Hyuga Clan's Counterattack

Hyuga Main Family.

Inside the old, dimly lit room, the elders of the Hyuga Main Family all looked rather grim. Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods were still exceptionally shrewd; he seized the opportunity and struck immediately, truly swift, accurate, and ruthless.

Hyuga Hiashi, the clan head, glanced expressionlessly at the cunning Third Hokage and said in a deep voice, "Third, rest assured, the Kumogakure Hyuga Clan will give Konoha a satisfactory explanation regarding the matter of Kumogakure."

Even at this moment, Hyuga Hiashi maintained the dignity of an ancient clan and did not lose face in the slightest. The Third Hokage shook his head and held his pipe in his hand.

"Alright, I'll try to stall for a few more days, but it's already been a month, I'm afraid I can't stall for more than a few days."

As the not-so-tall figure of the Third Hokage disappeared, the elders of the Hyuga Main Family immediately frowned and began to speak.

"What a Third Hokage! Not only has he intimidated Kumogakure, but he also wants to use this opportunity to teach our Hyuga Clan a lesson."

"Who does Sarutobi think he is? He wasn't even a third-rate nobody during the Warring States Period, yet now he dares to ride roughshod over our Hyuga Clan. How despicable!"

"Why didn't the Sarutobi Clan have this guts when they first built the village? Now they've got some serious talent, producing a Hokage and they want another one."

The Main Family were also furious. As old-fashioned and arrogant people, they had always considered themselves superior. If the Uchiha were proud, then the Hyuga Clan was superior to others from the bottom of their hearts.

The Hyuga is essentially a Noble Houses that confines itself to its clan territory. Within that territory, they are the rulers, controlling everything, Branch Family are their servants.

As the clan head, Hyuga Hiashi remained calm as he observed the elders' frustration. "Since the Third Hokage wants an explanation, then our Hyuga Clan will give Third Hokage one. Let's not let this cause friction with Kumogakure, lest the whole village spread rumors that our Hyuga Clan caused this trouble."

"Hiashi do you want to do!" Upon seeing Hiashi's calm demeanor, an elder immediately lowered his voice and shouted in a deep voice.

At this moment, it was clear that Hyuga Hiashi would not back down for the sake of the dignity of his Hyuga Clan, and therefore chose to fight back.

"Perhaps Hiashi's idea is correct, but we can use someone else."

"What's the meaning?"

Everyone seemed to be looking at the eldest Main Family, who smiled calmly and said, "Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods are indeed good, but he has forgotten that the dignity of Noble Houses family is never to be trampled on. Does he really think everyone is from his third-rate Sarutobi Clan?"

"The Branch Family has always shouldered the responsibility of protecting the Main Family. Now, isn't it perfect that Hizashi can take Hiashi? This is how our Hyuga Clan will fulfill its duty!"

Upon hearing this, the usually composed Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed drastically, and he angrily exclaimed, "Hizashi can't go!"

In an instant, pairs of eyes turned towards him. Hiashi Hyuga Hiashi, under the pressure of everyone, stared intently at them, "I am the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hizashi is my younger brother. I absolutely will not allow this!"

He couldn't change his fate Caged Bird, so he could only accept it all, but he absolutely couldn't let his younger brother die in his place.

However, the elders of the Main Family remained calm. "Hiashi, you must remember that you are the head of the Hyuga Clan. You bear the responsibility for the rise and fall of the Hyuga Clan, and Hizashi's destiny is to protect the Main Family."

"That's right, the Branch Family was originally established to protect the Main Family."

"Send Hizashi there, and we'll see what Hiruzen Sarutobi does then."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to take this opportunity to teach the Hyuga Clan lesson, but he didn't expect the Hyuga Clan to be so formidable and to come up with a fierce counterattack.

Once the Hyuga Clan surrenders its own members, this fire will be thrown at the Third Hokage. A life for a life. Our Hyuga Clan has offered the life of the Branch Family head. You, Third, as the Hokage, do you think that's enough? If it's still not enough, the Hyuga will continue to send over corpses.

In short, as the Third Hokage, you have the final say. It can be said that the Hyuga Clan's counterattack was extremely clever, hitting the nail on the head.

It's fair to say that in a battle between masters, every move can be fatal.

Hyuga Branch Family.

The quaint house, though lacking the imposing grandeur of the Main Family, still exuded an air of antiquity.

With a screech, the sliding door opened, and a member of the Branch Family who was inside immediately showed a delighted expression upon seeing the newcomer.

Some of them, growing increasingly nervous, secretly activated their Byakugan, surveyed their surroundings, and said in a low voice, "Hizashi, there's no one watching us nearby."

The one who walked in was Hizashi Hyuga. Looking at the four trusted members of the Branch Family in the room, the once lifeless Byakugan of the Branch Family showed a hint of excitement at this moment.

"The plan has changed, and it needs to be implemented ahead of schedule."

Looking at the four, Hizashi Hyuga lowered his voice and spoke. The four were startled, but one of them exclaimed excitedly, "Hizashi, we've been waiting for this for ages!"

"Tell me how the mission went."

Hizashi Hyuga had just returned from the Main Family, and his heart was filled with anger and resentment. If it were before, he probably would have had no choice but to accept his fate, but now he had a new choice. For his child and for the future of the Branch Family, he was going to take a gamble.

"Hizashi, to prevent the news from leaking out, all the Jōnin and below in the village are doing it in secret. Rest assured, the seal was placed secretly while the target was unconscious and asleep. They themselves don't even know that the Caged Bird has been sealed."

"It's just that we can't contact some members who are on missions far away in the Land of Fire or who are stationed at the border, because it's easy for information to leak out."

"Children and women are easy to deal with; almost none of them have been missed. It's just that we haven't dared to make any Jōnin moves against some Jonin-level individuals whose identities are still uncertain."

Listening to the four's report, Hizashi Hyuga nodded under immense pressure and said in a deep voice, "Alright, tomorrow, in the name of the Branch Family and main family meeting, summon all the Branch Family from the branch families Jōnin gather at night. Make it clear then that those who are willing to join us will work together to help seal the Caged Bird Seal. Those who are unwilling and remain loyal to the Main Family will be subdued first, and then we will start an uprising in the middle of the night!"

"So eager?" someone couldn't help but exclaim, while Hizashi Hyuga suppressed his worries; he was now on the verge of action and had no choice but to act.

"The Main Family has already begun to have doubts. We can't wait any longer. Once our uprising succeeds, the Branch Family Main Family members outside will absolutely not dare to make a move, because we've all become useless Caged Bird."

"If the Main Family really makes a move, it will be a fight to the death. The Main Family members won't be that stupid. Therefore, the Branch Family members outside are safe. As long as we succeed in our uprising, we can send people to seal all the Caged Bird of the Branch Family members. From Hyuga, the fate of the Caged Bird will end in our generation!"

End the Caged Bird's fate!

When these words echoed in the ears of the four Hyuga Branch Family, tears of excitement welled up in their white eyes. Their hearts had long since sank into silence, and they had resigned themselves to their fate. However, a month ago, their Branch Family Hizashi Hyuga, secretly found them and said that he had found the seal that sealed the Caged Bird. At that moment, they were shocked to realize that their hearts had not died, but were simply locked up by the fate of the Caged Bird.

At this moment, they were no longer living for themselves, but for their descendants, and for ending the fate of the Branch Family splitting up.

Beneath the peaceful aura of Konoha, a turbulent undercurrent was brewing. With the Third Hokage in charge, he was demonstrating his shrewd and experienced methods from years of rule to the fullest. The mobilization of Konoha's elite forces could not escape the eyes of other major powers. Moreover, this time Konoha was not hiding anything; it was making it clear that if Kumogakure dared to come, Konoha dared to fight.

Thanks to the Third Hokage's shrewd methods, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi on the front lines gained some Prestige.

Meanwhile, undercurrents were also swirling within Konoha. The common people believed that peace was on the horizon. After all, the matter of Kumogakure was only causing trouble among the higher-ups and wouldn't affect the common people yet. Otherwise, things would get out of hand, and it would be difficult to handle. After all, this was also a diplomatic game between the two countries.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. These three days were also the time given to Hizashi Hyuga by the Main Family, after all, he was the younger brother of the head of the Main Family and the head of the Branch Family.

As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the leaves Konoha.

Within the staid and oppressive Hyuga Compound, in Hizashi Hyuga's mansion, the two brothers sat facing each other.

The two brothers remained silent. Although there was a distinction between the Main Family and the Branch Family, the two brothers had grown up together since childhood and even fought on the battlefield together. Although their relationship was somewhat distorted in this distorted world, their brotherly affection had never dissipated; it was just that they hid it very well.

Tonight is the deadline.

Hyuga Hiashi remained calm, as if discussing something trivial, while Hizashi Hyuga, on the other hand, nodded in unison with a stern face and replied, "Understood, tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this reply, Hyuga Hiashi calmly picked up his teacup and took a small sip. "Hizashi, you haven't changed at all. You never lie."

Hizashi Hyuga, who had a stern face, was holding a teacup when he was suddenly startled by these words, causing the tea in his hand to tremble and almost causing him to be impolite.

However, suppressing his anxiety, Hizashi Hyuga calmly said, "Brother, I don't understand what you mean."

Hyuga Hiashi said nothing, calmly drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and as he calmly put down the cup and lowered his head, he slowly said, "Perhaps time was too tight; your people revealed a flaw tonight."

When Hizashi Hyuga lost his composure, but he still managed to hold back. However, Hyuga Hiashi seemed not to notice and sighed Hyuga Hiashi with his head down.

"The Hyuga Clan may truly be corrupt. The resentment between the Main Family and Branch Family families has accumulated for over a hundred years. Hizashi, do you know how much I wished I were from the Branch Family instead of you? But after becoming a father and looking at Hinata, I suddenly feel fortunate to be from the Main Family."

"At this moment, I suddenly understood the origin of the resentment between the Main Family and the Branch Family. However, the Hyuga hundreds of years, is not so easy to break."

As he spoke, Hyuga Hiashi slowly took out a scroll from his robes, and when he looked up, a rare smile appeared on his face.

"Hizashi, you've protected me for so many years. This time, consider it my duty as an older brother. I've also studied the Caged Bird, but I couldn't find a solution. Perhaps you'll succeed this time. Here are some of my personal savings and the Gentle Fist secret technique known to the Main Family. Don't overthink things when you get there. Take good care of yourself."

At this moment, the two brothers seemed to have returned to that war-torn battlefield, where there seemed to be no distinction between the Main Family and the Branch Family. The two brothers were filled with unwavering faith amidst the encirclement.

A complex emotion flickered in Hizashi Hyuga's eyes. He knew his actions had been discovered, but his older brother had chosen to keep it a secret.

"Brother, I want to ask you, if the Caged Bird hadn't been solved, would you have..."

Although the words were unfinished, both of them clearly understood what it meant. Hyuga Hiashi nodded firmly without the slightest hesitation and said, "I will! Because I am the head of the Hyuga clan, and also your brother. If I die, there will be a new Hyuga Clan Head, and you, Hizashi, will still be Branch Family, as will Neji. The destiny remains unchanged. Only as long as I am still the head of the clan can I protect Neji and Hinata."

Even though it was his own brother who admitted he would watch him go to his death, Hizashi Hyuga showed no disappointment upon hearing this answer; instead, he smiled.

"So what's the reason now?"

At that moment Hizashi Hyuga already had the answer in his heart, but he still wanted to hear his older brother's reply.

"Now I see an opportunity to break the Caged Bird's fate. I don't want Neji to resent the Main Family in the future. Let the grudge between the Main Family and the Branch Family end in our generation." Hyuga Hiashi said calmly as he slowly stood up.

As the neighbor reached the door, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly paused, and said softly, "Hizashi, will you still protect me from now on?"

Neither of them looked at the other, but even without being seen, a faint glimmer seemed to appear in their eyes.

Upon hearing Hiashi's abrupt question, Hizashi Hyuga gave a rare, disdainful snort, and with a sigh of disappointment, the sliding door slowly opened.

"After the Branch Family, I will no longer protect the Main Family. If we are still fighting on the battlefield, I think I will protect my elder brother as his younger brother."

A hoarse voice echoed in his ears. At this moment, the usually stern and unsmiling Hyuga Hiashi sun and revealed a sincere smile.

"If that time really comes, I want to protect my younger brother as his older brother; that feeling is really comforting."

The footsteps faded into the distance, and it seemed as if an abyss had appeared between the two Hyuga brothers, separating them. But both of them wore faint smiles. At this moment, they were no longer the Main Family and the Branch Family, but the older and younger brothers.

In the silent room, Hizashi Hyuga suppressed his complex emotions, his voice still slightly hoarse as he calmly said, "You heard that, didn't you?"

When the sliding door to the inner room was pushed open, two figures were revealed inside. They were Jōnin from the Branch Family, and the two of them were silently looking at the head of the Branch Family.

"I heard you."

The relationship between the Main Family and the Branch Family is very complicated. They were originally brothers, related by blood, but the system of the Main Family and the Branch Family has caused uncontrollable rifts to develop between them.

Over the years, resentment has been present, but there are also those Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga who still retain brotherly affection. After all, this is a ninja world, Branch Family branch family protecting them countless times, the Main Family is not a cold-blooded animal, especially when they see their own younger brother risking his life to protect them.

Although the Caged Bird incident played a part, their blood was still hot. The Main Family also had countless members who watched helplessly as their younger brothers died protecting them, only to collapse in regret afterward.

The feud between the main and Branch Family Main Family of the Hyuga Clan is complex, stemming from the grudges between brothers. They envy the brotherhood among commoners, yet are equally proud of their own lineage.

My child Influenza A, and I ended up getting it myself XX. Luckily, I have enough drafts saved up, otherwise I really would have had to write while sick. However, I really don't have the energy to check for typos. I'll correct them as soon as I'm better. I apologize in advance.