The Hyuga Clan grounds, once large enough to house hundreds, were now nearly ninety percent destroyed.
Only a few houses on the outskirts barely stood, all suffering varying degrees of damage.
In the crater's center, a group of bloodied Hyuga, their clothes tattered, lay groaning on the ground.
Moments ago, they had avoided the direct attack, but the residual force of the explosion was far beyond what ordinary people could endure, stripping them of all fighting ability.
Clear footsteps echoed.
The Hyuga still conscious raised their heads, looking at the lone man standing on the ruined Hyuga grounds.
His dual-colored Yin-Yang robe fluttered in the wind on the barren, shattered land, his mysterious mask as terrifying as a god of death.
Fear and panic gripped everyone.
"Defeated… utterly defeated… Konoha's top prestigious clan… beaten so easily…"
"Is this man… even human? How can a human have such power?"
"What kind of enemy have we crossed?"
"Monster! This man is a monster."
"This power surpasses even a Kage. It's as terrifying as a Bijuu."
"The Hyuga Clan… are we following the Uchiha's path? Why is this happening?"
"Help! Someone, please help!"
The Hyuga shouted in fear.
Hiashi panting heavily, said, "You've won… you can kill us all now… but… Konoha won't let you go…"
"Relax, I have no interest in killing you." the masked man said flatly.
The Hyuga, who had resigned themselves to death and were gripped by fear, felt a surge of relief.
"Not killing us? Then… what did you mean by cleansing the filth?" Hiashi asked, his heart full of doubt.
"The filth exists from the heart outward. You treat the branch family as slaves, seeing yourselves as lofty masters, incapable of feeling or understanding pain."
"So, I'll make you feel it properly…"
The masked man now stood before Hiashi. As he spoke, he crouched slowly, his ordinary eyes locking onto Hiashi's.
"So… what exactly do you plan to do? Wait… stop. Stop! No! Argh!"
Hiashi's words were cut off as he saw the masked man reach out, inching toward his right eye.
His pupils shrank and trembled uncontrollably.
Finally, Hiashi's right eye was forcibly gouged out, eliciting a horrific scream.
"Clan Leader!"
"No! You bastard, you took the Clan Leader's Byakugan!"
"Damned fiend, so you were after the clan's Byakugan!"
"Konoha won't let you go!"
The Hyuga shouted in rage, but fear dominated. Especially the main family members, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Would they, who had always been above others, lose the Byakugan they prided themselves on?
"So that's it… why doesn't the main family bear the Caged Bird? If they did, the Byakugan would self-destruct when taken, and I wouldn't be able to steal it. Such a fine way to protect yourselves—why not use it?"
"Truly… a strange question."
The masked man spoke flatly, then gouged out Hiashi's other eye.
Holding the crystal-like white eyeball in his hand, a peculiar expression flickered in his eyes.
"Ugh…" Hiashi screamed again but didn't beg for mercy, enduring the pain.
"What you said… makes sense… The Caged Bird… perhaps it should've been placed on everyone… we misstepped."
"Heh… only realizing this now? Isn't it a bit late?"
The masked man sneered, stepping toward the other main family Hyuga, beginning to gouge out their eyes.
"No, no! Don't do this! Spare me, I beg you!"
"AAHHH! My eyes! I can't see anything!"
"No, no, no! Give me back my eyes! Give them back!"
"Don't come closer!"
"Damn it! I'll never forgive you! I'll kill you!"
The clan grounds filled with terrified, anguished, and desperate screams from the main family.
Those used to luxury couldn't bear the pain, fainting one by one.
Just as the terrified branch family members thought they'd face the same fate, expecting death from the Caged Bird, they were shocked to find the masked man didn't take their Byakugan, only knocking them unconscious.
Finally, the masked man returned to Hiashi.
"You… a branch family member? This attack… was it just a hunt for the main family?"
Blood streamed from Hiashi's eyes, but hearing the voice, he sensed something and asked.
"No."
"I see… thank you… for your mercy in not killing us." Hiashi said humbly.
"You're truly sick. I gouge out your eyes, and you thank me?" the masked man sneered.
"At least compared to death, life is more valuable… and the branch family still keeps their Byakugan. The Hyuga Clan still exists."
"For a defeated group, this is already an immense grace. How could I dare complain?" Hiashi said.
"Hehehe… hahaha… interesting. Truly interesting."
The masked man laughed, clutching his mask:
"This is the ninja village era. Humble as dogs before the strong, oppressing the weak without mercy. Obito, your turn."
Space warped, and Imperial Obito appeared.
At the same time, Imperial Lee emerged.
"Obito? Uchiha Obito? You're the otherworldly people the Hokage mentioned. Are you Neji?" Hiashi, shocked, asked through labored breaths.
"As expected of the Clan Leader, quick to react. Yes, I am Hyuga Neji from the Shinobi Empire."
The masked man, Imperial Neji, sneered coldly.
"Neji… Neji from another world… so it's you… Can you tell me what the Hyuga Clan is like in your world? Why do you hate us so much?" Hiashi asked with a glimmer of hope.
"After cleansing the filth, I'm in a good mood, so…"
Before Imperial Neji could finish, Imperial Obito frowned and said, "Neji, I understand your feelings, but you've said too much."
"It's fine. You can erase his memory. With your Mangekyou, that's easy, right?" Neji said indifferently.
"You're really adding to my workload, but… fine…" Imperial Obito sighed.
Hiashi, listening nearby, showed a slight change in expression.
"Erase my memory… fine. As long as I can know the answer, even for a moment, it's enough."