Would it not be wiser to explain everything to the Main Family only after all the Branch Family members had come to their side? At that point, the Main Family could no longer act freely; they would have no choice but to accept the facts.
Orochimaru sensed that something unusual must have occurred within the Hyuga Clan. Otherwise, Hyuga Mio, known for her careful and clever disposition, would never have undertaken such a reckless act. It was simply unlike her.
After deliberately orchestrating the destruction of his own home as part of a carefully calculated plan, Orochimaru moved to the Senju Residence at the strong invitation of Tsunade. The scrolls he carried—insights into Yin chakra nature transformation—had been sent by the Nara Clan. Though Orochimaru's studies on the Iburi Clan didn't strictly require this information, he saw an opportunity to gain other insights from it. He requested the scrolls from Nara Matsuka, and within half an hour, dozens of scrolls filled with valuable data arrived.
Meanwhile, the Hyuga Clan's charade was quickly brought to an end thanks to the intervention of the Uchiha Military Police Force and Anbu. Initially, Hyuga Mio and her group were supposed to be taken to the Hokage Building, but repeated requests from the Hyuga Clan led to them being returned to the clan itself.
The Konoha higher-ups could not simply let the matter rest. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado personally went to the Hyuga Clan to demand answers. What exactly was happening? What was the Hyuga Clan attempting to achieve? Given the disturbance caused in Konoha, the Main Family owed an explanation.
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Hyuga Clan Main Family Dojo
At the center of the dojo, Hyuga Mio and her group had their forehead protectors removed. Their Caged Bird Curse Marks remained visible, yet, no matter how the Main Family tried to activate them, the marks did not respond. It was as though the restrictions had been erased.
Hyuga Hatsume's face was somber. She looked sternly at the Main Family and demanded, "What is going on with your Caged Bird Curse Marks? How did you break free from their restrictions?"
The Branch Family members were stunned. They had expected to be bound by the Caged Bird Curse Mark for life, but now realized that some among them had been freed. Their suffering, it seemed, was not as permanent as they had thought.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado listened intently, their expressions gradually darkening. The revelation was staggering—the generations-old Caged Bird Curse Mark, an instrument of absolute control, had been tampered with. Could Orochimaru have been involved? Danzo's mind raced through his memories of Orochimaru's interactions with Hyuga Mio and the books on curse marks he had requested years ago. Though he did not voice it, he carefully observed how events unfolded.
Hyuga Hatsume, noticing the silence from Mio and her group, pressed further. "If you refuse to speak, I will invite the Yamanaka Clan and read your memories. Then, we will know exactly how the Caged Bird Curse Marks became uncontrollable."
Hyuga Kai, still recovering from Hatsume's Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, glared at the Main Family and exclaimed with hatred, "The arrogance of the Main Family is the same as ever! Are you afraid even though you know you have no control?"
Hyuga Kojin, smirking, added, "Do you truly wish to enslave the Branch Family? If this is Hyuga pride, it is little more than empty arrogance!"
An elder could no longer contain himself. "Shut up! Are you even Hyuga anymore?" he shouted.
Hatsume's gaze swept over the Branch Family members. If she could not suppress the notion of freedom in their hearts, they might discover a way to bypass the curse mark entirely through secret research. Turning her attention to the Konoha higher-ups, she said firmly, "Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, please do not interfere with my actions from now on."
Forming a hand seal, she activated the Caged Bird Curse Marks of all the Branch Family present. The dojo erupted with anguished cries.
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Chapter 79: Pressure on Konoha Higher-Ups
"Hokage-sama! It hurts so much!"
"Save us! Hokage-sama!"
"Danzo-sama! Please help us!"
The Branch Family clutched their heads, writhing in pain. In the center of the dojo, the Konoha higher-ups watched silently, fists clenched. Their eyes occasionally flicked to Hyuga Mio, knowing she had orchestrated this revelation and improvement of the Caged Bird Curse Mark. They were aware that Orochimaru had played a critical role but could not ask him to expose himself.
Mio closed her eyes, bowing her head in respect to Orochimaru. No matter the circumstances, she would protect his identity. Hyuga Hatsume's goal was not to harm the Branch Family permanently but to pressure them into confessing how they had neutralized the curse mark.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew grave. The cries of the Branch Family echoed through the dojo. Hatsume's message was clear: she demanded that the source of the tampered curse mark be revealed.
"Hyuga Hatsume! What are you doing? Are you trying to intimidate us?" Danzo's chakra flared violently as he glared at her.
"Or are you asserting your authority as Head of the Hyuga Clan?" Root ninjas appeared, surrounding the dojo. Danzo's eyes blazed. In his mind, this was a direct affront to Konoha's honor. If he were Hokage, he would have set aside the curse marks and dealt with Hatsume's provocation first.
Hiruzen intervened, addressing Hatsume seriously. "They are not merely members of the Hyuga Branch Family; they are Konoha shinobi. You cannot punish them indiscriminately."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado stood by, reinforcing Hiruzen's point: if Hatsume insisted on acting within Konoha's jurisdiction, the higher-ups would have no choice but to intervene.
Hatsume's explanation was calm and resolute: "Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, the Caged Bird Curse Mark is foundational to the Hyuga Clan. I must discover who broke the marks. This is my last resort."
Her strategy worked. By drawing the attention of Konoha's leadership, she preserved the clan's honor while uncovering the truth.
Mio and her group, including ten ANBU ninja, were escorted away. Hiruzen assured that the situation would be investigated, emphasizing that the outcome would depend entirely on identifying the culprit behind the tampered marks.
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Hokage Building, Conference Hall
Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed the gathered council, including Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado. "The Main Family is controlling the Branch Family through the Caged Bird Curse Mark under the guise of preserving their legacy. Activating the curse marks now—when they are ineffective—was a strategy to involve Konoha's higher-ups."
Utatane Koharu's eyes narrowed, her hands gripping the armrest. The Main Family's system effectively stripped Konoha of the Branch Family's loyalty. Now, this imbalance threatened the village itself.
"The Caged Bird Curse Marks must be replaced with marks that cannot be controlled by the Main Family, as seen in Hyuga Kojin, Hyuga Kai, and Hyuga Mio. This would preserve the system but prevent the Main Family from exploiting it."
Koharu's words were sharp, directed at Hiruzen, Danzo, and Mitokado. Unlike the Main Family residence, the Hokage Building was her arena, where she could speak freely and assertively.
Homura Mitokado expressed doubt about the Main Family relinquishing control, and Hiruzen considered the implications carefully. Interfering in the clan's internal affairs could set a precedent for other clans, potentially destabilizing Konoha.
"Is it right to never consider change?" Koharu demanded. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, you are Hokage. Shouldn't you act for the good of the Village?"
Danzo reflected, realizing the pressures of his position would be compounded if he became Hokage. The throne was a trap; only an idealist like Hiruzen would accept it.
Hiruzen pondered Koharu's words. "We first need to identify who tampered with the Caged Bird Curse Marks, then decide our next steps," he said.
Danzo agreed. "While Orochimaru may not be the one to blame directly, the first person the investigation will lead to is undoubtedly him. His extensive research and interactions with Hyuga Mio make him the most probable influence."
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu nodded. Orochimaru's wide-ranging studies in medicine, biology, and genetic manipulation, combined with his cunning and access, made him a likely candidate for influencing the curse marks.
The Chimera Bugs, now under the Aburame Clan's stewardship, symbolized the power of Orochimaru's research—intelligent, loyal, and carefully managed. Each day, the Aburame tried to impress the Chimera Bugs, hoping to gain their favor and secure a summoning contract, further cementing Orochimaru's indirect influence in Konoha.
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