In Konoha, This Naruto Has Decided To Take It Easy

"Hiashi, have you gone mad? What does this have to do with the position of Clan Head?!"

"Ridiculous! The branch family is nowhere near as powerful as the main family. Why make such a drastic decision? It's utterly absurd!"

"So what if they've broken the seal?"

By the riverside, with the water flowing gently, Hinata clung to Naruto, looking up at him with pleading eyes and softly speaking.

"Not here."

"I know my limits." Naruto withdrew his hand and stood up, pointing in the direction of the Hyuga Clan's compound and said, "Things should be wrapping up soon. Let's head back and see what's happening."

"Naruto-kun…"

"What's wrong?" He looked down and asked.

Hinata bit her lower lip, glanced up at him, her face flushed, and said shyly, "I've been sitting for too long... My legs are weak."

"No problem, I'll carry you." Naruto didn't hesitate, easily scooping her up in a princess carry, easily and effortlessly.

Though Hinata seemed a bit heavy at first glance, it was an illusion created by her well-nourished appearance. Her actual frame was light, and she didn't weigh more than 42 kg in total.

Naruto had previously measured her other stats: 91E-59-86.

Hinata's popularity wasn't unfounded. After all, who wouldn't like a girl with both charm and kindness, someone who was gentle, tender, and soft-spoken?

"Am I... heavy?" Hinata asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Not at all. This is a gift from the heavens." Naruto replied without a hint of hesitation, "The heaviest part of the body is water. Lose some of that, and you'll be much lighter."

"It's so hot right now. Even though you don't sweat much, you must have lost some water."

Hinata's face immediately turned red, and she buried her head in his chest, too shy to speak.

Back in the Hyuga Clan's compound, they found that the debate had indeed ended. Hiashi had formally announced the abolition of the Caged Bird, and any branch family's members who still bore it could now request its removal.

Additionally, he declared the dissolution of the system that divided the clan into main and branch families.

At the same time, Hiashi announced his resignation as Clan Head, taking full responsibility for the events.

With everything finally settled, Hinata still felt a bit dazed. It wasn't that she was reluctant to give up the privileges of the main family, but she was worried that the clan might turn on itself, leading to revenge and conflict.

It just so happens that her father is no longer the Clan Head, which means that she will no longer be involved in clan disputes. Yet, she was still a member of the Hyuga Clan, and its fate was her fate… its rise or fall would affect her as well.

"It'll be okay. Let's go back first." Naruto said, holding Hinata's hand as they crossed the threshold of the Hyuga Clan's compound for the first time.

He couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction, 'I'm finally in.'

Although Naruto had entered many places before, he had never used a back door, nor had he ever walked through the main entrance of the Hyuga Clan's compound.

Hinata, on the other hand, felt a bit nervous. It was her first time walking into the Hyūga Clan's compound with Naruto. They were still holding hands, and with the current chaotic situation, they were bound to be seen by someone.

However, to her surprise, the younger members of the branch family they passed along the way not only had smooth foreheads without the Caged Bird but also seemed to deliberately ignore her and Naruto as if they were selectively blind.

The atmosphere felt strange, and Hinata's heart pounded nervously. It wasn't until they encountered Neji coming out of the Clan Head's residence that she felt more grounded. Neji's forehead was now bare, with only a faint trace of the Caged Bird remaining.

"Hinata? Naruto?" Neji was surprised for a moment, but greeted them anyway.

Normally, no outsiders are allowed to enter the Hyuga Clan's compound, but in the eyes of the branch family, Naruto is obviously not an outsider. After all, it was Naruto who removed the Caged Bird for them.

More importantly, the Hyuga Clan has an advantage: they don't like to spread gossip.

"Neji-niisan…" Hinata looked at the still visible mark of the Caged Bird on Neji's forehead, and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty since she was once part of the main family.

However, Neji seemed indifferent, making no effort to hide it.

"Neji, I never noticed before, but that mark actually looks kind of cool." Naruto said casually, without a second thought.

Hearing this, Hinata was startled and instinctively tugged at Naruto's sleeve. She thought to herself, 'How can you say such a thing, Naruto-kun? Neji-niisan will definitely get mad.'

Contrary to her expectations, Neji didn't get angry. In fact, he smiled, "Yeah, I think it looks pretty good too."

Hinata was stunned. She had no idea about the plan that Neji and Naruto had been scheming together, nor could she have known how much Neji's decision to be the Last Caged Bird was irritating the main family.

Standing on a moral high ground, Neji's stance was both annoying and untouchable to the weakened main family. The Caged Bird had essentially become symbolic, with Neji being the last of the younger generation to still bear the mark.

"I'll take Hinata home first. You can get back to what you were doing." Naruto took the initiative.

"Alright." Neji nodded and gave Hinata a brief nod before heading off.

Hinata held Naruto's hand tightly, looking a little confused about the unknown life ahead. She didn't expect that in just half a day, so much had changed in the Hyuga Clan.

"Naruto-kun…"

"Don't worry, I'm here."

It was precisely because he was here that things had become so unpredictable. Without him, the Hyuga Clan wouldn't have undergone such rapid reforms. Perhaps the abolition of the Caged Bird would have taken ten, maybe even twenty years.

At least, in Hiashi's initial vision, this was meant to be a slow and peaceful process. But even he hadn't anticipated that the clan's transformation would happen in such a drastic and aggressive manner.

"Yeah, Naruto-kun, you're really something." Hinata looked at him with trust and dependence.

Naruto, feeling a bit guilty, wasn't keen on entering the Clan Head's residence just yet, so he came up with an excuse, saying it was still too early to meet Hiashi. Hinata, also feeling somewhat uneasy, agreed.

So, they parted ways at the entrance to Hinata's home.

Three days had passed since the changes in the Hyuga Clan. Naruto and Neji met again in private, this time in a small teahouse, where they sat in a secluded room for a conversation.

This time, Neji's forehead was smooth, and the Caged Bird was fully removed. Naruto still felt a bit uneasy, but probing Neji's thoughts was too risky, so he had no choice but to let it go.

"Don't worry, Hiashi-sama personally removed it for me." Neji took a sip of tea and said lightly.

"Even so…" Naruto trailed off, changing the subject instead, "Is the current Hyuga Clan close to your ideal vision?"

"More or less, but although the distinction between the main and branch families has been eliminated on the surface, there are still underlying tensions." Neji replied.

"The Hyuga Clan still has a long way to go. An ideal clan can't be achieved overnight."

"Then become the Clan Head!" Naruto set down his teacup and said nonchalantly, "The Hyuga Clan has lost its central power, so both the main and branch families have a chance to compete for leadership."

"This clan is deeply sick. Why not just overturn the whole thing?"