— — — — — — —
"Hiashi, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Hyuga Souen took a deep breath as he was looking at his eldest son with a heavy expression. He had never expected that Hiashi would take his younger brother's side, openly opposing the main family. This was beyond absurd.
The head of the Hyuga clan had sided with the rebellion? Could there be anything more ridiculous than this?
— — —
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office
Uchiha Kaito and the others watched the unfolding events through a Water Mirror Jutsu. They couldn't help but smirk in amusement.
"What do you think? Is Hiashi really siding with Hizashi out of brotherly love, or is there another reason?" Hashirama rubbed his chin curiously.
"Isn't it obvious?" Tobirama scoffed, folding his arms. "There might be some brotherly sentiment, but that's definitely not the main reason. The real reason is that Hiashi is smart. He knows when a situation is beyond saving. The Caged Bird Seal has been broken, the main family has lost its control over the branch family, and the tide has completely turned. The situation is irreversible."
"This is why he made his choice. By doing so, he gains favor with Hizashi and the branch family, ensuring that he still holds power after the restructuring of the Hyuga clan. He won't be left with nothing—he'll still be in the upper echelons."
"Agreed." Uchiha Izuna nodded. "He also realized something else—Hizashi isn't acting alone. The force behind him must be Kaito and the village itself. This is the will of the Hokage. It's a movement that can't be stopped."
"Otherwise, Hizashi wouldn't have been able to do this so silently, and he definitely couldn't have broken the Caged Bird Seal on his own."
At this, Izuna turned to Kaito. "I have to admit, Kaito, I didn't expect you to be able to break the Caged Bird Seal. Your skill in sealing techniques is even more impressive than I thought."
He had researched this seal himself in the past. It was a dual-layered seal affecting both the body and the soul—extremely complex and nearly impossible to remove. Yet Kaito had done it.
But considering Kaito's genius and ability to innovate, it wasn't all that surprising.
Kaito simply chuckled. "It's nothing special. Once you reach a certain level in sealing techniques, things start to connect. The Caged Bird Seal isn't as invincible as people think."
He then looked at Hiashi through the Water Mirror with amusement. "Hizashi doesn't understand his brother as well as he thinks. He never expected Hiashi to make such a decisive choice at the critical moment."
"Honestly, I always thought Hiashi was too conservative and rigid because of how things played out in the future. But it looks like I underestimated him."
"At least, he has a good sense of timing."
"If he can be properly guided, he might be worth keeping around."
The others nodded in agreement, now looking at Hiashi with newfound appreciation.
— — —
Back at the Hyuga compound, the tension was palpable.
"Isn't it obvious?" Hiashi sighed at the questions from his father and the main family elders. "Main family members, I advise you to surrender. You have no chance of winning."
"The corrupt system of the main and branch family must come to an end."
"I believe that under Hizashi's leadership, the Hyuga clan will only grow stronger and more prosperous."
"I propose that from now on, we abolish the division between the main and branch families, eliminate the Caged Bird Seal, and appoint Hizashi as the new head of the Hyuga clan. Who's in favor? Who's against?"
Hiashi finished his speech and scanned the room.
"Are you joking? This is impossible!"
"The main and branch family system has existed for centuries! It cannot be abolished!"
"Exactly! The Caged Bird Seal is what ensures the safety of the Byakugan! If it is removed, our bloodline secrets will be exposed!"
"That's right! In fact, we need to reapply the Caged Bird Seal on all of you! We'll modify the technique to make sure it can never be broken again!"
"And those who started this rebellion—Hizashi, the branch family leaders, and you, Hiashi—you all need to die!"
"Furthermore, Hiashi, since you have sided with the branch family at such a crucial time, you are unworthy of being clan head! Your entire lineage will be demoted to the branch family!"
The main family elders spoke fiercely, their gazes full of contempt and killing intent.
"Hahaha!" Hizashi laughed coldly, his eyes gleaming with deadly intent. "You stubborn fools. You've chosen death!"
"Since you've made your choice, I have nothing more to say."
"Die. The future of the Hyuga clan—and of Konoha—has no place for you!"
In the next instant, Hizashi and more than a dozen elite branch family members erupted with terrifying chakra, their Byakugan activated.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Moving at blinding speed, they struck down the main family elders before they could even react.
Before the elders could register what was happening, their vital points were pierced.
Their bodies collapsed, their faces frozen in disbelief as they fell, their screams fading into silence.
Hyuga Souen and Hiashi could only gasp in shock, their eyes wide in horror as they watched the massacre.
They could hardly believe what they had just witnessed.
"How is this possible?!" Hyuga Souen muttered, his mind unable to process the sight of the fallen main family elders.
The main family elders had always been powerful. Even if they had grown complacent, they were still elite ninja—easily on par with Jōnin.
And yet, they had been wiped out in an instant, without even having time to react.
Hiashi took a deep breath, his mind suddenly clear. "I see… Hizashi and the branch family have already been taken under the Fourth Hokage's wing. They have become his direct subordinates. That's why they are so powerful now."
There was no other explanation.
Hizashi and the branch family members must have received immense benefits from the Fourth Hokage—resources, training, perhaps even forbidden techniques.
Otherwise, there was no way they could have grown this strong in just a few years—or perhaps even just a few months.
.
.
.