Severed Arm

Since their earlier request for aid had received no response, Shikaku had directly sent this ANBU member to the Hyuga clan to investigate the situation.

But the news he brought back made every Konoha higher-up who heard it feel their scalps tingle.

It was even worse than their previous assumption that the Hyuga clan had sided with the Uchiha and thus refused to help Konoha.

When they confirmed that the Nine-Tails Rebellion had been quelled and that Lord Hokage was still alive, Shikaku and the others had all been greatly encouraged.

That meant the Uchiha Rebellion was basically about to be settled.

Yet a new disaster came crashing down before them like a meteor, leaving everyone reeling.

—The news that the Hyuga clan had suddenly been wiped out was simply too shocking. Shikaku and Konoha's two senior advisors had personally gone to the Hyuga Clan Head's Estate to confirm the situation.

The scene was utterly horrific. The Hyuga clan, which should have been holding a clan meeting, had only left behind Neji and Hinata, two children sitting dazed amid heaps of corpses.

"He had been imprisoned for at least a month." Koharu's voice trembled as she looked at Hyuga Hiashi's corpse being carried out.

The body pierced by hinges already bore obvious traces of rusted metal. Even if he had not been beheaded, the metal toxins accumulated in his body would have been enough to take Hiashi's life before long.

That meant the massacre of the Hyuga clan had begun at least a month ago, yet none of them had sensed a thing...

Someone had silently erased a top-tier ninja clan right under the noses of everyone in Konoha.

The Hyuga were not the Uchiha. They had no tradition of rebellion, and their relationship with Konoha had always been relatively good.

The Byakugan was an exceptionally powerful sensory Bloodline Limit. Because of this, the Hyuga clan's status could be likened to Konoha's "eyes." They had long been active on the front lines of ninja squads and had rendered great service to Konoha countless times. Their sudden extermination was no different from the sky collapsing for Konoha higher-ups like Homura and Koharu.

"The wounds are fresh. The killer only left not long ago."

Homura clenched his fists and shook his head.

"Half a month ago, I came to see Hiashi. At the time, I noticed nothing wrong. I only thought his movements while speaking were a little too exaggerated, a little impolite... Looking back now, I must have fallen under a genjutsu without realizing it."

"Hiashi... He was asking me for help..."

Sigh.

Since becoming Konoha's senior advisors, neither of them had ever lost their composure like this.

Losing the Uchiha, in the eyes of the two advisors, would have meant removing a hidden danger as long as Konoha handled things properly. Konoha's strength would decline, but it would have been entirely worth it.

But losing the Hyuga was like a healthy person suddenly losing their eyes. No matter what, it was an enormous loss for Konoha.

As for losing both the Uchiha and the Hyuga at the same time... It was like cutting off an arm because it was about to rot away. It was a pity, but it was done for one's own survival. After all, there was still the more useful right hand, wasn't there?

He could still repel invading enemies.

But now, just as they had begun amputating the Uchiha arm, they discovered that the more useful right hand belonging to the Hyuga had already begun to break off long ago...

If they had known this sooner, then in the eyes of Konoha higher-ups like Koharu, the arm that was the Uchiha could still have been saved...

Unfortunately, from the moment the Uchiha went mad and summoned the Nine-Tails until now, the entire amputation was nearly complete.

Everything was beyond saving.

"War is about to begin..." Koharu suddenly said.

The three stood silently in the courtyard.

Only the evening wind and the incessant chirping of cicadas filled the air.

The surrounding woods were lush and green. A kite hung from the treetops, while a woman with half her body tangled in its string swayed through the air like a swing.

Shikaku withdrew his gaze from the woman's corpse and forced himself to keep a clear head.

Now was not the time to worry about war. They needed to find the killer and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

He analyzed the scene.

"The actions and expressions of these victims before death were rather strange. It should have been someone they knew."

"All the wounds were fatal in a single strike. The swordsmanship was extremely skilled. There are traces of chakra residue nearby. The other party handled them rather carelessly, as though they had no intention of concealing anything."

"Should we notify the other ninja clans to be on guard?"

"Though I think the killer probably will not remain in Konoha for much longer."

Koharu shook her head.

"Don't put it so tactfully. Just say that this was done by someone within Konoha."

"As for whether to notify the other ninja clans, there is no need for that yet. Homura and I can visit them one by one shortly."

The Uchiha Rebellion had not yet been completely settled. To maintain stability, news of the Hyuga clan's extermination had to be suppressed for now. Naturally, they could not reveal it to the other ninja clans and risk causing unnecessary panic and trouble.

As for determining whether the other ninja clans had also suffered the same fate, the two advisors would naturally spot the signs after making the rounds.

Surely they would not be fooled by the same genjutsu twice?

"How many Hyuga clan members are still alive?" Homura asked.

"We need to compare the roster and first confirm the identities of the dead here." It was an extremely complicated task. Shikaku paused. "However, if we exclude ordinary Branch Family members who never awakened the Byakugan, I estimate there are fewer than ten survivors..."

A clan of several hundred people, with perhaps fewer than ten left in the end...

Koharu and Homura were both speechless.

Shikaku continued, "Inoichi is on his way here. This is different from the previous cases where several Hyuga Branch Family members were killed. There are many corpses here, and they are fresh. The mastermind cannot possibly clean everything up this time. We should be able to obtain information about the killer directly."

Inoichi possessed the ability to obtain memories from others. Even if the person was already dead, as long as they had not been dead for too long, he could still acquire blurred memories from before their death.

"I suggest we first take control of all surviving Hyuga clan members." Whether for protection or to eliminate suspects, it had to be done.

"Do you have someone in mind?" Homura asked.

"I do." Shikaku glanced at Neji, whose eyes were vacant, and gently nodded.

"Then do as you say." Koharu said weakly.

"Understood." Having received authorization, Shikaku summoned a Konoha ANBU member and began issuing orders.

"Notify all Konoha ninja. If they encounter any Hyuga clan ninja, bring him to the interrogation room to await questioning."

"Notify Kakashi and several other members of Konoha's elite strike units. After dealing with the Uchiha matter, find Ning Qi Hyuga."

"If he resists, bring me his corpse as well."

"And..." Shikaku paused. "Tell Kakashi and the others to be careful. This Ning Qi... may be even more dangerous than Fugaku."

Ning Qi was the only Hyuga clansman Shikaku knew of who was still moving about within Konoha.

Naturally, he was also the most suspicious.

As though he had heard a familiar name, Neji in the corner raised his head and wanted to say something, but Shikaku patted his shoulder, signaling for him to remain silent for now.

The two advisors beside them knew Ning Qi, and Shikaku's analysis had told them that he was the prime suspect. But they did not know that Neji, one of the survivors in the courtyard, was actually Ning Qi's younger brother.

Shikaku believed Neji was innocent.

But the two advisors were furious right now. They might not see it that way.

It was better not to invite trouble for himself just yet.