Masked Man

"Kid, being a sister-complex is no good!"

The black snake raised its head, and the mocking tone in its voice was impossible to hide.

Hanabi Hyuga blushed and glared fiercely at the black snake. She grabbed the snake, who offered no resistance, and followed it into the shrine.

Hinata!

Hyuga Hiashi, who had just barely managed to subdue everyone, was also surprised to see his eldest daughter suddenly appear. No one knew better than him how weak-willed his daughter was, to the point that she disappointed him.

After all, how can an heir who lacks both talent and personality Hyuga Clan such a great responsibility?

Today, this daughter actually dared to stand up for Neji, which somewhat changed Hiashi's impression of him, but the timing was...

"Hinata- san!"

Immediately, all the Main Family showed joy on their faces. Recently, the branch Branch Family had become increasingly rebellious against the Hinata Main Family, and Hinata, the daughter of the head of the Main Family, was a good opportunity to teach those Branch Family a lesson for not knowing their place.

The Branch Family ninjas initially harbored a subtle hostility towards this girl who lacked talent but held a high position due to her birth. However, upon hearing the girl's voice, they were stunned into disbelief.

Regardless, Hinata Hyuga became the focus of attention tonight.

"Neji- san is not wrong. Today's competition was just a normal Genin exam!"

Hinata Hyuga saw that all the clan members were staring intently at her. The girl lowered her head in fear for a moment, but then stubbornly raised her head again and said.

Neji Hyuga also looked up in surprise, seeing the marks he had left on the girl's body. Suddenly, he heard the girl's soft, sweet voice from when they were children again, "Neji- nii!"

But there's no going back!

Neji Hyuga touched the throbbing Cursed Seal mark on his forehead. Ever since that thing appeared, their relationship could never go back to what it was before.

"Snort!"

Hyuga Sōja scoffed, "Hinata- san, you are still young and don't understand the seriousness of this matter!"

"When Branch Family encounters the Main Family, all they need to do is bow their head and admit defeat; that's their duty and responsibility. But Neji Hyuga's actions are clearly an attempt to destroy the Hyuga's thousand-year-old tradition by murdering Hinata!"

"For people like this, the right to cast Byakugan should be taken away to warn others against having any improper thoughts. It's all fate's arrangement! Hiashi, you're too weak!"

The elder, whose influence in the Main Family was considerable, swept his eyes over all the Branch Family, his tone extremely cold and stern.

"The Main Family is the noblest existence! The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is currently the strongest Dōjutsu in the Shinobi World!"

As Hyuga Sōja finished speaking, under the old man's intimidating aura, the Branch Family all lowered their heads, though many secretly clenched their fists until the veins bulged.

No matter how dissatisfied they are, as long as the Caged Bird Seal exists, the Branch Family can never rebel against the Main Family; this is an indisputable fact within the Hyuga Clan.

"Take away Neji Hyuga's eyes!"*N

Many people, spurred on by the Hyuga Sōja, also got excited and shouted along with the elder.

No, that's not it!

The bewildered girl tried to argue, but her voice was completely drowned out by the judgmental voices of her people.

Hyuga Hiashi watched as most of the Main Family, led by Sōja elders, were passionately demanding Neji's trial, while the Branch Family ninjas remained silent, merely watching each Main Family who spoke. This stark contrast between the two groups made his head throb even more.

"Elder sister!"

Hanabi Hyuga worriedly grabbed her older sister's hand, who was about to cry. Looking at the chaotic shrine and the somewhat frantic faces of the clansmen, the little girl was also a bit frightened.

"What should we do? Father, Neji -Neji- san?"

"Beg me!" The black snake flicked its tongue and licked the little girl's face, but Hanabi Hyuga felt that tongue was as cold as a sharp weapon.

"You?"

Hanabi Hyuga suddenly froze, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. "What can a snake do?"

"Kid, remember this: never trust any strangers in the Shinobi World!"

"Friends you make casually might be bad people!!!"

As the small snake's voice echoed, the black snake's body gradually disintegrated.

Under Hanabi Hyuga's wide-eyed gaze, the black snake transformed into countless fine black dust particles that drifted away.

Suddenly, the black mist formed a ring nearly a meter in size, and amidst the surging blue lightning, a figure emerged from the ring.

The mysterious figure was shrouded in a completely black robe, with no other colors visible, while his face was covered by a yellow spiral-patterned mask. Strangely, only the right eye of the wooden mask was visible.

Who is it?

The Masked Man appeared at the shrine in such a bizarre manner attracted the attention of many Hyuga ninjas, and many of them made attacking gestures towards this uninvited guest.

"Byakugan, the strongest Dōjutsu in the Shinobi World? Heh heh heh!"

The Masked Man's tone was mocking, "How ridiculous!"

"You!"

Hyuga Sōja pointed at the Masked Man, his body trembling. Suddenly, everything went black, and he couldn't help but let out a painful howl.

"Ahhh, my eyes!"

Before almost everyone could react, the Masked Man had already appeared in front of Hyuga Sōja, his right hand already holding two intact eyeballs.

Amidst agonizing screams, Hyuga Sōja, the head elder of the Hyuga Main Family, collapsed and writhed in a pool of blood.

"Asshole!"

"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"

"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"

Various flashing Chakra shockwaves and palm strikes slammed into the Masked Man's body.

However, the Gentle Fist attack that the Hyuga Clan was so proud of struck the Masked Man that day, but it all passed through him as if touching a Suigetsu, leaving no trace of the attack. What no one noticed was that at the moment the attack touched his body, black particles rippled for a moment.

How is that possible?

The dozen or so Hyuga ninjas who were attacking stared wide-eyed in disbelief. A black shadow, faster than lightning, appeared before their eyes, and in the blink of an eye, they were sent flying backward, spitting out blood.

Hyuga Hiashi was startled, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his ferocious Byakugan. Although the Byakugan was not as good as the Sharingan in terms of dynamic vision, it was still far superior to ordinary people. However, even with his eyes, he could not see the Masked Man's speed clearly.

But what's even more perplexing is that bizarre state that renders everyone's attacks ineffective—is it some kind of Ninjutsu or Genjutsu?

However, as the head of the Hyuga Clan, he could not be allowed to behave inappropriately, Hyuga Hiashi spoke coldly.

"Who exactly are you, sir? What grudge do you hold against our Hyuga Clan?"

The Masked Man stood silently amidst the surrounding ninjas. By the candlelight, he glanced at the Byakugan he had removed. Seeing that there were no signs of age-related eye degeneration, he flipped his hand and the Byakugan disappeared.

"I'm just annoyed!" The Masked Man's voice was chillingly cold.

"Displeased?" Hyuga Hiashi frowned.

"What's infuriating is that this tiny Byakugan dares to call itself the strongest Dōjutsu!"

The arrogant laughter echoed throughout the room before abruptly ceasing.

"Today I will remind you all of the terror of the Uchiha Clan!"

As the voice faded, a patch of crimson appeared in the Masked Man's right eye.

The Hyuga Clan suddenly changed.