The rain had quietly stopped, and the air was thick with moisture. A cool breeze drifted through, carrying a faint chill. More and more lamps were being lit at Tamagushi Shrine. After lighting them, the clan members responsible for managing the shrine began making their rounds, keeping themselves busy.
Hyuga Ritsu stood beneath the weathered vermilion torii.
The five elders—Hyuga Takashi, Hyuga Shinichiro, Hyuga Isamu, Hyuga Tenma, and Hyuga Karin—stood with him beneath the gate, watching as a group of uninvited guests approached along the wet flagstone path, led by Hizashi Hyuga.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was at the front.
Hizashi Hyuga accompanied him.
Behind them came Shimura Danzō and Namikaze Minato, with Hyuga Hiashi and the others trailing behind.
"Lord Hokage, I'm sorry we weren't there to welcome you. Please forgive us!"
Hyuga Ritsu stepped forward to greet Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Then,
before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak, he hurriedly continued, "I'd planned to come pay my respects once I'd sorted out the affairs of the clan. I never expected Lord Hokage to deliver the Main House's remnants to us instead. This generous gift has earned the gratitude of me and the more than a thousand clan members who support me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.
This kid was good!
He'd seized the initiative brilliantly. More than a thousand clan members supported him? Was that true? If it was, killing Hyuga Ritsu would mean losing the hearts of the Hyuga Clan. Could the few useless Main House members led by Hyuga Hiashi really stabilize the clan?
He suddenly felt uncertain, even began to wonder whether his decision to kill Hyuga Ritsu had been the right one.
But
his expression didn't change. He followed the plan as intended. "Clan Head Hiashi complained to me that you, Hyuga Ritsu, showed no respect for your elders and relied on your strength to slaughter your fellow clansmen at will. He asked me to come and deliver justice. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
As Hokage, he held the power of life and death.
But that didn't mean he could exercise that power however he pleased, killing anyone he wanted. To use it, he needed a reasonable justification. Besides, he didn't want to make things too ugly or leave the Hyuga Clan harboring resentment toward the village. It was best for the clan to resolve its own internal grievances.
So
he needed a just cause, a righteous pretext to punish Hyuga Ritsu, while leaving Hyuga Hiashi and the other Main House members to bear the hatred of the many Branch House clansmen.
But—
"Lord Hokage, there's nothing to discuss! This treacherous rebel deserves to be struck down on the spot! Hyuga Ritsu, you little Branch House brat! I'll make you pay with your life for my son Masaya!"
Hyuga Daichi could no longer hold back. He rushed forward.
The sudden turn of events made Sarutobi Hiruzen furrow his brow. Shimura Danzō cursed, "Useless fool." He hadn't even explained things properly before attacking. What reason could Namikaze Minato possibly use to help them kill Hyuga Ritsu?
[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]
Hyuga Daichi swung his palm, sending a shockwave straight at Hyuga Ritsu.
He shouted, "Clan Head, Feixiang, Lord Minato! Hurry and attack! Let's kill this treacherous rebel together!"
Azure Chakra instantly formed a lion's head around Hyuga Ritsu's right hand. He casually slapped it forward, and Hyuga Daichi's shockwave vanished without a trace.
The ease with which he'd deflected the attack made Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others' eyes twitch. They had a clear sense of just how powerful Hyuga Ritsu was.
At the same time,
they heard Hyuga Ritsu call out, "You want to kill me to avenge your son? Then, with Lord Hokage here, I'd like to ask: who will answer for the dozens of Branch House clansmen your Main House has tortured to death since the founding of Konoha?"
His words immediately struck a chord.
"The Clan Head is right!"
Hyuga Takashi roared, eyes wide with fury. "Hyuga Daichi, you fool! Do you remember my cousin Hyuga Jun? You were the one who made a stupid mistake on the battlefield and got badly wounded by the Kumo Ninja. My cousin risked his life to bring you back, but your idiot father claimed he hadn't protected you properly. He activated the Caged Bird Seal and made my cousin die in agony. Who's going to answer for that?"
"That's right! When my brother, Hyuga Kashu, was five, he was sent to practice Gentle Fist with Hyuga Masamune. But all he did was get the better of Hyuga Masamune in a spar. Masamune's father activated the Caged Bird Seal to punish him, and my brother died the next day after coming home. I still dream about him crying out in pain!"
Hyuga Karin stepped forward as well, firmly showing her support for Hyuga Ritsu.
Hyuga Shinichiro, Hyuga Isamu, and Hyuga Tenma said nothing, but they stepped forward together to stand behind Hyuga Ritsu, glaring angrily at the Main House members.
"How dare you! How dare you! You rebellious, disloyal, ungrateful wretches!"
Hyuga Daichi's face reddened with fury as he cursed. He raised one hand, about to activate the Caged Bird Seal and teach these Branch House members, who had forgotten their place, a harsh lesson.
"You're still trying to enslave us with the Caged Bird Seal?"
Hyuga Ritsu roared,
and attacked without hesitation.
[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm]
He raised his hand and struck. The Chakra-charged shockwave shot forward like lightning. Hyuga Daichi had been gathering Chakra to activate the Caged Bird Seal and had no time to react. The shockwave hit his arm and chest with pinpoint accuracy. The blow was so powerful that it broke his right arm and shattered his breastbone, caving his chest in. Blood gushed from his mouth like a fountain, and his life ebbed away as swiftly as water slipping through one's fingers.
The sight
left everyone present stunned.
No one had expected Hyuga Ritsu to be so bold as to kill someone right in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Before anyone could react, Hyuga Ritsu shouted, "The Main House's remnants are trying to keep enslaving us Branch House clansmen! Elder Hizashi, Elder Takashi, hurry and protect Lord Hokage and the others! Don't let these crazed Main House remnants hurt anyone!"
"Yes, Clan Head!"
All six elders answered in unison.
The Caged Bird Seal prevented them from opposing the Main House, but they could still "protect" Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and Namikaze Minato. They rushed over and stood in front of the group, spreading their arms and using their bodies as shields.
"Lord Hokage, please get back! Be careful—the Main House remnants might go berserk!"
"Hokage's Assistant, please don't come any closer. You could get hurt!"
"Lord Minato, we meet again!"
The elders all spoke at once. Hyuga Karin even stood right in front of Namikaze Minato, openly admiring the handsome looks of the village's famous heartthrob. The Yellow Flash, whose very name had once sent Iwa Ninja fleeing, was thoroughly uncomfortable under her gaze. He couldn't help backing away again and again.
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