"Clean this up."
Immediately, someone stepped forward to remove Hizashi's corpse.
The four figures remained composed, waiting for the next stage of their plan.
Before long, a Branch Family ninja entered the hall, dragging Hyuga Neji alongside him.
"Let me go! I need to find Gakuya!"
"Neji, stop making a scene!" Hiashi barked.
Seeing his uncle, Neji had no idea that the people before him were his father's murderers.
"Uncle, he just dragged me here against my will!"
"It's fine. I'll handle it," Hiashi said reassuringly.
"Now, get out."
"Y-Yes!" The Branch Family ninja hurriedly left the hall.
"Uncle, where's my father?"
The Second Elder put on a dramatic act. "Sigh... He's inside. Go see him. He's suffering from a bloodline disease and doesn't have much time left. Before passing..."
"He entrusted me with your care," Hiashi interrupted, intending to personally mold Neji into his ideal successor.
"What?!" Neji gasped in disbelief before rushing inside, only to see his father lying weakly on the bed, barely clinging to life.
Overcome with worry, Neji threw himself beside his father. "Father! What happened to you?!"
"I... I'm fine..." The imposter wheezed weakly.
"You were fine just a moment ago! Why are you like this now?!"
"I took a secret medicine to suppress my illness so I could spend more time with you... But now the sickness has caught up to me. I came here to entrust you to your uncle."
"Neji... Remember to listen to your uncle."
Understanding that the more he spoke, the more he risked exposing himself, the fake Hizashi tilted his head and feigned death.
Neji, devastated, broke down in tears before collapsing unconscious from the overwhelming grief.
...
September 1, Konoha Year 57
Hyuga Gakuya finally returned to the Hyuga Clan. As soon as he stepped into the outer Branch Family territory, he noticed the white mourning banners hanging everywhere—a clear sign that someone had died.
Hurrying to Hizashi's residence, he found the entire place sealed off. His heart pounded as he forced open the door, only to find the house completely empty, even the servants gone.
A terrible suspicion formed in his mind.
Had the Main Family killed Hizashi?
Without hesitation, he bolted toward Hiashi's estate.
"Halt! You do not belong here!"
In an instant, countless Byakugan eyes activated, trapping Gakuya within a Formation.
Gakuya activated his Lightning Release: Lightning Armor and drove a fist into the stomach of the nearest Hyuga clansman.
The man was sent flying.
One after another, more Hyuga stepped forward to stop him, but Gakuya, enveloped in his Lightning Armor, tore through them like a thunderstorm. Though he could have used his forbidden Bloodline Seizure Technique to consume them all, he resisted the urge.
"What kind of power is this?!"
"Forget it! Don't block him!"
Gakuya landed a final devastating punch, sending the last obstacle crashing into the ground before storming into the Main Family's estate.
The moment he entered, his gaze locked onto the main hall.
Sitting in the highest seat was Hyuga Hiashi, flanked by the three Elders. But most importantly—Neji was at Hiashi's side.
Hiashi's hand rested on the back of Neji's head, appearing affectionate, yet Gakuya could see the silent threat behind the gesture.
His eyes burned red with fury, lightning crackling around his body as the stone tiles beneath him shattered.
"Where is my uncle?!"
At the sound of his voice, Neji instantly burst into tears. "Father... Father, he... Waaaah!"
Neji tried to run to Gakuya, but Hiashi held him back.
At that moment, everything became clear to Gakuya. The Hyuga Clan still harbored treacherous ambitions—they wanted to use Hizashi and Neji to control him.
And judging by the situation, they had succeeded.
With Neji in their grasp, Gakuya was forced into a corner. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't risk making a move.
Hiashi feigned a sigh. "Alas... Hizashi suffered from a bloodline disease and passed away a few days ago. Before he left, he entrusted you and Neji to my care. He wanted me to look after you both."
Gakuya clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. Lies. All of it. When he had left, his uncle had been in perfect health—there was no way he had simply died from an illness.
But they had played their hand perfectly. With Neji in their grasp, Gakuya had no choice but to stand down.
"Great Elder, take Neji away."
The Great Elder cast Gakuya a smug glance, relishing the pained expression on his face.
He grabbed Neji—who was crying so hard he nearly fainted—and forcefully dragged him out of the hall.
"If you dare harm Neji, I swear I will drag the entire Hyuga Clan to hell with me," Gakuya growled through clenched teeth.
Hiashi maintained his composed facade. "I am Neji's uncle. Why would I ever harm him? You worry too much."
He then added with a hypocritical smile, "Besides, with you still out there, how could I possibly mistreat him?"
The Third Elder, unlike Hiashi, didn't bother with pretense. He smirked and said outright,
"You carry Hyuga blood. No matter what, you will always be a part of this clan. Your duty is to contribute to our future. Do you understand?"
Gakuya's jaw tightened. From between his teeth, he forced out two words: "I understand."
"Now then, tell us about Konoha's recent movements."
Suppressing his rage, Gakuya recounted the details of his recent mission.
"Hmm, installing a new Daimyo... That's beneficial for us."
"You may leave now. Remember your place."
As Gakuya left, the clan leaders exchanged smiles. This was far more effective than the Caged Bird Seal.
...
Back in his old room, Gakuya immediately noticed signs that it had been searched. His expression darkened as he knelt beside his bed and reached underneath.
His fingers brushed against something—his uncle's farewell letter.
To my nephew, Gakuya...
The letter detailed how Hizashi had been summoned by the Main Family, realizing too late that it was a trap. He had wanted Neji to escape first but failed. In his final words, he entrusted Neji to Gakuya.
As he read, Gakuya's grief and fury surged. His vision blurred red, and his black pupils transformed into a spinning pattern of tomoe.
One tomoe... Two... Three...
His Sharingan had awakened, fully matured.
"The Hyuga Clan..." He crumpled the letter and swallowed it whole, committing every word to memory.
If before, he had entertained the thought of reforming the clan out of respect for his uncle—
Now, he was determined to annihilate them.
They had murdered his family one after another. If he did not take revenge, he would not be human.
He wasn't strong enough yet. He needed to wait for the right moment. And then it came to him—a perfect opportunity one year from now.
The Night of the Uchiha Massacre.
When Konoha was fixated on the Uchiha, he would take that chance to wipe out the Hyuga and rescue Neji.
But no—he couldn't wait a whole year.
He had to force their hand. He had to escalate their conflict.
The Hyuga Clan's extinction would happen sooner than planned.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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