Chapter 75 – Meeting with the Hyūga
"Talk"
'Think'
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.
Konoha, a week later
"Why do I have to follow?" asked Naruto as he walked towards the Hyūga Residence with Kakashi, Noriko, Shisui and Shizuka.
"The Hyūga wants to know about Noriko's dōjutsu, so we are here to support Noriko" explained Shizuka.
"Is Tenzō going to be there, too?" asked Naruto as he looked at Kakashi.
"No" answered Kakashi "I'm here because I want to make sure that Noriko said nothing revealing about my sharingan".
"You too, ojisan?" asked Noriko to Shisui.
Shisui smiled and shook his head "I'm going to be there as a family member. Itachi, Tekka and Sasuke will represent the Uchiha while Tsunade-sama will take my place as Hokage to preside the meeting.
Hyūga Residence
"This meeting was called by the Hyūga to ask Noriko about her dōjutsu-" said Tsunade "-while the Uchiha are here since it also involves sharingan. I am here as Hokage's representative to oversee this meeting and to intervene if necessary. Without further ado, this meeting will begin now" Tsunade nodded to Hiashi and Hizashi.
Hizashi cleared his throat before he began "Noriko-san, is it correct that you have a byakugan and a sharingan?"
"Yes" answered Noriko.
"Both dōjutsu can be activated and deactivated at whims?"
"Yes"
"How are they functioning?" interjected a Hyūga elder.
"I'm sorry?" asked Noriko.
"Does your byakugan functions as ours? The same question goes for your sharingan" the elder elucidated.
"I suppose so" mulled Noriko before she elaborated "It's just, I've worked with sharingan far more time than with byakugan, so I cannot say anything definitive.
"Based on your experience, would you say your sharingan functions similar to those of the Uchiha's?"
"To a certain degree, yes"
"How much is the percentage? 10? 25? 50?"
Noriko looked at the elder coldly before answered "I don't know, even if I do, it's none of your business-"
"Language, Noriko" reminded Shizuka gently.
"Actually, I agree with Noriko" said Itachi pleasantly "The sharingan is Uchiha's business as I believed that the byakugan is Hyūga's" he ended with a smile at the elder who has gone pale as he got the underlying message, 'If you want to know about the sharingan, then we too want to know about the byakugan'.
"I'm sorry, Uchiha-sama" the elder apologized and added "I've got a bit carried away".
Itachi nodded.
"Noriko-san" said another elder "Would you say that your dōjutsu is stronger than ours and the Uchiha's?"
"Huh? I don't think so"
"So…your dōjutsu is weaker?" asked the elder with a hint of a smile.
Noriko was frowning as she answered "I don't think that's a fair question. Strength has nothing to do with dōjutsu"
"I beg your pardon?!"
"What she means, you old prunes-" shouted Naruto while ignoring Shizuka's reprimand "-is that, she's strong because she trained her ass off! Not because of her dōjutsu!"
Noriko smiled thankfully at Naruto before answered "That, and I don't have enough information to answer the question for certain. So far, I've sparred with Uchiha Itachi and got my a- erm-" Noriko faltered as she felt Shizuka's gaze bore into her back "-bottom handed to me whereas Hyūga Neji has shown to have a better range than I do. I'm not sure whether that shown superiority of the Uchiha's sharingan and the Hyūga's byakugan, or whether it's because I'm comparing myself with the geniuses of both clans".
"Thank you Noriko-san, for that particular information" said Hiashi "Although, I believe that the question was phrased wrongly. What we like to know, does having both byakugan and sharingan gives you a new ability that is unique to your particular of dōjutsu?"
"I see" said Noriko before replying "I'm afraid I cannot tell you that, it doesn't seems fair since you did not share the secret of byakugan with me. Even if you do, it still doesn't feels right to tell since the other half of my dōjutsu is related to the Uchiha's sharingan"
Hiashi nodded and said "Fair enough"
"Noriko-san, are you aware of your unique position?" asked Hizashi
"I'm afraid, I don't understand the question"
"For many years, the Hyūga and the Uchiha were discouraged to marry each other for fear that one dōjutsu may cause the other to become defect; but you've proven otherwise" explained Hizashi "As a result, many have been opened for that option and Konoha's next generations may have a number of shinobi with dōjutsu like yours"
"I suppose…that's good news for Konoha?" replied Noriko uncertainly.
"If there is indeed a number of shinobi with dōjutsu like yours, will you lead and train them?" asked Hizashi.
Everyone waited for Noriko to give her answer.
"Train them…yeah sure, I would do it in a heartbeat. I always leave my notes with Hokage anyway… … …leading them-" said Noriko with a puckered brow "-hmmm…I'm not sure. To be honest, I haven't seen myself that far ahead, yet" Noriko was thinking 'I don't even know if I would live then, with Akatsuki on out tail', though out-loud she said "My current focus is to keep on improving myself so I can serve Konoha better. If by that time this question arises again, maybe I can give a better answer"
Hizashi nodded, satisfied with Noriko's answered.
Tsunade looked around and said "I think that concludes our meeting. Thank you for your attention"
"YEAY! Race you, Noriko!"
"Wait…Naruto! Noriko!" called Shizuka.
"Leave them be, nee-chan" said Shisui "Come, let me treat you at your favourite tea-shop"
Later, Hyūga Residence
"What's the meaning of your question, Hizashi?!" asked an elder.
"I don't understand" replied Hizashi calmly.
"You asked Noriko-san whether she would lead shinobi with the same dōjutsu like hers, are you trying to incite a revolt?!"
"I am not, but unless we change our way, Hyūga clan might as well joined the Kurama clan" answered Hizashi.
"What do you mean?" asked his father sharply.
"I believe it is time to seal away Hyūga Sōke no Juinjutsu. We no longer need it" said Hizashi.
"I agreed" said Hiashi.
"Hiashi…you too?" asked his father in disbelief.
"The seal protected the byakugan from falling onto the enemies' hands!" cried one elder.
Hiashi took a deep breath before speaking "The seal was introduced before the formation of Hidden Village. Now we are all parts of Konoha, where our shinobi gladly give their lives away to protect the others. We no longer need the seal, we've got Will of Fire".
"Moreover-" continued Hiashi "Hizashi is right. If we continue practicing Hyūga Sōke no Juinjutsu, more and more Branch Family will find a way to protect their kids from being sealed. Noriko is one example. When that happens, we'll lose significant number of our clan members, as well as their byakugan"
"So-" said Hizashi "If we continue with this practice, instead of protecting the byakugan, the seal will be the cause that drives byakugan away from our clutches"
"If we stop with the sealing, other Hidden Villages might be encouraged to repeat what Kumo did!" argued another elder.
"Umm…How about a tattoo instead of a seal?" interjected Hinata. Neji was by her side.
"Elaborate, Hinata" ordered her grandfather.
"Instead of applying seal, we put a tattoo on our forehead, like Inuzuka clan" said Hinata.
"We?" asked an elder.
"I mean both Main and Branch Families" explained Hinata.
"I think that is better" said Neji "A lot of shinobi knows that the seal was applied only to the Branch Family. For that reason, members from the Main Family are always being targeted. However, if all Hyūga started to have a mark on their foreheads-"
"That will confuse other shinobi and they might hesitate to do what Kumo did" interjected an elder excitedly and a babble ensued.
Hiashi and Hizashi watched as more and more elders began to cotton on the plan with bated breath.
"What are we going to tell our teammates?" asked a Hyūga genin.
…
…
…
"I think Konoha shinobi can be trusted in general" said Hizashi.
"But if your teammate gives you a bad vibe like Orochimaru, just tell him or her that the Hyūga is changing our way with the seal, but no need to go into detail. Let your teammate makes his or her own conclusion" suggested an elder.
"However, the Hokage needs to be informed of this changes" said Hiashi's and Hizashi's father.
"Hait, otōsan" replied Hiashi and Hizashi with respect.
End Chapter 75
Dōjutsu – Eye Techniques
Hyūga Sōke no Juinjutsu – Hyūga Main Family's Cursed Seal Technique