Killing the Hyuga Great Elder? Wasn't He Afraid of War Between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan?!

The Hyuga Great Elder kept muttering under his breath. The faster he muttered, the more panicked he became.

Then, his eyes widened.

The golden meteor was descending at an absurd speed, yet he seemed to see Jinghuo Uchiha smiling at him from within it.

The next second, the ground collapsed and ravines tore open.

The Hyuga Clan Members were utterly horrified, their screams ringing out in terror.

Watching this apocalyptic scene, the fear in the Hyuga Great Elder's heart erupted into an angry roar.

"Jinghuo Uchiha! Do you want the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan to go to war?!!!"

He received no reply.

Perhaps the sound of the collapsing earth and the clan members' screams had drowned out his voice, and Jinghuo Uchiha had not heard him.

Or perhaps Jinghuo Uchiha had deliberately chosen not to respond.

Because he seemed to hear a cold, disdainful snort.

Then, a voice sounded faintly by his ear. It was like the low chant of myriad people, filled with unshakable will and carrying a noble command.

"Morning Light: Annihilation."

In an instant, a streak of golden light emerged from the ravines in the shattered ground, illuminating everything around it.

It was as if a priceless treasure buried underground was about to break free from the earth—brilliant, dazzling, eclipsing the sunlight and dyeing everything gold.

The next second.

An even more intense golden light swept forth.

Though it was daytime, it was more blinding than the sun. Countless Hyuga Clan Members shut their eyes in agony, their brows tightly furrowed, terrified that staring directly at that golden light would injure their eyes.

As if a volcano had erupted, they felt an even more horrifying high temperature, as though it would burn their hearts, livers, spleens, lungs, and kidneys to ashes. It filled them with the absolute terror that their bodies were about to melt, making their hearts tremble and their souls quake in fear.

"No—!!!"

At that moment, a pained scream snapped the Hyuga Clan Members back to their senses.

They... seemed to be unharmed?

Then, the golden light gradually dimmed.

The Hyuga Clan Members cautiously opened their eyes, like newborn infants utterly unfamiliar with the world.

It was as if they stood inside a furnace whose fire had gone out.

Everything before them was charred black.

Other than people, everything on the ground had turned black and burned to ash, piling up like black snow.

A light breeze stirred the ashes, exposing the faintly orange-red, scorching ground beneath.

The Hyuga Clan Members were dumbfounded.

It felt as though only they remained between heaven and earth.

Then, a familiar figure emerged from the crater.

"Jinghuo Uchiha!" The Hyuga Clan Members recognized him instantly.

They hurriedly gripped their weapons and stared fixedly at Jinghuo Uchiha, completely unaware that their legs were trembling and backing away.

Cold sweat soaked their collars, yet they did not notice. Even when their breathing stopped, they did not notice.

Their eyes held only Jinghuo Uchiha.

The entire Hyuga Clan Land fell into absolute silence because of one person.

Only a single set of calm, ordinary footsteps continued to sound.

They were Jinghuo Uchiha's footsteps.

Step by step, they seemed to tread upon the Hyuga Clan Members' hearts, making their throats bob, their pupils tremble uneasily, and cold sweat pour out even more fiercely.

They feared Jinghuo Uchiha would suddenly turn around and begin slaughtering them.

The fear in their hearts left their bodies completely rigid.

Only after Jinghuo Uchiha had walked far away did they realize it.

They looked as though they had just been dragged out of water, soaked from head to toe.

They collapsed helplessly onto the ground, their bodies aching terribly.

But compared to the fear in their hearts, that pain was ten thousand times easier to bear.

One after another, the Hyuga Clan Members gasped for air. Their bodies were ice-cold, their hands and feet shaking uncontrollably, their hearts pounding without pause. They were so panicked that their minds went blank, unable to compose themselves.

No one knew how much time passed before a familiar voice arrived.

"Are you all right?"

The Hyuga Clan Members looked at Hyuga Hiashi before them. "C-Clan Head?"

"Are you all right?" Hyuga Hiashi asked again.

As if their reactions had been delayed, four or five seconds passed before the Hyuga Clan Members slowly shook their heads.

Seeing them like this, Hyuga Hiashi's expression carried a trace of sorrow, but also relief. He clasped the small hand beside him, feeling much more at ease.

"Father?" Hinata looked up, her delicate, adorable little face full of confusion.

Why had Father suddenly become so gentle?

Hyuga Hiashi rubbed her soft, silky short hair. His expression softened slightly as he gently shook his head.

Behind him, Hizashi Hyuga stared at the charred, hellish sight before him in the Hyuga Clan Land. For a time, his words caught in his throat, impossible to speak.

Ashes like black snow drifted through the air, leaving a desolate scene.

The clan members sat sprawled on the ground, filled with confusion and fear.

This apocalyptic scene made the twin Clan Heads of the main and branch families glance at each other. Both saw fear and determination in the other's eyes.

Fear of Jinghuo Uchiha's terrifying strength.

Determination to abandon the Police Force.

This was the second time.

And this was also a warning.

Although no one had died, the damage was even worse!

Then what if there was a third time?

What would become of the Hyuga Clan then?

They did not dare imagine it.

They had to give up the Police Force!

They absolutely could not wade into these troubled waters again!

"Where is the Great Elder?" Hyuga Hiashi asked the clan members beside him, who had just recovered their senses.

He needed to use this opportunity to demonstrate Jinghuo Uchiha's terror.

The Hyuga Clan could not profit from these muddy waters!

The Hyuga Clan Members froze.

That was right!

Where was the Great Elder?

When Jinghuo Uchiha came out just now, the Great Elder definitely would not have let him leave!

Those words stirred up a thousand waves.

Countless clan members came back to their senses and began searching for the Great Elder.

"Where did the Great Elder go?"

"Did he leave?"

"No, the Great Elder didn't leave home today."

"Then why isn't he where he should be?"

"Could we be searching in the wrong direction?"

"Could my Byakugan possibly be wrong?"

Very quickly, the Hyuga Clan Members searched the entire clan land.

Yet not one of them found the Hyuga Great Elder.

That made the Hyuga Clan Members recall the scream they had heard when the golden light appeared. "It seemed like someone screamed terribly at the beginning."

"I heard it too. I thought I was hallucinating."

"I heard it too!"

"Me too!"

"Me too..."

"I also..."

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga's pupils abruptly constricted. They guessed what had happened.

Some of the sharper Hyuga Clan Members also quickly guessed it, their eyes widening in disbelief.

Jinghuo Uchiha had actually killed the Hyuga Great Elder?!

Wasn't he afraid of war between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan?!

They tightly covered their mouths and stared wide-eyed at the two Clan Heads, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

As long as someone said it aloud, the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan would go to war. Then Konoha would fall into chaos!

The Fourth Shinobi World War might even begin!

Every village would come to fight over Konoha, this resource-rich land!

Everyone who realized this was filled with fear.

War... no one liked war!

At that moment, someone had indeed guessed it and, without thinking, wanted to say that the Great Elder might have been killed by Jinghuo Uchiha.