Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 14: The Organization Shall Be Called Avengers…

Mist Battlefield, Konoha Command Center.

"Iwagakure has already surrendered. Reinforcements from the village will arrive in a few days. The war's end is not far off."

Orochimaru gazed at the gathered jōnin, his tone calm.

"At this final juncture, there must be no complacency."

The jōnin visibly relaxed and responded in unison, "Understood!"

"Good." Orochimaru nodded. "You may leave."

After the jōnin exited the tent, Orochimaru took out a map and studied it for a moment. Suddenly, his expression shifted.

Poof!

With a puff of white smoke, a white viper appeared before him, its tongue flicking.

The viper opened its mouth and spat out a scroll.

Orochimaru smiled as he picked up the scroll and unrolled it to read.

Inside were some speculations about chakra written by Hyuga Fuji. Though not particularly valuable, the notes were indeed useful for Orochimaru's research.

"All this over a mere letter of recommendation for Namikaze Minato? Fuji-kun, you're too polite."

The greatest obstacle to Minato becoming Hokage was the Sannin.

Their credentials far exceeded his.

However, Tsunade and Jiraiya had both refused the Hokage position.

The only one who hadn't explicitly declined was Orochimaru.

Thus, when Orochimaru delivered the letter recommending Namikaze Minato to the Third Hokage, as Fuji had requested, certain outcomes were already set in motion.

"My teacher has always cared about my stance. But deep down, haven't you already chosen Minato?"

"You've been tirelessly working to bolster Minato's image, helping him accumulate political capital. The next generation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, who have long been allied with the Sarutobi clan, are all Minato's comrades."

"How meticulous of you. But perhaps you don't truly wish to relinquish the Hokage seat just yet. It's simply that circumstances force your hand."

Orochimaru shook his head and incinerated the scroll with flames.

This time, the Hyuga Main Family didn't win. Their secretive Caged Bird Seal had fallen into many hands, and they'd even lost some control over the Branch Family.

The Branch Family didn't win either. They failed to completely resolve the issue of the Caged Bird Seal.

And the Third Hokage? On the surface, he seemed to have handled this incident perfectly, but his hasty retirement and the self-imposed blame he shouldered left a significant impact.

At first glance, the one who gained the most was Namikaze Minato—achieving the Hokage position while solidifying his power through the Mist Battlefield.

But is that truly the case?

"To make Minato Hokage, what are you planning, Fuji-kun…"

---

"There's no such thing as coincidence in this world, only inevitability composed of countless, hard-to-observe variables."

"Just like how you don't know what I'll say next."

"But that's only because you don't know. I, of course, am perfectly clear."

Hyuga Fuji rose and walked toward the door.

"If I tell you, that variable becomes a certainty."

"In that case, you'll gain a glimpse of a small fragment of the future."

And as it happens, many of the so-called variables in the world of the Hokage were, for Fuji, certainties.

In other words… a preordained future!

"The Branch Family has found hope. So, when that fragile hope is torn apart, what will happen?"

Hyuga Fuji turned back to look at Hyuga Meiyu. His face, obscured by the house's shadow, was difficult to discern.

Expectation? Perhaps not…

Hyuga Fuji muttered to himself.

How similar it all is.

The Uchiha now are just like the Hyuga at this moment, dreaming sweet dreams.

The clan leader is a close friend of the newly appointed Hokage. The clan leader's wife is a confidante of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

In this generation, the Uchiha have established a foundation for entering the upper echelons!

But alas, this sweet dream will vanish, turning into the Uchiha's nightmare.

And what of the Hyuga?

Turning and stepping out of his home, Hyuga Fuji suddenly stopped and glanced toward the shadows near the house.

"What do you want?"

From the shadows emerged Hyuga Yuki, who bowed his head and pleaded, "Fuji-sama… no, Lord Fuji! I need your help. I need power."

Hyuga Fuji looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Come inside."

Without waiting for Yuki's reply, Fuji opened the door and entered.

From afar, Hyuga Meiyu observed the scene using the Byakugan, then concealed himself.

"Yes!"

Hyuga Yuki followed with visible excitement.

Once inside the living room, Hyuga Fuji turned and asked, "Why seek me out?"

"Because you're the strongest ninja of the Branch Family!"

Being able to deduce that the Hokage was working to unravel the Caged Bird Seal and infiltrate the Main Family's core territory with ease, Hyuga Fuji was, in Yuki's eyes, the most powerful among the Branch Family.

After a brief pause, Yuki added, "And I believe you're trustworthy. The others—many of the Branch Family members—are merely Caged Birds!"

At these last three words, Yuki clenched his teeth.

Those people were slaves in spirit. Even if the Caged Bird Seal were removed, they would never be truly free.

"Oh? And you think you're different?"

Hyuga Fuji chuckled. "If I hadn't given you the information, would you have even dreamed of completely removing the Caged Bird Seal?"

"Probably not."

Hyuga Yuki fell silent but quickly firmed his resolve. "But I will continue to resist, to find a way to break the Caged Bird Seal completely, and lead all who are willing to fight alongside me."

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Hyuga Fuji narrowed his own and murmured, "Barely qualified."

Passionate, yet rational.

Courageous, yet willing to act.

Most importantly, not an idealist.

"Huh? Qualified?"

Before Yuki could react, he saw Hyuga Fuji retrieve a scroll and toss it to him.

"This is the power you seek—the power to make the Branch Family stand tall, even to sever the Hyuga Clan from Konoha itself."

Hyuga Yuki stared at Fuji in disbelief, then at the scroll in his hands.

To sever the Hyuga from Konoha… how could that be possible?

"You don't believe me?" Fuji asked flatly.

"No, no, that's not it," Yuki quickly shook his head. "It's just… it feels a bit unreal."

In his mind, Fuji was at most second only to the Hokage in strength. For him to suddenly claim such an extraordinary possibility naturally felt unbelievable.

"Believe it or don't. It's up to you."

Fuji said, "If there's nothing else, you may leave."

"Wait, Lord Fuji."

Yuki took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "My companions and I have formed an organization with the goal of helping the Branch Family rise."

"Please, join us as well!"

"…"

A heavy silence settled.

Just as Yuki began to feel anxious and sneak a glance at Fuji, the latter spoke.

"What's the name of your organization?"

Yuki's face lit up with excitement, though he scratched his head awkwardly. "We haven't decided yet, but since our goal is freedom and vengeance against the Main Family…"

"How about 'Avengers'..."

"You can leave now."

Fuji cut him off coldly after hearing just three words, driving him out of the house.

Outside, Yuki stood dumbfounded.

What was wrong with that name?

Scratching his head in frustration, he couldn't figure it out and eventually left with the scroll.

When he returned home and read through the entire contents of the scroll, the thirteen-year-old boy froze in place, his emotions in turmoil.

It was a history—of how the Hyuga's distant relatives, the Ōtsutsuki Main Family, had been annihilated by the Branch Family…

(End of Chapter)

Also if you wish to read unto 50+ advanced chapters and support me at

Patreon. com / NahinSS7