Eliminating the Main House Physically

"Takuma, you said everything before I could! What am I supposed to say now?" the long-haired girl complained, punching Hyuga Takuma hard in the back. He stumbled, wincing as his pained expression showed the blow wasn't light.

"Akiba, take it easy! You'll break my bones. And stop calling me by my name like that brat Arima! At least call me 'Brother'!"

Hyuga Takuma grumbled in dissatisfaction.

However, all he got in return was the girl's disgusted glare. Hyuga Akiba retorted mercilessly, "Just Takuma, why are you acting like a big brother here? Don't think I don't know you frequent the adult section of bookstores!"

"I, I... How did you know?"

Hyuga Takuma's eyes widened in shock.

"Takuma, you should be asking who doesn't know!"

Hyuga Arima chuckled.

Hyuga Takuma's face instantly turned as pale as the Byakugan.

"Quiet, all of you!"

Hyuga Ritsu rubbed his temples, his head aching. These guys together were an endless source of drama. He wouldn't mind watching the commotion if it were a different time, but this wasn't the moment for leisurely entertainment.

Hearing Hyuga Ritsu's outburst, the three immediately fell silent.

Within their small group, Hyuga Ritsu was undoubtedly the leader.

"Takuma, Akiba, I didn't call you here for fun. Since Arima knows what happened on the East Front battlefield, you two must know too. I won't waste time with pleasantries. The Main House intends to pin the blame for the failed rescue and missed strategic opportunities on me, framing me to cover up their own incompetence."

"These Main House trash only know how to bully us Branch Houses with these tactics!"

Hyuga Akiba gritted her teeth, her face filled with hatred, a stark contrast to the gentle and elegant demeanor she displayed when quiet.

The girl was Hyuga Ritsu's cousin.

Her father, who was also Hyuga Ritsu's uncle, had been on a mission with a member of the Main House six years ago. Due to the Main House member's cowardice, Hyuga Akiba's father was surrounded by enemies and eventually killed.

Worse still, the Main House member who escaped blamed Hyuga Akiba's father, accusing him of being reckless and causing the mission's failure. It was only when another ninja, not from the Hyuga Clan, who was present and couldn't stand by, secretly told Hyuga Akiba's mother the truth that they learned what really happened.

Ever since then, the straightforward girl, who clearly distinguished between right and wrong, harbored a deep hatred for the Main House.

"Brother Ritsu, just tell us what to do. I know you didn't come back to take the fall for the Main House. You don't need to explain much to us, just tell us what we need to do."

The girl stared intently at Hyuga Ritsu.

Since neither Hyuga Ritsu's parents had awakened the Byakugan, Hyuga Ritsu spent his childhood training under his uncle, Hyuga Akiba's father, in the family's Gentle Fist techniques. Despite being cousins, their bond was often stronger than that of siblings.

She understood Hyuga Ritsu well, knowing that her cousin, who had been known as a genius since childhood, wasn't the type to quietly endure being bullied. He would never meekly accept the blame for the Main House.

"First, I want you to see something."

Hyuga Ritsu replied.

"See what?"

"You'll know when you see it."

With that, Hyuga Ritsu removed the forehead protector he wore.

"Your head? What's there to see... Huh? Huh? Ritsu, Brother Ritsu? Where's your Caged Bird Seal? Where did your Caged Bird Seal go?"

Hyuga Akiba's voice nearly cracked.

However, Hyuga Arima's parents had died early. The Main House had reclaimed their original residence near the center of the compound, and the orphaned Hyuga Arima was relegated to this house on the outskirts of the clan grounds. There were no neighbors nearby, so even if he yelled at the top of his lungs, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone investigating.

This was also why Hyuga Ritsu hadn't gone home after sneaking back into the clan grounds but had come directly to find Hyuga Arima.

Hyuga Takuma and Hyuga Arima's eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets, staring fixedly at Hyuga Ritsu's smooth, pale forehead, their gazes filled with disbelief.

"Brother Ritsu, how did you do it? Did you really remove the Caged Bird Seal?"

Hyuga Akiba leaned closer, shamelessly reaching out and vigorously rubbing Hyuga Ritsu's forehead.

"Akiba, be gentle, you'll rub my skin off!"

Hyuga Ritsu impatiently swatted away his cousin's "claws" and pushed her aside. He then said sternly, "Takuma, Arima, Akiba, you've all seen it. I've broken the Caged Bird Seal. The Main House can no longer control me with it."

He paused for a moment, looking at the three before him, and grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. "I will shatter the system of Main House and Branch Houses, a system soaked in the blood of our Branch House clansmen! I will break the Caged Bird Seal on all Branch House members!"

He made a resounding declaration.

The next second, "Let's do it!"

Hyuga Akiba excitedly shouted, raising her fist.

She wished she could rush to the Main House members right now and smash their disgusting faces into pieces!

"Big Brother Ritsu, just tell us what to do!"

Hyuga Arima rubbed his fists together excitedly.

He didn't have many opinions about the Main House. Even though he was driven to the edge of the clan grounds after his parents died, he was naturally optimistic. However, he was also stubborn. Once he decided Hyuga Ritsu was his big brother, he would follow Hyuga Ritsu's lead without question, ready to kill anyone his brother told him to.

"Ritsu, what are your plans?"

In the end, Hyuga Takuma, the eldest, was the most level-headed. Although he often lingered in the adult section of bookstores, it would be strange for a seventeen-year-old not to have any interest in such things.

Putting aside this harmless hobby, Hyuga Takuma was quite reliable. He had become a Jonin at fourteen, a true genius, and could handle most tasks given to him very well.

"It's simple. We'll eliminate the members of the Main House physically."

Hyuga Ritsu answered calmly.

Reforms to the system were always incredibly difficult. It was next to impossible to get those with vested interests to voluntarily give up their benefits. A gentle approach was fundamentally unworkable; only violence could smash the old system and create enough space for a new one to be established.

"Huh?"

Hyuga Takuma's eye twitched.

What kind of plan was this?

Eliminating the members of the Main House physically... wouldn't that be called a coup d'état?

"Isn't that... a bit too radical?"

Hyuga Takuma frowned and whispered, "Although there aren't many people in the Main House, and nearly half of them are useless trash, there are still skilled individuals like Clan Head Hiashi. Besides, there are many Branch House members who would die without hesitation to protect the Main House. With just a few of us, there's no way we can eliminate them directly, is there?"