"Hizashi, the core principle of our Hyūga clan is self-preservation—we must never take sides!"
The head of the main family stared sternly at Hyūga Hizashi, his pale eyes filled with the authoritative aura cultivated over years of holding power.
"Let alone someone like Uchiha Kazuki—a genius from another clan who competes with our Hyūga bloodline…"
"Even if it's Konohagakure itself, you must remember: the clan always comes first!"
"And yet you want to mobilize other branch family members? You even want the main family to act? Have you considered the risks to the main family's safety in the place where Uchiha Kazuki sealed himself?!"
"You are branch family—have you forgotten the duty that comes with being branch family?!"
As he scolded Hizashi, the main family head secretly formed hand seals under his wide sleeves, preparing to activate the Caged Bird technique…
Truthfully, if not for the fact that Hizashi carried the backing of the Root, the head of the main family would've already delivered a brutal punishment for his rebellion.
Just listen to how he talks—does he resemble a branch family member at all?
The sole mission of the branch family is to protect the main family—no other thoughts should ever be allowed to exist in their minds!
Hyūga Hizashi gave a cold laugh, shaking his head.
"This is the Hyūga clan, huh… That traitor Shimura Danzō's former Root was always said to be the darkest corner of this village—chilling to the bone."
"But this place? I find it even more suffocatingly dark!"
Hyūga Hizashi made no effort to hide the disgust in his eyes as he stared directly at the head of the main family and said coldly, "So this is the main family? Just like that scum Shimura Danzō—treating others like soulless tools."
"Do you really think your actions align with the Will of Fire?"
The head of the main family was stunned. A deep trace of confusion flickered in his gaze as he cautiously asked, "Are you feeling alright?"
The Will of Fire…
Did anyone actually believe in that nonsense?
Maybe it worked on children, or on chunin and genin who hadn't yet been exposed to the darkness and truth of the higher ranks…
But regular jonin? Which one of them didn't chant the Will of Fire with their mouths while their hearts were full of nothing but self-interest?
That's just how the adult world worked.
In this private and secluded part of the Hyūga estate, the clan head had expected that Hizashi might throw out names like Uchiha Kazuki, or maybe Tsunade or Sarutobi Hiruzen—people in high places aligned with Kazuki—to pressure him.
But never, not once, had he imagined Hizashi would lead with the Will of Fire…
Could it be that the new Root had brainwashed this branch member? Had they really managed to make him believe in the Will of Fire?
"Hizashi, considering all the years you served the clan diligently and even made a few contributions, I'm willing to overlook your rebellious words and actions this time. I'll give you one chance…"
As the head of the main family spoke, he looked at Hizashi—and at the branch family members behind him, their eyes burning with hatred, even tinged with excitement.
Despite knowing the curse mark of the Caged Bird still bound them, a chill rose from deep within his bones.
This wasn't how the branch family used to be!
Why did they look so united? Were they no longer afraid of the Caged Bird technique and the torment he could unleash?
"You'll give me a chance?"
Hizashi let out a disdainful snort. Then, his expression turned solemn as he declared in a firm voice: "Very well. Then I'll give you a chance."
"In this moment—when Kazuki-sama has sacrificed himself for the sake of the shinobi world and Konohagakure, sealing away the Sage of Six Paths—I, as the Director of the Root's Intelligence Division, now ask you: the Hyūga clan is ordered to mobilize all branch members under command. Do you obey?"
The clan head was so enraged he burst out laughing.
"The Sage of Six Paths, really...? Everyone knows the truth about that Uchiha Kazuki. He's nothing more than a monster created by the Second Hokage. Do you really believe Senju Tobirama's resurrection had nothing to do with him? Let me tell you—it was possession!"
"This so-called Will of Fire—it looks noble on the surface, but underneath, it reeks of rot! Do you think the Caged Bird seal is meant to imprison you? It's there to protect you—the less gifted branch members!"
"Stay away from the higher-ups of the village! That only brings misfortune to all involved. The founding of Konoha was just a way for people to huddle together for warmth, but Senju Tobirama worked tirelessly to erase the boundary between shinobi clans and commoners. Can you guess why?"
"It was all for the sake of consolidating the rule of the Senju and his Hokage disciples! I'm telling you—the Hyūga clan is in more danger now than ever! Tobirama is back, and he hasn't even started targeting our shinobi clans yet—and you still want to help them? Ridiculous!"
From deep within the Hyūga compound, the head of the main family unleashed a tirade filled with biting criticisms of Konoha.
And Hyūga Hizashi responded.
His fist, charged with ferocious force, pierced straight through the clan head's chest. Veins bulged across Hizashi's forehead, the outlet for the searing fury within him. When he realized the clan head was too obstinate to be reasoned with—he didn't hesitate to strike!
Unlike others in Konoha...
Hizashi, who had been stationed in Kirigakure and had personally witnessed the entire process of Kazuki sealing himself away, had also seen Kazuki revive Senju Tobirama with his own eyes…
Kazuki's final words to Tobirama, and Tobirama's bone-deep anguish in return, had left no doubt in the hearts of Hizashi and those in Kirigakure:
The bond between them was absolutely genuine—impossible to fake!
So even if the main family head's interpretation seemed reasonable—perhaps even an echo of past misunderstandings once held by Tsunade and others—
To Hizashi and the other branch family members, it sounded unbearably vile and repulsive.
The blazing Will of Fire—how dare an old wretch like you bark so arrogantly in its name?
Whatever faint trace of familial affection Hizashi might have once felt for the clan head—his own father, who had never seen him as anything more than a tool—was utterly extinguished in that instant.
Kazuki's words had seared themselves into Hizashi's mind:
There are those who sacrifice everything—only to be treated as nothing.
In the Hyūga clan, that truth was undeniable:
The branch family serves, obeys, and protects... while the main house exploits and discards."
What else was there to say?
Then just kill them!
The head of the main family stared blankly at the arm thrust through his chest, eyes filled with terror and confusion.
Why…?
Why had these branch members suddenly gained the courage to rebel against the main family? Weren't they afraid of dying?
A few other elders from the main family stood up and quickly began forming hand seals for the Caged Bird technique, roaring, "Attacking the main family—capital punishment!"
But the Caged Bird Seal, which had never failed before, now did not activate to punish the branch members.
In its place—
The branch members retaliated against them!
One by one, the aging elders of the main family were struck down, mercilessly slaughtered by the furious branch family.
In an instant, the quiet and ancient Hyūga estate was soaked in blood!
"I meant to say this earlier… The Caged Bird Seal is supposed to protect the branch family? You, who've hidden within the clan for years, rarely going on missions or setting foot on the battlefield—how much of your core shinobi combat ability even remains?"
Hyūga Hizashi slowly withdrew his fist from the clan head's chest, his voice cold: "Slavery is slavery. Don't try to dress it up in pleasant words to deceive us. Or did you really believe that such excuses could fool the branch family? We only kept silent because we feared the torment of the Caged Bird Seal—not because we were convinced."
"Does the Uchiha clan have a Caged Bird Seal? Why aren't they worried about having their eyes stolen? You damned main family members—afraid that we'd decipher the secrets of the seal, you even forbade the entire Hyūga clan from learning advanced ninjutsu and fuinjutsu, locking everyone into the path of Gentle Fist…"
"After so many years of fighting, what progress has the Hyūga clan even made? You still claim you want to rival the Uchiha as the greatest dōjutsu clan? With you decrepit fossils still clinging to power—how could that ever happen?"
Hizashi wiped the blood from his hand, removed his forehead protector to reveal a bare and unmarked brow, then gave the lifeless body of the clan head a harsh kick, muttering: "The Uchiha have Kazuki-sama… but no matter. The Hyūga will offer Kazuki-sama an even fiercer loyalty."
Ōtsutsuki Hamura quietly observed the familiar scene before him.
Another slaughter.
But compared to the internal conflict on the moon, which had been born from ideological differences, the descendants of Hamura here in the shinobi world had launched a rebellion against oppression…
"How tragic… At least the descendants on the moon were divided over their understanding of peace. But in the shinobi world my brother created, how could my descendants develop such a system of slavery within a single clan?"
Hamura frowned deeply.
He even felt a faint, unsettling sense of agreement—no wonder the branch family on the moon had clamored for the destruction of the shinobi world…
Despite being of the same bloodline, a cursed seal was used to divide them into two classes. The main family held power over the life and death of the branch family, and to maintain that control, they restricted access to advanced ninjutsu…
Even on the moon, among Hamura's descendants, there had been a distinction between main and branch families—but there was never anything like the Caged Bird Seal!
Did that mean… that something was truly wrong with the ninshū and shinobi world his brother had built?
"Another massacre…" Hamura sighed helplessly.
Though he had never felt deeply attached to these descendants after a thousand years—after all, he had no hesitation when taking over Toneri's consciousness—
They were still his bloodline.
And as an ancestor, who would ever want to see their own kin turn against each other like this?
From Hamura's perspective, these victorious branch family members led by Hizashi would undoubtedly slaughter the rest of the main family.
"As expected… I was right. Sigh…" Hamura's heart sank as he heard Hyūga Homon's voice.
"Hizashi, let's kill off all those little main family brats!"
Hyūga Homon stared at the remaining main family members—terrified, frozen in place—some of them just children. With a twisted grin, he growled, "We of the branch family have sacrificed so much for the main house. It's time they paid in blood!"
But to everyone's surprise...
The first to act, Hyūga Hizashi, slowly shook his head.
"No. We can't do that."
"We killed the stubborn elders of the main house to unify the clan—and to rally behind Kazuki-sama. Not to vent our personal hatred under the guise of his name. That would be a betrayal of the Will of Fire!"
"Think of Kazuki-sama," Hizashi said, letting out a breath.
"He faced open hostility from the Uchiha clan head and the entire hawkish faction at first—but did he use force to conquer them?"
"No. He didn't."
"If Kazuki-sama were here," Hizashi continued solemnly, "I believe he could have changed the Hyūga clan without bloodshed. But he's in danger now. And if we want to help him as quickly as possible… this was our only option."
He looked around, his expression grave.
"Remember this: Kazuki-sama didn't help us because we were powerful. He helped us because he wanted us to live free of oppression—just like everyone else. To live under the warmth of the Will of Fire."
"So don't go using his name to justify your actions. Anyone who tarnishes Kazuki-sama's name—I will personally destroy them. Do you understand?!"
The branch members—whose Byakugan were reddened from bloodlust—instantly calmed down as they heard Hizashi speak. Each of them nodded in agreement.
Of course.
Even Uchiha Fugaku, who had held his head high as the proud clan leader and openly opposed Kazuki—Kazuki hadn't killed him…
Why?
Because Fugaku was still a shinobi of Konohagakure.
"You're right, Hizashi," Hyūga Homon murmured, lowering his head in shame.
"Back when Hatake Sakumo was framed by Shimura Danzō, that was the first time Kazuki-sama truly lost control… I heard he disabled that bastard permanently…"
"Kazuki-sama would never want to see us doing this."
Hizashi gave a firm nod.
"I'm glad you understand. Now we have to go see my brother. He's gathered the clan members who agree with our ideas and accept the change in the clan. We need to regroup with Tobirama-sama and receive his next orders."
Ōtsutsuki Hamura, still hidden, listened in silence to the words of the branch family…
And his curiosity about Kazuki only grew stronger.
Just who was this mortal…?
A single person whose name alone could stop the bloodthirsty rage of these Hyūga branch members—and even make them reflect, as if in repentance.
He remembered clearly: when the branch family on the moon had killed the main house, they had celebrated.
But here…?
"Uchiha Kazuki… how interesting," Hamura whispered, repeating the name. His figure slowly faded away.
He wanted to see more of the shinobi world.
To see what kind of world his brother had cultivated over a thousand years—whether there truly existed warmth in the peace he'd envisioned.
...
Meanwhile, beside a small stream in Konohagakure...
Kazuki stood calmly, teaching Kaguya how to walk on water.
A glimmer of brilliance slowly surfaced in his eyes.
---
I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon.com/TitoVillar
---