Chapter 11: Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven
"Hyuga Ritsu, surrender now and only you alone will face punishment. No one else will be implicated. But if you continue resisting stubbornly, then your parents, your relatives and friends—everyone will be punished!"
A tall man with waist-length black hair and a resolute face stood at the front, coldly staring at Ritsu as he issued this final ultimatum.
His name was Hyuga Masamune.
Main Family Elder.
Jonin.
He was the truly formidable figure among the current Main Family. Though not yet thirty years old, his status was already second only to the clan head, ranking first among the six Main Family elders.
"Boy, don't let a few flattering words about being a genius go to your head and think you're actually someone important. Our Hyuga clan has endured for a thousand years. Geniuses are as numerous as stars. Arrogant brats like you who don't know their limits and think they can change heaven and earth—there have been plenty more. But in a thousand years, have you seen anyone shake the Main Family-Branch Family system?"
Hyuga Atsu, an elder over seventy but still in decent health, adopted the posture of a senior and condescendingly lectured Ritsu.
"Hyuga Takuma, Hyuga Akiba, and Hyuga Arima, right? What are you three causing trouble for? Why don't you get lost already? Standing beside this criminal Ritsu—are you preparing to accept punishment together?"
Another seventy-plus elder, Hyuga Mizuki, stared at the three following behind Ritsu, attempting to intimidate them into leaving and isolate Ritsu.
However, he underestimated the three's backbone and courage.
The trio stood firmly behind Ritsu, treating Elder Mizuki as though his advanced age had loosened his sphincter muscles, making his inability to control bodily waste gases understandable.
"Elder Shunsuke, don't you want to say a few words?"
Ritsu smiled as he looked toward Shunsuke, who'd rallied the Main Family members.
"You—! Hyuga Ritsu, you bastard brat! If you know what's good for you, kneel down and apologize right now. At least you'll get a quick death."
Shunsuke roared loudly.
Though his voice was loud, his threats felt somewhat soft and weak, lacking sufficient force. They had no real power to speak of.
"Main Family members, have you finished speaking? If so, it's my turn."
Ritsu's gaze swept across everyone before him one by one. The polite smile on his face disappeared, replaced by an iceberg-cold solemnity. He proclaimed loudly:
"You bloodsucking parasites' good days of lording over us Branch Family end today! I will challenge and defeat you here, then run for clan head. If I become clan head, from now on, the Hyuga clan will no longer distinguish between Main Family and Branch Family. All clan members will be family—just like the Uchiha clan. The capable rise while the weak fall. The strong protect the weak, and the weak respect the strong!"
His voice rang clear and resonant, echoing in all directions.
It reached the ears of all observing Branch Family members. Some remained unmoved, some grew emotional, some were half-convinced, some felt indignant... Especially the latter—those feeling anger were not few.
These were the Main Family's die-hard loyalists.
The fact that the Hyuga clan had endured for a thousand years was undeniable. Though how much credit belonged to the Main Family-Branch Family system was debatable, under Main Family propaganda, this system's achievements surpassed all else. Many Branch Family members believed this deeply.
"Hopelessly stubborn!"
Masamune snorted coldly and decisively attacked, raising his hand to strike at Ritsu.
Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm
This was a high-level technique of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist—also their only long-range striking technique. It released chakra mixed with compressed air to form a pressure cannon with power truly like an artillery shell, capable of shattering even rocks into pieces.
The result of landing on a human body was self-evident.
Moreover, he wasn't the only one attacking.
Beside him, Shunsuke and a Main Family jonin named Hyuga Taiga simultaneously struck, also using Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm. Such coordination clearly showed prior discussion.
However—
"We're all Hyuga. The chakra flow in your bodies already told me what you're planning!"
Ritsu assumed a stance.
Using his right leg as an axis, he spread his left leg open. Chakra released from every meridian and pressure point throughout his body, driving his body to spin rapidly like a top. The high-speed rotating chakra formed a hemispherical chakra barrier.
The Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm strikes collapsed upon touching this chakra barrier, failing to create even the slightest ripple.
"Revolving Heaven?"
"It's actually Revolving Heaven?"
"Isn't that the secret technique known as the 'Absolute Defense' that only the Main Family masters? How does Ritsu know it?"
Branch Family members were shocked, unable to help whispering among themselves.
The Main Family members similarly couldn't maintain their composure.
"How does this brat know Revolving Heaven?"
"Damn it, who taught him?"
"How could anyone teach a Branch Family member this forbidden secret technique? This brat probably figured it out himself... No, he definitely learned it by spying! He spied on our Main Family's secret technique!"
Shunsuke ground his teeth in hatred.
Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
The supreme defensive secret technique among their Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist methods, passed down generation after generation only within the Main Family. The training difficulty was quite high—Shunsuke himself had painstakingly studied and trained for a year but ultimately failed.
At this moment, seeing Ritsu—this Branch Family brat—learn and execute Revolving Heaven, the demon called jealousy nearly devoured his heart completely.
"Learned by spying?"
The hemispherical chakra barrier disappeared.
Ritsu stood steadily on ground that had been forcibly shaved down ten centimeters. He looked at the Main Family members. "I understand that with your already rotted brains, you naturally cannot comprehend what genius means. So further words are pointless. If you have any other moves, use them quickly!"
As he spoke, he extended his left hand and hooked his fingers provocatively.
"Shunsuke, Taiga, attack together."
Masamune spoke in a low voice.
Azure chakra like flames emanated from both his hands, instantly sketching two vivid lion heads. Then, pushing off with his feet, he flew toward Ritsu like an arrow. Iron palms wreathed in azure lion heads struck toward Ritsu's chest.
This was—
Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists.
One of the Gentle Fist's advanced techniques, like Revolving Heaven, a secret technique circulated only within the Main Family. Unlike ordinary Gentle Fist, Twin Lion Fists incorporated chakra shape transformation methods, expanding attack range and enhancing destructive power.
Even merely being grazed by this lion-head-shaped chakra would inflict destructive force equivalent to a full-powered punch.
However—
"Doesn't feel very difficult!"
Ritsu said as much.
His own hands were also wreathed in azure lion heads.