After Tenten left, Hiashi and Neji led the two hundred Hyuga branch-family shinobi back toward the Hyuga clan's territory.
The streets near the compound were empty. All commercial stalls were closed, and wooden boards were posted on every doorway:
[Road construction in progress — do not enter]
Only police force shinobi patrolled the area, moving silently across rooftops and along alleys.
The last few roads leading directly into the Hyuga compound were the only ones not fully blocked off, but no villagers dared approach them. Ordinary people would never willingly step onto the land belonging to a major shinobi clan.
When they returned to the compound gate, Hiashi saw a figure he was not expecting — and he couldn't stop himself from calling out.
"Uncle… why are you here so late?"
Hiashi's voice trembled. Even Neji and the branch-family shinobi behind him felt their muscles tighten at the sight before them.
The veins around Hyuga Tengen's eyes were bulging — his Byakugan was fully activated.
From the perspective of the Byakugan, the forehead protectors and bandages used to hide the cursed seals were pointless. He stood there silently for several seconds.
Finally, he walked past Hiashi.
"I finally understand what you've been worrying about these past few days."
"You are the clan head. I won't interfere in what you choose to do… but you must ensure that the Hyuga remain loyal to Konoha."
"I won't join you. But I won't stop you either."
"The Elders have already sensed something. Be prepared."
He continued walking forward. The Hyuga shinobi parted quietly to allow the white-haired elder to pass.
Hiashi watched his uncle's retreating back, his chest tight with emotion.
You're already old… why can't you just rest? Why must you shoulder this too…? (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Even though Tengen said he wouldn't get involved, he still delivered crucial information.
Hiashi himself hadn't realized the Elders were already suspicious.
But it was too late to turn back now.
Without destruction, there can be no reconstruction.
The Hyuga would change — and no one could stop it.
Everyone stepped over the threshold and entered the courtyard.
Their nerves were taut, veins bulging at the edges of their eyes, ready for battle at any moment.
With their Byakugan activated, they saw everything clearly.
On rooftops, behind walls, and along the walkways, shinobi of the main family and several branch family units lay in ambush — each one bearing the caged bird seal on their forehead.
The branch-family shinobi lying in wait were stunned when they saw the former branch-family members who stood openly beside Hiashi and Neji. Their thoughts clashed violently:
The caged bird can be broken…? Do we also have a chance at freedom?
But the seal was still on their foreheads. They were bound by the Elders' orders.
They had no choice but to ambush their own blood.
To attack friends, siblings, husbands, wives… even their own children—
They couldn't bear it. But they didn't dare defy the Elders either.
Freedom lay right in front of them, yet years of humiliation and obedience had become habit.
Their instincts screamed only one thing: survive.
The seven clan Elders — all except Hyuga Tengen — stepped into the courtyard, their fury twisting their expressions.
"Hyuga Hiashi! You are shaking the very foundation of the Hyuga clan — do you understand?!"
"When you selected the shinobi for this mission, I sensed something wrong. You chose all the troublemakers from the branch family!"
"And now it's confirmed! You ungrateful traitor — are you trying to destroy the Hyuga?!"
"As long as you surrender now, we will forgive this one offense. But you will step down as clan head and live as a branch-family shinobi!"
It was an open threat.
Three hundred branch-family shinobi and one hundred main-family shinobi surrounded Hiashi's group — twice Hiashi's numbers.
The Elders believed victory was already theirs.
The other Elders added their voices, feigning warmth.
"Hiashi, we watched you grow up. You're like our own child — we don't want to hurt you."
"Yes, we're all family. Why cause this chaos?"
"Just surrender. It's better for everyone. The caged bird seal has no issues."
"You don't want to kill your own friends, brothers, children… wives… parents… do you?"
But what the Elders did not expect was the reaction of Hizashi, Neji, and the freed branch-family shinobi.
The Elders' familiar manipulative words — once so effective — now filled them only with hatred.
Blood leaked from Neji's eyes as his Byakugan strained, and rage contorted his face.
Hiashi stared at the Great Elder, jaw clenched so tight that blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Great Elder… Hizashi didn't have to die back then. Don't think I don't know that you proposed that plan to the Third Hokage."
"And now you want us to surrender again with the same lies?!"
He lunged at the Great Elder. Chakra surged into his palm, compressing the air into a lethal strike.
His eyes locked onto the Great Elder's heart — a killing blow in one strike.
Wind spiraled around his hand, the pressure beginning to warp forward—
But the Great Elder's next words froze Hiashi in place.
"Are you just going to abandon Hinata and Hanabi?!"
Hiashi's hand stopped just short of the Great Elder's chest.
The compressed wind collapsed with a dull thud.
"Boom—"
At the same time, the Great Elder's left hand moved behind his back, a black chakra needle sliding silently from his sleeve into his palm.
"You—!!"
Hiashi's eyes turned blood-red with fury, his expression twisting in a way he had never shown before.
He had never imagined they would dare touch Hinata and Hanabi.
He had sent them to train at Uchiha Hikaru's home that morning — a place he trusted — and allowed himself to fight without worry.
Even if he died today, his daughters would be safe.
But the Great Elder laughed wildly.
With a gesture, Uchiha Elder #3 and Uchiha Elder #7 dragged forward two unconscious figures — Hinata and Hanabi — tied hand and foot with ropes.
"After you left, we had them knocked out with genjutsu."
The Elders lifted the girls' bangs.
The "-X-" caged bird seal glowed faintly on their small foreheads.
"Don't worry. Aside from applying the caged bird seal to these two little girls, we didn't do anything else to them."
"So, Hiashi… think carefully before you act."
(ಠ益ಠ)
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