[Counter Storm!]
Hyuga Soushu made no attempt to dodge or evade. Instead, he activated his Secret Jutsu directly, taking the full force of the Clan Head's palm strike meant to shatter internal organs!
Boom!
The powerful and heavy palm strike from the Hyuga Clan Head landed on the sudden appearance of a Wind Barrier, producing a dull thud like hitting rotten leather.
[Counter Storm Second Activation!]
Immediately afterward, Hyuga Soushu channeled his protective Wind Barrier outward, transforming it into an invisible ripple of chakra.
Yet the Hyuga Clan Head's figure vanished from his spot instantly. The secondary effect of Counter Storm's magical damage only left his two sons temporarily stunned for a brief moment.
"Truly, there's no exaggeration in his reputation!"
Hyuga Soushu couldn't help but exclaim.
To be honest, this was the first time he'd ever seen anyone dodge the stunning effects of his Secret Jutsu at such close range. It was incredible.
"You're not so ordinary yourself, you know."
The Hyuga Clan Head reappeared right before Soushu in the blink of an eye. His hands overlapped across his chest, the wide sleeves of his robe completely concealing his palms.
And until this very moment did Hizashi and Hiashi, the two brothers stunned by Hyuga Soushu's Secret Jutsu, finally seem to awaken from a dream—only to find themselves numb and bewildered, unsure of what to do.
What had just occurred now surpassed their comprehension entirely.
For Hizashi especially, both the idea of a Branch House member like Hyuga Soushu daring to speak to the Clan Head in such a manner, and the sight of his father—who always appeared elegant and unfazed in his memory—actually launching a surprise attack, were enough to shake his very understanding of the ninja way.
Could it be...that the Branch House is truly capable of standing up to the Main House?
Once this seemingly magical notion surfaced, it continued swirling in Hizashi's mind. Even if he wanted to reject this temptingly rebellious thought, he found himself unable to do so no matter how hard he tried.
Could this be what real freedom feels like?
As he watched Hyuga Soushu confidently face off against his father, Hizashi's heart filled with envy.
Meanwhile, standing frozen on one side, Hiashi remained in stunned silence, staring at the standoff between his father and Soushu.
"You two should step back,"
the Hyuga Clan Head said coolly. "Otherwise you might get caught up in the crossfire."
He was genuinely angry now.
After all, as the leader of the entire clan, being forced to evade under the pressure of Soushu's Secret Jutsu felt like a tremendous humiliation—a disgrace unmatched among Konoha's proud leaders.
However, besides being the Clan Head, he was ultimately also a father, and with the most valuable legitimate heir of the Main House present, he had no choice but to issue this warning.
That said, Hiashi's reaction disappointed him slightly—and even frustrated him a little. After all, no strong tree grows in a greenhouse!
"Brother!"
Quickly activating his Body Flicker technique, Hizashi rushed forward to pull his older brother Hiashi toward a corner of the room.
Only at this point did Hiashi finally regain his senses completely.
"This..."
After swallowing hard, Hiashi Hyuga finally felt like he regained his ability to speak. But his mind, still in chaos, couldn't form coherent words.
"I think we'd better not interfere."
Hizashi Hyuga said softly.
"I see."
Hiashi Hyuga agreed absentmindedly, almost against his will.
Then, just like Hizashi Hyuga, he froze for a moment.
Unconsciously, he had accepted his younger brother Hizashi Hyuga's suggestion.
Meanwhile, Soushu Hyuga and the Hyuga Clan Head continued their silent confrontation, staring at each other while constantly adjusting and sensing their chakra reserves, yet neither could successfully determine the other's full capabilities.
Without the Byakugan, neither Soushu nor the Clan Head could spot any obvious weakness in the other. Even when intentionally seeking an opening, they found none — something completely new for Soushu, a veteran warrior with countless battles under his belt.
The Clan Head, who previously believed himself closest to the legendary Hyuga Celestial Eye of this generation, also became more cautious. Silently, he gathered dense chakra in his palm resembling a tangible substance, preparing for a thunderous strike against Soushu should the need arise — though he, too, had no intention of being the first to strike.
The clashing chakra energies generated by their standoff actually sparked flashes of lightning-like light in the air. Nevertheless, both held their ground persistently, unwilling to make the first offensive move.
"Hizashi Hyuga!"
The Clan Head suddenly called out to his second son.
"At once!"
Instinctively, Hizashi Hyuga snapped into a kneeling position on one knee.
Immediately afterward, he felt a sudden unease within — how had kneeling come so naturally to him? Was it mere reflex, or a habit ingrained from years of suppression?
Such inexplicable thoughts would never have surfaced in Hizashi Hyuga's previously well-disciplined mind. Yet now, with Soushu openly defying authority and the Clan Head seemingly unable to deal with him immediately, various uncharacteristic notions began sprouting in Hizashi's heart.
"Go inform the sealing ninja of our clan. They must seal off the chakra fluctuations inside the hall."
The Clan Head said coldly, "Better keep our family shame behind closed doors."
"You agree, don't you? Soushu!"
"Very reasonable."
Soushu grinned slightly, though his tone carried obvious nonchalance.
"What are you waiting for!"
Noticing his second son still standing in place, the Clan Head shot him an angry glare and barked, "Move!"
"At once!"
Startled awake from his daze, Hizashi Hyuga responded hastily and vanished with a flash of Body Flicker.
"You and your father possess nearly opposite personalities."
Now only three people remained inside the hall, and the Clan Head's expression turned even colder, speaking about Soushu's parents' deaths as if describing an ordinary minor event: "Even at the moment of their self-inflicted deaths, they kept declaring their lack of rebellious intentions, willing to sacrifice their lives in exchange for Main House's forgiveness."
"No rebellious intentions? So that's justification enough to execute them? Don't you find those words suspicious?"
Soushu chuckled lightly, "Come to think of it, should I be thanking you for your boundless mercy then?"
"To maintain the eternal stability of our clan's order, individuals' interests—and even their lives—must at times be sacrificed for the greater good of the family."
The Hyuga Clan Head explained patiently: "Although they may be innocent, their actions do cause misunderstandings. Moreover, their deep ties with the rebellious faction are undeniable facts."
"Connections? But you just said they might be innocent!"
Hyuga Soushu shook his head slightly. "Respected Hyuga Clan Head, I wonder if you've grown so used to your luxurious life that you've forgotten how to properly address members of the Branch House!"
"This isn't contradictory."
The Hyuga Clan Head remained calm: "Even the slightest suspicion must be taken seriously. Anything that could threaten the foundation of our clan must be eliminated before it takes root."
"So what you're saying is that only because of your momentary leniency did I become an exception who slipped through?"
Hyuga Soushu countered with a question: "Why don't you just say it outright! Should I actually feel grateful for this?"
"You misunderstood."
The Hyuga Clan Head wore an expression full of compassion: "The stability and continuation of our clan have nothing to do with so-called morality—it's all about absolute order!"
"So then, the charges against us are completely baseless?"
Soushu's eyes began to narrow slightly.
"Baseless!"
The Hyuga Clan Head replied calmly.
"Brilliant strategy indeed!"
Soushu tugged at the corners of his mouth, barely managing to force out a smile filled with murderous intent. "No wonder you, as the slave master governing this thousand-year-old family, can twist the truth so skillfully and speak such hypocrisy with such conviction!"
"So you still don't understand."
With a long sigh, the Hyuga Clan Head extended his palm, his chakra-light glowing faintly from beneath his robes.
At this moment, he sensed that the secret sealing ninjas under the direct control of the Main House had already taken up positions around the mansion hall. They were setting up a sealing barrier specifically designed to block chakra fluctuations.
Which was exactly what Soushu had hoped for!
"Hiashi, what you're about to witness next will be the closely-guarded secret technique of the Main House,"
Suddenly, while both sides resumed their confronting stances, the Clan Head spoke.
"Yes,"
Hiashi blinked in surprise, then quickly caught on and responded promptly.
"The Hyuga have never been merely warriors who fight with bare hands alone. However, since many descendants across generations have failed to live up to expectations, much of the true essence of the Gentle Fist has been lost over time."
The Clan Head's tone remained calm, as though delivering a lecture: "What's wrong? Don't you plan to use your weapon?"
"I might not need one."
Though Soushu's words sounded arrogant, he too assumed the starting stance of the Gentle Fist.
"Then let's begin!"
With a shout, the Hyuga Clan Head launched the first attack.
[Eight Trigrams Palms: One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Strikes!]
From the very first move, one could tell the difference in their abilities!
The Hyuga Clan Head moved forward like a dragon dancing through water, his feet tracing intricate Eight Trigrams formations beneath him, enveloping Soushu in an overwhelming tidal wave of chakra surging forth with earth-shaking force!
[Eight Trigrams Palms: Sixty-Four Strikes!]
Even though his mastery of the Gentle Fist techniques was only half of what the Hyuga Clan Head possessed, Hyuga Soushu showed no sign of weakness, moving forward with graceful composure as if lotus flowers bloomed beneath each step!
At the same time, he activated a skill from his equipped artifact [Hunger Hydra]:
[Blood Slash!]
A faint ripple of red spread outward, neutralizing part of the aura from the Gentle Fist. Immediately afterward, their palm techniques violently collided!
"Bang bang bang!!!"
The forceful impact of their clashing palms echoed nonstop, accompanied by low explosive roars as chakra combusted and dissipated.
Watching from the sidelines, Hiashi Hyuga could barely keep up with the action, unable to discern any clear advantage or pattern.
[Gentle Fist One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Palms!]
[Gentle Fist Sixty-Four Palms!]
As the first round of attacks concluded, Hyuga Soushu and the Clan Head swiftly separated, resuming their standoff stance.
"Now that's something!"
Though their expressions remained calm on the surface, both men were inwardly stunned beyond belief.
Even when facing A, the direct heir of Kumogakure, Hyuga Soushu had never felt such intense pressure in battle.
From the Clan Head's perspective, it was already incredible enough for Soushu to block his full One Hundred and Twenty-Eight Palms using only the incomplete Sixty-Four Palms technique. What surprised him even more was the raw power Soushu wielded—it felt like battling a practitioner of the Strong Fist style.
"Haa—"
The Clan Head exhaled sharply like an arrow released from a bow, slowly taking up an unusual combat stance.
His left hand arced into a half-circle before his eyes, right fist tucked at his waist. Legs set in a wide horse stance, he resembled a loaded cannon aimed directly at Hyuga Soushu.
"This isn't right."
Hyuga Soushu twitched slightly and quietly placed a stealthy [Watchtower Totem] behind the Clan Head without making a sound.
"Yi!"
Unexpectedly, the Clan Head's eyelids fluttered, as if sensing some foreign presence approaching from behind.
This level of acute spatial awareness was something entirely new to Hyuga Soushu.
However, after checking briefly, the Clan Head detected nothing unusual and refocused all his attention back onto Soushu.
[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!]
With a furious roar, the Clan Head thrust forward the hidden right fist from his waist, transforming it mid-motion into a palm strike, unleashing a tidal wave of chakra that seemed to blot out heaven and earth!
Instantly, Hyuga Soushu felt completely locked down by the oppressive energy. Therefore, instead of resisting head-on, he activated a technique:
[Jumping Slash!]
In an instant, Soushu reappeared atop the [Watchtower Totem], directly behind the Clan Head.
Before Hiashi Hyuga could even cry out in alarm, Soushu's blade-hand strike slashed downward toward the back of the Clan Head's neck!
"Peng!"
Unexpectedly, the Clan Head immediately dissolved into a puff of smoke!
[Clone Jutsu!]
Both Hyuga Soushu and Hiashi gasped simultaneously!
They never expected this!
As the leader of a clan possessing the complete essence of Byakugan and Gentle Fist techniques, he had even mastered one of the most fundamental jutsu—the Basic Three Techniques—with such extraordinary proficiency!
You've got to understand — Soushu had his Byakugan active the whole time! Yet he still got tricked — that alone spoke volumes about how deep the Hyuga Clan Head's martial arts cultivation ran!
[Earth Release: Headhunter Technique!]
Almost immediately, Soushu felt both ankles grabbed at once. The acupoints in his feet went numb, and all sensation vanished.
But he didn't panic. Instead, he triggered one of his skills, unleashing waves of crimson light that forced the Clan Head's hands, rising from below, to retreat.
Then, he channeled chakra into both fists and smashed downward with full force, shattering the wooden floor beneath him.
At the same time, his body shot upward from the rebound force. Midair, he twisted his waist mid-spin and landed smoothly.
And just like that, the Hyuga Clan Head silently reappeared.
Only this time, his previously spotless white robe was now stained with splinters and dirt — clear evidence that he wasn't quite as composed as he seemed.
After all, even [Empty Palm] — the ultimate Gentle Fist technique passed down exclusively through the Clan Leader's bloodline — had already been used. And even that hadn't worked on Soushu. It was obvious he was running out of options.
What a remarkable young man!" the Hyuga Clan Head sighed, forming an odd hand seal with his right hand.
Even though the Caged Bird (Tenketsu) Curse Seal might no longer affect Soushu, he still decided to give it a try.
From their earlier exchanges, it was clear that ordinary techniques had little effect on Soushu. To be honest, without resorting to the secret techniques passed down through the Clan Leader's bloodline, he would have already suffered a crushing defeat.
Ridiculous! Do you really think something like this could work on me?" Soushu sneered coldly while checking his Summoner Skills [Flash] and [Purify].
Once he confirmed everything was in order, Soushu focused his mind and prepared to counterattack.
He also had [Guardian Angel] up his sleeve. So even stepping into a death trap wouldn't make him blink.
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