Struggle

If there was anyone or anything in the Hyuga clan's camp that Kirigakure would go to such great lengths to attack, it could only be the current Hyuga Main Family head.

Unlike the Hyuga clan, which, along with the Uchiha clan, was a prestigious family in Konoha, they implemented a system of Main Family and Branch Family.

The Main Family lineage passed down to only one person per generation, who served as the clan head and controlled the life and death of all Branch Family members through the "Caged Bird" curse seal.

If the Hyuga Main Family head were to die or be captured, the Hyuga clan would undoubtedly fall into chaos.

This was vastly different from the Uchiha clan's loose system of recommendation.

Even if they lost their clan head, the Uchiha clan could quickly elect another, without significant impact.

"Quickly take me to the other two Commanders!" the middle-aged Commander shouted to his subordinates.

Before long, the three Konoha Commanders reunited in a secluded corner.

Their respective guards quietly hid nearby, keeping watch on their surroundings.

"Looking at your disheveled state, I'm worried you might not survive Kirigakure's surprise attack this time!" one person jested to the other two Commanders.

"You're injured too! What right do you have to talk about us!" the second person retorted unceremoniously.

"Alright, stop arguing, I have something to say!" the third person quickly intervened, stopping the two from bickering further. He continued, "Anbu members have discovered that those Kirigakure ninja are gathering towards the Hyuga clan's encampment."

"I suspect their target is the current Hyuga Main Family head!"

"The Hyuga Main Family head?"

The second person frowned upon hearing this and said in a low voice, "Could it be that they intend to cripple the Hyuga clan by targeting their Main Family head, thereby changing the current situation?"

"That possibility is very high!" the third person nodded in agreement.

"Then... shall we take our men to support him!" the second person said, preparing to leave.

"Wait!"

The first person called out to him, saying with complexity, "From the current situation, Kirigakure's target seems to be the current Hyuga Main Family head, but it's not impossible that they also intend to eliminate the three of us!"

"If the whereabouts of the three of us are completely exposed to the Kirigakure surprise attack force, tell me, would they choose to kill the three of us first, or take down the Hyuga Main Family head first?"

"This..." Hearing this, the second person's face immediately turned bitter.

Without even thinking, if Kirigakure had the opportunity to eliminate the three Commanders, they certainly wouldn't hesitate.

"Then... can we send some men to support them?" he suggested in a small voice.

The first person shook his head and continued, "The camp is in chaos right now. The few people we have with us are barely enough to protect ourselves, let alone having any extra strength to rescue the Hyuga Main Family head."

"This won't work, and that won't work either, then why did you call us here?" Rejected again, the second person became a little angry.

Immediately, the third person also cast a doubtful glance at his companion.

The first person said slowly, with a blank expression, "I called you here to give you a heads-up. When you receive a plea for help from the Hyuga family later, don't foolishly rush in to your death!"

"Not only that, but stay far away from the Hyuga family's encampment!"

Just then, a figure emerged from around the corner of a nearby ruin.

The three were startled to find that it was a Hyuga clansman. They saw the veins bulging at the corners of his eyes, his Byakugan activated, and he was rushing towards them in a hurry.

It seemed his target was the three of them.

When the Hyuga clansman was less than five meters away from the three Commanders, three masked Anbu members suddenly appeared and intercepted him.

"Let him come!" the second person immediately signaled.

The Anbu guards then let him pass, and he arrived before the three Commanders, panting.

"What is it, friend from the Hyuga family?" the first person asked first.

He smiled amiably, showing no trace of his earlier ruthlessness.

The Hyuga clansman said breathlessly, "Reporting to the three Commanders... our clan head is surrounded... please send reinforcements quickly!"

"Very well, I understand! We will send people to support you shortly. You should hurry back and help!" the first person said with a smile, dismissing him.

"Really?" the Hyuga clansman confirmed again.

He felt the Commander agreed too easily, which seemed a bit off, but he couldn't figure out why.

The other two Commanders watched all this in silence, because they knew in their hearts that their companion was merely comforting the Hyuga clansman.

"Mm! We will!"

The first person nodded with a smile, placed his hands on the Hyuga clansman's shoulders, and slowly turned him around.

The moment the Hyuga clansman was fully turned, the first person raised his hands, grabbed the back of his head and jaw, and quickly twisted them in opposite directions.

With a crack, the Hyuga clansman's neck was snapped, and he immediately died.

The event happened too suddenly. Neither the surrounding Anbu guards nor the other two Commanders had anticipated him doing such a thing.

By the time everyone recovered, the light had already faded from the Hyuga clansman's eyes.

"What are you doing!" the second person grabbed his shoulder and questioned him loudly.

Even the usually quiet third person frowned, a hint of vigilance appearing in his gaze towards his companion.

The first person brushed off his companion's hand from his shoulder and said coldly, "You both know we can't and don't have the energy to send reinforcements, so why give him false hope!"

"But even so, you shouldn't have killed him!" the second person said, completely confused and unable to accept the explanation.

The first person glanced at him and sneered, "If word gets back that we were supposed to send reinforcements, but we didn't, how would we explain that to the Hyuga clan afterward?"

Upon hearing this, both the second and third people fell silent.

"Instead of that, it's better he died during Kirigakure's surprise attack. If anyone asks later, we can say we never received the request for help from the Hyuga Main Family!" the first person said expressionlessly, having found a ready excuse for the death of the Hyuga clansman before them.

Seeing the second person still unconvinced, he continued, "This kid already discovered our whereabouts. If he were captured by Kirigakure's forces and led them to surround us, wouldn't we be dead!"

Hearing this, the third person sighed heavily and asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

The first person looked toward the southeast of the camp, where the Hyuga clan was stationed, and said meaningfully, "The Byakugan's field of vision is too wide! They can easily find the three of us!"

"If they foolishly send people to request reinforcements again, our tracks won't be hidden at all!"

"So, while Kirigakure's attention is focused on the Hyuga family, we need to break out of the camp and rendezvous with the main force."

"On one hand, we can shake off the Hyuga Main Family, that dangerous tail, and on the other hand, we can avoid their calls for reinforcements."

As he spoke, he glanced again at the second person, whose face was filled with indignation, and said playfully, "This way, you two won't be so reluctant the next time I have to kill someone!"

"If we leave, what about the people in the camp?" the third person asked with a complicated expression.

The first person scoffed, "With Kirigakure's current surprise attack force, there's no way they can wipe out our camp. The only ones truly in danger are the three of us and the Hyuga Main Family!"

"Once reinforcements arrive, or when their objective is achieved, these Kirigakure ninja will naturally retreat!"

"Alright, let's go! Delay could lead to trouble!" The third person nodded, his meaning clear.

Hearing this, the second person looked deeply at the other two, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word, feeling a blockage in his chest.

I can't help it, I'm thinking of the bigger picture... he could only comfort himself inwardly.