Inside the Hyuga Clan compound, Hiashi had just stepped through the entrance when he saw Kagetsu, the man who had taught him ninjutsu, performing a jutsu.
All around him, members of the branch family were writhing on the ground, clutching their heads in agony.
The Caged Bird Seal was being activated.
"Master Kagetsu, what's going on?"
Kagetsu, standing in front of the main hall doors, kept forming hand seals but spared a moment to respond.
"They disobeyed orders, Young Master. The clan leader instructed me to discipline them lightly."
Hiashi froze, struggling to process what he'd just heard.
"Insubordination? What are you talking about?"
Ever since the Caged Bird Seal was introduced, the clan had split into two factions. One loyal to the main family, the other filled with resentment but unwilling to rebel.
"They attempted to attack the patriarch," Kagetsu said, his eyes fixed on the branch family members.
"What? That's impossible!" Hiashi was stunned. "Where's my father? Is he alright?"
"He's fine. He's in the meeting room." Hiashi exhaled in relief and hurried toward the hall. But before he could enter, he spotted a middle-aged man kneeling just outside the door.
"Uncle Sosuke?" Hiashi's breath hitched as he recognized him. He rushed forward to help him up, but Sosuke refused.
Blood dripped from Sosuke's clenched fist, his nails had dug deep into his palm.
A sinking feeling settled in Hiashi's chest.
Sosuke was one of the strongest supporters of the main family and had always treated him kindly. Seeing him like this was unsettling.
"Young Master..." Sosuke tried to speak, but no words came out.
Generations of clan traditions had ingrained one simple truth. Losing even a single member of the main family was unacceptable.
For years, Sosuke had upheld that belief. But now, his silence said more than words ever could.
'What am I even doing? Why am I more worried about the main family than the suffering of the branch family?'
Shaking his head, Hiashi straightened up. "I'm going to see my father!"
Without another word, he stormed into the hall.
To Hiashi's surprise, the person sitting in the center of the room wasn't his father. It was an elder he had met before.
"I greet the elder and my father," Hiashi said, bowing before quickly asking, "What exactly happened today?"
"Calm yourself, Hiashi," the elder said, motioning for him to sit. He then gave a brief explanation of the situation.
Hiashi found himself at a loss for words.
The tension in the room was palpable, and every face was clouded with unease.
"We cannot allow this to continue!" The elder finally broke the silence, slamming his hand against the small table. "The branch family has been growing more restless. If we give in now, others will follow their example!"
"But if we refuse, they might revolt," Hiashi's father, Hyuga Tsukasa, countered. "The Caged Bird Seal can suppress them for now, but this has already planted the seeds of rebellion. It's only a matter of time before someone makes their move."
The elder sighed and then spoke with chilling finality. "Then we will release the children who have yet to receive the Caged Bird Seal."
Hiashi abruptly stood up. "Elder!"
Branch family members typically received the Caged Bird Seal at the age of three. That meant they were talking about handing over one- and two-year-old children. The sheer cruelty of it made Hiashi's stomach turn.
"Silence!" The elder shot him a sharp look. "Would you rather I go in their place?"
"That's not what I meant." Hiashi forced himself to stay calm. He took a deep breath and said, "Giving up the children of the branch family will only create bigger problems in the long run."
"I suggest we let the Hokage decide."
That made Tsukasa pause. "Perhaps... that's not a bad idea."
The Hyuga Clan had always handled its own affairs without outside interference. But this time was different.
"Elder, do you remember what Sosuke said about Hiruko?"
"You think Danzo is behind this? No, this is too crude. If anything, it looks like someone is trying to set us up."
"Maybe, maybe not. But Hyuga ninjas were captured on the battlefield. We have every right to demand an explanation from the Hokage."
"You're right," the elder finally agreed. "Kazushi, go inform the Hokage."
"Hiashi, you're coming with me to the Hokage's office," Tsukasa said as he stood up.
The elder and Sosuke joined them, and together, they left for the Hokage building.
When they arrived at the Hokage's office, the door wasn't opened by an Anbu.
It was Haruki.
"You're here," Haruki said, stepping aside to let them in. "I've already informed Hokage-sama about the forty Hyuga ninjas."
"You made a mistake there," Hiruzen said, his tone reproachful. "Why didn't you report this to me sooner? Aren't the Hyuga part of Konoha's forces?"
Tsukasa and the elder felt a warmth in their hearts. This was why the Hyuga had always backed the Hokage's faction.
"I will help you," Hiruzen assured them, tapping the pipe in his hand.
Moments later, the door swung open again.
Danzo entered, his face dark. "Hiruzen, why did you send Anbu to investigate Hiruko?"
Hiruzen shot him a glance, and in that instant, the atmosphere shifted.
A rare pressure settled over the room, and for the first time in a long while, Danzo felt overwhelming presence of the strongest ninja of their generation. His expression twitched slightly.
"Danzo, you know the experiment was shut down," Hiruzen said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Did you order Hiruko to continue?"
Danzo was silent for a moment before glancing at the others in the room. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Enough." Hiruzen's voice carried authority. "I've overlooked a lot, but you've openly disregarded the rules and put the village at risk."
Danzo's mind raced. 'What's going on?'
He had done many things behind the scenes in the name of the Will of Fire, but never had Hiruzen reprimanded him like this in front of others.
"See for yourself." Hiruzen frowned and tossed a scroll toward him.
Danzo unrolled it, and his face darkened. Even with his discipline, he couldn't suppress a sharp inhale. "How is this possible?!"
"Although I did instruct Hiruko to research Wood Release, it would take years to yield results. And even if I had succeeded, do you think I would have let this become public knowledge?"
In his rush to defend himself, Danzo started revealing too much.
"So it really wasn't you?" Hiruzen asked, studying him carefully.
"It couldn't have been me!" Danzo snapped. "Hiruzen, when have I ever lied to you? Everything I do is for the village!"
Haruki watched the exchange with amusement. 'What a performance.'
With this, Hiruzen had secured the Hyuga Clan's loyalty while simultaneously putting Danzo on the defensive.
Yet, with just a few quick denials, Danzo had already begun clearing himself of suspicion.
"Who is this mysterious man?" Hiruzen muttered, his brows furrowed. "Since the death of the First Hokage, one of my teachers, no one has inherited Wood Release. How did he acquire it?"
Danzo's expression shifted. "Could it be…?" He abruptly shut his mouth, realizing he had nearly spoken too much in front of outsiders.
"I'll handle this," he said instead. "I will bring him back."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. Based on the details in the scroll, this mysterious figure's strength was likely on par with his own.
'Danzo… just how much have you been hiding from me?'
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