Hyūga Hizashi looked at his older brother's expression of suppressed laughter, and suddenly felt a softness in his own heart, smiling. Perhaps this was the first time his brother had seen the Great Elder lose face within the Main Family, with the other two Elders not daring to speak.
The Great Elder, however, with his vicious eyes, saw Hyūga Hizashi smiling and snorted coldly. 'I can't deal with Ryun, but I can't deal with you, a bastard of the Branch Family?'
"Hizashi, since the Hokage-sama has been brought here, why haven't you scurried back to your Branch Family compound? What? Do you still want to have a meal with our Main Family?" The Hyūga Great Elder, Hyūga Kyō, looked arrogantly at Hyūga Hizashi as if looking at an outsider, a dog.
A trace of ruthlessness flashed in Hyūga Hizashi's eyes. He looked at the Hyūga Great Elder Hyūga Kyō, narrowed his eyes, as if imprinting his face in memory, hoping he wouldn't fall into his hands someday!
"Beast, what do you mean! Do you dare to disobey the Main Family's order? A mere bastard of the Branch Family. Fine, you won't leave? Don't blame me for teaching you a lesson!" After speaking, Hyūga Kyō closed his eyes, preparing to chant the curse.
Hyūga Hizashi's face changed, his silver teeth clenched tightly. That sound was even heard by Ryun. Hyūga Hiashi suddenly spoke, "Great Elder, what do you mean! How dare you call Hizashi a bastard?"
"Hizashi and I are born of the same mother, both sons of the former Clan Head Hyūga Sekijō. If he is a, then what am I?" Hyūga Hiashi seized the opportunity to deliver a verbal slap to Hyūga Kyō, his eyes emitting killing intent.
This time he was truly angry. He had always disliked Hyūga Kyō. They were all part of the same clan. The Branch Family just had a different role from the Main Family. Did calling people 'beast' and 'bastard' make you noble?
And now you openly call the former Clan Head's own son a beast! Hyūga Hiashi could not take it anymore! Usually, his father told him to endure, endure, endure. Endure your mother!
His younger brother had begun to distance himself. He was stuck in the middle, caught between family bonds and so-called clan interests. He was already very unhappy, and now you are rubbing it in his face!
Hyūga Hizashi couldn't help but be startled. He had forgotten how long it had been since he last saw his older brother angry, and for his sake at that. He suddenly felt his eyes moisten.
But thinking that his older brother might be pressured by the three Elders after the Hokage left, he gritted his teeth. "Big brother, don't be angry. Since the Main Family doesn't welcome me, I will leave!"
The Great Elder lowered his hand, glanced at Hiashi and snorted, then looked contemptuously at Hizashi's humiliated appearance, feeling a sense of satisfaction in his heart. Tsk, tsk, the Branch Family is the Branch Family. From the moment of birth, their fate is sealed.
Even if he is the son of the former Clan Head, so what? He's still Branch Family!
Just as Hyūga Hizashi prepared to leave, and Hyūga Kyō prepared to mock him, Ryun's face was covered with a gloomy expression. He looked up at Hyūga Kyō and grabbed Hyūga Hizashi, who was about to leave.
"Wait, Hizashi, you don't have to go. If he dares to chant the Caged Bird Seal even once, I will kill him!" Ryun's words carried firmness.
This shocked everyone present. Hyūga Kyō trembled all over, looking at Ryun with disbelief. "Hokage-sama, you said you would kill me?"
"What? Does the Great Elder have an opinion?" Ryun's eyes revealed a cold intent. 'Bastard' this, 'beast' that. One would think your Main and Branch Families are mortal enemies!
"I..." The Great Elder hesitated. He wanted to say this was their Hyūga clan's internal affair, that he, a member of the Uchiha clan, had no right to interfere.
However, thinking of Ryun's terrifying battle record and his personality, he swallowed his words. The Second Elder acted as if he saw nothing, looking at the sky. Wow~ The sky is so blue~
The Third Elder, however, was stubborn. He spoke, "Hokage-sama, this is our Hyūga clan's internal matter. Are you, an outsider, going to interfere?"
"Even the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, did not dare to interfere in our Hyūga clan's affairs. During the Warring States period, don't forget it was our Hyūga family who aided his Senju clan, allowing them to win against Madara Uchiha!"
As soon as the Third Elder said this, everyone present was astonished. Damn! Third Elder, you're amazing! This statement was practically pointing at Ryun's face and saying, 'You are not worthy!'
The Great Elder stepped back, moving behind the Second Elder. Although they were also arrogant and domineering, facing Ryun, Konoha's one true god, they were still apprehensive.
"Oh? You mean I'm not worthy?" Ryun narrowed his eyes. How long had it been since he heard those words? Good, very good!
"Hmph!" The Third Elder snorted coldly, but the meaning was clear. He was saying Ryun was not worthy, this is my family's matter! And our Hyūga shed blood and made sacrifices for Konoha.
"Hiashi, what do you say? If you also think I'm not worthy, then I will leave now. I will return the Byakugan to you, and from now on, I will have no connection with the Hyūga clan!" Ryun stared into Hyūga Hiashi's eyes, asking for his opinion.
Hyūga Hiashi's face turned pale. The other three Elders frantically signaled him to support the Third Elder. But Hyūga Hiashi glared at them and said, "Hokage-sama, currently there are traitors causing trouble within the Hyūga clan, obstructing my liberation of the Branch Family. I ask Hokage-sama to assist me, Hiashi, in purging the world and quelling the rebellion. If necessary, kill!"
As soon as Hyūga Hiashi said this, the three Great Elders' faces turned ashen. Traitors causing trouble? What traitors? Them? They were protecting the interests of the Hyūga Main Family! How could they be traitors?
And if that's the case, then you, Hyūga Hiashi, are the biggest traitor. You are the Clan Head of the Hyūga Main Family, the leader of the entire Hyūga clan. If we are traitors, you, Hyūga Hiashi, cannot escape blame either.
Hyūga Hiashi continued, "Originally, the Caged Bird Seal was a method from the Warring States period to prevent the Byakugan from falling into outside hands. But during my tenure leading the Hyūga family, I found its current use is not like that."
"It is more like a restriction, more like enslavement. The Hokage-sama said he wants all the people of Konoha to stand tall. But such an outdated and unfair system makes me deeply believe it must be abolished!" Hyūga Hiashi's eyes were firm, saying words he had never dared to say before the clan Elders.
The clan Elders all looked grim. What a fine Hyūga Hiashi! Do you know what you are doing? As the leader of the Hyūga Main Family, anyone else could say these words today, but not you!
Even if you, Hyūga Hiashi, have never done anything to coerce or threaten the Branch Family, you are the leader of all of us. If you rebel, what is left for us?
"Hmph, Hiashi, I believe you no longer possess all the qualities and abilities required of a Clan Head. Today, the three of us unanimously believe we should depose you from the position of Clan Head." The Third Elder had a quick wit and laughed.
Hyūga Hiashi gave them a cold look, then walked straight towards Ryun. "Teacher, there are traitors causing trouble within the clan. I ask Teacher to sweep away the obstacles for my Hyūga clan!"
The Great Elder and the Second Elder knew there was no way back now. They stood shoulder to shoulder with the Third Elder, looking at Ryun together.
Ryun laughed. "Good, Clan Head Hiashi. As the Hokage of Konoha Village, I accept your request to quell the rebellion." With Hyūga Hiashi's endorsement, Ryun now had just cause.
The three Great Elders released a signal flare. Hyūga Main Family disciples appeared one after another, wearing white training clothes, their expressions serious. Even many Branch Family members came and blocked the entrance, watching everything.
"Hyūga Hiashi, you have betrayed the clan's interests. I declare you a traitor to the Hyūga clan effective immediately. Whoever captures Hyūga Hiashi will be rewarded with one billion ryo!" The Great Elder acted decisively, seizing the initiative and claiming the moral high ground.
Hyūga Hizashi looked at the Branch Family members at the entrance behind him and said, "Clan Head Hiashi, in order to remove the Caged Bird Seal, has specially invited the Hokage-sama to assist. The goal is to make the Hyūga a true Hyūga where everyone is equal!"
The Main Family disciples became panicked. The Branch Family disciples' eyes seemed to shine now. They saw an opportunity, a chance for their descendants to no longer be Branch Family slaves!
Immediately, Branch Family disciples rushed into the courtyard. They glared at the Main Family members. The humiliation of decades could finally be settled today. Even without the Hokage-sama, they would have risen up eventually. Let alone now, with the Hokage-sama standing by their side, fighting alongside them.
"Branch Family, protect Lord Hiashi! He is the good Clan Head who supports our Branch Family in removing the Caged Bird Seal. Later, even if we die, we must protect Lord Hiashi's safety!" Hyūga Hizashi said, understanding that if a fight broke out, he would have no time to protect his older brother.
On the surface, besides the three Great Elders and the Clan Head, no other Main Family members were allowed to know the operation method of the Caged Bird Seal. But due to various family connections, the relatives of the three Great Elders' lineage also learned how to operate the Caged Bird Seal.
Ryun smiled. He handed the Cage Breaking Pills and a scroll to Hyūga Hizashi. "Hizashi, take everyone and retreat outside. Take the Cage Breaking Pill; it can completely remove your Caged Bird Seal curse mark!"
"There are ten thousand Cage Breaking Pills inside, enough. After taking the medicine, come back in. Their Caged Bird Seal technique will no longer be effective." Ryun smiled.
Hyūga Hizashi shuddered all over. The Branch Family members looked at the pill in his hand with fervor and hesitation. The existence of the Caged Bird Seal had made them suspicious and unable to trust others easily.
Hyūga Hizashi understood he needed to step up now and set an example for everyone. He opened the bottle, took out a golden pill, and swallowed it.
As his Adam's apple moved, Hyūga Hizashi took off his forehead protector. The Branch Family members all looked at his forehead. At first, there was no change, but after about five seconds, the green Caged Bird Seal curse mark on his forehead began to twist, then shattered, turning into points of starlight and dissipating into the air.
Hyūga Hizashi trembled all over. He saw it, he saw the one blind spot in his vision. He quickly took out a mirror and looked at his forehead. On the smooth, even skin of his forehead, the ugly green Caged Bird Seal curse mark was gone.
His eyes reddened now. The surrounding Branch Family members also had reddened eyes. But now was not the time for sentiment. Hyūga Hizashi wiped away his tears and said loudly, "Everyone, follow me! I will lead you to break the Caged Bird Seal!"
Afterwards, everyone retreated. The Branch Family released a full twenty signal flares. All Branch Family members, those on missions, and civilian Branch Family members all returned to the clan compound to investigate the situation.
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