"?"
After hearing Aoba's words, most of the people present, including Hiashi, were a bit dazed. Especially Hyuga Hiashi.
He suddenly felt like his emotions had been going up and down nonstop, leaving him with a tight chest and shortness of breath.
Logically speaking, Aoba was not only Konoha's Hokage now, but also the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. The Hyuga clan should be eager to get closer to him, not to mention forming an even closer bond like a marriage alliance.
As the head of the Hyuga clan, he should be happy.
But…
His precious daughter not coming home all night with a boy was one thing. Then the next day, she came back with that boy, and the first thing he did after stepping through the door was say they had already gone to try on wedding dresses, even taken wedding photos, and were about to get married soon…
This string of news left his head buzzing.
For a moment, he didn't even know what expression to make, so he could only force himself to keep a straight face.
But when it came to this matter, some were happy while others were troubled.
Although Hyuga Hiashi kept his face stiff, Hyuga Ayako, sitting beside him, quickly showed a gratified expression after her brief moment of surprise.
"You're getting married so soon? I thought it would be another year or two."
Hyuga Ayako was quite satisfied with Aoba as a son-in-law. Although he had a 'few more' girlfriends than ideal, it was clear he was sincere toward her daughter.
Not to mention that the two had grown up together as childhood friends, he had helped change her daughter's destined fate of becoming part of the branch family, later saved her own life, and now even helped her daughter awaken something as important as the Tenseigan.
And more importantly, her daughter's whole heart was with him.
Such a good son-in-law, if they missed him, they probably wouldn't find another even with the Byakugan.
"Mhm, things on the others' side have more or less already been discussed," Aoba nodded, then looked toward Hyuga Natsu, who still seemed a bit slow to react.
"And there's also the matter regarding Natsu…"
"Lord Aoba, if there's anything you need, please just give the order."
Hearing her name, Hyuga Natsu immediately snapped back to her senses and quickly straightened her posture.
But her face also carried a faint blush.
Because the Caged Bird seal on her forehead had disappeared, staying in the Hyuga clan was always a hidden risk. So Hyuga Hiashi had decided that, under the pretext of taking care of Hinata, she would leave the Hyuga clan together with Hinata when Hinata got married.
She had been the personal maid to Hinata and Hanabi for more than ten years, so the reason made sense.
Hyuga Natsu hadn't refused at the time.
It was just… There wasn't really a proper maid in Aoba's household. After all this time, Yugito seemed relatively normal, while Kin had become more and more… unrestrained.
If Hyuga Natsu went over, she might not take long to be led astray.
So he felt it was better to ask her one last time.
"Ahem! It's about your situation. Now that Hinata has awakened the Tenseigan, and with me around, I think even if you openly admit that your Caged Bird seal has been removed, nothing will happen. So…"
"Is it because Lord Aoba dislikes me and doesn't want to see me?"
At some point, Hyuga Natsu's face, which had been slightly flushed, had already turned pale.
"Uh… that's not what I meant."
Aoba hadn't expected such a strong reaction and could only explain with a helpless smile.
"I just wanted to ask for your thoughts one last time. After all, you get along pretty well with Kin, so you should understand the situation in my household, right?"
Back when they were researching the Caged Bird seal, Hyuga Natsu had often gone to his place. Although Kin initially thought she was there to take her position and had been somewhat resistant, after interacting, the two young maids had actually become closer.
"I… I know, but I don't mind."
Hyuga Natsu's pale face gradually flushed red again.
She remembered things Kin had told her. Although she hadn't experienced them herself, she imagined they must be very pleasant.
After all, Kin always looked happy whenever she talked about those things.
"Alright then."
Since Hyuga Natsu herself said so, and Hinata had no objections, Aoba didn't say anything further.
He simply couldn't stand seeing a cute girl look upset.
But Hyuga Hiashi, sitting opposite him, was already starting to feel a headache.
He first looked at his eldest daughter, whose face was full of happiness, then at his wife, who wore a gratified smile, then at Hyuga Natsu, whose eyes held a trace of longing, and finally at his younger daughter sitting in Aoba's lap, who had inexplicably grown a bit downcast upon hearing that he was getting married.
Hyuga Hiashi nearly lost his composure.
But as the head of the Hyuga clan, years of discipline allowed him to hold it in, and he also caught the deeper meaning behind Aoba's words.
He took a deep breath, changed the subject, and brought up something more serious.
"Aoba, earlier you mentioned letting Natsu reveal the matter of the Caged Bird. Could it be that you intend to…"
"Although the Caged Bird can protect the Byakugan, its drawbacks, I believe Uncle Hiashi understands them better than I do, right?"
Aoba spoke frankly on this matter.
"…"
Hyuga Hiashi didn't speak, his expression complicated.
"In the future ninja world, no one will dare lay a hand on the Byakugan. So I also don't want the Caged Bird to continue existing in Konoha."
Seeing that he didn't respond, Aoba continued, "But this is ultimately an internal matter of the Hyuga clan, so it's not appropriate for me to interfere too much…"
"Aoba-kun, leave this to me."
At that moment, Hinata, sitting beside Aoba, spoke up and took the responsibility onto herself.
Both Aoba and Hyuga Hiashi looked at her in surprise, only to see the firm expression on her face.
After thinking it over, Aoba realized that Hinata was now unquestionably the number one figure in the Hyuga clan. With the Tenseigan as well, she was indeed the most suitable person to handle this matter.
Hyuga Hiashi thought the same.
If he had the ability to ensure the Byakugan wouldn't be coveted by others, he would have abolished it long ago.
But he didn't have that ability. Now, his daughter did.
It was just… if only his daughter didn't look like she was taking on the burden just to ease Aoba's worries, that would have been even better.
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