The sky had grown slightly darker as dark clouds rolled in from the east, blotting out the sun. Yet the temperature remained high, and the air had turned damp and oppressive, leaving anyone accustomed to dry weather feeling sticky and uncomfortable.
However,
Hyuga Ritsu felt no discomfort. After nearly two years of fighting the Mist shinobi along the East Blue coast, he had long since adapted to the excessive humidity. The oppressive air before an impending downpour actually suited his current state of mind rather well.
The stagnant waters of the Hyuga Clan were about to be swept by an unprecedented storm!
The four of them hurried through the deserted streets.
"Ritsu, if we go any farther, it'll be hard to keep our movements hidden."
Hyuga Takuma said.
Ahead, the buildings stood closer together, while open spaces and trees grew scarce.
They were nearing the center of the clan grounds.
The Hyuga Clan's estate was laid out with the Seven Main House Branches living in the central area, while the homes of the Branch House members spread outward from there. In other words, the closer one got to the center, the denser the population became. Though the clan did have a rule against casually activating the Byakugan on the grounds, permitting it only in places like training fields enclosed by barriers,
there were still too many people around.
Even without activating the Byakugan, it was hard to avoid being spotted.
"It doesn't matter. Let them see us. Takuma, when Arima found you and told you I was looking for you, what went through your mind? Why did you think I'd come back to the village?"
Hyuga Ritsu asked without turning around.
"Uh, well... I don't know."
Hyuga Takuma answered honestly. "My mind was completely blank at the time... Ah! I get it now."
He stopped halfway through his sentence, suddenly realizing.
He knew what they were there to do, so he couldn't help feeling guilty and worrying that someone might spot them. But the other clan members had no idea what they were planning.
Besides, the Main House hadn't formally convicted Hyuga Ritsu yet. He wasn't a criminal whom every clan member was obliged to seize on sight.
So,
even if they were spotted, it didn't matter.
Everyone would only be surprised to see Hyuga Ritsu back and wonder why he had returned. They wouldn't try to capture him and hand him over to the Main House to be dealt with.
A few seconds later, they turned a corner.
And then,
someone saw them.
"Hyuga Ritsu?"
A man standing on a second-floor balcony, leaning on the railing as he smoked, spotted Hyuga Ritsu and the others hurrying down the alley. He paid little attention to Hyuga Takuma and the rest behind him, but recognized the Branch House's greatest prodigy at a glance.
"When did you get back? The Clan Head and the elders haven't punished you... Wait, what happened to your forehead? Your Cursed Seal—where's your Caged Bird Seal?"
The man was shocked.
He didn't even notice the cigarette falling from his mouth.
"Move faster!"
Hyuga Ritsu ignored the middle-aged man and kept hurrying ahead.
A rule forbidding clan members from casually activating the Byakugan on the estate wasn't enough. After all, not everyone was willing to follow the rules. In crowded public places, everyone might look perfectly proper.
But who knew how they behaved at home, when they were alone? It wouldn't be surprising if there were some twisted, voyeuristic perverts among them.
So clan members generally put specially made Barrier Talismans around their homes. At least five were needed, one on each of the four walls and one on the roof, to form a barrier that interfered with the Byakugan and kept outsiders from spying on their private lives.
As a result, even if Hyuga Ritsu activated his Byakugan, he couldn't see what was happening inside the houses on the estate. The smoking middle-aged man was a case in point: his balcony was within the barrier's range, so Hyuga Ritsu hadn't spotted him in advance and had run right into him.
"What the hell is going on?"
The middle-aged man on the balcony was stunned.
He watched Hyuga Ritsu and the others disappear into the distance, hesitated for less than three seconds, then vaulted over the balcony and chased after them.
He didn't know what he'd do once he caught up with them,
but he knew that if he didn't go after them, he'd be left at home feeling lost and restless.
Then—
Hyuga Ritsu stopped in front of a residence with white walls and dark roof tiles, surrounded by thick stands of pine and cypress.
Two young Branch House members were standing guard at the gate.
"Is Hyuga Shunsuke home?"
Hyuga Ritsu asked as he approached.
"Elder Shunsuke is inside... Wait, Hyuga Ritsu? How did you—" The Branch House guard hadn't finished speaking before Hyuga Ritsu, having gotten his answer, struck him with a palm and knocked him unconscious.
"You—"
The other guard had only managed to get one word out before he too was knocked to the ground, out cold in an instant.
Hyuga Ritsu turned to Hyuga Arima, who was beside him, and instructed him, "Arima, stay outside and activate your Byakugan to monitor the estate. If anyone from the village enters, come tell me immediately."
"Yes, Big Brother Ritsu!"
Hyuga Arima answered loudly. He immediately activated his Byakugan and extended his vision as far as it would go, keeping watch on the estate's several entrances.
Then,
Hyuga Ritsu strode through the gate.
As soon as he stepped inside, he activated his Byakugan.
Now that he was within the barrier, he could see clearly through the residence with his Byakugan. He immediately spotted Main House Elder Hyuga Shunsuke practicing Gentle Fist in an indoor training hall.
At the same time,
Hyuga Shunsuke, who had been practicing with his Byakugan activated, saw Hyuga Ritsu and the others break in. He froze for a moment, then frowned in confusion, unable to understand why Hyuga Ritsu, who should have been dealt with on the front lines, had appeared here.
He immediately stopped practicing and hurried out of the training hall toward Hyuga Ritsu, who stood in the front courtyard. Seeing him approach, Hyuga Ritsu stopped and waited.
Thirteen seconds later,
Hyuga Shunsuke charged into the front courtyard, guarded by eight Branch House members. His furious roar rang out before he arrived. "Hyuga Ritsu, you've got some nerve! You betrayed the Main House on the front lines and let the Mist Village thieves steal a Byakugan. And now you've broken into my home without permission. Are you trying to rebel?"
"That's right. I'm here to rebel!"
"If you don't want to drag your parents into this, then surrender right now... Hm? What did you say?"
"I said I'm here to rebel."
Hyuga Ritsu repeated his intentions with a smile. "I came back to the clan today to destroy this Main House–Branch House system, this system that's practically slavery!"
Before you continue