"Master Kaku, what's going on?"
As soon as Hiashi Hyuga entered the compound, he saw Hyuga Kaku, who had taught him Ninjutsu, chanting a spell.
A large number of branch - family Ninjas were lying on the ground, holding their heads in pain.
This was the Cage Bird jutsu being triggered.
"Young master, they dared to defy their superiors. I'm just giving them a little punishment by the clan head's order."
Hyuga Kaku stood guard at the door, his hands continuously forming [Hand Seal], and replied briefly.
"What do you mean by defying their superiors?"
Hiashi Hyuga was stunned. This was simply unthinkable.
Since the Cage Bird jutsu was introduced, the branch family had automatically split into two factions.
One faction became staunch defenders of the main family, while the other, although hating the main family, still behaved themselves.
"They tried to attack the clan head."
"How is that possible?"
Hiashi Hyuga was utterly confused. "Where's my father?"
"In the meeting hall."
Hiashi Hyuga immediately rushed to the hall.
From afar, he saw a middle - aged man kneeling in front of the hall.
"Uncle Kusanosuke?"
Hiashi Hyuga was shocked. He quickly stepped forward to help him up, but was refused.
Blood was oozing from the raised palm of Hyuga Kusanosuke. Judging from the wound, it seemed he had clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh.
"How could this happen?"
Hiashi Hyuga's foreboding grew stronger.
Hyuga Kusanosuke was a loyal defender of the main family and had always been kind to him.
"Young master..."
Hyuga Kusanosuke opened his mouth but said nothing in the end.
The main family was passed down from generation to generation. Losing any member would be an unbearable loss.
Thinking of this, he suddenly fell silent.
What was he, after all?
Oh, how pathetic. He didn't care about his own branch family but was worried about the well - being of the main family. How despicable of me!
"I'm going to see my father!"
Hiashi Hyuga got up and ran into the hall.
Surprisingly, it wasn't his father in the middle but an old man, a clan elder he had met before.
"Greetings, elder. Greetings, father."
After bowing, Hiashi Hyuga couldn't wait to ask, "What happened today?"
"Hiashi, sit over there."
The elder pointed to a seat and briefly explained the situation.
Hiashi Hyuga didn't know what to say.
The atmosphere was tense. Everyone present had a gloomy look on their faces.
"We mustn't encourage this kind of behavior!"
The elder slapped the small table, breaking the silence. "The branch family is often away. If we agree this time, will others follow suit?"
"But if we don't agree, the branch family may revolt."
Hiashi's father, Hyuga Kazushi, shook his head. "Even with the suppression of the Cage Bird jutsu, there may be no problems in the short term. However, the hidden danger has been planted, and no one knows when the branch - family members will suddenly strike."
The elder sighed slightly. "Send the branch - family kids who haven't had the Cage Bird jutsu branded on them."
"Elder!"
Hiashi Hyuga suddenly stood up. The branch - family kids usually had the Cage Bird jutsu branded on them at the age of three, which meant they had to send away one - or two - year - old children.
The heartlessness of it made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Shut up! Do you want me to go instead?"
"I didn't mean that."
Hiashi Hyuga took a deep breath. "Handing over the children of the branch family will only lead to worse results. I suggest that this matter should be decided by the Hokage-sama."
"Maybe that's a good idea."
After being reminded by Hiashi Hyuga, Hyuga Kazushi came to his senses.
They were used to solving the problems of the Hyuga clan on their own and didn't allow others to interfere.
But this time it was a bit different.
"Elder, do you remember Kusanosuke mentioned Shimon Hiruko?"
"You mean it was ordered by Tanzo Shimura? But this method is too crude. It looks like someone is framing him."
"Whether it's a frame-up or not, our Hyuga clan's ninjas were captured on the battlefield. Both morally and rationally, the Hokage-sama should give us an explanation."
"You're right. Kazushi, go and talk to the Hokage-sama."
"Hiashi, come with me to the Hokage Building."
Hyuga Kazushi stood up and called Kusanosuke. They went to the Hokage Building together.
Soon they arrived at Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.
It was not the Anbu who opened the door, but Haruki.
"You're here."
Haruki let them in. "I've already told the Hokage-sama about the forty Hyuga ninjas."
"Kazushi, you're wrong about this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed him. "Why didn't you report it to me in time? Aren't you guys from the Hyuga clan also ninjas of Konoha?"
"Sorry."
Hyuga Kazushi felt a warm feeling in his heart. It was worth it for the Hyuga clan to always support the Hokage lineage.
"I'll give you an explanation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook the pipe in his hand.
After a moment, the door was pushed open.
Tanzo Shimura walked in with a gloomy face. "Hiruzen, why did you send the Anbu to investigate Shimon Hiruko?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
Tanzo Shimura felt an unprecedented pressure.
His face changed slightly.
He almost forgot that the one in front of him was known as the strongest Hokage.
"Tanzo, you should know that the experiment has been stopped. Did you order what Shimon Hiruko did?"
Tanzo Shimura was silent for a moment and then looked at the other three people in the office.
"I don't understand."
"Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed his authority without getting angry. "Tanzo, I've tolerated you a lot, but what do you think of Konoha when you blatantly break the rules!"
Tanzo Shimura trembled in his heart.
What's going on?
Apart from the so-called Will of Fire, he had done many things secretly, but he had never been treated like this by Hiruzen Sarutobi, especially in front of outsiders.
"Humph, look at what you've done!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly. Tanzo's reaction didn't seem to be fake.
"No way?!"
Tanzo Shimura opened the scroll. After seeing the shocking content, even with his self-restraint, he couldn't help shouting.
"Although I asked Shimon Hiruko to study [Wood Release], there is still a long way to go before success. Besides, with my methods, how could it become so well-known?"
To clear his suspicion, Tanzo Shimura started to reveal his own secrets.
"Is it really not you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Absolutely not me! Hiruzen, when have I ever lied to you? Everything I've done is for Konoha!"
Tanzo Shimura said angrily.
Haruki glanced at the two of them.
What great acting skills!
Hiruzen Sarutobi achieved two goals with one action. He not only won the loyalty of the Hyuga clan but also gave a warning to the increasingly arrogant Tanzo.
And Tanzo Shimura quickly cleared himself of suspicion with just a few words.
I'm afraid Hiruzen Sarutobi is having second thoughts now.
After all, his own plan was too hasty and full of loopholes.
"Who on earth is this mysterious person?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said doubtfully. "Since the death of the First Hokage, [Wood Release] has not been inherited by anyone. How did he learn it?"
"Could it be the Senju clan..."
Tanzo Shimura immediately shut up. He almost forgot there was an outsider present.
"Leave this matter to me. I'll definitely bring him back alive."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his eyelids slightly. Judging from the description in the [Scroll], this mysterious person's strength might be as strong as his own.
And Tanzo Shimura... How many secrets has this guy been keeping from me?
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