The Main Branch's Plot

Explosions rang out one after another, and the blaze nearly reddened the entire sky!

Amid the deafening blasts and billowing smoke, Otsutsuki Toneri emerged completely unscathed. He glanced briefly in the direction Hyuga Aoki had fled in, seemingly with no intention of giving chase. He merely muttered, "Yama..."

Within Konoha.

It did not take long for the Main Branch to learn of Hyuga Aoki's defection.

The village soon learned of it as well. Word spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred. In less than half a day, this disgrace of the Hyuga Clan had become common knowledge throughout the village.

The incident caused such a stir not only because it involved a prestigious clan like the Hyuga, but also because since Konoha's founding, there had never been a case of a Hyuga Branch Family member defecting. In that regard, Hyuga Aoki had set a precedent.

Main Branch Estate.

"This is an utter disgrace to the Hyuga Clan! We absolutely cannot let him off!"

"Mm, there's no need to send anyone after him. Just activate the Caged Bird Seal and kill him!"

"The Branch Family is becoming more and more outrageous!"

Several Main Branch elders were passionately discussing Hyuga Aoki's defection.

At the head of the table, Clan Head Hiashi wore a grim expression as well.

As one of Konoha's prominent clans, the Main Branch naturally did not want the clan to be pointed at and criticized by the villagers because one of its members had defected. In the Main Branch's eyes, the clan's reputation mattered far more than the lives of one or two Branch Family members.

At that moment, a Main Branch elder said, "That useless Hyuga Aoki has had crippled legs for a long time. He had no ability to defect on