"Explain?" Kakashi's gaze locked tightly on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The usually lazy eyes of his were now full of seriousness.
He lifted his head slightly, his voice steady and resolute, leaving no room for doubt: "I never said I wouldn't stop Neji. But they actually want to harm Neji's mother, who is already beyond help. Something like that, I cannot just stand by and watch."
Taking a deep breath, Kakashi continued, "If they truly intend to act, then let them come at Neji directly!"
Neji's outburst stemmed from the tragic fate of his mother.
If those people continued to use Neji's mother as a pawn, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Neji's anger might not stop at the Hyuga clan; the entire Konoha could be caught in his fury.
"That's right. Every debt has its owner. They have no right to target the dead!" Might Guy's thick, iconic eyebrows shot up.
His tone was grave, every word seeming to be forced out through clenched teeth.
As Neji's teacher, Guy was filled with guilt and inner conflict.
When Neji's mother suffered, he had failed to step in.
That guilt felt like a sharp blade, constantly stabbing at his heart.
Now, he could not allow anyone to harm her body further and provoke Neji.
As for Neji, he had indeed crossed the line.
From the perspective of the Konoha, and even the civilians, although Neji sought revenge, his actions had gone far beyond what was acceptable.
Guy's heart was torn.
All he could do was remain neutral in this conflict.
He would neither help Konoha against Neji nor intervene directly.
He silently thought that if the opportunity arose, he would create a chance for Neji to escape Konoha.
"Not touch the dead?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze slowly swept over Kakashi and Guy.
After a moment of thought, he finally spoke: "Very well. We will follow your decision. The bodies will not be touched. It does go against Konoha's usual rules, but…"
His voice was deep and firm, as if he had made a very correct choice.
"Father, no!" Asuma Sarutobi exclaimed, rushing forward with a worried expression, his face full of concern.
"Father, the Eight Trigrams Formation is too powerful. We can't get close!"
He then carefully described everything he had seen, emphasizing that a member of the Hyuga main family had been seriously injured.
"Huh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow at this, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
He studied the mysterious and terrifying Eight Trigrams Formation once more, a strange sensation rising in his chest.
The oppressive aura emanating from the formation made even the battle-hardened Hokage feel a trace of caution.
"I'll give it a try!" Hiruzen murmured, his voice carrying a hint of resolve.
He took a few steps forward, his pace firm, and entered the Eight Trigrams space.
The moment his body fully stepped in, an immense force hit him head-on.
He felt a gigantic palm imprint surging toward him with overwhelming power, while countless resilient bone chains slithered like venomous snakes from all directions, attempting to trap him.
"This is bad…" Hiruzen thought, instinctively reacting.
He quickly pressed his palm against the massive imprint, using the force of the recoil to propel himself backward several meters, barely regaining his balance.
When he looked up, he saw Hyuga Neji, covered in blood, like a demon emerging from hell, mercilessly tormenting the main family members.
Those suffering under Neji's attacks were barely clinging to life, staring at him in terror and despair within the formation.
"Neji, you will be cursed for this! You won't die peacefully!" the Eighth Elder shouted, eyes bloodshot, tightly bound by chains, his gaze filled with anger and helplessness.
He had witnessed Neji torment the First Elder, Fifth Elder, and others, and his emotions had shifted from initial anger and humiliation to deep fear.
"Heh… Cursed? When you enslaved and tortured the branch family, didn't you think of this so-called curse? When you tortured my mother, did you think of it then?" Neji turned his gaze to the Eighth Elder, his face twisted with rage, a feral grin amplified by the blood around him.
"Curse? Hah! If there's a curse, then I am your curse!"
At this moment, Neji's Byakugan, once pure white, had turned blood-red from the grief and rage over his mother's tragic death, radiating a chilling light.
The white lotus of his eyes, once pristine, now seemed almost supernatural, as if it had absorbed too much blood and carried an endless grievance.
Step by step, Neji advanced within the Eight Trigrams Formation, the bone chains binding the Eighth Elder moving toward him.
At the same time, several sharp bone blades shot through the Eighth Elder's body like lightning.
This time, Neji did not absorb the Byakugan of the Eighth Elder. He simply wanted to make the man who had once looked down on them and bullied the Branch Family suffer.
He wanted the Eighth Elder to watch with his own eyes as the proud Main Family he had always boasted about was completely defeated, to feel the pain in utter despair, and then to die.
"Neji, enough!"
Just as Neji was lost in his own anger, unleashing it without restraint, a stern and commanding voice suddenly rang in his ears, interrupting him.
Neji turned instinctively and saw Hiruzen Sarutobi standing outside the Eight Trigrams Formation, his face dark, his gaze sharp enough to make Neji feel devoured alive.
"Lord Hokage, is there something you need?" Neji said, turning to face Hiruzen, speaking each word with precision, his voice full of coldness.
"You've gone too far. If you insist on continuing, don't blame Konoha for intervening," Hiruzen said, frowning. Though his tone carried a hint of persuasion, there was also an underlying threat. "If you repent now, Konoha will treat the matter leniently."
Even now, Hiruzen still appeared kind.
But to Neji, it was less kindness and more hypocrisy. He just wanted those following him to see his generosity.
At the same time, he was showing everyone that he had already given Neji a chance.
If Neji remained stubborn, then he wouldn't be polite.
"Heh… too far? When all those people came to bully and torment my mother, where were you?" Neji shouted in fury, his eyes red, his grief and anger surging like a breaking flood.
"If Konoha had helped when they were tormenting my mother, she wouldn't have died! She wouldn't have died!"
"Neji, don't twist words. That was the Hyuga Clan's internal matter. How could we intervene?" Asuma Sarutobi couldn't help but retort angrily.
"Internal matter? Sorry… it's still the Hyuga Clan's internal matter. Please leave!" Neji's voice turned cold again, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes.
To him, it was absurd: the weak being bullied was a family matter, but the Main Family of the Hyuga being tormented was Konoha's business. How laughable this rule was.
"Neji… I have already given you a chance!" Hiruzen's expression also turned cold, like winter frost. "Since you remain obstinate, don't blame me for being merciless!"
After speaking, he decisively commanded the ANBU behind him: "Use the Four Violet Flames Formation and seal him inside!"
In an instant, the ANBU sprang into action. Red light erupted from their hands, spreading like fire, and in the blink of an eye, the Eight Trigrams Formation was engulfed.
****
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