Finishing his impromptu speech to the applause and cheers of the crowd, Hizashi furtively exhaled and raised his hands again.
- There is one last matter to decide - the election of a new clan head," he said when everyone had calmed down, "and it will be up to you to decide.
- I think everyone knows the answer to that," Taro said with a snort.
As if to echo him, the assembled Hyugas began chanting the name of Hisashi.
- Congratulations, leader," Kizato patted him on the shoulder, grinning a little derisively, "you've taken on a mountain of problems.
- Or I don't know," the young jonin frowned, "but I had a little hope that someone else would be chosen.
- Only in your dreams! - Taro roared like a horse.
- What's going to happen to us? - One of the captives called out to the newly elected head.
The people around them fell silent, eager to hear the verdict.
- All former members of the main branch over the age of six will receive a cursed seal on their foreheads," said Hizashi, "after which it will be activated for a few seconds - just so that you can feel what the side branch was doomed to - then it will be blocked and you will be no different from the rest of the clansmen.
The faces of some of the captives brightened - though some of the individuals exuded hatred, and the jonin mentally took note of them for close observation and elimination, if anything - and the Hyugas around them murmured approvingly.
The most hated representatives of the main branch had already been killed, and no one wanted to continue the slaughter, cutting out the main branch. A family of sorts.
Suddenly, three jonins emerged from the crowd and turned to face Hizashi and sat down on the ground next to the prisoners. Their foreheads were similarly free of hitai-te and clear.
- Iiro-san, what are you doing? - addressed the older of the men to the perplexed head.
- We're from the main branch too, Hizashi-kun, and since everyone in the clan is equal now, I think the three of us should share their fate, even if we only activated the cursed seal once in our lives during training," the shinobi answered simply for all of them.
- But everyone knows that you've always stood up for us and helped us," Kuro interjected indignantly, "not to mention training, so why do it?
- Because the main branch shackled you, so we all have to answer without exception," his neighbor shrugged his mighty shoulders, even while sitting, towering over everyone by half a head.
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