A Yamanaka's Trait System

"What did you call me here for?"

Kei casually slumped onto the sofa and started making tea with hot water. After a quick visit to Orochimaru, he had originally planned to sneak over to Kiri to meet Hikaru and discuss the upcoming developments in their plan.

But unexpectedly, Tsunade had sent people all over the village looking for him.

"Yesterday, when I returned, I issued an official notice regarding the Hyūga clan and also sent them a rectification order. This should be the last issue in the village's reform process."

Tsunade, lounging lazily in her reclining leather office chair, crossed her legs and tossed two scrolls toward Kei. Thanks to the village's reforms, she no longer had to personally handle many administrative tasks. With Shikaku helping to sort things out, she even felt that working just a couple of hours a day was more than enough—there was no need to stay in the office all the time!

"Hyūga? The Caged Bird Seal?"

Kei channeled Fire Release chakra into his left palm, using the heat to warm the water, while opening one of the scrolls with his right hand.

The public notice, directed at the entire village, was carefully worded and sounded dignified and righteous.

In summary, it emphasized human rights, banned private punishment, and strictly prohibited any sealing techniques that controlled or threatened others' safety.

Anyone with a keen eye could tell that this was aimed at the Hyūga clan. As for the other document, which was sent specifically to the Hyūga clan, its wording was much more direct and blunt. It was a simple notification: all Caged Bird Seals must be removed within a given timeframe.

"Mm." Tsunade responded lazily.

"Do they have any objections? Did Hiashi say anything?" Kei poured the now-boiling water into his tea cup, inhaling the pleasant aroma of the tea with satisfaction.

This tea smelled way better than Danzō's collection.

"The main family members are still arguing in the ancestral hall. They probably won't hold back much longer. As for Hiashi, that guy is smart—he's been hiding in the reconnaissance division, busy organizing new recruits since noon. He hasn't even gone home yet."

"He doesn't want to get involved? Or is he waiting for the elders to test the waters?"

"Who knows? I'm too lazy to guess." Tsunade waved dismissively, got up from her chair, and pulled out a stack of scratch-off lottery tickets from her drawer. Then, she started scratching them enthusiastically.

"...So you called me here just to be your enforcer? That's too much! I thought we were equals?"

Kei rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Seeing that the tea was still too hot, he walked over to Tsunade's desk and casually pulled a lottery ticket from her stack.

"Hey, hey! I bought those with my own money!"

"Stingy. You look broke, want some pocket money?"

"Tch~ All your money is with Kushina anyway."

"Here, take this." Kei glanced at Tsunade's fate line with [Destiny Chronometer]. Seeing that her luck was absolutely abysmal, he grabbed a winning ticket worth a million ryō and tossed it into her lap.

"It's probably a dud anyway..." Tsunade glanced at the ticket, then froze. After checking the numbers multiple times, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Next time, remember to say, 'Thank you for your generosity.'" Kei chuckled, half-sitting on the office desk while turning his head toward the Hokage office door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking echoed through the room.

Tsunade snapped out of her shock, quickly stuffed the winning ticket into her chest, and said, "Come in."

A dignified old man, dressed in a blue-and-white kimono and draped in a cloak with the Hyūga clan's emblem, stepped into the office. Behind him were two Hyūga main family members with exposed, unmarked foreheads—something rarely seen.

This was Tenkei, the Hyūga clan's grand elder, carrying himself with the noble air of an aristocratic clan leader.

Upon entering, he gave a slight nod to Tsunade and Kei in greeting.

"Please have a seat." Tsunade raised an eyebrow and gestured to the sofa, inviting them to sit.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama."

Tenkei bowed again. Moving with deliberate grace, he took a seat on the sofa, casting a quick glance at the freshly brewed tea on the table. A glint of wisdom flashed in his eyes.

Without waiting for Tsunade to speak, he picked up a teacup and began,

"We have come today to express our concerns. After thorough discussions among the clan elders, we unanimously believe that the directive you issued is unsuitable for the reality of the Hyūga clan."

Sluuuurp—

He took a slow sip of the rich, aromatic tea, his aged face exuding confidence, as if he had everything under control. "...Why are you looking at me? It's not like I drank it."

Tsunade fought hard to suppress the grin threatening to break across her face—she was afraid she might burst out laughing!

Gahaha!

This old man just stole tea right from under Kei's nose! And it was tea that Kei had painstakingly brewed with patience!

Oh, this was going to be good. She loved watching drama unfold.

"Do you have any idea what's been happening in Konoha recently?"

Kei's expression was nothing short of amused.

The controversy over the Third Hokage's resignation, the shocking return of Hashirama, Tobirama, and even Madara—while not public knowledge, most people in power should be aware of it.

So what made Tenkei think he had the leverage to challenge them?

"My apologies. That was quite impolite of me." Tenkei frowned slightly at the teacup in his hand. Realizing that it hadn't been prepared for him, he felt a bit uneasy but placed it back down, acting as if nothing had happened.

Then, continuing with his refined tone, he said, "I have heard some rumors about recent events. However, when the Hyūga clan first joined Konoha, we made an agreement with the First Hokage that the village would not interfere in our internal affairs. Since he is reportedly still in Konoha, if you have any doubts, why not invite him here and ask him directly?"

"Tsk, I see. So they're relying on Hashirama's promise." Kei glanced at Tsunade and finally understood why she had called him in for this.

This was indeed something Tsunade couldn't directly handle herself.

"We hope that you both can understand our predicament. It's not that we refuse to comply with the village's orders. Our clan is known throughout the ninja world for our Byakugan. Many covet our bloodline, and the Caged Bird Seal is essential for protecting our lineage and ensuring our survival."

Tenkei gave another respectful nod, his tone seemingly humble and sincere. Yet deep down, there was a clear sense of arrogance—as if he was certain that Tsunade and Kei wouldn't dare defy the Hyūga clan's stance.

"You have a point. The Caged Bird Seal is a useful thing." Kei stood up and took a step toward Tenkei.

The two Hyūga clan members accompanying Tenkei instinctively stepped forward, their expressions tense as they watched Kei closely.

"The laws of our ancestors are, of course, invaluable. Even the First Hokage understood this and granted our Hyūga clan special privileges." Tenkei waved a hand, signaling the two clan members to stand down, maintaining his composed and confident demeanor.

"But there's one thing you haven't understood."

"I am willing to listen."

"Hashirama couldn't beat me. In the current Konoha, his word doesn't mean a thing." Kei chuckled and, without warning, slapped Tenkei across the head.

Boom!

Like a watermelon bursting open, the office wall was instantly covered in a gruesome mix of red and white.

"You—!" The two Hyūga clan members were utterly terrified.

That slap was so fast that they hadn't even registered it before the elder's head was gone.

"You have two choices. Either engrave the Caged Bird Seal on yourselves, or I smash more watermelons."

"You—"

Smack!

Another loud explosion rang out.

The Hyūga clan member who had just spoken turned into a headless corpse.

"C-C-Caged Bird! I'll take the Caged Bird Seal!" The last surviving clan member was so scared that his pants were soaked.

Killing Hyūga clan elders in front of the Hokage, without the slightest hesitation or concern—this man was a lunatic! A complete and utter lunatic!

"Do you know how to apply it yourself?" Kei still wore that gentle smile, completely unfazed by the two lives he had just taken.

A bunch of parasites who had grown too used to their privileged status. So what if they all died? If anything, the branch house members would probably celebrate.

"N-No... it requires someone else to perform the jutsu. It can't be done alone..."

"Heh. Then let's go. Doesn't your clan always apply the seal in the ancestral hall? Might as well call in all the main family members while we're at it."

Kei turned and began walking toward the Hyūga clan compound.

The surviving clan member, Nichi, trembled as he carried the corpses of his clan members and staggered after him.

"Somebody clean this up! I don't want the place smelling like blood in a couple of days!" Tsunade, watching them leave, wrinkled her nose in distaste at the blood-spattered office wall.

Dropping back into her chair, she pulled out the scratch-off lottery ticket she had tucked into her chest, her face lighting up with glee.

One million ryō! One million ryō!

Hahaha!

She kissed the ticket several times before handing it off to an ANBU to exchange at the lottery vendor.

As she watched another ANBU swiftly clean the walls and spray a special disinfectant to eliminate the smell, she leaned back in her chair, counting on her fingers to figure out if she could clear a day in her schedule for some gambling.

But her thoughts were quickly interrupted.

From deep within the village, a massive explosion echoed.

Whipping her head around, she saw four colossal wooded golems, each towering hundreds of meters high, crushing countless buildings as they descended upon the Hyūga clan compound.

The four massive figures faced each other, bending slightly forward.

Then, like children poking ants, they extended their index fingers and repeatedly jabbed down at the Hyūga compound with terrifying force.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

After more than ten strikes, the wooden giants finally ceased their movements.

As the piercing alarm echoed through Konoha, ninjas flooded the rooftops from all directions.

"That was a bit extreme... Cancel the alert and tell everyone to carry on as usual."

Tsunade watched as the ANBU carrying her winnings rushed back. Deciding not to be angry at that reckless lunatic, she sighed.

After all, it wasn't her doing. And the Hyūga clan certainly wouldn't be asking her for compensation. If anything, they'd probably be a lot more obedient after this.

Let that madman do as he pleased!

---

At the ruins of the Hyūga compound, now reduced to rubble, Kei sat in a chair before a dozen blood-soaked craters, watching as the remaining fourteen main family members were each branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

Their agonized screams filled the air, their bodies writhing on the ground, unable to endure the pain of the bloodline restriction.

Yet his gaze remained utterly indifferent, devoid of even the slightest trace of sympathy.

Didn't they claim the Caged Bird Seal was necessary for their clan's situation?

Didn't they say it was essential to protect their bloodline?

Fine! Then let's be fair—everyone gets branded!

And just to be thorough, he'd make sure the technique for controlling the seal was publicly accessible to all branch house members.

After all, given how these so-called "nobles" had treated the branch family for generations, it would be interesting to see how many of them survived in the coming days.

"You hypocrites." Kei glanced at the pale, trembling main house members, then turned to face Hiashi, who had just rushed back in a panic.

"As the head of the Hyūga clan, I have failed to manage my family properly and have brought trouble to the village. I willingly accept the Caged Bird Seal and will personally deliver the technique for controlling it to the Hokage."

Without hesitation, he stepped forward and prostrated himself on the ground, taking full responsibility in a loud voice.