69novels Chapter 212 Choice
Chapter 212 Choice
Hiashi Hyuga sighed deeply, pulling his thoughts back to reality. He knew that the plan to ally with the Uchiha clan would likely have to be abandoned. Faced with the Uchiha clan's unwavering pursuit of the Hokage position, he had no confidence that he could persuade them to change their minds. If he didn't want the Hyuga clan to be dragged into this chaotic turmoil, perhaps only by steadfastly adhering to the Hyuga clan's consistent policies could he ensure the clan's stable development.
"Alas! How did Konoha become like this!" Hiashi Hyuga sighed softly. The village of Konoha, once founded by the Senju and Uchiha clans, was now unrecognizable, causing him, who held deep affection for the village, to feel a profound sense of loss. Recalling the past, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within him.
Looking at the dejected Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Kanan couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. Konoha Village, once hailed as a paradise in the ninja world, was now mired in silence and despair. This place should have been a peaceful and stable haven, an ideal place for people to live and grow.
However, reality is cruel. Konoha is currently under the rule of Hiruzen Sarutobi and other high-ranking officials. For those who have deep feelings for Konoha, they seem to have no choice but to lament in silence. Hyuga Kanan knows this, but he doesn't dwell on it too much. After all, the future fate of Konoha is largely irrelevant to him personally. Even if Konoha eventually disappears from the annals of ninja history, it will merely be one chapter in that story.
With this in mind, Hyuga Kanan's mind gradually calmed down. He understood that he couldn't be swayed by external factors, but should focus on his own training and growth. Only by continuously improving his strength could he better cope with the challenges he might encounter in the future.
Hyuga Kanan shifted his gaze to the two upright-sitting little ones, a slight smile creeping onto his lips: "This is the main purpose of my return to Konoha Village..." As for all the other messy trifles, he'd leave them all to those meddlesome types to handle.
When Hyuga Neji and Hinata noticed Hyuga Kanan's gaze on them, they quickly straightened up, trying to appear more mature and composed adults, though deep down they were incredibly nervous. They had just witnessed the Hokage, in particular, behaving with unusual respect towards their third uncle, completely lacking his usual aloof and authoritative demeanor. Being relatively mature, they naturally understood what the title "Hokage" meant.
Hiashi Hyuga gradually let go of his worries about Konoha and turned his attention back to the present. When he saw Kana Hyuga looking at the two children, a hint of joy reappeared on his face. The affairs of Konoha were beyond his current concern; what mattered most now was taking care of his own clan. Hiashi Hyuga had always loved Neji and Hinata dearly. Especially now, with Neji about to be taken away by Kana Hyuga for training, Hiashi Hyuga was filled with joy.
Hiashi Hyuga was acutely aware of Neji's talent. He knew that relying solely on the Hyuga clan's training would make it difficult for Neji to grow into a truly top-tier fighter. More importantly, the Caged Bird Seal severely limited Neji's growth. However, with Kanan Hyuga by his side, the Caged Bird Seal was no longer an insurmountable problem and would undoubtedly create a brighter future for Neji.
"Kanan, Neji is an exceptionally talented child, arguably one of the most outstanding individuals in our Hyuga clan. However, that wretched Caged Bird Seal has become a stumbling block on his path to growth, severely limiting his potential. Nevertheless, I firmly believe that only you have the ability to help him break free from these constraints, truly unleash the long-dormant talent within him, and achieve his perfect transformation and growth." Hyuga Hiashi looked at Hyuga Kanan with anticipation and spoke earnestly.
Hyuga Kanan smiled slightly and nodded gently in agreement. While he couldn't fully ascertain Hyuga Neji's talent using his divine sense, the boy's active soul fluctuations clearly indicated a certain aptitude for the soul. Such active soul fluctuations meant the person was quick-witted and agile, and consequently, their learning ability would surpass that of ordinary ninjas. With unwavering willpower, becoming a top-tier ninja was only a matter of time.
However, Hyuga Kanan never intended to lead Neji down the path of a ninja. The limitations of ninjas were too great; even with exceptional strength, they ultimately became pawns on the chessboard of those who manipulated them from behind the scenes. He hoped Neji could transcend the boundaries of a ninja and embark on the true path of training.
"Neji, Hinata, come here!" Hiashi Hyuga called out. Seeing how nervous the two children were, Hiashi decided to let them get to know Kanan Hyuga first.
Neji was quite cheerful, and although he was a little nervous inside, he managed to control his emotions well. Hinata, on the other hand, was a completely different story. She appeared unusually shy and timid, her head slightly lowered, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, following behind Neji, not even daring to look up at Hyuga Kanan. Hyuga Hiashi, seeing this, couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He shook his head inwardly, feeling that his daughter was far too shy, completely lacking the potential to become an excellent ninja, let alone inherit the Hyuga clan. In comparison, Neji was the most perfect heir to the Hyuga clan. However, as a father, how could he bear to let his daughter become a member of the branch family? Helpless, he could only place his hopes on Hyuga Kanan.
"Neji, Hinata, come and meet your third uncle!" Hyuga Hiashi turned around and pointed to Hyuga Kanan, introducing him to the two children. "He used to train outside the village and rarely had time to return to Konoha, so you may not have met him. But you should know that he is the strongest member of our Hyuga clan, and even in the entire ninja world, he is an absolute pinnacle!"
Upon hearing Hiashi Hyuga's introduction, Neji Hyuga felt a surge of reverence. His eyes shone brightly, as if he were seeing an incomparably sublime being. His youthful face revealed admiration and longing for the strong, and his gaze was fixed on Kanan Hyuga, as if trying to see through him the legendary top-tier powerhouse.
For Hyuga Neji, who was still a child, the title of the strongest member of his clan held an indescribable allure. In his pure and passionate heart, the Hyuga clan was the most powerful clan, and as the strongest member of the clan, he was naturally the most powerful being in the entire ninja world. This concept was deeply rooted in his mind, becoming the driving force behind his pursuit of his dreams.
At that moment, Hyuga Neji secretly made up his mind that if he had the opportunity to learn from this great and powerful ninja, he would do his utmost to live up to the expectations of his clan. He longed to become the most outstanding ninja in the Hyuga clan through hard work, making his father proud. This small wish burned like a flame in his heart, inspiring him to keep moving forward.
Hinata Hyuga kept her head slightly bowed, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. She only occasionally stole glances at Kanan Hyuga out of the corner of her eye, her eyes revealing obvious admiration and envy. She secretly thought to herself that if one day she could train under this senior and become as strong as him, her father would surely be overjoyed and would no longer be disappointed in her.
Hyuga Kanan took in the subtle changes in the two children's expressions, and from their personalities, he could deduce that Hyuga Neji was indeed a natural-born training prodigy. As for Hyuga Hinata, although she possessed powerful family bloodline strength, even if she grew up naturally, her strength wouldn't be weak. However, being strong didn't necessarily mean she had the qualities needed to become a powerful figure; on the contrary, she was more suited to the role of a guardian.
Hyuga Kanan stood up, slowly extending his broad, calloused hands to gently place them on the two children's tender heads, softly stroking their hair. Then, he turned to Hyuga Neji, his gaze resolute, and said in a deep, steady voice, "Child, are you willing to follow me on the path of training? However, if you choose to travel with me, it means leaving this familiar Konoha Village, and perhaps not being able to return here for a long time. Furthermore, training with me is not easy; it is filled with endless loneliness and hardship, and you will have no companions by your side. Therefore, please do not rush to answer; think carefully before making your own decision." After saying this, Hyuga Kanan quietly gazed at Hyuga Neji, awaiting his response.
Hyuga Neji stared blankly at Hyuga Kanan, somewhat at a loss. Even though children in the ninja world mature very early, this choice was still too difficult for a child. He didn't know what to choose. He wanted to pursue great strength, just to make his father proud, but he didn't want to leave Konoha, his comrades, or his family.
Hiashi Hyuga looked at Neji with a solemn expression and spoke in a deep voice, "Neji, do you know that the ninja world has always been a place where strength is respected? As the most talented genius in our Hyuga clan, if you want to truly protect the clan and your family, you must possess sufficient strength. Just like this attack on the clan, if your third uncle hadn't returned to Konoha in time, they probably would have continued to attack the clan with impunity. The reason they dare not act easily now is precisely because your third uncle's strength is outstanding, enough to deter those who harbor ill intentions towards the clan. Therefore, the future of the clan rests entirely on the shoulders of geniuses like you. I hope you can deeply understand the weight of the responsibility you bear!"