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Chapter 152 - Chapter 152: Died too easy, lucky bastard...

Mitokado Homura stormed into the Hyuga compound with five full Anbu squads.

Right away, his eyes landed on a strange, towering plant drenched in fresh blood. The ground around it was a grotesque mess—blood, chunks of flesh, and two severed heads.

Nearby, a severed arm lay sprawled on the floor, and a young Hyuga was curled up, groaning in pain, clutching what was left of his arm.

The main family members glared furiously at Uchiha Chizumi—but no one dared make a move. His overwhelming presence held them in place.

Meanwhile, members of the branch family stood to the side, watching like it was entertainment. They looked almost… pleased. Like they were enjoying the fact that the main family was finally taking a hit.

"Whew… looks like I made it in time." Homura let out a silent sigh of relief. At least the body count wasn't too high—yet.

He immediately tried to deescalate.

"Chizumi, whatever's going on, we can talk this through. Seriously, at least put the sword down from that man's neck."

But Chizumi didn't even acknowledge him.

Instead, he turned to the main family elder, Hyuga Mei, whose face had gone stiff. His tone was icy cold.

"If you're trying to jump into the chaos—if you want to be the first example that Absolute Justice makes—then I've got no problem giving you that honor today."

Hyuga Mei: "…"

Did this little Uchiha brat just say "make an example" like it was nothing?

Logically, he should've stood his ground. Even if it cost him his head, he was supposed to show spine.

After all, the Hokage had already sent people. Mitokado Homura was standing right there.

But…

That blade—he could feel it sinking deeper into his neck.

Warm blood was already dripping down his collar.

"You…"

Mei gritted his teeth, but all the fight drained out of him. He forced one last bark:

"You'll regret this, Uchiha Chizumi!"

Then he fell silent, his face twisted with humiliation.

That reaction stunned the other main house ninja.

First Hiashi, now Elder Mei? Backing down in front of Chizumi's so-called "Absolute Justice"? Wasn't there anyone who could stop this madness?

"…Hiashi. What the hell happened here?" Homura turned toward Hiashi, who looked… defeated.

Just then, the blade at Mei's throat was finally withdrawn. He let out a heavy breath and immediately stumbled backward several steps, putting distance between himself and Chizumi.

Holding his bleeding neck, he turned to Homura, voice filled with frustration:

"Advisor Homura! Chizumi wants to throw the entire Hyuga main family in prison!"

"Even me—a main family elder! He wants me locked away for twenty years!"

"Tell me, Advisor—how is this justice?!"

Homura blinked.

Chizumi wants to imprison them?

Honestly, that wasn't as bad as he thought. He came rushing here thinking Chizumi had already started slaughtering the main house.

That was why he'd panicked and shown up with five Anbu teams.

Jujiro, the orange tabby ninja cat, scoffed:

"And enslaving your own kin with the Caged Bird Seal wasn't outrageous, huh? Funny how you all kept quiet then."

Homura's gaze briefly flickered—subtle, but telling.

From a strategic standpoint, weakening the Hyuga main house and easing the branch family's burdens would benefit Konoha. The main family? Just thirty or so people, many of them elderly. The branch family? Way more numerous—and younger. Even Hyuga Neji, the top talent in the Academy, was from the branch.

Bluntly put, all that talk about a "pure Byakugan bloodline" was just a front for leeching off the branch.

Homura knew the original Caged Bird Seal only destroyed the Byakugan. It wasn't meant for control—until certain power-hungry main house members modified it.

No matter what side I take, someone's gonna be pissed… Dammit, Hiruzen, why'd you throw this mess in my lap?

His mind raced.

If he sided with the main house: He'd get their loyalty. The village had always struggled to influence Hyuga internal matters—this might open a door.

If he sided with the branch: He'd win over the majority, curb the main house's power, boost the clan's contribution to the village, and Chizumi could absorb half the backlash—reducing tension between the Hokage and the Uchiha.

That last part… is critical.

Homura had made his decision.

Meeting the expectant eyes of Hiashi and Mei, he sighed and cleared his throat.

"…Hiashi, about this matter…"

"The village won't intervene."

Hiashi froze.

Mei's jaw dropped.

The rest of the main house were stunned speechless. If even the Hokage's advisor was backing away… how could they possibly resist Uchiha Chizumi?

"Advisor Homura—!"

"Did your main house benefit off the branch? Did you enslave your own kin using that cursed seal?" Homura's voice was sharp. "Hiruzen and I—we know the truth better than anyone."

Mei was speechless.

Homura took a long breath, adjusted his glasses, and looked at Hiashi again.

"Don't blame me for not taking your side. Picking a side means choosing between right and wrong."

"If your house hadn't abused its power, we would've had your back. But can you really swear to me—hand on your heart—that your clan hasn't enslaved the branch?"

"That seal was created to protect your people—not to make them suffer."

He continued, "I've read your clan's records. The seal was meant to shield Hyuga members from outside threats. Like a bird protected in a cage—not imprisoned."

"But over time… it became something else. A cage to trap your own kin, forever under your thumb."

"Hiashi… the Hyuga clan needs to change."

Hiashi stood there, frozen.

It took him several seconds to process the truth.

The Hokage was throwing them under the bus too.

And he couldn't understand why.

Hadn't the Hyuga always kept a low profile? Obeyed every order?

Why was this happening?

He said nothing. The silence was deafening.

He knew he couldn't expect the branch family to help them now.

He took a slow, deep breath.

Then, with a calm, serious tone, he asked Homura:

"Is this… the Hokage's decision too?"

Homura replied,

"No. This is mine."

Then he added bluntly:

"I'm backing Chizumi this time."

"…I see."

Hiashi closed his eyes for a moment, then looked straight at Chizumi.

"I'm the clan head. I've used the Caged Bird Seal on the branch family—including on my own brother. How many years should I be imprisoned?"

He was shocked to find himself strangely calm. No anger. No hatred.

Just the quiet resignation of someone watching an unstoppable force bearing down.

"Ten," Chizumi replied.

"What if I take responsibility for everything the main house has done?"

"If you lock me away for a hundred years… will you spare the others?"

His voice made some of the main house tear up on the spot.

"Hiashi-sama! You don't have to—!"

"Enough!" Hiashi's fists were clenched so tight they trembled.

"…If prison is our best ending, then let it be mine to bear alone."

He could feel the other elders wanted to resist.

But with Chizumi watching, and the Hokage turning his back…

Resisting would mean death.

Only compromise offered survival.

"No," Chizumi said flatly.

"But those with lesser offenses might reduce their sentence. If they use their remaining years to do real good. Out of the thirty-something main house members, only seven meet the criteria."

He added:

"You're not one of them, Hiashi."

Hiashi's fists tightened…

…then slowly loosened.

"Fine. The Hyuga main family…"

"…will accept punishment."

That broke the spirit of the entire main house.

Even Elder Mei had nothing to say.

They all understood—this was the end.

The main house had lost.

"The Hyuga main house's rule over the branch family… ended in under half an hour. Honestly, it ended the second Uchiha Chizumi walked through their gates."

Hatake Kakashi watched in stunned silence.

Only now did it hit him—he might've made things worse by trying to help.

He had sent Pakkun to summon the Hokage, hoping it would calm things down.

But instead, Mitokado Homura showed up, and the whole situation spiraled even faster. Not into a full-blown bloodbath—but into something just as irreversible.

The main family didn't even get the chance to resist.

They were crushed by the overwhelming force Chizumi had brought with him—through words, presence, and ideology.

"Hmm…" Kakashi's face twisted in a mix of awkwardness and confusion.

"I mean… I guess it wasn't all bad. At least no one else died. Maybe the Hyuga main house should actually thank me for saving them…"

Of course, that was something he'd only dare whisper to himself.

If he said it out loud in front of the main house…

He might get mobbed on the spot.

Hyuga Neji raised his head and looked at Hiashi—now silent, withdrawn, and visibly crushed.

Everything felt so surreal, like a dream completely divorced from logic.

But the sting in his cheek from where Jujiro had jabbed him earlier reminded him—this was no dream.

The metaphorical cage that had trapped the branch family for generations…

Had just been opened, just like that.

He looked over at Uchiha Chizumi again.

Chizumi's expression was totally calm.

No joy. No relief.

Just a cold, emotionless face, like everything that had happened was routine—nothing worth celebrating.

"This is what the power of justice looks like," Chizumi's voice echoed out.

Neji realized he was speaking to him—and immediately perked up, listening intently.

"When justice is strong enough… sometimes, just a few words can stir the world into motion and crush evil beneath it."

"But you have to be absolutely sure that what you're doing is justice. That you're not just using 'justice' as an excuse to wield power."

Chizumi looked down briefly, locking eyes with Neji.

"If you're interested in justice… if you think you understand it—and if you have the resolve to act on it, the courage to bear its weight, and the willingness to carry its burden…"

Neji's already-swollen face lit up with shock—and just a flicker of joy he couldn't quite hide.

"Then from now on… join Naruto and Sasuke."

He said no more.

Chizumi turned away, facing the stunned crowd of Hyuga main house ninja.

He addressed Hiashi one last time:

"Take the members I listed and bring them to the Police HQ. Of course… you're also free to resist justice."

Hiashi froze.

He knew:

If he even tried to resist, he'd be the next to die.

Worse—if he resisted, the entire main family could be wiped out.

This young Uchiha standing before him would absolutely go through with it.

"…Understood."

Some time later…

Mitokado Homura, looking grim and worn, returned to the Hokage's office with the five Anbu teams.

He gave a detailed, blow-by-blow account of everything that had unfolded in the Hyuga compound.

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, his hand holding the pipe midway to his mouth.

"All of them?" he asked slowly. "They arrested the whole main family?"

Homura shook his head.

"No. Not all of them. Chizumi let some of the very young ones go. For example… Hiashi's two daughters."

Hiruzen nodded.

"That's just like Chizumi. He always knows exactly who's responsible and who isn't. If you're guilty—even slightly—he won't spare you. But if you're innocent? He won't even look your way."

Homura sighed.

"We avoided a massacre, so in a way, it's a relief. But still… the punishment was harsh. Some of their chūnin and jōnin? Chizumi wants to lock them up for 7, 10, even 20 years."

"That kind of loss weakens the village."

"Let's hope the branch family can rise up and fill the void."

Hiruzen took a deep puff of his pipe.

"Chizumi might sentence them to 20 years… but I can always reduce the time and get them out early."

"But the pressure? That's needed. Let the Hyuga main house sit in prison for a while—grind that arrogance and pride right off of them."

"What Chizumi did today…"

"…is something I've never been able to pull off. Not in decades."

He didn't say it lightly.

For all these years, the ideals of the Will of Fire hadn't been able to fix what Chizumi just broke apart in a single day.

And that led Hiruzen to the same question he'd been asking himself more and more lately:

Where did it all go wrong?

Konoha Cemetery.

"Itachi…"

Uchiha Fugaku stood in front of a simple, modest gravestone.

The inscription read: "Uchiha Itachi."

He stared at the stone for a long time, breathing deeply.

No matter how much time passed, he couldn't bring himself to accept his eldest son's death.

Then again, maybe that was normal.

Itachi had been his brightest hope. His pride.

Sasuke—who now followed this so-called "Absolute Justice"—had become a bitter disappointment in his eyes. Especially after Chizumi killed Itachi, and Sasuke still chose to follow him.

The thought left his feelings tangled and heavy.

"…Captain Fugaku!"

A Police Department ninja rushed over, his tone urgent.

Even though Fugaku was still technically the Uchiha clan head, the police no longer addressed him that way.

The ninja didn't even bother hiding his disdain as he glanced at Itachi's gravestone. Then he looked away like it physically disgusted him and said:

"Uchiha Chizumi just brought in over thirty prisoners—all Hyuga clan members."

"…Thirty?" Fugaku frowned.

The ninja nodded.

"Yep. Including their clan head—Hyuga Hiashi himself."

Fugaku: "?!"

His expression twisted.

Chizumi wasn't slowing down.

After killing Itachi… now he'd gone after the Hyuga?

Fugaku silently placed a white flower in front of Itachi's grave.

Then without another word, he turned and left.

The police ninja remained behind. He gave Itachi's grave one last look and scoffed:

"Died too easy…"

"…Lucky bastard."

At Police Headquarters—

When Fugaku arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.

The place was packed with Hyuga clan ninja.

Actually… there were more Hyuga here than Uchiha.

It made sense—most Uchiha police were out on patrol. Only a few stayed behind to manage HQ.

But then Fugaku noticed something else:

None of the Hyuga had the Caged Bird Seal.

Which meant—they were all from the main house.

What the hell?

Did Chizumi just… arrest the entire Hyuga main family?

And more importantly—why weren't they resisting?

Fugaku had a bad feeling.

If this kept up, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans would be on the verge of total fallout.

Worse—this would put the Uchiha right back under the Hokage's suspicion.

The village already knew more and more Uchiha were being influenced by Chizumi's ideology. And now, with Chizumi being the face of "Absolute Justice"… that ideology represented the Uchiha clan.

To the Hokage, this latest move could mean one thing:

If the Uchiha can arrest the Hyuga today… could they arrest the Hokage tomorrow?

"Chizumi!"

Fugaku's thoughts snapped into focus. He spotted Chizumi walking down the corridor and intercepted him.

His face was grim.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What did you just drag us into now?"

Elsewhere, back at the Hyuga compound…

A branch family shinobi stood watching the now near-empty grounds where only a few women and children from the main house remained.

"…This feels like a dream," he muttered. "Did we really… stand up?"

An elder from the branch family, visibly emotional, added:

"Yokogari's death wasn't in vain. It brought Uchiha Chizumi—and Chizumi brought the main house to its knees."

He stepped over to Neji and clapped him gently on the shoulder.

"Neji, getting Chizumi involved… your father would've been proud."

Neji was just about to respond when he overheard a quiet conversation behind him.

"Most of the main house is gonna be locked up for ten years or more. They're not coming back anytime soon. Someone's gotta step up, right? We still need a bloodline to carry the Byakugan forward."

He blinked in surprise.

Then another voice chimed in:

"And the clan head seat's empty. Why not elect my father? He's respected, and a branch elder. Totally qualified."

Then the elder beside Neji gave him a warm smile.

"Neji-kun, the Hyuga clan needs a new line to take charge. Once the main house gets out of prison, they won't be the main house anymore. You're Hizashi's son. You brought Chizumi in. Your opinion matters."

"When the clan council meets tonight… don't forget to support me, alright?"

And in that moment, Neji suddenly realized—

The old main house had fallen.

And now… the branch was already trying to crown a new one.

This isn't how I imagined it at all…

Neji stood there, lost in thought.

Completely and utterly confused.

~~~

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