The latter also agreed repeatedly, embodying the term "cowardly" to its fullest.
Watching this unfold, many of the branch family members sneered in disdain, feeling deep shame for having once protected someone so worthless. Was this really the person they had laid down their lives for?
Still, seeing the elder's fearful demeanor, many sighed in relief. If he valued his life that much, things would be easier to manage. A man with a spine might have disrupted the entire operation with resistance or reckless courage.
Taking advantage of the final hours before dawn, the group departed Konoha in secret, heading toward the Hyuga clan's underground passage.
Outside the Byakugan's usual observation range, hundreds of Hyuga branch members lay in ambush. Their mission: to ensure that not a single main family member escaped.
Meanwhile, the main family elder who had left with them turned back, re-entering the Hyuga compound via the hidden route.
As his figure disappeared into the shadows, many felt an odd unease. Though his cowardice gave them some hope of success, nerves were inevitable at such a critical moment.
By contrast, Kawaki Aoba—hidden behind the scenes—remained calm and confident. While the others were in the dark, he knew the truth: the so-called Hyuga elder had been nothing more than his puppet from beginning to end. This operation would proceed flawlessly.
As the sun rose in the east, the Hyuga elder re-entered the clan's compound.
---
The Tables Turn: Roles Reversed
"Old Sixth, why did you return alone? Where's the Ninth Elder?" one of the main house elders demanded as soon as he arrived.
Since the two had departed through the hidden passage, Konoha's "Enforcement Division" had begun to intensify pressure on the Hyuga compound, increasing surveillance and projecting unmistakable killing intent.
With their numbers thinned and the compound surrounded, the elders knew that any sudden attack would be hard to repel. Fear and sleepless nights had worn them down.
Now, under their expectant gazes, the Sixth Elder delivered what seemed to be good news.
"The Ninth Elder remained behind at the Otsutsuki outpost. It seems they're hiding something about the Byakugan's further evolution. We decided one of us would stay to investigate, while the other returned to report."
He painted a grand picture, knowing well that without a convincing reason, their separation would seem suspicious.
Sure enough, the mention of the Byakugan's potential evolution immediately piqued the elders' interest. It didn't seem implausible; after all, legends of the Byakugan's divine origin had long circulated within the main house. Perhaps, just perhaps, those stories were true.
Some sighed with envy. "Old Nine's luck is just too good…"
But before the elders could get lost in fantasy, Sixth Elder brought them crashing back to reality.
"Don't get too excited just yet. There's bad news too. The Otsutsuki patriarch refuses to allow any Hyuga branch family members to set foot on the Moon's land. He claims their 'impure bloodlines' are a blasphemy against the ancestor Hamura."
Hamura Ōtsutsuki was a name sacred to the Hyuga clan. According to their oral traditions, they were his descendants, a branch of the Otsutsuki who remained on Earth after Hamura left for the Moon.
Now, if that legend were true, did that mean the branch family was truly inferior?
Hyuga Hiashi furrowed his brow. "Can't we negotiate? We've practiced intra-clan marriage for generations. Even some branch members retain relatively pure bloodlines."
As clan head, Hiashi was reluctant to abandon his people—especially the unbranded children who had not yet received the Caged Bird Seal.
Sixth Elder shook his head with a bitter smile. "Patriarch, we tried everything. The Otsutsuki are far more conservative than we expected. Even accepting us, the main house, was a reluctant compromise—based solely on direct blood lineage."
Hiashi fell silent. If that was truly the case…
He closed his eyes slowly. After a long pause, he exhaled deeply.
"So be it. The plan remains unchanged. We'll select the children who have not yet been branded with the Caged Bird Seal—and take them away under the name of the main house."
"Take them away under the main house's name?" an elder objected sharply. "Patriarch, isn't that—"
Hiashi cut him off with a cold glance. "The Hyuga clan stands at the edge of ruin. If we don't leave behind seeds for the future, we may not survive at all."
"Moreover, those are just children, and it's not difficult to change their thinking. The real core members of the family won't change."
The elder retreated, and Hyuga Hiashi's gaze turned to the others. This time, no one responded.
"Since no one objects, then the matter is settled. However, when do you think it would be appropriate for us to leave?"
"Chieftain, the matter of going to the moon is of utmost importance and should be done sooner rather than later. Furthermore, that brat Kawaki Aoba might make a move against us at any moment. In my opinion, it would be best to relocate tonight."
One of the elders spoke urgently, clearly exhausted after being tormented by Kawaki Aoba's methods these past few days.
"Tonight? Isn't that a bit rushed?" another elder questioned.
"Rushed? I don't think so. After all these days, haven't you packed everything you can take? Or are you saying you still have some properties left that are worth clinging to?"
Properties? The mention of those two words made everyone in the Hyuga clan feel uneasy.
Back then, in order to build an unbreakable network of aristocratic relationships throughout the Land of Fire, the Hyuga clan had invested heavily, emptying their coffers. Yet...
The results were already known to everyone. The Hyuga clan had nearly mortgaged their entire estate.
The current Hyuga clan hardly had any family businesses left. Even if they did, they had been ruined by Kawaki Aoba's Konoha Enforcement Team.
"Alright, stop harboring any wishful thinking. Since we've decided to leave, let's do it tonight," the Second Elder suddenly declared, settling the matter with finality.
However, just then, a ninja suddenly arrived to report from outside.
Everyone frowned. They had given advance notice that no one was allowed to intrude during their meeting unless it was a matter of utmost importance.
And now...
Could it be that something major has happened?
Hyuga Hizashi allowed the messenger ninja into the room. The latter looked panicked. Seeing his expression, all the elders' hearts sank.
Could it really be that something terrible has happened?
"Clan Leader, esteemed elders, something terrible has happened! Kawaki Aoba has already led people to seal off our entire clan estate! He himself is leading the way toward the central area of the Hyuga clan."
The ominous premonition came true, and someone immediately couldn't sit still.
"What? That brat dares to be so bold! What about Minato Namikaze? Isn't he going to do anything about it? How is he even Hokage?" an elder shouted.
Just then, another Hyuga messenger ninja rushed in from outside.
"Clan Leader, esteemed elders, we just received news that Hokage-sama left Konoha with his people last night, apparently to investigate the series of attacks on major nobles within the Land of Fire."
If the previous news only made them feel uneasy, then this news was like a bolt from the blue.
The attacks on major nobles within the Land of Fire were likely related to them. If Minato Namikaze didn't find anything, that would be fine.
But if he found something, then the Hyuga clan would have to face both Minato Namikaze and Kawaki Aoba.
Such a lineup was enough to make one despair just thinking about it.
Well, the current situation already seemed despairing enough.
Without Minato Namikaze's restraint, who knew what outrageous things that brat Kawaki Aoba would do?
They had no doubts about Kawaki Aoba's audacity.
After walking out of the secret chamber, several elders of the Hyuga Main House looked up at the sky, each with a look of fear on their faces.
What did they see?
A barrier, a large barrier that enveloped the entire Hyuga clan.
"This is the Four Violet Flames Formation, no, it should be the Six Violet Flames Formation! This scale, at least six barrier teams are maintaining it! Damn it, how could that brat mobilize the power of six barrier teams?"
"Now is not the time to worry about that! Don't you understand? Since that brat dares to do this, he intends to attack our Hyuga clan and is confident in eliminating us!"
"Everyone, calm down!" an aged voice shouted sternly. It was the Second Elder.
He gazed at the purple barrier in the sky with his Byakugan, his expression unusually heavy.
"Indeed, there is no time left. I will now lead the clansmen to hold back that little bastard. As for you all, take those little brats and evacuate through the secret passage, quickly!"
After the Second Elder finished speaking, he was about to leave, but an arm stopped him.
The owner of that arm was none other than the current Hyuga Clan Leader, Hyuga Hizashi.
"Second Elder, please remember that I am the Hyuga Clan Leader. Some things, some decisions, can only be made by me."
"Hizashi," the Second Elder's face was gloomy. "Now is not the time for you to be stubborn."
"Likewise, I'm not joking with you either. As the Hyuga Clan Leader, shouldn't I stand up at this time? Similarly, only I am qualified to stand before Kawaki Aoba and negotiate with him, to buy time.
Most importantly, if that brat doesn't see me, the Clan Leader, what do you think he will think?"
Hearing Hyuga Hizashi's words, the Second Elder was speechless.
He was persuaded, and so were the others.
"Since that's the case, then I will personally accompany you on this trip. As for the others, hurry up and seize the time."
From then on, no one said another word of nonsense, because they knew in their hearts that every minute and every second at this time was extremely precious and could not be wasted.
Only Hyuga Hizashi and the Second Elder went against the flow, heading toward Kawaki Aoba's location.
At the same time, countless people in the outside world cast their gazes toward the Hyuga clan estate, toward the huge barrier in the sky above the Hyuga clan estate.
"Shikaku, such a large-scale barrier, could it be that the barrier team has taken action?"
The leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho three families gathered in one place, looking at the Hyuga clan estate, their expressions heavy with worry.
The one who had just spoken was Chouza Akimichi, one of the three leaders.
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