Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo

Just as Izuna put his arm around Hinata and Takuma who were walking over, intending to say some polite words and secretly praise these two brats who had picked the worst opportunity,

A series of noisy footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

A group of Hyuga clan members, surrounding an elderly man with white hair and beard and a furious expression, stormed in.

This is Elder Hyuga.

Meanwhile, the leader of the attackers, Hyuga Kazuhiro, who had just been taken away, Hyuga Ikkan now following behind him. Although his face was still pale, there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.

"Tennin!" The Elder ignored Hashirama and Izuna, fixing his gaze solely on Hyuga Tennin. "I heard you actually captured Ichihiro and the others? What does this mean?!"

Tennin's face darkened. "Elder, your arrival is just in time. Hyuga Ikkan and his group trespassed into the clansmen's Dwelling, attempting to forcibly take Rei and Akari away. Such actions are tantamount to kidnapping. Shouldn't they be apprehended and brought to justice?!"

The Elder scoffed, "Nonsense! Yi Kuan was sent by me! Since returning from the Kyoto, there have been many troubles within the clan. I also felt sorry for the child being injured. I was worried that they wouldn't be safe staying here, so I specially ordered Yi Kuan to come and escort them to a safer and quieter villa to stay temporarily, just in case. How can you say it was kidnapping?"

His gaze swept over Hinata and Takuma, lingering for a second on Hinata's still-open Sharingan, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes. "But these two Uchiha brats, trespassing into my Hyuga Clan Compound without permission, acting so suspiciously—what are they up to?! It's only natural that Ichika and the others would intervene and subdue suspicious outsiders! That's simply their Guard Duty! What's wrong with that?!"

These words distorted the truth, downplayed the seriousness of the matter, and instantly absolved the company of all responsibility, thus occupying the moral high ground.

"You!" Hyuga Akari's face turned pale with anger. "Elder! When Uncle Ichikami and the others came in, they clearly tried to arrest us without saying a word! If it weren't for Hinata and Takuma stopping them in time, Rei and I would probably already be..."

Lian frowned. "Yes, Elder, if you want us to move, you can just say so. Why resort to violence?"

"Akari!" The Elder interrupted her coldly, his eyes stern. "Mind your place! How dare you, a woman of marriageable age, slander the people sent by your clan elders to protect you?! Furthermore, these two Uchiha are not related to you at all. They sneaked in at night, and instead of calling for guards, you joined them in fighting against your clansmen? What kind of behavior is this!"

He then looked at Rei, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying an undeniable air of authority. "As for you, Rei, I understand that you are young and naive, and it's understandable that you might be misled. But you must remember, you are a member of the Hyuga Branch Family, and you must obey the orders of the Main Family! How can you question the clan's arrangements because of a few sweet words from outsiders?!"

Lian trembled under the Elder's sharp gaze, but still straightened her back. "But the people you sent just now were really frightening! And, Hinata and Takuma aren't..."

"Shut up!" the Elder roared, making Rei tremble. "Those of the Branch Family have no 'buts'! Everything the Main Family does is for the overall interests and safety of the Hyuga Clan! You only need to obey!"

Hinata and Takuma were furious, their fists clenched tightly.

This old bastard is utterly shameless! He can't distinguish right from wrong and resorts to sophistry!

Akari was trembling with anger, but she was older than Rei and was about to marry into the Main Family. She knew the power and stubbornness of the Elder in the clan, and for a moment she didn't know how to refute this shameless fallacy.

Hyuga Tennin's face was ashen, and his chest heaved violently.

How could he not know that the Elder was being unreasonable and trying to exonerate Hyuga Ikkan and the others?

But the Elder's words struck a chord with two key points.

First, Hinata and Takuma Uchiha, outsiders, and their infiltration of the Hyuga Clan Compound without permission is a major taboo.

Secondly, the Elder insisted that he sent people to transfer Rei and Akari out of safety concerns. Although this sounds incredibly false, it can indeed be forcibly interpreted as excessive guarding.

Furthermore, if Uchiha Izuna and the others were forcibly punished for "attempted kidnapping" in front of outsiders like Hashirama Senju and Hyuga Ikkan Izuna, the Elder would inevitably seize on the "Uchiha infiltration" point and make a big fuss about it, escalating the matter to the level of "Uchiha's attempt to interfere in Hyuga's internal affairs" and "foreigners provoking Hyuga's dignity."

If that happened, things would truly spiral out of control. Not only would the Hyuga Clan be completely torn apart, but it would also severely damage the relationships between the various clans of Konoha, especially between the Uchiha and Hyuga.

Tennin gritted his teeth, his mind in turmoil.

Is this a temporary compromise, suppressing the matter for now, and then slowly Settlement the Elder's faction later?

Or should we take a hard line now, risking a complete breakdown in relations and triggering an even bigger storm?

Hashirama watched from the side, his brows furrowing.

He was straightforward, but he also understood the complexities involved.

This is a family matter for the Hyuga. As the leader of Konoha, he can mediate and exert pressure, but he cannot make decisions for the Tennin.

He was about to speak, saying something like, "Since it's a misunderstanding, and both sides are at fault, why don't we each take a step back?" to smooth things over and ease the tension.

Just then--

"Haa--"

A drawn-out yawn suddenly rang out.

The scene fell silent.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Izuna yawned lazily, a few tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

He lowered his hand, picked at his ear with his little finger, then raised his eyelids and glanced at the Elder was trembling with anger, with the same look one would give a roadside pebble.

"What is this guy babbling on and on about?"

His voice wasn't loud, and it was hoarse as if he had just woken up, but it was like cold water being poured into a hot oil pan.

The Elder's face darkened, and he was about to adopt the attitude that "outsiders should not interfere in the Hyuga Clan."

"You."

Izuna extended a finger and tapped the Elder's nose from a distance.

You can't beat me.

The Elder's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

"I didn't even want to get involved in all this mess in your family."

Izuna put his hands back into his sleeves, glanced at the different expressions on the faces of Tennin and Sōsuke, and raised his chin.

"But you—"

His gaze lingered on their faces for a moment.

"This sticky, gooey cooking method is so off-putting to me."

Tennin and Sōsuke gasped for breath.

"Sōsuke," Izuna said, looking at Hyuga Sousuke, "I told you that the Hyuga clan is suited for ranged attacks, right?"

Sōsuke's heart skipped a beat.

"But you still insisted on Close Combat."

"Then let me give it a try."

He straightened up, dusted off non-existent dust from his body, took two steps forward, and came to the open space in the center of the courtyard.

The moonlight fell on his dark blue Clan Attire, outlining his slender yet upright figure.

He raised his hand, addressing the ashen-faced Hyuga Elder, the solemn-looking Hyuga Tennin and Sōsuke, and all the surrounding Hyuga clan members, and announced clearly, word by word.

I will take on your entire clan single-handedly.

"Everyone."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Gasps of surprise and whispers suddenly rose from every corner.

"... Huh?!"

"Furthermore," Izuna added, waving his index finger and giving a mischievous grin, "We'll only use Taijutsu."

He looked around, his eyes bright, and spoke.

"Come and choose."

"Either I crush you from head to toe."

"Or--"

He slightly raised his chin.

"Use your prized Taijutsu to defeat me!"