Hyūga Fū unleashed the Eight Trigrams Empty Palm, aiming directly for Ryun's head. Ryun immediately sensed something was wrong. A golden Susanoo skeleton erupted from the ground, enveloping his entire body.
The Empty Palm struck Ryun's skeleton, merely flashing brightly at the point of impact before calming down without causing any disturbance. Ryun suddenly sneered coldly. They actually made a move?
"Bold." Ryun said lightly. The people present also had strange expressions. Arguing was one thing, but actually resorting to violence?
Now, things were difficult to control. Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un were utterly despairing. They never imagined the third brother could be so brainless as to attempt an assassination of the Hokage.
Immediately, members of the Branch Family filed in. "Protect the Hokage!"
"Protect Lord Hiashi!"
"Kill those Main Family bastards!"
The former Hyūga Branch Family shinobi stepped forward to confront the Main Family shinobi. They hadn't yet fully adapted to their new circumstances, but they could not stand idly by while the Hokage was in danger.
Without the Caged Bird Seal to restrain them, the insignificant Main Family could be dealt with easily.
Hyūga Hizashi stepped forward, looking at the old fools of the Main Family with full of fighting spirit, and spat. "You dogs! Usually, you call us Branch Family members all sorts of names, contributing nothing, just being parasites of the Hyūga clan, relying on the Caged Bird to coerce and exploit us Branch Family disciples!" Hatred filled Hyūga Hizashi's eyes.
He originally thought his life would just be like this, controlled by the Main Family, living like a puppet on a string, including his future children, who would only be slaves to the Main Family.
He had resisted before, but was beaten back by a single Caged Bird Seal. It was only because his elder brother spoke up for him that he avoided being executed on the spot.
And the one who had coerced and exploited him the most back then was this Third Elder, Hyūga Fū. Hyūga Fū was true to his name, Fū, meaning wind, but also sounding like 'mad'. When cornered, he would do anything, just like now, committing the clan destroying crime of publicly attacking the Hokage. It was simply absurd.
"Elder Brother, Second Brother, do you still not understand? Now, the only option is to fight to the death! Otherwise, our Hyūga Main Family will become the laughingstock of Konoha!" Hyūga Fū's face was slightly dark as he looked at his two brothers.
Ryun was somewhat surprised. He didn't expect to encounter someone in this world who valued principles more than life itself. Interesting, truly interesting.
Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un remained motionless. They understood the disparity in strength between the enemy and themselves. Now, even if the Hokage didn't take action, the Branch Family could tear them to pieces. Resistance? There was no hope. It was better to simply admit defeat, and maybe become a wealthy commoner, an ordinary Hyūga clansman.
Seeing that Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un were unmoved, Hyūga Fū's eyes turned fierce, and he clenched his fists. Everyone thought he was crazy, but he wasn't. Hyūga Fū would rather be a ghost under someone else's blade than become gossip for others.
In for a penny, in for a pound!
Hyūga Fū gathered chakra again, preparing to use the Eight Trigrams Empty Palm. However, in the next second, Hyūga Hizashi's figure moved like a ghost, directly using the Eight Trigrams Sixty Four Palms to seal all the chakra pathways in Hyūga Fū's body, preventing his chakra from flowing anymore.
Hyūga Fū was stunned. Today, he actually had all his chakra pathways sealed by a member of the Branch Family? He immediately formed a sword hand seal, placed it in front of his chest, and began to chant the Caged Bird Seal technique for the Branch Family. As a result, Hyūga Hizashi looked at Hyūga Fū with a mocking expression.
"Heh, idiot. Have you forgotten that Lord Hokage just gave us the Cage Breaking Pill?" Hyūga Hizashi said coldly, then slapped Hyūga Fū hard across the left cheek. He didn't hold back his strength, and a loud sound rang out, making members of other families present gasp. How much hatred must there be for that!
Hyūga Hizashi, now the number one expert of the Hyūga clan, had been a Jōnin three years ago. Even Hyūga Hiashi was slightly inferior to him. And these elders, who usually held positions without doing anything, lived in comfort and luxury, their combat abilities had deteriorated to who knows what extent. How dare they make a move now?
"Outrageous! Hyūga Hizashi, you Branch Family dog, how dare you turn on your master! Do you want to rebel?" Hyūga Fū felt he had lost face and tried to salvage his dignity with words.
"Heh, if it's the former Hyūga, where the Main Family secretly calls the Branch Family dogs behind their backs, then what if we do rebel?" Now, without the restrictions of the Caged Bird Seal and without the threat to his life, Hyūga Hizashi displayed the demeanor of the Hyūga clan's number one genius.
The Great Elder and Second Elder were stunned. It was as if they saw in Hyūga Hizashi the figure of Hyūga Tenjin, who led the Hyūga clan during the Warring States Period to a stalemate against Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
He was just as unrestrained, just as young, and also from the Branch Family, slaughtering his way across the battlefield. However, at that time, the relationship between the Main and Branch Families was very good. During the Warring States Period, no one knew if death would come tomorrow. The Caged Bird Seal was originally established to protect the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.
Not like now, where it became a tool for class opposition. The two elders looked at each other. Were we really wrong? Actually, they knew in their hearts, they had known from the very beginning the disadvantages of doing this. But to enjoy such treatment, to let their descendants live without having to struggle, they had entertained evil thoughts.
They coerced Hyūga Sekijō into agreeing. He was helpless at the time, but the Elder Council voted three to one, his words carried no weight! Otherwise, who would let their own son become part of the Branch Family?
And some people didn't regret it now, didn't just realize their mistake now, but knew from the start. The reason they started regretting now was because they knew the tide had turned, and they were about to face reckoning.
Hyūga Fū's eyes were sinister. Even without chakra, relying on taijutsu alone, he could defeat Hyūga Hizashi. A mere junior! Just as he was about to make a move, Hyūga Hizashi kicked out.
Hyūga Fū was immediately kicked to the ground. Fists fear youthful vigor, and he was facing the clan's acknowledged number one genius. This outcome was not unexpected!
Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un continued kneeling, not saying a word. Hyūga Hizashi had no desire to attack these guys who lacked the courage to resist. He spoke up, "Members of the Hyūga Clan Guard, hear my command! Hyūga Fū has attacked the Hokage. Arrest him and take him to the Guard prison now. Any accomplices who remain unrepentant will be treated as equally guilty!"
"Yes!" Dozens of voices rang out. The Hyūga Branch Family shinobi stepped forward and seized Hyūga Fū of the Main Family. The other Main Family shinobi had never seen such a scene, and being usually like flowers in a greenhouse, they couldn't muster the will to resist.
One by one, the so called geniuses of the Hyūga Main Family began kneeling on the ground. Once high and mighty, they were now like losers, resigned to their fate, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
Ryun did not stop this scene. What he needed to do was already done. As for the Great Elder and Second Elder, presumably the Branch Family, now free from the Caged Bird, could pull them from their positions.
"Hizashi." Ryun suddenly called out to Hyūga Hizashi.
"Lord Hokage!" Hyūga Hizashi knelt on both knees. This wasn't just a simple bow; such a great courtesy was usually reserved for parents. But now, Ryun's actions towards him, Hyūga Hizashi, and towards their Branch Family were undoubtedly a grace of rebirth. So Ryun deserved this kneeling!
"Hizashi, from now on, you must assist your elder brother in managing the Hyūga clan properly. From this day forward, the names of Branch Family and Main Family are abolished. Are you willing?" Ryun got straight to the point.
"Your subordinate is willing!" Hyūga Hizashi did not hesitate. Everything they had now was bestowed upon them by Ryun. What reason did they have to disagree?
"Hiashi, the Elder Council has decayed. Now it needs to be reshuffled. You and your younger brother quickly select new clan elders to stabilize the clan's morale." Ryun instructed.
"I understand, Sensei!" His eyes showed joy. He finally didn't have to work with those arrogant old men anymore, finding fault with him everywhere, picking on his mistakes everywhere. Even if it was beneficial for the clan, as long as it didn't align with their interests, they would reject it together.
Hyūga Hiashi had had enough of such a life!
Ryun nodded. He spoke up, "Everyone, today I was invited by Clan Head Hiashi to resolve the clan's internal strife. Please explain the situation clearly when the time comes."
"We understand!" The representatives of the various families stepped forward and said.
"Since the matter here is concluded, Hiashi, Hizashi, I will take my leave." Ryun glanced at them and walked out the main entrance openly and honorably.
The Branch Family disciples nearby quickly made way, then looked at Ryun with grateful and reverent eyes, swearing in their hearts to devote their lives to Ryun's service.
This was the thought of those long oppressed, suddenly liberated. Probably even if Ryun ordered them to commit suicide now, they wouldn't hesitate.
Hyūga Clan Grounds
Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi looked at each other and suddenly laughed heartily. These twin brothers, now without any barriers between them, embraced each other.
"Elder Brother!"
"Second Brother!"
The Branch Family shinobi seeing this scene also smiled. They respected Hizashi and naturally respected Hiashi. They were happy to see the relationship between these two improve.
Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un seemed as if the spirit had been drained from their bodies. Their backs were no longer straight but hunched over. The matter was settled.
Hyūga Hizashi left the handling of Hyūga Kyōdō and Hyūga Un to his elder brother, Hyūga Hiashi. Hyūga Hiashi clasped his hands, speaking seriously, "Hyūga Kyōdō, Hyūga Un, from this moment, you are relieved of your positions as Great Elder and Second Elder. You are hereby placed under house arrest for half a year. After you have thought things through clearly, you may go out."
Now, there was only one voice in the Hyūga clan, and that was the voice of Hyūga Hiashi!
The Great Elder and Second Elder were forcibly taken back to their homes by Branch Family members and thrown inside. The two looked at each other and sighed inwardly. Retribution always comes, it was just a matter of time.
Now, the Branch Family's backlash made them afraid. It was only because Hyūga Hiashi was kind hearted that they were given a chance to reform. If it were Hizashi, he would probably want to kill them!
Outside the Clan Grounds
Hyūga Hiashi looked at the members of the former Main and Branch Families. He declared, "From now on, the Branch Family and Main Family succession system is completely abolished. Everyone is a shinobi of the Hyūga clan. No one is any higher than anyone else!"
"Second, all former Main Family secret techniques and ninjutsu are now open to all. You must study diligently and strive for the future of our Hyūga clan!"
"Third, I appoint Hyūga Hizashi as Great Elder, to handle major clan affairs together with me, Hyūga Hiashi!"
"Does anyone have any questions?" Hyūga Hiashi kept a stern face, but inside he was laughing wildly.
"We have no objections!" All the Hyūga clansmen knelt on the ground, including the former Main Family shinobi. They accepted this outcome quite easily.
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