Mikoto Expelled from the Clan

"Tch."

Uchiha Fugaku sneered dismissively, then began channeling his Chakra, gathering it and making it burst forth. In an instant, he flashed to Hyuga Hiashi's side, his sword about to strike him.

Hyuga Hiashi's heart tightened. He hurriedly raised his Kunai to block the sword, barely catching the attack, but his body kept tilting backward.

Only after crashing into several onlookers did Hyuga Hiashi manage to steady himself. His whole body trembled slightly, and his face had turned bright red.

No matter how formidable the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist was, Hyuga Hiashi was still only a child. Besides, this move from the Uchiha Clan was indeed powerful. It was only natural that he had been sent flying.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Before Hyuga Hiashi could regain his footing, Uchiha Fugaku seized the opportunity to attack. He used a Fire Release Ninjutsu, and the moment he spoke, an enormous fireball appeared before Hyuga Hiashi and shot toward him at tremendous speed.

Hyuga Hiashi had only just risen when his vision was filled with the fireball's blazing light. His entire body jolted, terror written all over his face. He no longer cared about conserving his strength and directly erupted all his Chakra, instantly increasing his speed to evade the attack.

Boom!

The fireball struck the ground with a deafening explosion. If Hyuga Hiashi had failed to dodge, he surely would have lost his life.

"You're going too far! How could you strike so ruthlessly? What if something happened to Hyuga Hiashi?" Nawaki protested indignantly.

The other students in the class also glared angrily at Uchiha Fugaku.

"Heh. He was the one who overestimated himself and challenged me. Someone like him deserves to die!"

"Wow, so impressive. No wonder you're the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan head. You start fighting without even considering where you are. Having a powerful backer really is something." Hyuga Matsuba looked at the arrogant Uchiha Fugaku and mocked him coldly.

The school had clear rules: any use of Ninjutsu required approval from teachers and administrators. Violating that rule would bring serious trouble.

"Where did this brat come from?" Uchiha Fugaku glared, pointing at Hyuga Matsuba's nose. This guy actually dared to speak ill of him.

"Young master, he's the Hyuga Clan's trash—the one without the Byakugan!" someone beside him kindly reminded him.

"So that's who you are. You're just trash. Where did you get the courage to open your mouth?" Once Uchiha Fugaku learned the situation, he became arrogant again.

The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was acquired through cultivation, while the Hyuga Clan was born with the Byakugan. In that respect, the Hyuga Clan did indeed have the advantage.

Therefore, if someone in the Uchiha Clan lacked the Sharingan, others would only say they did not work hard enough or were not capable enough. But if someone in the Hyuga Clan lacked the Byakugan, then they could only be trash.

Yet Uchiha Fugaku had possessed the Sharingan during childhood, which had surprised everyone. Aside from Madara Uchiha, he was the first child to awaken it at such a young age. Thus, everyone in the Uchiha Clan considered him a genius.

Having been praised for so long, Uchiha Fugaku also believed he had an unlimited future ahead of him. Perhaps one day, the clan would rise to great heights because of his existence.

Thus, Uchiha Fugaku looked down on the Hyuga Clan's little trash, Hyuga Matsuba. He did not even bother giving him a pleasant look, feeling that speaking with him was a waste of time.

Uchiha Fugaku stood before him, so arrogant and overbearing that he was practically about to fly into the sky. Hyuga Matsuba found him utterly disgusting. This guy had never been beaten up before, had he?

"Hey, you're that Mikoto, right? Why are you hanging around with this little trash? You don't even act like a girl. Aren't you afraid people will point fingers at you outside?"

Earlier, Uchiha Fugaku had seen Mikoto's hand clasped in Hyuga Matsuba's, and the sight had made him feel as sick as if he had swallowed a fly.

Everyone turned their gazes toward Mikoto and Matsuba. Uchiha Mikoto was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into a crack in the ground. She tried hard to pull her hand free, but Hyuga Matsuba did not seem willing to let go and continued gripping it tightly.

"You still have time to admit your mistake and change. Otherwise, I'll expel you from the clan."

With his powerful backing, Uchiha Fugaku was able to interfere in the clan's affairs to a certain extent. He had that much influence, though he would not necessarily have the final say in major matters.

In the past, Uchiha Fugaku definitely would not have dared do anything to Uchiha Mikoto. Her family had some influence as well, and her grandfather held a high position within the clan.

However, Uchiha Mikoto's grandfather had died of illness not long ago. Her remaining family members were all ordinary people now, and they no longer possessed the authority they once had.

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's harsh words, Uchiha Mikoto abruptly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with grievance and humiliation, and then she turned away, unwilling to pay him any attention.

As for Hyuga Matsuba, he always had a mysterious pull on her. Being with him made her feel comfortable and safe. There was not even any reason for her to like him; she was simply drawn to him for no apparent reason.

Even if she were given an absolute order now, Uchiha Mikoto still would not have been willing to let go of Hyuga Matsuba's hand.

"You've got some nerve!" Uchiha Fugaku grew angry. "I now declare that you have been expelled from the Uchiha Clan!"

Even though Mikoto's grandfather had once held great power, that was all in the past. Times had changed, and there was no one she could rely on now. What Uchiha Fugaku had just said was indeed effective—Mikoto was no longer a member of the Uchiha Clan.

Mikoto stood to one side, her body trembling faintly. Her eyes brimmed with tears, as though she might start crying at any moment.

Fortunately, although Mikoto looked fragile, she was mentally resilient. She forced herself not to let her tears fall.

It was not that Mikoto could not bear to leave the Uchiha Clan. She was simply still young. If she were expelled, she would lose her direction and have no idea what to do.

Having witnessed everything, Hyuga Matsuba felt aggrieved on Mikoto's behalf. How could he swallow this insult? He threw a punch straight into Uchiha Fugaku's stomach.

Amid a chorus of gasps, Uchiha Fugaku was sent flying just like Hyuga Hiashi had been earlier. However, he fared even worse—he flew higher and fell harder.

Everyone present, including the Hyuga brothers and the wronged Mikoto, could not believe what had just happened.

"Hyuga Matsuba, how are you so strong?" Nawaki was stunned as well and asked in shock.

Even though he looked rather tall and sturdy, Hyuga Matsuba was absolutely not at an advantage in terms of build.

Even so, Hyuga Matsuba had still sent Uchiha Fugaku flying with one punch. No one knew whether he was still conscious.

The onlookers pitied Uchiha Fugaku for one second, then looked at Hyuga Matsuba as though he were a hero.

Setting everything else aside, that level of strength was impressive.

"Holy crap, when did you become this awesome? Yesterday, you shattered the target, and today, you actually sent someone flying. Are you some Monstrous Strength beast?"

Nawaki shook his head, unable to believe it.

"I was born with it. Maybe I traded the Byakugan to heaven for it," Hyuga Matsuba replied with a serious expression.

"The Sage of Six Paths said the same thing—every gain comes with a loss!"

"Isn't that just a myth?" Nawaki was somewhat doubtful.

"How could it be? It's all written in books!"

Hyuga Matsuba spouted nonsense without a care. Even if the Sage of Six Paths himself came, he would not be afraid.

Nawaki believed Hyuga Matsuba's words and began wondering whether he could trade something for something else too.