Chapter 226: A Family Should Stay Together
For Isshiki, Jigen had never been an ideal vessel.
That man was nothing more than a last resort he stumbled upon when death was at his door—the only living being he could find in that moment. But Jigen's fragile body was utterly unsuited to withstand the modifications of the Ōtsutsuki.
The moment Isshiki's full power descended, Jigen's life was destined to burn out. That was the reason Isshiki could never fully awaken, and why he had spent these years searching for a new vessel.
"I sensed it before… someone descended—a true Ōtsutsuki. And now…"
He lifted his gaze to the heavens, where his pitch-black eyes seemed to pierce through the moonlight-charged chakra falling from above.
"The power feels similar, but the gap is immense. Whoever can bear that force is no ordinary being. Perhaps… a descendant of Kaguya's two bloodlines."
Having survived for so long, Isshiki knew far too much. His caution had stayed his hand, but now things were different.
"If that wayward clansman is allowed to roam unchecked without interference, doesn't that mean the danger has passed?"
He had heard whispers that Kaguya's two heirs were already dead—but death, to the Ōtsutsuki, was never so simple. Still, he could endure Jigen's body no longer. The time to act had come.
---
Meanwhile, the Second Elder drew in a deep breath and turned to Toneri.
"Toneri, wait here. Do not wander."
"Granduncle, you…"
Though Toneri could not see, he could feel what was happening. His granduncle was quietly channeling the overwhelming power of the moon's giant Tenseigan!
"Don't worry, Toneri. I understand the price of this."
The Second Elder shook his head, a pale smile creasing his worn face.
"The usurper who seized our home will sense it, yes… but it hardly matters. My time is already short."
"Granduncle…"
"Do not grieve. This is fate. The rest will be up to you."
He drew another long breath.
"This will turn his attention towards moon and it takes time to descend from the moon. I'll seize the Byakugan as quickly as I can, and then you must leave immediately."
"But—"
"I will face that creature directly. Once I fall, he will lose your trail. That way, you can finally escape the darkness."
His hand pressed firmly against Toneri's shoulder, his voice heavy with both duty and affection.
"You are our only hope. From here on, Toneri, you must walk alone."
Toneri lowered his head, clenching his fists in silence. The weight of being powerless—of weakness as a sin—gnawed at him bitterly. But the Second Elder said no more. With a final glance at Toneri, he turned and left. Time was no longer his to spend.
---
In Konoha's ANBU base, silence hung in the air. Everyone had just been floored by Gen's casual dismantling of their arguments—every boast and confidence unraveled with only a handful of words.
Even for shinobi, that was terrifying.
Kakashi, however, noticed something in Gen's expression. "You seem… unsettled. Did something happen?"
Gen's look was strange, but he answered truthfully, if not completely.
Just moments ago, he had clearly sensed the moon's Tenseigan being stirred!
"Could it be those two survivors…?"
His eyes narrowed. The only ones who could manipulate the Tenseigan were the Ōtsutsuki still hiding. He had known of their existence, and though he'd searched from time to time with his own Tenseigan, they had hidden themselves well.
Now they had surfaced—and worse, they seemed to be moving alongside the Akatsuki.
That was bad.
"They may not have seen my face on the moon… but still…"
He remembered all too well how recklessly he had behaved up there. Even if those two had escaped before confronting him, caution was necessary.
"Fine then. I'll use another identity to approach them. Especially since they dare to use my Tenseigan."
The giant Tenseigan belonged to him. To steal its power was unforgivable. Once, he had let them slip away. This time, he would finish the job.
---
"Something happened?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
Before Gen could reply, the heavy door of the underground chamber thundered with knocks. Everyone froze.
"…Don't tell me your jinx just came true?"
"Lord Hokage!"
From outside, Yamato's voice rang out—urgent.
"Something's happened!"
"What is it?" Hiruzen asked sharply.
"The Hyūga clan is under attack!" Yamato's tone grew more strained. "Suspected culprits… Akatsuki!"
"What?"
"The Hyūga?"
"Akatsuki?"
"They've lost their minds?"
The room erupted in shock. The Akatsuki had only recently been beaten back in the Land of Waterfalls—yet now they dared to strike at one of Konoha's great clans?
But why the Hyūga of all people?
As confusion spread, Gen's eyes narrowed. A possibility struck him.
Could it be… the moon's Ōtsutsuki and Akatsuki had joined forces?
If so, then a heavy blow was necessary.
And besides…
"All the better. A family should stay together—one way or another."
---
Inside the Hyūga compound, Hiashi Hyūga walked toward his chambers, flanked by guards.
"Are Hinata and Hanabi resting?"
"Not yet," one replied quietly. "They're both training hard. Neji as well—perhaps even more so."
"…Good. Diligence is never wasted."
Hiashi nodded. He thought of his daughters and grew conflicted.
Hinata had once carried all his hopes as heir of the main family. But after she lost to her younger sister Hanabi—five years her junior—his faith had wavered. Disappointed, he gradually shifted his focus to Hanabi instead.
Still, he had never cursed Hinata with the caged bird seal, hoping instead that she could simply live in peace.
Yet fate had thrown someone unexpected into their lives—Gen.
At first, he hadn't paid the boy much attention. But as time passed, even Hiashi was forced to admit the truth: the boy was extraordinary. Konoha's future Fifth Hokage was almost certainly him—more stable than even Orochimaru had once seemed.
And he was Hinata's age, with a good relationship with her as well. They often trained and played together.
Neji, too, had drawn close—helped by Guy's mentorship, his own aspirations, and his respect for Gen. The bonds between the youth of Konoha were strong.
Hiashi knew what that meant. For the sake of the clan, he had to ensure that the future Hyūga leader maintained a close bond with the future Hokage.
The Uchiha were proof of what happened when a clan stood apart. He would not repeat that mistake.
But…
Hanabi was still too young. Hinata lacked talent in his eyes. And Neji was bound by the branch family curse.
The uncertainty weighed heavily on him.
"Enough. Time will reveal the path."
With a sigh, Hiashi continued toward his home. But then—he froze.
A heartbeat later, the Hyūga compound shook with thunderous explosions.
Screams, furious roars, and the clash of battle erupted throughout the Hyūga compound!
"Damn it… someone's attacking the Hyūga?!"
Hyūga Hiashi immediately realized what was happening, though he never expected anyone would dare make a move against their clan.
"Send up the signal flares! Notify the ANBU! And take Hinata and Hanabi to safety!"
Anxious, Hiashi barked out orders to his guards, then charged toward the source of the commotion. He knew exactly what he needed to do. But before he could get far, a shadow lunged straight at him.
"You are—"
The moment Hiashi saw the attacker's face, his expression darkened in shock.
"Hizashi?! An Akatsuki operative?!"
"Brother?"
The assailant's eyes flickered with a strange confusion, and the word slipped out unconsciously. Yet his body moved on its own, striking with merciless force. The two clashed fiercely in an instant.
All across the Hyūga compound, similar battles broke out. Flames surged silently into the night sky.
"They've already fired the signal flare. Gen and the others will be here any moment."
From a nearby hillside, Obito, Black Zetsu, and Orochimaru observed the chaos below.
Obito cast a sidelong glance at Orochimaru, his tone edged with mockery.
"You really have prepared some surprises for Konoha."
"The corpse of Shimura Danzō was already in our hands. And Hyūga Hizashi… well, he ended up in the hands of the Hidden Cloud."
Orochimaru licked his lips with a sly smile.
"They're both intimately familiar with Konoha… especially the Hyūga. It would be wasteful not to make use of them."
"Hmph. You're not worried that the Hidden Cloud connection will be exposed?"
Obito snorted, but Black Zetsu interjected smoothly.
"The Cloud are tightly restricted now, nothing will leak. Besides, White Zetsu has already found the location. Gen and his team are moving."
"Oh?"
Obito paused briefly at that, then dropped the matter of Orochimaru's scheming.
"Since they've taken the bait, I'll make my move as well."
"Be cautious. Don't forget—the First and Second Hokage are still in their hands through Edo Tensei."
Black Zetsu offered a reminder, but Obito was already sinking into Kamui space, vanishing without another word.
"How impatient," Orochimaru chuckled, tongue flicking across his lips. His gaze shifted far into the distance.
"But I too am curious about the relics of the Senju… and the Uchiha."
"You mean…" Black Zetsu followed his gaze, realization dawning.
"The Uchiha clan?"
"Of course. They are a clan of warriors. And where Uchiha Madara once stood, how could he not have left behind loyal subordinates?"
Orochimaru's smile widened, but then his expression froze.
Black Zetsu noticed it too, turning sharply toward the battlefield. Both of them fell silent.
After a long moment, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"As expected of Tobirama Senju… he drove Konoha's bottom line this low."
Within the Hyūga battlefield, Uchiha Itachi rampaged uncontrollably.
Though he despised being part of such atrocities, his body refused to heed his will.
"Perhaps… I should never have chosen death in the first place?"
His brow furrowed, fists clenched as his body fought on without mercy. Suddenly, his instincts screamed a warning.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
He leapt aside, narrowly evading the blazing inferno. Spinning around, his eyes widened in horror at the sight of his assailants.
"Sasuke…?"
"And… Father… Mother?!"