Chapter 26: I Am the Hokage
It must be said—Ritsu's maneuver was truly disgusting.
It made Hiruzen exceptionally uncomfortable.
Looking at these Hyuga Branch Family members pressing close to "protect" him, he found himself momentarily at a loss. He couldn't possibly attack them, striking down Takashi and the others in front of the Hyuga jonin and special jonin who'd been arriving in succession. If he did such a thing, he'd likely draw all the Hyuga clan's hatred onto himself.
Most importantly, these arriving jonin and special jonin, without exception, regarded Hiashi and the other Main Family members with cold eyes—looking at them not as fellow clan members, but as enemies!
This made him realize the Hyuga clan probably couldn't return to how things were before. Killing Ritsu wouldn't restore the clan's peace; it might instead stir up even greater waves.
Therefore, after a moment's hesitation, watching Ritsu lunge toward Hisho and Daisho, he shouted: "Hyuga Ritsu, stop!"
Unfortunately, Ritsu turned a deaf ear. In an instant, he'd reached the father and son.
"Minato, intercept Ritsu! Don't let him continue killing!"
Seeing this, Hiruzen immediately gave the order.
Hearing these words, Elder Karin—who was "protecting" Minato—tensed her muscles, spread her arms to their fullest extent, and, disregarding propriety between men and women, prepared to embrace Minato directly.
Whoosh!
Minato flicked his finger. The three-pronged kunai flew out from under Karin's arm. She embraced empty air, her steps stumbling as she nearly fell, while Minato's figure appeared behind Ritsu.
The three-pronged kunai pressed against Ritsu's back, aimed at his heart.
"Stop, Ritsu-kun."
Minato spoke softly.
Ritsu completely ignored Minato behind him, determinedly swinging both palms toward the father and son before him. Forced into a corner, Hisho and Daisho could only raise their palms to counter.
Clang!
Minato thrust the kunai toward Ritsu's back without hesitation.
But it didn't penetrate. A section of bone-white rib suddenly emerged, deflecting the kunai.
At the same time, Hisho and Daisho cried out in pain. Transparent bloody holes appeared in the centers of their palms where they'd clashed with Ritsu.
As the saying goes, strike while your enemy is down.
Taking advantage of the father and son's injury and confusion, Ritsu pressed forward, striking with fierce palm attacks. His technique was unmistakably Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
This was the core of Gentle Fist.
Techniques like Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation, and Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists—all these moves were rooted in the Sixty-Four Palms. Moreover, this was actually Main Family secret transmission; the Branch Family inherited only the Thirty-Two Palms version.
But Ritsu, relying on his "Physical Regeneration" ability and unafraid of internal chakra pathway damage, had figured out the Sixty-Four Palms on his own.
At this moment, dealing with these two watered-down Main Family jonin didn't even require completing all sixty-four strikes. Precisely speaking, Ritsu only used four palms—the first two piercing bloody holes through their other hands, the last two striking directly at their chests. Sharp white bone protruding from his palms pierced straight through their hearts, claiming their lives instantly.
The Dead Bone Pulse and Gentle Fist were a perfect match!
At the same time, Minato held a brilliant blue sphere of highly concentrated chakra in his right palm, decisively slamming it toward Ritsu's back. But in an instant, three white bones tore through his back clothing, colliding with the falling sphere.
BOOM—!
The bones shattered into fragments. Ritsu's back became drenched in blood.
His entire body lunged forward four or five meters.
Then he steadied himself, straightened his back as if nothing had happened, and turned around to face Minato.
Minato's brow furrowed slightly. He remained where he stood without moving further. Hisho and Daisho were both dead—the mission had failed. There was no reason to continue acting.
"Clan Head!"
"Clan Head, are you alright?"
Takuma and Arima rushed over in panic. The other jonin followed closely, surrounding Ritsu. Seeing his mangled, bloody back, Arima shouted furiously: "Hokage-sama, what is the village trying to do? Help these Main Family beasts continue enslaving us Branch Family members? You people—"
"Arima, silence!"
Ritsu cut off Arima's words.
Acting as if he couldn't feel the pain in his back, he pushed through the surrounding jonin and walked step by step until he stood before Hiruzen, his attitude respectful: "Hokage-sama, Arima is young with a hot temper. He spoke rashly. Please be magnanimous and forgive him this once!"
"Hyuga Ritsu, what exactly are you trying to do? Slaughtering your clan members brazenly before our eyes—do you think we can't handle you?" Danzo served as Hiruzen's mouthpiece, demanding angrily.
"Shimura-sama, Hokage Advisor, this is the Hyuga clan's internal affairs."
Ritsu straightened his back, meeting Danzo's murderous glare without fear, his attitude firm: "Please don't forget the rules established by the First Hokage—the village does not interfere in individual clan's internal matters."
"But that's predicated on not affecting the village's safety."
Danzo showed no weakness. "Do you think your Hyuga clan's internal strife is only your own business? Your perspective is truly narrow and shallow. Your fighting has already impacted the village."
"Impacted what?"
"What losses has the village suffered?"
"Please explain. If it truly is the Hyuga clan's fault, then as clan head I naturally cannot shirk responsibility. I will bear whatever consequences are appropriate."
Ritsu stood his ground, refusing to yield an inch.
Danzo flew into a rage. How long had it been since anyone dared speak to him this way? Even that bastard Hiruzen wouldn't confront him like this. Killing intent suddenly surged within him as he sneered coldly: "You want to know what losses the village has suffered? Then I'll tell you—"
"Danzo, that's enough!"
Hiruzen interrupted with a shout.
"Hiruzen?"
"I said that's enough."
"Can't you see? This boy is a disaster. For the village's future, we must eliminate him early!"
Danzo spoke with fierce intensity.
"Enough, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen also grew angry, shouting his reprimand.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Danzo dropped this curse, then swept his sleeve and stormed off angrily. Many Hyuga clan members around glared at him, looking fully prepared to risk everything to kill this old bastard who dared clamor about eliminating their clan head!
"Everyone, clear the way. Don't block the Hokage Advisor's path!"
Ritsu spoke coldly.
The clan members silently parted, watching Danzo's figure disappear from view.
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