Eight Trigrams Palm · Revolving Heaven

"Hyuga Ritsu, surrender now and you'll be the only one facing judgment. No one else will be implicated. But if you continue to resist, then your parents, your loved ones, everyone will face punishment!"

A tall man with waist-length black hair and a resolute face stood before him, glaring coldly at Hyuga Ritsu as he delivered his final ultimatum.

His name was Hyuga Masamune.

Main Family Elder.

Jonin.

He was a truly formidable figure within the Main Family, not yet thirty years old but already holding a position second only to the Clan Head, ranking first among the six Main Family Elders.

"Kid, don't think a few words of praise calling you a genius make you someone important. Our Hyuga Clan has lasted for a thousand years, and geniuses are as numerous as stars. There are even more brats like you, who don't know their place and think they can change the world. But in all these thousand years, have you seen anyone shake the system of Main Family and Branch House?"

Elder Hyuga Atsushi, over seventy but still healthy, adopted a condescending tone, lecturing Hyuga Ritsu from his superior position.

"Hyuga Takuma, Hyuga Akiba, and Hyuga Arima, right? What are you three doing following him? Hurry up and get lost! Do you want to be punished along with this sinner, Hyuga Ritsu?"

Another elder, also over seventy, Elder Hyuga Mizuki, glared at the three individuals following behind Hyuga Ritsu. He tried to scare them away, intending to leave Hyuga Ritsu isolated.

However, He had underestimated Takuma, Akiba, and Arima's backbone and courage.

The three stood resolutely behind Hyuga Ritsu. It could be understood that Elder Hyuga Mizuki, being old, had a loose sphincter and couldn't control the waste gases within his body.

"Elder Shunsuke, do you want to say something too?"

Hyuga Ritsu asked with a smile, looking at Hyuga Shunsuke, who had rallied the Main Family members.

"You, you, Hyuga Ritsu, you scoundrel! If you know what's good for you, get down on your knees and admit your mistake now. At least we can give you a quick end."

Hyuga Shunsuke roared loudly.

However, despite the volume, his threats felt somewhat weak and lacking in force, carrying little deterrent power.

"Everyone from the Main Family, are you done talking? If you're done, it's my turn to speak."

Hyuga Ritsu's gaze swept over everyone present. The polite smile on his face vanished, replaced by a stern, icy solemnity. He spoke loudly:

"Your days of being vampires, lording over us from the Branch Houses, end today. I will challenge and defeat you here, then run for Clan Head. If I become Clan Head, then from this day forward, there will be no distinction between Main Family and Branch House in the Hyuga Clan. All clan members will be family, just like the Uchiha Clan. The capable will rise, the weak will fall. The strong will protect the weak, and the weak will respect the strong!"

His voice was clear and resonant, shaking the surroundings.

It reached the ears of all the Branch House clan members watching. Some were indifferent, some were emotional, some were half-believing, and some were indignant... Especially the latter, there were quite a few who felt angry.

These were all loyalists of the Main Family.

It was a fact that the Hyuga Clan had been passed down for a thousand years. While it was hard to say how much credit the Main Family-Branch House system deserved, under the Main Family's propaganda, this system's contribution was paramount, and many Branch House members truly believed it.

"Stubborn!"

Hyuga Masamune snorted coldly and decisively attacked, raising his hand and striking Hyuga Ritsu with a palm.

[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]

This was a high-level technique of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, and their only long-range attack. It released a pressure cannon formed by chakra mixed with compressed air, powerful enough to truly resemble a cannonball, capable of shattering rocks.

One could only imagine the result when it hit a human body.

And, It wasn't just him who attacked.

Beside him, Hyuga Shunsuke and a Main Family Jonin named Hyuga Taiga attacked simultaneously. It was the same "Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm" technique, their coordinated attack clearly indicating prior planning.

However--

"We are all Hyuga. The flow of chakra within your bodies has already told me what you're going to do!"

Hyuga Ritsu assumed a stance.

With his right leg as the pivot and his left leg spread, chakra flowed from his meridians and acupoints, causing his body to spin like a top at extreme speed. The rapidly spinning chakra formed a hemispherical chakra barrier.

The Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm struck this chakra barrier and shattered upon contact, without causing even the slightest ripple.

"Revolving Heaven?"

"It's Revolving Heaven?"

"Isn't that the Main Family's secret technique, known as the 'strongest defense'? How does Hyuga Ritsu know it?"

The Branch House clan members were shocked, whispering amongst themselves.

The Main Family members also couldn't maintain their composure.

"How does this brat know Revolving Heaven?"

"Damn it, who taught him?"

"How could anyone teach a Branch House member such a secret technique that's not to be passed down? This brat probably figured it out himself... No, he must have stolen it, stolen our Main Family's secret technique!!!"

Hyuga Shunsuke gnashed his teeth in hatred.

Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven.

It was the supreme defensive secret technique within the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, passed down through generations only within the Main Family. Its training difficulty was extremely high. Hyuga Shunsuke himself had painstakingly practiced it for a year but ultimately failed.

At this moment, Seeing a mere Branch House brat like Hyuga Ritsu learn and even use Revolving Heaven, the devil called jealousy nearly devoured his heart.

"Stolen technique?"

The hemispherical Chakra barrier vanished.

Hyuga Ritsu stood steadily on the ground, which had been ground down by ten centimeters, and looked at the members of the Main House. "I understand that your rotten brains naturally cannot comprehend what genius is, so there's no point in saying more. Hurry up and show me whatever other moves you have!"

As he spoke, he beckoned provocatively with his left hand.

"Shunsuke, Taiga, go together,"

Hyuga Masamune said gravely.

Chakra, like azure flames, emanated from his hands, instantly forming two lifelike lion heads. He then pushed off the ground and charged at Hyuga Ritsu like lightning, his iron fists entwined with azure lion heads slamming towards Hyuga Ritsu's chest.

This is--

Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist.

One of the advanced techniques of Gentle Fist, it is a secret art passed down only within the Main House, just like "Revolving Heaven." Unlike ordinary Gentle Fist, Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist incorporates the application of Chakra shape transformation, expanding the attack range and increasing the attack power.

Even a mere graze from these lion-head-shaped Chakra attacks would inflict damage comparable to a full-powered punch.

However, "It doesn't feel very difficult!"

Hyuga Ritsu said.

Azure lion heads were also entwined around his hands.