Hyūga Kagami struck out with a flurry of palms, each blow crisp and precise. Two opponents were sent flying as he spun on his heel, narrowly avoiding several retaliating Gentle Fist strikes.
A surge of chakra erupted from his body.
Kagami thrust both palms forward, releasing bursts of compressed chakra in every direction—Gentle Fist: Vacuum Palm.
The attackers surrounding him were repelled at once, forced back by the invisible shockwaves.
Without hesitation, Hyūga Kagami lunged forward, charging straight toward Hinata Hiroto.
Just as Kagami's fist was about to land, Hinata Hiroto showed no panic whatsoever. A cold sneer crept onto his lips as he formed a one-handed seal.
A shrill, agonized scream rang out.
Hyūga Kagami collapsed instantly, his body convulsing as he curled into himself, clutching his chest while writhing in unbearable pain.
Hinata Hiroto said icily,
"Hyūga Kagami, you dare forget your duty as a Branch Family member and raise your fist against me—a member of the Main Family. This is an unforgivable sin. You are courting death."
'The Caged Bird Seal…!'
The sudden turn of events stunned Uchiha Gen and the others.
Kagami lay trembling on the ground, sweat pouring from his body as though wrung from him. The agony inflicted by the Curse Mark was obvious to all.
Yet even so, he clenched his teeth and uttered not a single plea.
Seeing this, Hinata Hiroto's anger only intensified.
Kagami's silence felt like an insult—an affront to the authority of the Main Family. Hiroto increased the output of chakra flowing into the Curse Mark.
"Kagami, hurry and beg Young Master Hiroto for mercy!" one of his companions cried desperately.
"Young Master Hiroto, please spare him! Kagami already knows he was wrong!" another knelt down, pleading.
Around them, Branch Family students watched in fear. Their gazes toward Hinata Hiroto grew even more respectful—reverent.
"Silence," said another Hyūga youth beside Hiroto, his tone cold. He too bore the mark of the Main Family.
"To dare strike the Main Family is a grave crime. Severe punishment is only fitting."
Swish!
Hinata Hiroto's vision blurred.
A figure appeared before him in an instant, a fist slamming into his chest before he could react.
"Bang!"
Hinata Hiroto was sent flying, crashing heavily into the ground.
The impact disrupted his chakra flow, abruptly halting the activation of the Caged Bird Seal.
"Who dares—?!" he shouted angrily as he scrambled to his feet.
His eyes locked onto Uchiha Gen, who stared back at him coldly. Nearby, Senju Gen and Hatake Seiko were already helping Hyūga Kagami up.
"An Uchiha… and a Senju?" Hinata Hiroto sneered, noticing the clan crests.
"What an unexpected pairing."
He glared at them.
"Do you intend to interfere? This is an internal matter of the Hyūga Clan—the Main Family disciplining the Branch Family. Outsiders have no right to involve themselves."
Hyūga Kagami, barely able to stand, leaned heavily on Senju Gen and Hatake Seiko. He looked at them weakly.
"Senju Gen… Hatake Seiko… why are you here?"
"We were just passing by," Senju Gen replied calmly.
"Kagami, don't talk," Hatake Seiko whispered. "You're in no condition."
Kagami lifted his gaze toward Uchiha Gen.
Uchiha Gen stood with his arms crossed, his expression arrogant as he snorted coldly.
"There's no Uchiha, no Senju, and no Hyūga here right now."
"There are only classmates."
"As classmates, we won't stand by and watch one of our own get bullied."
He stepped forward, eyes sharp.
"Hyūga brat, I heard everything you said. I'm Uchiha Gen—the one you look down on."
"Kagami couldn't defeat me. So let's see whether the so-called Young Master of the Hyūga Main Family can."
Hinata Hiroto's expression darkened.
That punch earlier had told him enough—Uchiha Gen was no ordinary opponent.
After exchanging a glance with the two Main Family companions beside him, Hiroto spoke coldly,
"Then I'll test your strength."
Eight Trigrams: Four Palms!
Hinata Hiroto struck rapidly, four invisible palm forces blasting forward simultaneously.
Uchiha Gen met them head-on, his fists moving like dragons.
Bang!
The palm forces shattered into violent gusts of wind.
In the same instant, Hinata Hiroto closed the distance, appearing directly before him.
Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!
Palm strikes rained down in a blur, chakra-laden blows sealing tenketsu as the sound of continuous impacts echoed through the air.
Several breaths later, the assault ended.
Hinata Hiroto leapt back, veins bulging beside his eyes as he activated the Byakugan, staring intently at Uchiha Gen.
Crack!
The ground beneath Uchiha Gen fractured.
In the next moment, his figure vanished.
Body Flicker Technique.
Hinata Hiroto's heart tightened. His Byakugan scanned in all directions—then he pivoted sharply and thrust out a palm.
Boom!
Violent chakra currents exploded outward.
Uchiha Gen's fist collided directly with Hinata Hiroto's palm.
Hinata Hiroto's expression changed instantly. He staggered back several steps as his sleeve was shredded, torn apart by the invisible force of the clash.
"Hiroto!" one of the Main Family students shouted, rushing forward to support him.
Another barked,
"Everyone—attack together!"
They charged.
Before they could surround him, Senju Gen stomped off the ground, flipping through the air and landing beside Uchiha Gen. His fist smashed into a Hyūga student.
Senju Gen moved fluidly—leaping, striking, flowing between punches, palms, and kicks.
In moments, the Hyūga students around him were sprawled on the ground.
He turned toward Uchiha Gen—and froze.
Uchiha Gen stood calmly, unmoving.
At his feet lay several Hyūga students, piled together neatly.
Hinata Hiroto watched everything, his expression twisted with fury and disbelief.
He hadn't even been able to see it clearly.
Uchiha Gen had merely raised his hand—and they were gone.
Uchiha Gen smiled mockingly.
"So this is the strength of the Hyūga Main Family?"
"Too weak."
"Looks like you're not as impressive as you think."
The veins at Hinata Hiroto's temples throbbed violently as he glared at Uchiha Gen, resentment barely contained.
After a long silence, he turned away.
"Hyūga Kagami is our classmate," Senju Gen called after him.
"I don't want to see him bullied again."
Hinata Hiroto snorted coldly and walked away without looking back.
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