Chapter 153: Fugaku: “ikeizumi, What Have You Done?” Looks Like I Didn’t Kill Enough!
Homura Mitokado, leading five Anbu squads, broke into the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Looking around, a strange plant stood before them, stained with fresh blood, its base covered in gore, blood, and two severed heads!
A little further away, a severed arm lay on the ground.
A young Hyuga clan member was groaning in pain, clutching his severed arm.
Many Hyuga Main Family ninjas glared at Uchiha Ikeizumi, but it seemed they were intimidated by his immense power, and none dared to move an inch.
Many Branch Family ninjas, however, watched from the sidelines with an amused expression.
They seemed to be enjoying the Main Family ninjas’ misfortune.
‘Huff… I guess I’m not too late.’ Homura Mitokado breathed a sigh of relief, at least not too many people had died yet.
He immediately said to Uchiha Ikeizumi, “Ikeizumi, if there’s something you need, we can discuss it. Cough, at least you can take the ninja sword off his neck for now.”
However, he discovered that Uchiha Ikeizumi was ignoring him.
Uchiha Ikeizumi coldly said to the Elder of the Main Family, Hyuga Mei, whose expression was quite stiff, “If you want to be part of the chaos, if you want to be the first chicken to be slaughtered as an example of absolute justice, I don’t mind granting you that honor today.”
Hyuga Mei: “…”
This incredibly rude Uchiha junior actually said “slaughtering a chicken as an example” so openly!
According to normal logic, he should have been incredibly defiant now, refusing to back down even if his head was cut off.
Because someone from the Hokage’s side had already been dispatched, and Senior Advisor Homura Mitokado was already present.
But…
He could faintly feel the edge of the ninja sword pressed against his neck skin, gradually digging deeper into his flesh.
He could also feel blood starting to flow, dyeing his collar red.
“You…”
Hyuga Mei gritted his teeth, his defiant stance deflating, and he stubbornly retorted, “Uchiha Ikeizumi, you will regret this!”
Then, he fell silent, his expression grim.
His declaration astonished the ninjas of the Main Family.
Clan Leader Hiashi had retreated under Uchiha Ikeizumi’s pressure of absolute justice, and Elder Hyuga Mei couldn’t even hold his ground for two minutes. Was there no one who could stop Uchiha Ikeizumi’s rampage?
“…Hiashi, what exactly happened?” Homura Mitokado felt something was off about the atmosphere and asked Hyuga Hiashi, whose expression was dejected and complex.
At the same time, realizing that the ninja sword at his neck had finally been moved, Hyuga Mei breathed a sigh of relief and immediately retreated several steps, hastily moving away from Uchiha Ikeizumi.
Then, he clutched the wound on his neck and, gritting his teeth, answered Homura Mitokado’s question for Hyuga Hiashi, “Advisor Homura! Uchiha Ikeizumi intends to imprison all of us Hyuga Main Family members!”
“He won’t even spare me, an Elder of the Hyuga Main Family. He even wants to imprison me for twenty years!”
“Advisor Homura! How can justice be so reckless?!”
Homura Mitokado was taken aback. Ikeizumi wanted to imprison the entire Hyuga Main Family?
This…
To be honest, this was much less serious than the major event he had anticipated. He had initially thought Uchiha Ikeizumi intended to slaughter all the Hyuga Main Family members.
That’s why he had rushed over so quickly, fearing he would be too late and the entire Hyuga clan would be drenched in blood.
“What do you mean reckless, meow?” Kijiro scoffed, “When you were enslaving the Branch Family with the Caged Bird Seal, why didn’t you say you were being reckless?”
A flicker of an unnoticeable, unusual color flashed in Homura Mitokado’s eyes.
For Konoha, limiting the power of the Hyuga Main Family and easing the restrictions on the Hyuga Branch Family would be more beneficial than harmful.
The Hyuga Main Family was ultimately a small faction, totaling only about thirty people, many of whom were elderly.
The Hyuga Branch Family, on the other hand, was the majority, with half being young and middle-aged adults. Even the most talented student currently at the Ninja Academy, Neji Hyuga, was a member of the Hyuga Branch Family.
To put it bluntly.
The Hyuga Main Family’s so-called “pure Byakugan inheritance” was merely an excuse to leech off the Hyuga Branch Family.
Homura Mitokado knew very well that the original Caged Bird Seal of the Hyuga clan only had the ability to “self-destruct the eyes.” It was only later, when some Main Family ninjas wanted more authority, that they modified the Caged Bird Seal to become a tool for enslaving the Branch Family.
‘But no matter which side I lean towards, I’m bound to offend the other. Hiruzen, you’ve given me a difficult problem!’
Homura Mitokado’s mind raced.
Standing with the Hyuga Main Family would earn their friendship. It was already difficult for the village to interfere with the Main Family, but after this incident, perhaps the village could.
Standing with the Hyuga Branch Family would earn their friendship, gain the support of the majority of Hyuga, restrict the Main Family’s power, allow the Hyuga clan to grow a bit and fill the power vacuum in Konoha, and Ikeizumi could share half of the Hyuga Main Family’s hatred with the village, thus avoiding conflict with Ikeizumi.
‘The last one… that’s the key!’
Homura Mitokado had already made up his mind.
Facing the hopeful gazes of Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Mei, and others, Homura Mitokado concealed the unusual glint in his eyes.
He coughed lightly, appearing troubled as if he had agonished over it for a long time, and finally sighed.
“Hiashi, this matter…”
“It’s not something the village can easily interfere with.”
Hyuga Hiashi was stunned, and Hyuga Mei’s eyes widened.
The other ninjas of the Hyuga Main Family were also astonished, their gazes fixed on Homura Mitokado in disbelief. They couldn’t imagine how the Hyuga Main Family could resist Uchiha Ikeizumi if even the village wouldn’t stand with them.
“Advisor Homura!”
Hyuga Mei, clutching his neck wound, became agitated.
But before he could speak, Homura Mitokado coldly interrupted, “Whether your Main Family has been exploiting the Branch Family’s interests and enslaving them with the Caged Bird Seal, Hiruzen and I know better than anyone.”
Hyuga Mei’s expression became vacant.
Homura Mitokado exhaled softly, then looked at Hyuga Hiashi, adjusted his reading glasses, and continued, “Hiashi, don’t blame me for not standing with your Hyuga Main Family. Stances must be based on right and wrong.”
“If the Hyuga Main Family’s actions were impeccable, then the village would naturally stand with you. But dare you ask yourself, has the Hyuga Main Family… truly not enslaved the Branch Family?”
“The original intention of your ancestors in creating the Caged Bird Seal was to protect the members of the Hyuga clan. Not for you descendants to add the ability to cause pain to the curse mark.”
Homura Mitokado paused and continued, “I have read some ancient texts about the Hyuga clan. The original intent of the Caged Bird was to place clan members coveted by external enemies within a cage, like a bird in a cage, for their protection.”
“But as time went by, the meaning of the Caged Bird Seal changed to imprisoning the bird in a cage, forever, unable to escape, and controlled by the holder of the cage.”
“Hiashi, your Hyuga clan…”
“…must change.”
Hyuga Hiashi stood there, stunned. It took him a good few seconds to realize that the Hokage was also preparing to suppress the Hyuga Main Family.
Hyuga Hiashi couldn’t understand this.
Under his leadership, the Hyuga clan had been quite low-key in Konoha, obeying all commands from the higher-ups without any objection.
So why had the situation escalated to this point?
He fell into a deathly silence, feeling that the Hyuga Main Family was now isolated and helpless.
At this moment, he couldn’t expect the Hyuga Branch Family to speak up for the Main Family either.
Hyuga Hiashi took a deep breath.
He solemnly and seriously asked Homura Mitokado, “Is this also the Hokage’s will?”
Homura Mitokado replied, “It is my will.”
Although it was indeed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s intention, Homura Mitokado did not drag Sarutobi Hiruzen into it, as some things should not be attributed to the Hokage’s direct orders.
After that.
Homura Mitokado added, “I support Ikeizumi this time.”
“…I understand.”
Hyuga Hiashi closed his eyes for a few seconds, then reopened them and asked Uchiha Ikeizumi, “As the clan leader, I have also used the Caged Bird Seal on Branch Family members, and one of them was my own younger brother. How… many years do I need to be imprisoned?”
At this moment, Hyuga Hiashi found his mood to be incredibly calm, devoid of anger or hatred.
There was only the powerlessness and helplessness that came with witnessing the inexorable tide of fate.
“Ten years.”
The number spoken by Uchiha Ikeizumi caused ripples in Hyuga Hiashi’s calm demeanor.
“What if I bear all the sins of the Main Family?”
Hyuga Hiashi finally dared to meet Uchiha Ikeizumi’s gaze.
He asked, “Can imprisoning me for a hundred years absolve the other members of the Main Family?”
Hyuga Hiashi’s words made many Main Family ninjas’ eyes well up with tears.
“Lord Hiashi! We don’t need to listen to…”
“Silence!” Hyuga Hiashi’s hands clenched into fists within his sleeves. He knew his hands were trembling, but he still tried his best to maintain a calm and steady tone of voice. “Being imprisoned… is already the best outcome for the Hyuga Main Family. If I can bear it alone, there is no better outcome than this.”
He knew that some emotional clan members were about to try and resist.
But…
Under Uchiha Ikeizumi’s menacing gaze, and with the Hokage not siding with the Hyuga Main Family either.
Resistance would only lead to death!
Compromise was the only way to find a glimmer of hope!
“No.” Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, “But those with lighter offenses can have their sentences reduced through other means. For example, by making positive contributions to the Ninja World as a repentant individual. Among the thirty-odd members of the Main Family, only seven are eligible.”
He added, “You, Hyuga Hiashi, are not included.”
Hyuga Hiashi’s clenched fists were now tensed to the extreme.
But in the end, he relaxed them.
“Alright. The Hyuga Main Family…”
“…is willing to accept punishment.”
Hiashi said dejectedly.
The spirit that the entire Hyuga Main Family, from top to bottom, had finally mustered was shattered by Hyuga Hiashi’s words. The Main Family’s proud, upright spine was also broken by Hyuga Hiashi.
As an Elder of the Main Family, Hyuga Mei also fell silent.
Because he knew the Main Family could no longer fight for any chance.
No one stood with the Main Family!
The Main Family…
…had lost!
…
“The era of the Hyuga Main Family ruling the Hyuga Branch Family ended in less than half an hour, or perhaps even the moment Uchiha Ikeizumi stepped into the Hyuga Clan Compound…”
Kakashi, who had witnessed it all unfold, was deeply shaken.
He suddenly realized that he might have inadvertently done more harm than good.
He had sent his ninja dog Pakkun to summon the Hokage in order to quell any potential conflict within the Hyuga clan.
Who would have thought that after Homura Mitokado arrived, the conflict would actually escalate.
It escalated to the point where the Hyuga Main Family had no power to resist at all.
They were simply crushed by the overwhelming momentum.
“Hmm…” Kakashi’s expression was odd. “It can’t really be said that the conflict escalated; at least no one else died. After all, who could have imagined that the Hokage would also side with Ikeizumi? Perhaps the Hyuga Main Family members should be thanking me for saving them.”
Of course, Kakashi only dared to mutter these words to himself.
If he had actually said this in front of the Hyuga Main Family…
It would be like rubbing salt in their wounds.
They would likely have attacked him en masse.
…
Neji Hyuga looked up at the dejected Hyuga Hiashi.
Neji was in a daze. He felt as if everything was a beautiful, illogical dream.
But the dull pain from his swollen cheek, poked by Kijiro, told him.
Only reality could be so illogical. The cage the Main Family had put on the Branch Family had been so easily removed.
Neji Hyuga couldn’t help but glance at Uchiha Ikeizumi again.
He noticed Uchiha Ikeizumi’s expression was as usual; his indifferent face showed no surprise or relief. It was as if he had done a trivial, uncelebrated small deed.
“This is the momentum of justice.” At this moment, Uchiha Ikeizumi’s voice rang out. Neji realized he was being addressed and quickly pricked up his ears to listen carefully.
“When justice is powerful enough… sometimes you only need to say a few words to create a massive wave of momentum that crushes all evil.”
“The prerequisite is that you must remember that what you are doing is truly for justice, not using the guise of justice to commit evil with your power.”
Saying this, Uchiha Ikeizumi lowered his gaze and glanced at Neji Hyuga.
He continued, “If you are interested in justice, if you believe you can understand justice, and if you have the determination to uphold justice, along with the conviction to bear its responsibilities and obligations.”
Neji Hyuga’s small, poked face instantly showed a look of shock.
And in addition to the shock, there was a hint of undisguised joy.
“From now on, you’ll be with Naruto and Sasuke.”
With that, Uchiha Ikeizumi withdrew his gaze and turned around. Facing away from the Hyuga Main Family members, he said to Hyuga Hiashi, “Take the clan members I just named to the Police Force Headquarters. Of course, you can choose to resist justice.”
Hyuga Hiashi felt that if he chose to resist, he might die the next second.
The entire Hyuga Main Family could be wiped out.
This young man, Uchiha Ikeizumi, was absolutely capable of such an act!
“…Okay.”
…
Not long after.
Homura Mitokado, with a complex expression, returned to the Hokage’s Office Building with five Anbu squads. He then recounted everything that had transpired within the Hyuga clan that day in detail.
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, his pipe-smoking gesture halted.
“All members of the Hyuga Main Family were taken away?” After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression became even more complex than Homura Mitokado’s.
Homura Mitokado shook his head, “Not all Hyuga Main Family members are guilty. Some very young ones were spared by Ikeizumi.”
“For example… Hiashi’s two daughters.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, “This is indeed Ikeizumi’s modus operandi. He can always clearly distinguish who is involved and who is not. Those involved, he lets none go; those not involved, he doesn’t even spare a second glance.”
Homura Mitokado sighed, “While it’s a happy ending that Ikeizumi didn’t slaughter the Hyuga Main Family, the punishment he imposed still feels a bit too harsh.”
“Especially for some of the Main Family’s Chunin and Jonin. Ikeizumi said he would imprison them for seven to eight years, or even ten to twenty years. The absence of this portion of Hyuga Main Family ninjas will weaken Konoha’s strength.”
“We can only hope that the large number of Hyuga Branch Family members will produce more geniuses to fill the void left by the Main Family.”
“We can only look to the numerous Hyuga Branch Family members to see if more prodigies can appear to fill the vacancies left by the Main Family.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his smoke and said, “Ikeizumi can imprison them for over ten to twenty years, and I can also let them out of prison early. But necessary suppression is indispensable. Let the Hyuga Main Family members stay in Konoha Prison for a while first, and let their sharpness and arrogance be blunted.”
“What Ikeizumi did today is actually a good thing for Konoha. He accomplished something I couldn’t do for decades.”
Speaking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression became even more complex.
What the Will of Fire couldn’t achieve for many years, Absolute Justice achieved with its strong and ruthless methods.
Where exactly did this problem lie?
This was not the first time Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t understand.
…
Konoha Public Cemetery.
“Itachi…”
Gazing at Uchiha Itachi’s very simple cenotaph, and looking at the words “Grave of Uchiha Itachi” carved on the gravestone, Fugaku, who stood alone in front of the gravestone, couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
He found that he still couldn’t calmly accept the fact that his eldest son was killed.
But upon reflection, this was also natural.
Moreover.
Uchiha Itachi was his most outstanding son, and the son he had placed great hopes on.
In comparison, Uchiha Sasuke, who chose to believe in Absolute Justice, in Fugaku’s eyes… was already like an arm leaning outwards, and an extremely disappointing existence to him.
Especially after Ikeizumi killed Itachi, Sasuke still chose to follow Absolute Justice.
This made Fugaku’s mood complicated.
And his disappointment in Sasuke deepened.
“Captain Fugaku!” Just then, a Uchiha Police Force ninja rushed over.
Although Fugaku was still the Uchiha clan leader, the ninja from the Police Force no longer addressed him as clan leader.
The ninja, without hiding his disgust, glanced at Uchiha Itachi’s gravestone, then shifted his gaze away, and said to Uchiha Fugaku, as if to cleanse his sight, “Uchiha Ikeizumi has brought back many criminals to the Police Force, numbering over thirty people!”
Upon hearing the name “Uchiha Ikeizumi,” a complex look flashed in Fugaku’s eyes.
But he quickly suppressed it. He didn’t mind that the other party didn’t call him clan leader, as his authority had greatly diminished after the last clan meeting.
Fugaku frowned and asked, “Over thirty people? So many? Who are they?”
“They are all Hyuga Clan ninjas!” the Police Force ninja replied. “Among them is the Hyuga Clan leader, Hyuga Hiashi!”
Uchiha Fugaku: “???”
He realized the seriousness of the situation. Who would have thought that Uchiha Ikeizumi simply wouldn’t stop!
After killing Itachi, Uchiha Ikeizumi went on to trouble the Hyuga Clan, even capturing the Hyuga Clan leader!
Fugaku placed a white flower in front of Uchiha Itachi’s gravestone.
Then he didn’t say anything more.
He rushed back without hesitation.
The Uchiha Police Force ninja, left alone, glanced at Uchiha Itachi’s gravestone next to him again.
He scoffed dismissively.
“Died so quickly…”
“It’s too good for this ungrateful wretch.”
…
Upon rushing back to the Police Force headquarters, Fugaku indeed saw that the Police Force Headquarters building was filled with Hyuga Clan ninjas!
The Hyuga Clan ninjas in the building were almost more numerous than the Uchiha Clan ninjas.
After all, most of the Police Force ninjas were out on patrol in the village, leaving only a few people at the Police Force Headquarters building.
Moreover, Fugaku keenly noticed that none of these Hyuga Clan ninjas had the Caged Bird Seal on their foreheads.
This meant…
They were all Hyuga Main Family ninjas!
This…
Could Ikeizumi have captured all the ninjas from the Hyuga Main Family? The key is, why were the Hyuga Main Family ninjas so cooperative? Didn’t they resist at all?
Uchiha Fugaku already felt a sense of foreboding.
Ikeizumi’s actions were practically going to lower the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan to freezing point!
It would also cause the Hokage to be suspicious of the Uchiha once again.
Because the Hokage would surely know that many members of the Uchiha Clan had a favorable impression of Absolute Justice. Ikeizumi’s Absolute Justice could now basically represent the Uchiha.
In the Hokage’s eyes, if the Uchiha Clan could arrest all the Hyuga Main Family today, could they arrest the Hokage tomorrow?
“Ikeizumi!”
Fugaku, whose mind was filled with thoughts, immediately spotted Uchiha Ikeizumi’s back. He quickly walked forward, blocked Uchiha Ikeizumi’s path, and with a grim expression, asked.
“What exactly is going on?”
“What have you done?”
…
At the same time.
Hyuga Clan.
“It feels like a dream…” a Hyuga Clan Branch Family ninja said, looking at the few remaining Main Family members, mostly women and children. “Have we, the Branch Family, truly stood up?”
A Branch Family Elder, unable to hide his excitement, said, “Yoko’s death was not in vain. His death attracted Uchiha Ikeizumi, and Uchiha Ikeizumi’s arrival has silenced the Main Family completely!”
Speaking, he walked up to Neji Hyuga and said with emotion, “Neji, you understand how to involve Uchiha Ikeizumi in this matter. Hizashi would surely be proud of you.”
Just as Neji was about to say something, he suddenly heard a Branch Family ninja not far away say something.
“—Most of the Main Family members will be imprisoned for more than ten years and won’t be able to come out in the short term. So, positions will be vacated in the Main Family. Doesn’t someone need to step up? There must be a bloodline to inherit our Hyuga Clan’s pure Byakugan, right?”
Neji couldn’t help but freeze.
He heard someone speak again.
“Moreover, the position of the Main Family leader is now vacant. Whom should we choose as the new clan leader? Why not choose my father? My father is considered venerable and is also an Elder of the Branch Family. He definitely has the qualifications, right?”
Neji then heard the Branch Family Elder standing in front of him say with a kind smile, “Neji-kun, the Hyuga Clan ultimately needs to select a bloodline that can carry the load to replace the Main Family.”
“This way, when the Main Family walks out of Konoha Prison, they will no longer be qualified to be the Main Family. Neji-kun, you are Hizashi’s son, and you were the one who dragged Uchiha Chi Quan into this. You have some say.”
“After the clan meeting tonight, remember to choose me, Neji.”
This… one Main Family falls, and they want to elect a new Main Family?
The situation was somehow different from what he had imagined.
Neji was bewildered.
…
…
