By the time the villagers noticed what had happened, all the suspects had already been arrested and imprisoned. It was time to explain the situation to reassure the anxious populace. Under the propaganda department's operation, newspapers about Uchiha Setsuna and his rebel group were immediately released.
After learning the reasons for these arrests, the ordinary villagers were naturally filled with righteous indignation. Uchiha Kagami had always been a very approachable leader of the Police Force, and they could only say "good" to the fate of these people. Other ninja clans had no sympathy for traitors, the only surprise being that the traitors were from the Uchiha clan.
Few people knew about the internal conflicts within the Uchiha clan, and even if they did, it was hard to imagine clan members daring to assassinate their own clan head. This was also because too much time had passed, and not many people knew about the Uchiha clan's "fine tradition" of kin-slaying dating back to the Warring States period.
Under the guidance of the propaganda department, the fate of these rebel groups was sealed. No one would speak for them, including members of the Uchiha clan themselves. However, some people felt that there might be innocent individuals among them, especially their relatives and friends, but they found it difficult to speak out due to public opinion.
However, it was as if Konoha Village had anticipated these sentiments. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu announced that, by order of the Hokage, a tribunal would be formed from individuals within the village deemed fair and impartial to judge crimes. This tribunal would conduct public trials for the rebel group, ensuring that no miscarriages of justice would occur.
Those concerned breathed a sigh of relief. While the tribunal was responsible for hearing cases, the Police Force would also participate as cooperative overseers, ensuring maximum fairness and impartiality. This measure undoubtedly put their minds at ease.
The Hyuga clan, a prestigious family on par with the Uchiha, traditionally did not get involved much in the village's specific affairs, maintaining a detached position. They were the most stable of all the ninja clans in Konoha Village, and precisely because of this, they were considered suitable individuals for the tribunal. The person invited to join the tribunal was the former head of the Main House, Hyuga Masato.
After being injured and retiring from the First Shinobi World War, Hyuga Masato lived a leisurely life at home as an old man. Unless his presence was absolutely necessary, he remained uninvolved. After all, the head of the Hyuga clan was the current head of the Main House, and theoretically, Hyuga Masato also had to support the current head. Unless it was a major event that threatened the foundation of Hyuga tradition, there was no need for him to contradict his own son.
Hyuga Masato's eldest grandson, Hiashi, was thirteen years old this year. As a reserve ninja, he had not yet stepped onto the battlefield. While his father was away fighting, he stayed at home to accompany his grandfather. Upon hearing that Hyuga Masato had been selected as a member of the tribunal, he felt very happy, as it meant that Hyuga Masato was regarded as a person of high virtue, fairness, and impartiality, which was undoubtedly a great honor.
Hyuga Masato, nearing sixty, had already come to view many things with detachment. The Hyuga clan placed particular emphasis on tempering one's mind, which was also a method for researching and improving the Byakugan's dōjutsu. Without sufficient wisdom and mental fortitude, it would be impossible to elevate the profound Gentle Fist and Byakugan to a high level.
Hyuga Masato took a sip of tea. To his somewhat excited grandson, he merely shook his head: "Ah, I'm getting old, and I still have to get involved in such matters. The Uchiha clan, as expected, is not so easy to settle down."
Hyuga Hiashi didn't know the Uchiha clan's past and was a little puzzled by his grandfather's words. Could it be that such things had also happened in the Uchiha clan's past?
However, Hyuga Masato was not the type to delve too deeply into the past of other clans, nor did he need to say too much in front of Hiashi. Placing his teacup on the ground, he said to the future heir of the Main House: "Hiashi, in the aftermath of this incident, have you noticed anything?"
"Noticed anything… Isn't it just a group of foolish people who tried to assassinate the clan head getting caught?" Hiashi asked in surprise, "This is something that would never happen in our clan."
"Impossible? Not necessarily." Hyuga Masato said quietly,
"The Hyuga clan has been passed down for a thousand years, relying on the Main and Branch House system. However, while maintaining the Main House's detached status, it has also allowed a great deal of dissatisfaction to accumulate in the Branch House. You may not be fully aware, but after encountering the current ninja philosophy, more and more Branch House members are yearning for freedom, even willing to join the Hokage's ANBU. Once they enter the Hokage's ANBU, even the Main House cannot arbitrarily judge them."
Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but hold his breath, not daring to express his opinion casually. He was still very young, after all, and naturally couldn't be critical about this matter. And to be honest, he also had his own confusion about the Main and Branch House system. When he was young, his relationship with his younger brother, Hizashi, was very good, but after Hizashi was branded with the Caged Bird Seal, the relationship between him and Hiashi subtly changed.
Hyuga Hiashi could feel that there seemed to be a barrier between him and Hizashi; they could see each other but never truly touch each other.
Hyuga Masato gazed at his eldest grandson. He could, of course, understand what Hiashi was thinking. In reality, every heir to the Main House, when they were young, would question whether the Main and Branch House system should exist. The Branch House felt deeply constrained, but wasn't the Main House also in the same situation?
The only difference was that the Branch House was bound by the Caged Bird Seal, while the Main House was bound by the immense "Caged Bird" that was the Hyuga clan itself. No matter how confused they became, they ultimately chose to accept it and become the Main House, maintaining the Hyuga tradition. This was the principle that had existed for a thousand years, not something that could be shaken by one person's ideas.
However, after the end of the Warring States period, Hyuga Masato gradually realized that what was ending was not just the chaotic era, but also the thousand-year-old ideological heritage. Shinobi emerged from the dark corners, living openly with civilians. Civilians without family lineage had the opportunity to become shinobi, and various other new things made Hyuga Masato feel that the times were progressing by leaps and bounds.
The conflict between the Hyuga clan's Main and Branch Houses was not a recent development, but rather something that had accumulated over a thousand years. However, no previous conflict had been as intense as the current one. Nowadays, more and more Hyuga Branch House members yearned for freedom, and their leader was Hyuga Hajime, a close confidant of the Hokage. This Hyuga Branch House member, who by chance connected with Fumori Masaki, is now an important figure in Konoha Village, and his stance is undoubtedly on the side of reform.
This caused Hyuga Masato great concern. He wasn't unable to understand the Branch House's sentiments, but from the perspective of the Main House, he couldn't imagine the consequences of rash reform. The Main and Branch House system was a system that had been tested for a thousand years to ensure the Hyuga's legacy. What if changing it not only led the Hyuga clan to ruin, but also led to its demise? What then?
People like Hyuga Masato were not blind to the existing contradictions, but he had stayed in the traditional atmosphere for too long and dared not challenge new possibilities, because he could not be sure of getting the expected returns. This was also the biggest obstacle to the Hyuga clan's reform; they were too stable.
"In this incident, what I see is that the village's power is growing stronger and stronger," Hyuga Masato said with a profound gaze, "It can even intervene in the realm of clan autonomy without causing much resentment, even though the Uchiha clan is one of the most unruly groups."
"Isn't that because the Uchiha clan head agreed?" Hyuga Hiashi replied.
"Although that's true, it provides the village with a typical case for intervention—which is truly worrying," Hyuga Masato shook his head gently. "The village seeking justice for clan members, what an appealing notion. Branch House members whose personal freedom is restricted would surely long for such measures."
Hyuga Hiashi's throat couldn't help but move. He could feel that his grandfather's words seemed to imply a huge impact on the Hyuga family.
"Hiashi, you might be the one to face this situation in the future. You must be careful about how to protect the Hyuga family," Hyuga Masato said meaningfully, glancing at Hiashi.
"...I understand." Hyuga Hiashi hesitated for a moment before replying.
Hyuga Masato stood up from the floor, walked out of the house, and looked at the plants and trees in the yard. Because of the Hyuga family's traditional culture, the entire yard presented a serene atmosphere. The sun was just right, making the plants subtly appear vibrant.
To be fair, based on Fumori Masaki's series of actions, Hyuga Masato felt that even if the Main and Branch House system were abandoned, the Hyuga clan could still thrive in Konoha Village. The establishment of the tribunal and the implementation of public trials not only allowed the village to intervene in clan affairs but also served as a self-restraint, preventing the Hokage from unilaterally deciding the fate of shinobi.
If one were to substitute the relationship between the Hyuga's Main and Branch Houses with the Hokage and Konoha shinobi, it would actually be the same. Hyuga Masato felt that Fumori Masaki was trying to implement this system of mutual restraint, thereby allowing both sides to establish a sense of security, and this was precisely what Hyuga Masato lacked.
—A sense of security, this is what everyone needs to live in this world. The most primal human emotion is fear, fear of this unknown world, and Hyuga Masato felt fear for the unknown future of the Hyuga clan after the reforms, unable to make his own decisions.
It was precisely because Fumori Masaki had always treated the ninja clans with respect and bestowed upon them generous favors that, even knowing Fumori Masaki was silently weakening the clans' power, Hyuga Masato did not choose to oppose him. One reason was that it was detrimental to the stable inheritance of the Hyuga clan. Secondly, Fumori Masaki's credibility gave him enough security, making him feel that the Hyuga clan could receive compensation, for example, the Hyuga clan had a share in the businesses established in Konoha Village, which was not a bad way to compensate for lost influence.
It was also for this reason that Hyuga Masato considered whether to implement reforms within the clan. However, he could trust Fumori Masaki's credibility, but he could not fully trust the internal influence of the clan. If it wasn't external pressure, but internal factors that led the Hyuga clan to its demise, that would truly be laughable.
Originally, the Hyuga clan was envied by many clans in the ninja world for its extreme internal stability. If it were to perish in this manner, would it still maintain its reputation as a prestigious family?
Therefore, Hyuga Masato could not choose to change things himself. He himself had reached his current position by relying on Hyuga traditions. For him to personally change all of this would only cause widespread panic within the clan, and the sacrifices made by those who adhered to tradition in the past would also lose their meaning. The impact of such actions would only be more severe. Similarly, the same applied to his son, the current head of the Main House.
At this moment, Hyuga Masato looked at Hiashi once more. Hiashi, who had not yet taken over the reins of the Main House, had not yet been fully branded with the mark of Hyuga tradition. Such a person was the one who could potentially lead the Hyuga clan through reform, but whether he could fulfill his wishes remained to be seen.
The Will of Fire, passed down by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was about predecessors using their lives to illuminate the path forward for future generations, enabling them to walk the correct path. This constantly inherited will was the true essence of the Will of Fire. Hyuga Masato now also wished to learn from the previous Hokage and pass on this will.
Perhaps, Hyuga Hiashi could also become the "Fumori Masaki" of the Hyuga clan, making his own contribution to the Hyuga clan's continued prominence in the ninja world.
Hyuga Masato let out a long sigh. He was now going to work hard on the tribunal. He understood that if the tribunal could function well, it would be the best weapon to protect personal safety. As long as one did not truly betray the village, they would not face execution. This could give everyone the sense of security they desired.
Because it was wartime, the establishment of the tribunal was not very formal. Seven individuals, chosen based on their reputation for fairness and selflessness, were selected as judges. Additionally, a certain number of staff members were drawn from other departments, such as the Police Force, to collect evidence and establish judicial guidelines.
Soon after, the rebel group arrested from the Konoha ninja forces was brought in. Upon seeing these people, the suspects who still didn't understand why they were arrested suddenly realized the reason, and couldn't help but feel despair. Some cursed Uchiha Setsuna, wondering how such a situation could have arisen if Setsuna's assassination attempt hadn't failed. It should be known that Uchiha Setsuna's assassination attempt was not communicated to these individuals.
Despite this, they were still members of Uchiha Setsuna's faction. Even if they hadn't participated in the plot to harm the clan head, the mere fact of being Setsuna's followers was enough to warrant their imprisonment. As for what their fate would be, they themselves held no hope.
Amidst the despair of these individuals, Konoha Village's first public trial began shortly thereafter. Those whose guilt as Uchiha Setsuna's followers was unequivocally proven were, without exception, sentenced to death. The remaining individuals were sentenced according to their degree of involvement; although their lives were not at risk, they would lose their past achievements and have to start anew, essentially undergoing labor reform.
This public trial would become an important precedent for Konoha Village's future judicial procedures. It not only laid the foundation for formally establishing Konoha Village's laws but also made a significant contribution to advancing Konoha Village's judicial institutions.