Chapter 32 — Find Someone Suitable to Run for Hokage
Hyūga Ritsu had not been given any official position—merely told to wait in camp as an ordinary jōnin.
This arrangement instantly made the Hyūga clan members furious.
Elders Hyūga Takashi and Hyūga Shinichirō both wore equally dark expressions.
"Clan Leader, this… this is far too much!"
Shinichirō growled.
As someone with both insight and courage, he could see exactly what had happened—Ritsu not receiving the customary advisory or command post was not due to bureaucracy.
The root cause was the Third Hokage himself.
"Shinichirō, silence!"
Takashi's face paled as he snapped at him.
"Do you think this is the clan compound? Watch your tongue!"
"What's there to fear?"
Shinichirō shot back, unyielding.
"If the Hokage dares trample on the dignity of the Hyūga clan, he should expect our displeasure!
If we swallow this humiliation, won't it make us look weak—easy to bully?"
Takashi gritted his teeth.
"What you say isn't wrong… but he is still the Hokage. Opposing the Hokage openly is never wise."
"And so what if he's Hokage?"
Shinichirō snorted.
"He's been Hokage for decades. Isn't everyone saying he'll step down after the war?
Instead of sitting here offended, why don't we support someone favorable to us for the Fourth Hokage position?"
Takashi frowned.
"But the two strongest candidates right now… one is the Hokage's direct disciple, the other is his disciple's student. Both are his people."
Shinichirō was instantly deflated, struck speechless.
A moment passed before he muttered irritably:
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Not what I suggest,"
Takashi answered,
"The Clan Leader decides."
Both of them turned toward Ritsu, who had been quietly listening.
Ritsu chuckled softly.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"You're both right," Ritsu continued calmly.
"To stand openly against the Hokage is impossible—unless we intend to betray the village entirely, which we won't.
But being underestimated? That is infuriating."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"So yes… finding someone suitable to support in the Hokage election is a very good idea."
He said this casually, but then lowered his head in thought, as if truly considering the matter.
Hyūga Takashi and Hyūga Shinichirō exchanged uneasy glances.
"Alright, that's enough about this topic,"
Ritsu continued, waving a hand dismissively.
"Being slighted by the Hokage is infuriating, I know. But what can we do? He's the Hokage. We can't touch him.
Even if we've been humiliated, for now we can only swallow it—until the day we're strong enough to answer in kind."
He stood up, plainly ending a conversation that had long since lost its value.
At this point, more words were pointless.
Being looked down on? Then think of a way to return the favor.
No need to waste breath here.
"Elders," Ritsu said as he rose,
"I expect a constant stream of missions to be thrown at me soon.
But the two of you should remain relatively unburdened, so I'll leave the care of our clansmen in your hands.
As for recovering the stolen Byakugan—leave that to me."
The village's stance—more precisely, the stance of the Hokage and the senior elders—couldn't be more obvious.
The Hyūga clan must not fall into chaos.
But Hyūga Ritsu, the upstart who led the branch house to overthrow the main family, was another matter.
In their eyes, he was expendable at best, a dangerous variable at worst.
So, if his predictions were correct, they would bury him in impossible missions, one after another.
And knowing Danzō's methods, collaborating with the Mist to get rid of him wasn't impossible at all.
The rest of the clan, however, wouldn't be treated the same way.
As always:
Hyūga belongs to Konoha—weakening the clan only harms the village.
---
"Clan Leader… you mean the village is targeting you?"
Shinichirō's face went pale. His mind worked quickly; he had assumed the village only wanted to shame them as punishment for killing the main family.
Ritsu shrugged.
"Targeting is too strong a word. They won't assign me a mission that guarantees death… probably.
But—enough. I know what I'm doing.
Just take care of the clan as I said. Leave the rest to me."
---
"Then… Clan Leader," Takashi asked quietly,
"How exactly do you plan to recover the Byakugan?
You really don't need us to assist?"
Ritsu answered calmly:
"Simple.
If luck favors me and I run into that so-called 'Byakugan Slayer,' I'll kill him and retrieve the eye.
If not… I'll capture a few high-ranking Mist-nin and negotiate."
The Mist-nin named Ao had gained the infamous title "Byakugan Slayer" after taking a Byakugan from the Hyūga head family.
The title made it sound as though he had killed countless Hyūga—though that wasn't true.
"Alright, that's enough. My teacher is here.
You two go handle your duties."
Ritsu waved them off and strode outside.
---
At the entrance of the Hyūga-assigned quarter of the camp stood a white-haired middle-aged man waiting for him.
"Sensei, you're back!"
Ritsu greeted him, genuinely pleased.
He had intended to seek out Orochimaru to locate his teacher, but Orochimaru had informed him that Hiruko had been away on a mission.
Ritsu had expected he might be deployed again before Hiruko returned—but here he was.
Hiruko looked at his student—familiar, yet changed somehow—and sighed with mixed emotions.
"Ritsu… you really are unbelievable.
Bold beyond reason."
Originally, he had simply wanted Ritsu to use the Chimera Technique to break the Caged Bird Seal and then flee far away.
He never expected Ritsu to sneak back into the village, overthrow the Hyūga main family, and then claim the position of clan head.
Ritsu grinned.
"When the moment comes, you have to gamble.
And between living like a hunted rat and staking everything on one decisive fight, I'll choose to fight.
Even if I failed, I could always run again.
Come, Sensei—let's talk inside."
He personally led Hiruko to the command tent.
Both took their seats.
"Akiha! Akiha! Bring some hot water—we'll make tea."
Ritsu called to his cousin, who had come to the front line with him.
Hiruko raised an eyebrow at the scene.
"Well, well… already acting like a clan head, I see."
Ritsu snickered.
"What can I say? Perks of the job."
"Meaning?"
"Akiha helps by pouring tea and giving me face.
In exchange, I have to teach her the advanced Hyūga technique—Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists."
Hiruko couldn't help but laugh.
But once Akiha had served the tea and left the tent, his expression shifted sharply.
The warmth vanished, replaced by stern gravity.
"Ritsu," he said, voice low,
"Orochimaru told me your situation isn't good.
What exactly is happening?"