Inside the Hyuga compound.
Everywhere blazed with lamplight.
Clan members rushed back and forth in teams, their faces pale and drenched in cold sweat.
They trembled violently.
Something catastrophic had happened!
The Hyuga clan had always guarded the Byakugan jealously—hence the Caged Bird Seal.
But tonight?
Nine Byakugan were stolen.
Nine main family members died.
Unprecedented.
The fallout would be a storm of blood within the clan.
The main family elders would never let it pass.
So the branch family members had to tread even more carefully.
One wrong move, and those furious elders might execute them on the spot.
That was the way of the Hyuga.
If branch members died, the main family wouldn't even blink.
Branch families were just consumables.
Expendable.
Ugly truth—but truth nonetheless.
The main family, though? Entirely different.
Even if most were useless, their noble birth meant even one death was a catastrophe.
Thus, though the branch members were filled with anger and fear, they could only swallow it down.
Not even hatred could show on their faces.
Because of the Caged Bird.
The main family could end their lives with a single thought.
In the clan leader's courtyard.
Nine main family corpses lay side by side on the ground.
"Clan head, this must be investigated thoroughly!"
"Losing nine Byakugan at once—this is the greatest loss in our clan's history."
"I propose, no matter the cost, we must find and punish the fiend responsible!"
"The Hyuga cannot be insulted!"
"If we fail to find the culprit, the clan will be mocked across the entire ninja world."
"Who would respect us then? Any rabble would dare trample our lands!"
"When that happens, the main family will become prey—unacceptable!"
"My proposal: execute all branch members on patrol tonight!"
"I second that!"
"Useless trash can't even handle patrol—they deserve death!"
"…!"
Elders shouted over one another, faces pale, sweat dripping, bodies trembling.
They were truly terrified.
If the killer had struck their homes instead—
they'd be the corpses on the ground.
Their fear was palpable.
Because deep down, they knew:
They survived only because the branch family shielded them with their lives.
But tonight proved even that protection was riddled with holes.
Their mortality was real.
So they panicked.
And, powerless to protect themselves, they pushed the burden onto Hiashi.
"You fools!" Hiashi roared.
"How many members do you think we even have?"
"Those on patrol are our elites! Especially in the core—our clan's only true foundation!"
"If we execute them all, who will protect us?"
"You lot of useless cowards?!"
Hiashi's fury boiled over.
Since the clan's founding, never had they suffered such loss.
Of course he was angry.
More than anyone.
But anger solved nothing.
He'd been racking his brain for solutions—
and these so-called elders only buzzed in his ear like flies.
In the past, he would have endured.
Though he despised the Caged Bird system, for the clan's sake he had swallowed his rage toward these useless old men.
But tonight…
The massacre was a spark to dry tinder.
His long-suppressed fury ignited.
"Hiashi, how can you speak so?"
"Without us elders, would the Hyuga have prospered like this?"
"We know you resent us for what happened to your brother Hizashi, but we acted for the clan!"
"The rules are the rules—we had no choice!"
"…!"
Elders barked back, emboldened.
They thought they knew his temper.
Yes, he was the clan's top fighter, outwardly stern…
but not truly ruthless.
If he were, Hizashi's forehead wouldn't bear the Caged Bird seal.
So they weren't afraid.
They even demanded he apologize.
Convinced they had him cornered.
But they were wrong.
Utterly wrong.
Hizashi's fate had been for the clan.
Hiashi was no weakling.
"Shut. Up!"
His voice cracked like thunder.
"You have two choices:
Call a clan meeting to depose me,
or sit down and stay silent!"
"Don't push me."
"I am not a branch member. Spit in my face, and I will cut you down without hesitation."
"Hyuga Hiashi does not fear killing."
His tone turned cold, eyes sharp as blades, murder intent seeping out.
He truly meant it.
How could they suggest slaughtering all the patrol?
Those branch members were their finest.
Kill them, and what would remain?
Would they even be fit to rival the Uchiha?
They'd fall below even the Hatake.
Small clan, yes, and Sakumo dead—
but his son Kakashi was the Fourth Hokage's student, solidly part of the Hokage faction.
By comparison, the Hyuga elders looked pathetic.
Hiashi realized it clearly:
The main-branch divide had rotted their judgment.
Otherwise, how could such worthless men rise as elders?
Weak in power, weak in mind,
and now proposing to sever the clan's own arm.
Trash.
The courtyard fell silent.
The elders had seen the killing intent in his eyes.
And they feared.
The Caged Bird couldn't touch Hiashi.
He was the main family.
And his strength was real.
If he chose to kill them, none could stop him.
"Pathetic."
Hiashi's voice dripped with scorn.
"You've chosen silence—then stay silent. Don't disturb me while I think!"
"…."
The elders seethed inwardly, humiliated.
But facing Hiashi's overwhelming presence,
all they could do was shut their mouths.
Sighs of frustration leaked out,
but no one dared defy him.
Five minutes later.
Hizashi entered, the Caged Bird mark etched on his brow.
"Clan head—
the Hokage is here!"
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