Chapter 152: Wiping Out The Main Family In One Fell Swoop? Akatsuki’s Formidable Enemy!
Oneself… and every single person in the Hyuga Branch Family, have they all been brainwashed by the rules set by the Main Family in the past?
Kijiro’s words kept echoing in his mind.
Neji Hyuga couldn’t help but examine his own heart.
He discovered that what this ninja cat said was irrefutable.
Because the facts were exactly like that!
If not brainwashed, if not conditioned with mental inertia… why did he hold onto that sliver of hope for the Hyuga Main Family? Clearly, they treated the Branch Family without the slightest fairness, merely enslaving the Branch Family—why did he always bias his stance toward them?
All the doubts in his heart were answered at this moment.
—The Hyuga Main Family’s long-term ideological indoctrination toward the Branch Family had trapped the Branch Family in a mental prison far more terrifying and horrifying than the Caged Bird Seal!
Without an outsider’s awakening, the Hyuga Branch Family, lost in the situation, hadn’t even realized they were already in a cage.
Neji Hyuga couldn’t help but look up at Uchiha Ikeizumi, who was single-handedly confronting the Main Family Elder and Hiashi Clan Leader.
Clearly, the internal conflicts of the Hyuga Clan had nothing to do with outsiders.
Yet this man insisted on intervening.
He didn’t even mind offending the Main Family.
This…
Is this justice?
“Uchiha Ikeizumi…” The Main Family Elder’s slightly tense expression carried a hint of annoyance he tried to conceal, and he said: “You’re being so aggressive toward the Hyuga Clan, even trying to change the Hyuga Clan’s rules passed down for hundreds or nearly a thousand years as an outsider—the Hyuga Clan has no one who will support such behavior!”
“I’m changing the Hyuga Clan Family Rules—what does that have to do with the Hyuga Clan?” Uchiha Ikeizumi’s one sentence left the Main Family Elder stunned.
He had lived this long and never seen someone so stubborn and self-willed.
Was this Uchiha Clan junior unable to understand human speech?
“Who says no one supports it!” Neji Hyuga from behind suddenly stepped forward, looking up at this Main Family Elder: “As a Branch Family member, I support changing the Hyuga Family Rules!”
The Main Family Elder’s ugly expression finally broke.
He turned his gaze to Hyuga Hiashi, hoping this Hiashi Clan Leader would say some tough words at this moment. He didn’t want conflict with Uchiha Ikeizumi, but he also didn’t want Uchiha Ikeizumi meddling in Hyuga Clan matters.
He hoped Hyuga Hiashi could drive him away without offending Uchiha Ikeizumi.
Hyuga Hiashi: “…”
“Huff!”
Hyuga Hiashi felt immense pressure. On one side was the Hyuga Main Family ninjas’ expectations of him as Clan Leader, on the other was the absolute justice oppression from Uchiha Ikeizumi.
In a daze, he seemed to physically and mentally feel what kind of position Uchiha Fugaku held within the Uchiha Clan.
“The Hyuga Clan… will consider it.” After a full ten seconds of silence, facing Uchiha Ikeizumi’s cold gaze and the shocked looks from the elders, Hyuga Hiashi ultimately didn’t dare to be tough.
“If the Family Rules truly make many clan members feel dissatisfied, the Hyuga Clan will try to carefully revise them.”
Hyuga Hiashi said with a dejected expression.
After saying these words, Hyuga Hiashi felt his energy and spirit drained. He could keenly sense that many Main Family ninjas looking at him seemed disappointed.
Hyuga Hiashi felt deeply ashamed; he knew he had failed the Main Family clan members’ expectations, but at this moment, he could only do this.
Because Hiashi had a premonition.
—If the Hyuga Clan continued arguing with Uchiha Ikeizumi, the other might instantly lose patience. A patient-lost Uchiha Ikeizumi was absolutely the most terrifying ninja in Konoha. The disunited Hyuga Clan couldn’t touch his edge at all.
“Hiashi…”
The Main Family Elder, with a somewhat ugly expression, tried to say something, but the words stuck in his throat. He could empathize with Hyuga Hiashi’s current dilemma and could only sigh.
“Uchiha Ikeizumi, as our Hyuga Clan Clan Leader said, the Hyuga Clan will carefully handle this matter. We will also discuss a plan satisfactory to both Branch Family and Main Family, and then hand it over to you.”
The Main Family Elder’s hands hidden in his sleeve robes were already clenched into fists; he said with a sunken face and suppressed frustration: “This should satisfy you, right? Your absolute justice should have fulfilled its so-called righteous duty, right? It should end now, right? It’s time for you to leave!”
The Main Family…
Really backed down!
Many Hyuga Branch Family ninjas watched the whole scene dumbfounded. They had thought that the matter of Branch Family Elder “Hyuga Yokogari” dying from an old illness triggered by the Hyuga Main Family’s Caged Bird Seal would be brushed off by the Main Family with a few casual words.
But who would have thought that an outsider like Uchiha Ikeizumi would barge into the Hyuga Clan and stand up for their Branch Family.
He even really forced the Main Family to retreat!
This was absolutely the greatest concession the Main Family had ever made to the Branch Family in history!
Without exception!
“Who said it’s over?” Uchiha Ikeizumi’s indifferent words nearly made the Main Family Elder choke on his breath.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said: “Have you ignored arbitrarily oppressing Branch Family members using the power of the Caged Bird Seal? Using twisted, morbid, corrupt Family Rules to commit selfish and self-serving evil deeds—do you pretend this doesn’t exist?”
The Main Family Elder and Hyuga Hiashi suddenly had an ominous premonition.
“Ikeizumi, what are you going to do?”
Hyuga Hiashi asked.
Uchiha Ikeizumi said: “Judged by the severity of oppressing the Hyuga Branch Family. For severe cases like Hyuga Jin Fu, life for life, execute on the spot; for heavier cases, imprisonment of ten or more but less than twenty years; for general cases, imprisonment of three or more but less than ten years; for lighter cases, at least three months detention.”
As Hyuga Hiashi’s poker face couldn’t help showing shock, Uchiha Ikeizumi continued relentlessly: “It’s not only killing that is evil, nor is only extreme malicious acts like murder worthy of justice’s punishment.”
“In my eyes, not many in the Hyuga Main Family from top to bottom are ‘innocent.’ Most of you have used the Caged Bird Seal on Branch Family members.”
“Including you.”
“Hyuga Hiashi.”
A drop of cold sweat involuntarily slid down Hyuga Hiashi’s forehead along his face.
He finally understood why the village always said Uchiha Ikeizumi was extremely radical, why he was given the nickname “Uchiha Plague God,” and why Uchiha Ikeizumi was like Konoha’s “street-cleaning tiger.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi didn’t care if you yielded or not! Nor if you compromised!
He wouldn’t suspect any deals you made.
Uchiha Ikeizumi just wanted to enforce justice! Ruthless, emotionless, absolute iron-blooded justice!
He was going to make an example of the Hyuga Clan!
Hyuga’s compromises, retreats, and weakness were utterly useless.
Winning no mercy from justice whatsoever.
“What a joke!” A sudden voice rang out, making Hyuga Hiashi’s heart sink with a bad feeling, but it was too late to stop it. A Main Family ninja gritted his teeth and said: “Using the Caged Bird Seal on the Branch Family counts as evil? Who made that rule? You, Uchiha Ikeizumi?”
“This way, wouldn’t at least eighty or ninety percent of the entire Main Family be thrown into prison? Then who would inherit the Hyuga Clan’s bloodline? Do you want our Hyuga Clan’s pure Byakugan bloodline to go extinct?”
“Your extreme justice is the real evil! You don’t care about most of our thoughts, only your own so-called selfish justice—you’re the minority!”
Hyuga Hiashi was drenched in sweat.
He could tell it was a young Main Family ninja’s voice. He was considered a genius in the Main Family, only nineteen and already a Konoha Jonin, naturally carrying the arrogance of a young Main Family Jonin genius.
The problem was.
He clearly didn’t know when to restrain that arrogance and when to unleash it.
“You… have no right to claim you’re the majority of the Hyuga Clan!”
The sudden speaker was Neji Hyuga. The not-yet-adult he gritted his teeth and looked at that Main Family genius: “Look around! Look at the so-called Main Family and so-called Branch Family—which side has more people? Which side is the real majority?”
“They’re just afraid you’ll activate the Caged Bird Seal on them and haven’t spoken up! They’ve just been oppressed by you for years, forming corrupt mental inertia.”
“That doesn’t mean they’ll side with your Main Family! From beginning to end, the Branch Family is the majority in the Hyuga Clan—hundreds in the Branch Family, does your Main Family even have forty combined?”
“You’re just unwilling to give up Main Family privileges! Or rather, you’re afraid that without the Caged Bird, countless people in the Branch Family will surpass your talent and trample your proud genius title underfoot!”
Neji had realized this was the only chance to seek justice for Father, the only chance with a sliver of possibility to break the cage.
He absolutely couldn’t let this opportunity slip.
Nor let the Main Family gloss over it.
“You…” The nineteen-year-old Main Family Jonin, rebuked by Neji Hyuga, had veins bulging wildly on his forehead; he suddenly raised one hand and formed a seal that made Neji’s pupils shrink slightly.
Neji remembered this seal…
Back then, Hyuga Hiashi had formed this seal, and Father’s Caged Bird on his forehead was triggered.
“Stop!!!”
Hyuga Hiashi’s expression changed; he decisively turned and tried to slap away the opponent’s hand seal.
But unexpectedly…
Someone was faster than him.
Whoosh—
No one saw how Uchiha Ikeizumi drew his sword.
They didn’t even see when Uchiha Ikeizumi used Body Flicker.
They could only barely see a residual shadow flash by.
Then a flash of blade light.
An arm flew high into the air.
Blood sprayed!
“Hyuga Hori Qing, detain in Konoha Prison, twenty years imprisonment.” The extremely cold voice finally brought everyone back to their senses.
…
At the same time.
Hokage’s Office Building.
A ninja dog hurriedly ran over—it was Kakashi’s ninja dog Park, who directly slipped into the Hokage’s Office.
“Hm?”
Sarutobi Hiruzen, noticing a dog slip in, raised an eyebrow; upon realizing it was ninja dog Park, he understood why the nearby Anbu guards hadn’t stopped it.
“Hokage, Kakashi sent me to tell you something happened in the Hyuga Clan.”
Ninja dog Park’s straightforward words stunned Sarutobi Hiruzen for a moment.
“Hyuga Clan…”
His old face grew slightly more serious; after exchanging a glance with Homura Mitokado beside him, he turned to Park and asked: “Is it because of Ikeizumi? What big thing happened in Hyuga?”
“Don’t know.” Ninja dog Park drooped its eyelids and shook its head: “Kakashi just told me to run over and report this to you.”
It paused, then added: “When I was summoned, I smelled a strong scent of blood in the Hyuga Clan Compound.”
Kakashi was ultimately uneasy about the tense situation in the Hyuga Clan and sent ninja dog Park to call the Hokage over.
“Scent of blood…”
Homura Mitokado nearby said to Sarutobi Hiruzen upon hearing this: “Hiruzen, it’s probably that Hyuga Main Family Elder Hyuga Jin Fu hadn’t left Konoha in time and was caught by the timely-arriving Uchiha Ikeizumi.”
“In Ikeizumi’s eyes, activating the Caged Bird Seal to kill a Branch Family member makes him a murderer. Once a murderer falls into Ikeizumi’s hands, there’s probably only one outcome.”
“Kakashi thinks something’s happening in Hyuga Clan because Ikeizumi killed Hyuga Jin Fu. Hmm… likely right in front of many Hyuga Clan members.”
“Uchiha Ikeizumi loves doing things like killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen, with the nickname “Monkey,” had a strange expression upon hearing the last sentence.
“Cough.”
But he quickly dismissed the random thoughts and said in a deep voice: “Kakashi is overthinking. Since Ikeizumi has sufficient reason, this is executing Hyuga Jin Fu from the moral high ground. Hiashi is unlikely to conflict with Ikeizumi; he’s one of the few reasonable people.”
“Even if some hot-blooded young people in Hyuga get upset at Ikeizumi’s actions, Hiashi should stop them.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt there was no need to go.
Because he also thought it was time for the Hyuga Clan to make some changes.
The Hyuga Clan clinging to corrupt rules did make him, the Hokage, very reassured, never worrying about the Hyuga Clan coveting Konoha’s high-level authority.
The problem was…
Those corrupt rules also made the Hyuga Clan’s overall strength far inferior even to the Uchiha Clan at its peak.
Konoha had lost too many ninjas now; Sarutobi Hiruzen needed a ninja clan to step up and fill the gap for Konoha, preferably an obedient one. Clearly, the Hyuga Clan fit his requirements perfectly.
‘This time… I’ve also made use of Ikeizumi.’
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought this to himself.
But at this moment, ninja dog Park suddenly added: “The bloody scent I smelled wasn’t just one person’s blood—at least two or three people’s.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned.
Two to three people…
“Hiruzen, the situation is indeed off.” Homura Mitokado frowned and said: “Ikeizumi wouldn’t be doing some ‘overcorrection’ in the Hyuga Clan Compound, would he? Come to think of it, this isn’t the first time he’s done this.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath.
“Homura, I’ll give you five Anbu squads—go take a look.”
Five Anbu squads…
Homura Mitokado’s heart tightened; this was preparing for possible conflict with either Ikeizumi or the Hyuga Clan.
“Got it.”
He nodded.
…
On the other side of the ninja world.
Land of Rain.
“Intelligence from a few Rain ninjas in Konoha—Juzo Biwa silently abandoned them and left Konoha alone.”
Konan took a deep breath, letting the rainwater splash down from above, though sheets of white paper shielded her from the rain.
Konan looked down from above at the Village of Rain under continuous drizzle.
She glanced sideways at Nagato in the wheelchair beside her: “Juzo Biwa must have obtained the intelligence I wanted; he’s probably on his way back now.”
Nagato slightly raised his head, meeting Konan’s gaze, and said: “Why so certain?”
Konan explained: “Because he didn’t contact the Village of Rain from Konoha via remote communication device, meaning he worried the intelligence he spoke on the device might be overheard by others.
“And the consequence of being overheard is death, because some people don’t want him knowing those secret intelligence, let alone Juzo Biwa relaying it to me.”
“The only way he wants to pass the intelligence is by rushing back in person.”
Nagato nodded thoughtfully: “Indeed quite cautious.”
“But I have another doubt.”
Nagato paused, then asked: “If you’re sure ‘Uchiha Madara’ really has major issues, what do you plan to do?”
Before Konan could answer, Nagato added expressionlessly: “I approve of the plan he proposed to us. Whatever you do, you can’t destroy that plan.”
Konan was silent for a few seconds.
She said: “I just want to peel away that mysterious and dangerous aura on him, so if he shows any abnormality, we have means to counter him immediately.”
She added: “Without destroying that plan.”
Then, Konan changed the topic: “Recently, we successfully incited a border conflict between the Land of Birds and Land of Bears; over a hundred samurai casualties on both sides, and a few ninjas dead. For small countries, this is unacceptable loss.”
“Akatsuki can use these opportunities to sell our ‘war mercenary mechanism’ to both countries, have them hire us to fight. We can send some people to each side and stage a show, squeezing a large sum from their daimyo.”
“After all, collecting tailed beasts is a big project. We’ll need to recruit many powerful new members, and expenses will be huge.”
“I’ll leave it to you.” Nagato nodded: “You’re better at these things than me.”
“Right.”
Nagato suddenly said: “List the strong enemies we’ll face when collecting different tailed beasts. Make a roster of them, scout their intelligence early, and prepare.”
“For example…”
“If collecting the Nine-Tails later, we’ll have to conflict with that guy called Uchiha Ikeizumi. He’s indeed no simple ninja; we need to pay him some attention.”
“Even Uchiha Madara fears him so much, meaning he might be one of our greatest enemies in the future.”
Konan nodded.
“Got it.”
…
Inside the Hyuga Clan Compound.
“Plop,” a severed arm fell to the ground. After Ikeizumi’s icy words fell, a pain-inducing scream that made hearts crawl followed.
Under many Hyuga Clan ninjas’ gazes, the one-armed Hyuga Main Family genius clutched his severed arm and retreated in panic.
His young face was drenched in cold sweat, filled with horror, staring incredulously at Uchiha Ikeizumi.
“You…”
But Uchiha Ikeizumi already ignored him; his chillingly cold voice rang out again: “Hyuga Saka Qi, multiple times using Caged Bird Seal on Branch Family members without principled errors, ten years imprisonment.”
This sentence made a Hyuga Main Family ninja’s face drain of color.
Hyuga Hiashi couldn’t help looking at him too.
Because this was his Hyuga Clan Clan Leader’s Main Family guard!
“Hyuga Katsushige, five years imprisonment.”
“Hyuga Hitomi, seven months imprisonment.”
“Hyuga Shokusoku, nine years imprisonment.”
“Hyuga…”
One name after another spilled from Uchiha Ikeizumi’s mouth. Each named Hyuga Main Family ninja either paled or swallowed nervously and retreated.
Hyuga Hiashi was a bit dazed too—if he kept naming like this, it would encompass almost the entire Hyuga Main Family!
If the Hyuga Main Family ninjas really followed Uchiha Ikeizumi’s intent and were imprisoned in Konoha Prison for months, years, or even decades…
When the Main Family ninjas came out of Konoha Prison, who would call the shots in the Hyuga Clan?
The Branch Family would probably have replaced the Main Family long ago? Or rather.
By then, there might be no Main Family or Branch Family distinctions.
Because the Main Family would have fallen from heaven into the mud through this.
“Hyuga Mei.” When Uchiha Ikeizumi named this, he fixed his gaze on the Main Family Elder with an extremely ugly expression and continued: “Twenty years imprisonment.”
The Main Family Elder’s mind “boomed” and exploded.
Outrageous…
Outrageous!
This Uchiha Clan junior was really going to wreak havoc in the Hyuga Clan relying on his strength! Just as stubborn and self-willed as their Uchiha Clan’s ancestor Uchiha Madara!
Uchiha Clan ninjas were truly all a bunch of lunatics!
This Uchiha Ikeizumi was a lunatic among lunatics!
“Enough! Uchiha Ikeizumi!!!”
“You’re far too reckless!”
The Main Family Elder named “Hyuga Mei” could no longer hold back his emotions; his old face was flushed with anger, and the peachwood cane in his hand heavily struck the ground several times.
“The Hyuga Clan isn’t the Uchiha Clan—you can rampage in the Uchiha Clan, but in the Hyuga Clan you’re just an outsider! Interfering with the Hyuga Clan with your unreasonable ‘justice for the Hyuga Branch Family’—if you make the Hyuga Clan even worse off, can you bear that responsibility!?”
“Are you trying to throw the entire Hyuga Main Family into Konoha Prison? Do you know what chaos this will bring to the Hyuga Clan, even all of Konoha?”
“You… you…”
Hyuga Mei’s next words stuck in his throat.
Because a bloodstained ninja sword was already at his neck.
The sharp blade had already cut the skin of his throat.
“Those who defy justice.”
“Will be killed without mercy.”
Uchiha Ikeizumi said coldly: “If this causes greater chaos, it means justice’s deterrence isn’t absolute enough, and not enough villains in the Hyuga Clan have been killed.”
Hyuga Mei opened his mouth.
Until a voice rang out like a savior for the Hyuga Main Family.
“Ikeizumi, wait!”
Homura Mitokado had finally arrived with five Anbu squads.
…
…
