[The chapter numbers for the two chapters after 286 were wrong. I may have made quite a few typo corrections too, but the chapters are under review right now, so I can't fix them. I'll change them back once the review is over. I wonder if this will affect recommendations.]
Within the Hyuga Clan, the distinctive Dōjutsu Power of the Byakugan clashed. Neji fought several elders at once, his hands blurring as he struck point after point. A rapid series of thuds rang out.
Outside the house.
The Branch Family members watched tensely, but none rushed in. They weren't trying to split the clan. They only wanted change.
Hizashi Hyuga was the exception. He had originally belonged to the clan head's bloodline and was Hyuga Hiashi's twin. Only the clan's rules had led to the Caged Bird Seal being placed on him. Now he was also the head of the Branch Family and represented its members.
So he joined the fight, father and son facing their enemies together.
Seeing this, the Main Family members made no further attempt to activate the Caged Bird Seal.
There was a simple way to end today's farce: defeat father and son head-on.
That would crush the hopes of the Branch Family Ninja.
All the Main Family wanted was to secure its position. It wouldn't slaughter the Branch Family Ninja en masse; it needed them to serve it.
Both sides understood this and reached a tacit agreement.
Only Hinata and Hanabi were still too young to know why the usually gentle Neji was doing this.
They understood even less what the battle meant.
Fear filled their eyes as their mother protected them and they watched from afar.
In the middle of the fight, Neji and his father stood together.
They had few opponents, because