Chapter 164: Birth of a Pack of Ungrateful Wolves
The Third unhurriedly picked up his pipe again, taking a deep drag, exhaling a smoke ring, speaking deliberately:
"Kazuma, you've seen it yourself. The current Land of Fire is completely no match for the four great nations' combined forces."
"If this continues, it won't be long before all of Konoha's shinobi die, not even the children will remain."
"Do you think, at that point, the Land of Fire will continue to exist?"
After hearing this, Kazuma's brow furrowed tightly. He'd been participating in the war for quite a while now, deeply understanding the strength comparison between both sides. He wasn't optimistic about Konoha's outcome.
And once Konoha fell, then the Land of Fire...
The Third continued:
"Following my plan at least gives us a chance to buffer."
"Konoha has the shinobi world's most comprehensive education system. As long as we're given enough time, we can quickly recover to peak condition."
"At that time, everything we lost can be taken back."
"I guarantee there won't be a Hokage after me. All of Konoha's shinobi will henceforth only obey the daimyo's orders, under the daimyo's direct management."
"Isn't this exactly what you and the nobles behind you want?"
"Now, as long as you make this happen, the Land of Fire's new chapter will be written by you."
"Even in the history books, your names will certainly be recorded."
These words made this political novice Kazuma's heart surge with passion, blood rushing to his head. He immediately agreed wholeheartedly.
"Lord Hokage, please rest assured. I will definitely persuade the nobles to make this happen."
"After being brought under the daimyo's direct management, the capital will definitely provide more resource support for Konoha."
"Konoha won't perish. The Land of Fire will only grow stronger!"
He carefully put away the letter, then left the Hokage's office to consult with his supporters, preparing to personally lead a team back to the capital to deliver the letter.
Watching Kazuma's departing figure, the Third smirked, picking up his pipe again to continue puffing away.
Only this time, his expression finally relaxed considerably, no longer so tense.
....
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Overwhelming gale winds swept forth. The dense forest immediately became like trimmed grass, breaking at the roots, leaving only low stumps.
Seeing such fierce attacks bearing down, all the Hyuga shinobi's faces turned ashen. They gripped their kunai tightly, defending with all their might, awaiting fate's judgment.
But a figure suddenly stepped forward from the crowd. Crossing his dual swords downward, he shouted:
"Wind Release: Wind Return!"
With his explosive shout, the gale winds rushing toward them actually reversed, changing their flight direction, blowing back toward the Suna shinobi forces.
"How is this possible?"
The Suna side never expected their own attack to be reflected back. Completely unprepared, they were caught off guard.
The winds were like blades. In an instant they swept through the formation.
Screams rang out continuously. Over a dozen shinobi couldn't dodge in time, all sliced into sashimi, uniformly splattered across the ground—the presentation could be called exquisite.
The battle situation instantly reversed one hundred eighty degrees. Everyone survived the calamity and immediately cheered, looking toward that great hero who turned the tide.
"That's Neji!"
"Truly the branch family's most talented genius!"
"Even without Byakugan..."
Everyone couldn't help sighing, but upon mentioning Byakugan, everyone's faces immediately darkened. No one had the mood to talk anymore.
This entire group consisted of Hyuga branch family members.
Originally in Konoha's combat system, the branch family's Byakugan was an important component, serving as scouts on the battlefield—irreplaceable. Almost every squad was equipped with one.
Similarly, for efficient allocation, except for teams with main family members, two Hyuga shinobi never appeared in the same squad.
But the situation now was different. These Hyuga branch family members were assigned to the same team for missions.
Because their only commonality was—their Byakugan were all gone. In their eye sockets were ordinary people's eyes.
Previously, because of this self-damaging behavior, the Third had specifically gone to negotiate with the main family.
The branch family members unwilling to "contribute" their Byakugan had held great hope for this, hoping the village could stop the main family's backwards behavior. But the final result left the branch family greatly disappointed.
Because the main family acted with restraint. They temporarily hadn't targeted elite shinobi like jonin and chunin. All selected branch family targets were genin.
Genin strength was what it was. After replacing Byakugan with ordinary eyes, combat power certainly decreased, but the loss actually wasn't that significant.
Moreover, Hinata's absorption of Byakugan power wasn't instantaneous but required time to slowly digest. The "consumption" of branch family genin was gradual—something the village could accept.
Add to that the powerful lure of the Tenseigan dangling overhead, and after careful consideration, the Third ultimately used "the village cannot interfere in Hyuga clan internal affairs" as an excuse to turn a blind eye and tacitly accept it.
This left the branch family shinobi greatly disappointed in the village, while simultaneously growing increasingly desperate about their own fates.
"Alright, everyone stop looking so miserable."
Seeing team morale about to collapse, that young leading shinobi hurriedly spoke to boost everyone's spirits and pour chicken soup.
"Our Byakugan weren't wasted—they were contributed to the family. This is a necessary sacrifice for the village's victory."
"This is essential payment for war victory."
"Besides, after losing our Byakugan, we're actually safer!"
"On the battlefield we don't have to worry about enemies specifically targeting us to steal Byakugan..."
"Enough, shut up!" Neji walked over with a dark expression. "Once you're on the battlefield, everyone's an enemy. Whether you have Byakugan or not, enemies will kill you."
"The so-called 'protection' is nothing but a false lie the main family fabricated to enslave the branch family!"
"What?!" The team leader was shocked, pointing at him and shouting: "Neji, how can you say such treasonous words?!"
"I'm only speaking the truth!" Neji's gaze swept across everyone's faces, speaking coldly: "I know our fates are all controlled by the main family, so I don't harbor fantasies about resisting them."
"But at least I won't be treated like a slave yet still show gratitude to the slave masters, still find excuses for the slave masters to enslave us!"
"I'll continue fighting on the battlefield, but not for some main family, nor for Konoha!"
"I'm alive now only for myself. That's all!"
"If anyone wants to fight only for themselves like me, welcome to join my team."
"But if anyone still fights with so-called glory, sacrifice, and other naive ideals, then I don't welcome you."
"Feel free to wag your tails at your main family masters. See if they'll reward you with a bone, if they'll return the Byakugan they took from you."
After speaking, Neji turned and walked away.
Everyone present looked at each other. Moments later, several people stepped out from the group one after another, following Neji's departing figure until disappearing into the dense forest.
"Damn it!" The team leader cursed angrily: "A pack of ungrateful wolves!"
"Not the slightest gratitude for the family!"
"Not a shred of Will of Fire!"
"That kind of trash shinobi is a disgrace to our Hyuga clan. Don't learn from him!"
The remaining Hyuga shinobi watched Neji and those who followed him leave, all lowering their heads and nodding repeatedly.
"Right, can't learn from him."
"No sense of honor at all—what kind of Hyuga genius is that?"
"Wasting his talent. Talented but lacking virtue!"
Whether they truly thought this in their hearts—no one could say for certain.
***
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