthusiastically, "Hokage-sama, your arrival is just in time. There's an important matter here that needs you to take charge."

With that, Kawaki Aoba immediately ordered his subordinates to remove the Four Violet Flames Formation.

"Hokage-sama, I just received news that the Hyuga main family intends to defect from the village. This matter is of great importance. After receiving the news, I didn't dare to delay and rushed here to stop them.

But unexpectedly, it was still a step too late. By the time I arrived, most of the Hyuga main family had already escaped through a secret passage they had dug out privately.

Only Hyuga Hiashi and the Hyuga Second Elder were left here to buy time. I'm ashamed to be the Hokage's assistant for not discovering the Hyuga main family's conspiracy in advance."

Kawaki Aoba wore an expression of guilt, which left Namikaze Minato speechless.

He would be a fool to believe even half of it.

However, he also knew that Kawaki Aoba would never speak carelessly without absolute certainty. In other words, there was something wrong with the Hyuga main family, and Kawaki Aoba had caught them by the pigtails.

Minato's gaze shifted to Hyuga Hiashi, with a questioning look in his eyes.

Meeting Minato's gaze, Hyuga Hiashi was also speechless.

What could he say? Kawaki Aoba had completely taken control of their Hyuga clan.

Attacking nobles, the main family defecting, wanting to execute all branch family members… each and every one of these things was true, and Kawaki Aoba had even obtained evidence.

Moreover, the other party had won over all the branch families.

They were already powerless to turn the tide.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Hiashi stopped caring about anything else and simply turned a blind eye.

Let it be. Let it be. Hyuga Hiashi gave up on further thought.

Seeing his defeated appearance, Minato's heart skipped a beat, and an absurd thought couldn't help but arise in his mind.

Could all of this be true?

Was the Hyuga clan really going to defect?

Not only was Minato dumbfounded, but even the clan leaders who had rushed over later were staring blankly.

They couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief in their hearts.

At this moment, Minato took a deep breath, his tone became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Aoba, this matter is of great importance. Let's not consider anything else for now. I just want to know where the rest of the Hyuga main family members have gone?

If they really defected, as you said, it would definitely be an unacceptable blow to our Konoha."

The blow Namikaze Minato referred to wasn't aimed at the Hyuga main family members, but rather at the branch family, who made up the larger portion of the clan.

Minato's gaze swept over them briefly.

All of these branch family members should have borne the Caged Bird Seal on their foreheads, the traditional curse mark used to control them.

But…

"Where is it?" Minato muttered inwardly, eyes narrowing.

Their foreheads were smooth—unmarked.

His expression grew visibly confused.

At that moment, a calm, familiar voice spoke again from behind him—Kawaki Aoba's.

"Hokage-sama, please rest assured. If you're concerned about the Caged Bird Seal, there's no need. I've just modified the technique for those branch members who voluntarily agreed to the change."

Minato turned to look at Aoba with shock in his eyes.

"In other words," Aoba continued steadily, "even if some members of the Hyuga main family defect and attempt to forcibly control the branch members, it won't work. The seal no longer binds them in that way."

Minato was silent.

He felt like all the emotional shocks of his life were being compressed into this single day.

Kawaki Aoba had accounted for everything. He had even altered the infamous Caged Bird Seal—a technique that had stood untouched for generations. To do so was… astonishing.

"In addition," Aoba went on, "I've already dispatched teams to pursue the defectors. If everything goes smoothly, it shouldn't be too difficult to catch the escaping Hyuga elders. When that time comes, I ask that you show no leniency, Hokage-sama.

"Those who endanger the village and betray its values must face the consequences."

Minato: "…"

Here it was again—that feeling.

Compared to Aoba, Minato couldn't help but question his own worth as Hokage.

What exactly have I even been doing these past few days?

As for the Hyuga incident… it seemed like Kawaki Aoba had resolved it entirely on his own.

No large-scale combat. No civilian casualties. Even Hyuga Hiashi—the clan head—hadn't objected.

Minato sighed internally. Though the details were unclear, they no longer seemed to matter.

Tired? Let it all end, then. Quickly.

---

Meanwhile, on the far outskirts of Konoha, a group of Hyuga main family members emerged from a hidden underground passage.

Were it not for the presence of children and pregnant women, they could have moved much faster.

As the group reached open ground, an elder with graying hair—known to them as the Sixth Elder—stepped forward.

"I'll guide the way from here. Stay close."

None of the others objected. He was the only one who knew the route toward the rumored Otsutsuki refuge.

He activated his Byakugan periodically, scanning their surroundings as they moved. His vigilance and composure impressed the others.

"Strange," one elder whispered. "I never realized how responsible the Sixth Elder was."

"Indeed. Perhaps we misjudged him. But we can't let him do all the work."

Another elder quickened his pace, joining the Sixth Elder at the front.

"Lao Liu, take a break. Let me share the burden. We'll rotate watch duty."

Without waiting for permission, the elder activated his Byakugan.

"Byakugan—activate."

At once, the landscape within several kilometers came into view.

He froze.

His expression went blank.

The Sixth Elder, standing beside him, glanced sideways, a flicker of regret crossing his face.

He, too, stopped walking.

"Why are we stopping?" someone in the rear called.

The crowd halted, sensing something was wrong.

The Sixth Elder turned around, facing them.

"It's unfortunate," he said calmly. "You were just a bit too slow. You nearly made it past the encirclement. But no matter—it will just take a bit more effort now."

"…What are you saying, Lao Liu?" someone asked, their voice trembling.

Others activated their Byakugan in alarm.

A beat of silence passed—then a young Hyuga fell to the ground in shock.

"No… no way. This can't be happening."

More Byakugan eyes opened, confirming the worst.

They were surrounded.

Encircling them were squads of Konoha shinobi…

…and Hyuga branch family members.

The branch members, seeing they had been discovered, stepped into the open and began to advance.

"Damn it, Lao Liu! What the hell is this?!" an elder shouted, anger surging in his voice.

The Sixth Elder said nothing.

But then, a voice rang out from the distance.

"Yes, what is this about? That's what we want to ask you. What were you elders planning to do—flee the village? Take our children with you?"

Whoosh—

Sounds of teleportation and rapid movement filled the air as Konoha ninja materialized from all directions, tightening the net.

The situation was dire, but it wasn't yet hopeless—until a few main family members, realizing the trap, made a desperate move.

They activated the Caged Bird Seal, attempting to subdue the advancing branch members by force.

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