Something Big Happened

Konoha.

In the Hokage Office, shrouded in night, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu frowned as they looked at the Third Hokage.

"The Third Hokage, Hyuga Clan's rigid nature, if we push him like this, he might actually hand over a corpse."

From the very beginning, their intention was to give the Hyuga Clan a warning, to make it clear to the Hyuga Clan that Konoha is ruled by the Hokage, not by their Noble Houses, and that the Warring States Period is long gone.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, calmly exhaled a puff of smoke and said quietly, "These are turbulent times. The Hyuga Clan's so-called Noble Houses dignity still makes them live in the Warring States Period. If we're going to teach them a lesson, we need to wake them up. Only when they recognize reality will they know their place. After all, we still have to deal with the Uchiha Clan next."

The Uchiha Clan!

As the words of the Noble Houses echoed in the office, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu frowned deeply. This clan was far more troublesome than the Hyuga Clan.

The warning to the Hyuga is, in essence, a political maneuver. They haven't done much in terms of material gain. If the Hyuga Clan were to actually cooperate with the Uchiha clan because of this, they would truly be on the opposite side of politics, and what they would face wouldn't just be a warning, but rather targeted attacks.

The elders of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family aren't fools, and neither are the major clans of Konoha. No one wants to be with the Uchiha; only those commoners who don't understand high-level power struggles would.

"The Uchiha Clan is not easy to deal with."

Utatane Koharu was very clear about the Uchiha's background, so she became somewhat serious when the topic of the Uchiha came up.

"Sarutobi, the Uchiha Clan far surpasses the Hyuga Clan in both its foundation and the number of ninjas. Especially the elite Uchiha who have awakened the Sharingan, they are capable of taking on two opponents at once. We must be cautious."

As comrades-in-arms who have been together for so many years, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura Uchiha Clan for many years and are well aware of the terror of this Noble Houses clan.

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly puffed on his pipe, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke. "After the Hyuga Clan in the village, the Uchiha Clan is isolated and without support. Recently, intelligence from the Land of Water suggests that radical factions are preparing to harass the border. We should send in the Uchiha's elite troops then."

"The Uchiha Clan needs to be dealt with slowly; this is not the Hyuga Clan."

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's seemingly secure plan, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a relieved glance.

"Now that you, Sarutobi, have a plan, that's good. The Uchiha Clan does indeed need to proceed cautiously."

In the Hyuga Compound, the Branch Family summoned all the Jōnin from each Branch Family in the name of the clan meeting. This scene naturally did not escape the eyes of the Main Family, but the Main Family chose to ignore it.

In the eyes of the Main Family, how much trouble could the Branch Family, controlled by the Caged Bird, possibly cause? At most, this time it would just be Hizashi Hyuga, the head of the Branch Family, making his final arrangements.

That night, dark clouds shrouded the moonlight, seemingly foreshadowing a major event.

In the dimly lit Meeting Room the Branch Family, elite members of the Branch Family, all wearing Forehead Protector and with cataracts in their eyes, gathered together.

In the oppressive atmosphere, everyone who came to this meeting held the rank of Jōnin, although most of them held the rank of Special Jonin. However, this level of strength was still quite impressive in Konoha.

The Byakugan Gentle Fist is renowned Shinobi World, but while this Kekkei Genkai limit, which focuses on close-combat pressure point strikes, is powerful, it is only limited to that. Most of the elites in the Hyuga Clan are Special Jonin, since how many Kekkei Genkai the Shinobi World possess the almost all-around enhancement of the Sharingan?

Furthermore, the Byakugan's most powerful ability in the Shinobi World is not Gentle Fist, but its reconnaissance ability; it's practically born for war.

"What! It was clearly Main Family who killed him, so why was the clan chief, Hizashi, sent to do it?"

"Damn it, it's happening again! Why!"

"Why must we, as members of the branch Branch Family, die for the Main Family?"

As Hizashi Hyuga calmly recounted some events, the crowd erupted in anger, with each member of the Branch Family expressing their pent-up frustration.

Looking at the crowd, four of them exchanged glances and then secretly assumed a defensive posture, as if they were ready to make a move at the slightest sign of trouble.

Hizashi Hyuga calmly looked at everyone and slowly took out a scroll from his robes.

"The fate of the Caged Bird has plagued the Hyuga Clan for over a hundred years. This scroll represents breaking free from that fate; it's up to you to choose."

At this point, Chakra Hizashi Hyuga slowly removed the Forehead Protector from his forehead in front of everyone. When the ugly Cursed Seal revealed, the Byakugan opened, and with a surge of chakra, black runes resembling tadpoles appeared around the cursed seal.

"What is this?! What is this?"

At that moment, countless people stared in shock at the Caged Bird on Hizashi Hyuga's forehead, and then someone spoke.

"This is a seal, Sealing Jutsu to seal the Caged Bird, and also to break the Caged Bird's destiny. The Main Family has enslaved the branch Branch Family for so long, are you willing to live like this forever? Even if you are willing, what about your children?"

"We are not rebelling, we are simply fighting for freedom!"

"For freedom! The chance to break free from fate is right before you. If you agree, we will join forces now to seal the Caged Bird for you."

One by one, the Jōnin who had already pledged allegiance to Hizashi Hyuga removed their Forehead Protector, and as their Chakra deliberately fluctuated, traces of a seal appeared around the Caged Bird Seal.

The members of the Branch Family were all filled with shock. How could this be! Had their destiny been broken just like that?

There weren't many people, after all, these were Jōnin- level, Special Jonin were quite prestigious. Apart from the Branch Family elites who were outside, there were only fifteen people here.

Including his four trusted confidants, Hizashi Hyuga was only five people. The remaining ten Branch Family members showed a variety of expressions: some were excited, some were incredulous, and some were shocked, thinking it was a dream. These complex expressions conveyed the emotions that the Branch Family had suppressed for many years.

"Is this real?!"

Even now, some people still can't believe it. Among them are those who once tried to defy their fate as Caged Bird, but all of them are now in a state of utter despair. Now, suddenly, they have a glimmer of hope. It all seems too unreal.

Looking at everyone, Hizashi Hyuga said solemnly, "The Hyuga Family doesn't have this ability, but you know Root, right? Lord Orochimaru joined Root a long time ago, and after reviewing countless documents from Root, this Sealing Jutsu was developed."

Root?

The mere mention of this department sent chills down many people's spines, but at this moment they were filled with gratitude, for it was precisely because of this that it had credibility.

The most famous Human Experimentation Root back then was the Wood Release Project, and only in such a place could they research and break the seal that would condemn the Caged Bird to its fate.

Hizashi Hyuga nodded secretly. Just as Lord Yoru said, someone had to take the blame for all of this. Lord Yoru was Lord Orochimaru's disciple, and Lord Orochimaru was a member of Root, so it was natural to pin the blame on Root.

With Root taking the blame, the nature of the matter will change. After all, if Orochimaru directly intervenes, it would be tantamount to interfering in the affairs of Noble Houses family, which is a taboo.

However, if Root is backing them, and Root is the power in the hands of the Hokage, this would be the Hokage Faction's faction interfering in the Hyuga Family's internal affairs. With such a powerful backer, the Main Family would have to direct most of their resentment towards the Hokage Faction.

"Everyone, your families have all been secretly sealed away these past few days, but they don't know it yet. Now, not a single Branch Family Chunin or Genin in the village has been spared. As Jōnin, you should know the importance of keeping information secret, so you are the most crucial part, and the last step."

After Hizashi Hyuga got Root's endorsement, they were filled with excitement. In their minds, this meant that the Konoha High Command leadership had intervened in the Hyuga Clan's affairs, and it was not that they wanted to rebel against the clan.

"Hizashi, I do!"

Sure enough, someone stepped forward. Faced with the chance to break free from the Caged Bird's fate, they were filled with excitement. The first person to step forward excitedly showed his forehead.

With Hizashi Hyuga and his four trusted men keeping a watchful eye on things, they managed to remove the Caged Bird seal from everyone's foreheads without any major incident.

Under the cover of night, the Hyuga Clan's years of peace and tranquility had made the Main Family forget their vigilance, after all, no one expected that something would happen within the village.

Within the Branch Family, the elderly, women, and children were awakened one by one, and they all walked out in a daze. They did not know what had happened, but it must have been something big.

Some toddlers and children fell asleep under the Gentle Fist, all of this happening silently.

Dark clouds shrouded the moonlight. Hizashi Hyuga, who had never been so tense even in life-or-death situations on the battlefield, had his palms sweating profusely and his entire back soaked with cold sweat.

Just then, a sound came from behind, Hizashi Hyuga turned around nervously.

"Who is it!"

Behind the gate appeared Hyuga Hiashi's figure. Before Hizashi Hyuga could react, two Hyuga Branch Family Jōnin appeared on the left and right sides, forming an encirclement.

"Chieftain!"

Some people were filled with shock and fear upon seeing Hyuga Hiashi, but Hyuga Hiashi calmly looked at Hizashi Hyuga and said, "I still hope you call me 'big brother'."

"Don't be so reckless in the future. Some people have the desire to rebel against their fate, while others have become accustomed to being enslaved. Those people are fine; they just fainted."

A calm voice echoed in the night. Hyuga Hiashi walked slowly toward Hizashi Hyuga as if nothing had happened. Just as the two brothers passed each other, Hiashi said indifferently, "After leaving the Hyuga Compound, go straight to where you're going. Don't stop. Even if the village discovers you, don't stop. And take care!"

After passing each other, Hyuga Hiashi slowly disappeared into the direction of the solemn main gate of the Main Family under the night sky, while Hizashi Hyuga figure with complicated emotions.

"Brother, please take care of yourself from now on."

Under the cover of night Hizashi Hyuga hurriedly led the rest of the clan out of the clan compound. Fortunately, thanks to the Hyuga Clan's management system, the Branch Family was located on the outskirts, while the Main Family enjoyed the protection of the Branch Family without any worries.

Under the cover of night, Hyuga Hiashi, hiding behind the tall walls of the Main Family, calmly stared at the walls. With the veins bulging in his eyes, he watched until he saw his younger brother leave and disappear into the clan's territory before he sighed softly and got up.

"Hizashi, this time it's my turn to protect you. Take care."

After getting up, Hyuga Hiashi calmly returned to the Main Family's house, while several Branch Family Chunin lay unconscious on the lawn in the Main Family's courtyard.

Some people will rebel when there is hope, but others have already accepted this habit of enslavement and have developed a servile attitude towards the Main Family.

The dark clouds in the sky slowly dispersed, revealing the bright moonlight that shone on the earth. Under the peaceful night sky of the Hyuga Compound, no one noticed that the Branch Family was now deserted, and even the breathing of ordinary people had disappeared.

Night falls.

The whereabouts of the hundreds of members of the Hyuga branch Hyuga Branch Family, including ninjas, women, and children, were all panicked and ran towards the address of the Seventh Division of the Konoha Military Police Force.

Fortunately, thanks to the rigid traditions of the Hyuga Clan, they happened to be located on the outskirts of the village. Although they weren't driven into the forest like the Uchiha Clan, this also prevented them from attracting attention at the beginning.

Such a large-scale operation immediately shocked the police patrol team on nighttime, as well as the ninjas on duty in the village and some Anbu, who all stared in astonishment at the scene unfolding in the middle of the night.

"Halt! What do you Hyuga Clan want?!"

A series of dark figures flashed by, including patrol teams from the Konoha Military Police Force, members of the Anbu, and Konoha squads on duty, all appearing in front of this massive group. Although they shouted at the moment, they were filled with shock.

Good heavens! Not only are there a huge group of old people, women, and children, all seemingly with their families, but there are also no fewer than a hundred ninjas, each staring with a pair of white eyes.

Everyone who witnessed this scene was shocked; something terrible had happened! Although they didn't know the details yet, everyone knew that Konoha had never seen such a large-scale operation before.

Faced with the obstruction from all sides, Hizashi Hyuga, as the head of the Branch Family, stepped forward and angrily shouted, "Get out of the way! The Hyuga Branch Family, under orders from Root, has been released from the Caged Bird Seal and is now heading to the Konoha Military Police Force to join Lord Orochimaru of Root. Who dares to stop us!"

"Everyone, keep moving forward without stopping! Anyone who dares to obstruct us is committing treason! We are going to join Root! To join Lord Orochimaru!"

At this point, not even the patrol team, let alone the Hokage, could stop them.

Faced with the rampaging Hyuga Branch Family, everyone panicked, especially the crazed look in their Hyuga Branch Family.

"Quickly! Go and report to the Hokage-sama!"

"Quickly! Go and report this to the Minister of Konoha Military Police Force."

The Konoha Military Police Force patrol teams, the Anbu, and the village squads all gasped in alarm, realizing this was beyond their control and they had to report it.

Something terrible has happened!

Konoha was instantly alarmed. Under the cover of night, dark shadows, like fleas, leaped around the surrounding houses. Countless people were awakened and stared in shock at the migrating army.

When this migrating army announced their intention to join Root and Orochimaru, everyone was stunned. No one dared to stop them. Nobody knew what was going on, and they could only watch helplessly as it all unfolded.

Fortunately, not long after the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Konoha began to pay attention to contingency plans for how civilians, women, and children should take shelter in emergency situations.

After all, ninjas react quickly, but civilians don't. The Nine-Tails suffered such heavy losses because Konoha had never experienced such turmoil within the village.

As it turned out, the Hyuga Branch Family used it for tonight's grand relocation, something no one had anticipated. Even Hizashi Hyuga was later thankful that the village had strictly ordered everyone to learn contingency plans, and this was enforced, including the Noble Houses.