Chapter 170: Backstab from the Branch Family
"Dream on!" Yasushi immediately cried out, shaking his head repeatedly.
"I won't do things without benefits!"
"You must let me learn Snake Sage Mode first. Only then will I give you the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"If I give you Mangekyo Sharingan now, then later when I'm learning Sage Mode I die from bad luck—wouldn't I be at a huge loss?"
The White Snake Sage flicked her forked tongue, speaking dismissively:
"Snake Sage Mode is inherently dangerous. Throughout history, how many geniuses have fallen here? Who can guarantee you'll pass smoothly?"
"If you fear death, just don't learn."
"Cut it out!" Yasushi pointed at his own eyes, calling: "Have you forgotten? My ocular ability is prophecy. You can't deceive me!"
"I know Ryuchi Cave has insights and experiences regarding Snake Sage Mode. I want to see them now."
"Also, while I'm training, you must help guard me."
"Once I fail, you must immediately disperse the natural energy on my body."
"Otherwise, if I turn into a stone statue, the Mangekyo Sharingan on me naturally becomes useless too. You get nothing."
"Tch, what a troublesome fellow!" The White Snake Sage impatiently flicked her tail, but ultimately compromised.
"Fine, fine. Tagitsuhime, go show him the notes."
"After he finishes reading, bring him back. I'll teach him Snake Sage Mode."
"Yes." Tagitsuhime hurriedly responded, leading Yasushi outside.
Having obtained the White Snake Sage's guarantee, Yasushi also relaxed, walking out with a smile.
Konoha, Hyuga clan grounds.
Neji and others were forcibly brought to the plaza where many clan members already waited.
At the plaza's center, a main family elder stood with hands tucked in sleeves, arrogantly raising his head, looking at the approaching Neji and others.
Behind the main family elder, a group of branch family members stood in a row, surrounding him like stars around the moon.
"Neji, I heard you possess an extremely powerful ninja tool that can reflect incoming wind-style ninjutsu?"
Neji swept his gaze over the people behind the main family elder, seeing many familiar faces as expected.
These were branch family members he'd rescued on the battlefield.
When he rescued them, these people showed him gratitude, speaking every kind word.
But at this moment, the instant these people's eyes met his, they hurriedly looked away—a guilty, cowardly appearance.
'Heh, what Lord Yasushi said was indeed correct. Within the Hyuga branch family, there really are quite a few content with being the main family's dogs.'
Though he'd known long ago this backstab would inevitably occur, now personally facing it, Neji's heart still felt slightly cold. He was thoroughly disappointed in these people's behavior.
He firmly memorized these people's faces, then lowered his eyelids, bowing his head to reply:
"Correct, Elder Tokuma. There is such a ninja tool, called the Flying Swallow Twin Swords."
"Such a powerful ninja tool—where did you obtain it?"
"The Flying Swallow Twin Swords are war spoils I seized on the battlefield."
"War spoils?" Elder Tokuma laughed coldly. "Such powerful war spoils—why haven't you reported them to the family?"
Neji remained silent momentarily, then spoke coldly:
"I felt powerful ninja tools in the hands of us branch family fighting on the front lines have far more value than being left on main family shelves as exhibition pieces."
"Audacious!" Hyuga Tokuma immediately erupted. "Are you accusing the main family of cowardice?!"
Neji remained silent, making Hyuga Tokuma even more furious.
He formed a hand seal. Neji immediately felt as if a red-hot iron rod stirred chaotically in his brain. He involuntarily screamed, collapsing to the ground, rolling back and forth.
Shrill screaming echoed through the courtyard, making surrounding branch family members turn pale with fear, legs trembling.
Moments later, Hyuga Tokuma released the seal, pointing at Neji and shouting:
"You branch family only need to fight fiercely on the front lines. The main family considers much more!"
"Food, medicine, supplies, explosive tags, soldier pills... which of these weren't painstakingly procured by us main family?"
"Without main family efforts maintaining the rear, you couldn't even get rice balls up front—you'd only starve!"
"You don't know gratitude. Instead you spread gossip here, secretly slandering main family achievements. This is too excessive!"
"I ask you now—do you admit your mistake?"
Neji prostrated on the ground, continuously groaning. After panting for a long while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Since the main family works so hard, why not switch positions?"
"Henceforth the main family goes to the battlefield. We branch family suffer hardship in the rear procuring supplies."
"How about it?"
"Audacious!" Hyuga Tokuma grew even more furious. He completely hadn't expected that after receiving Caged Bird curse seal punishment, Neji would still dare talk back.
Such a rebellious type couldn't go unpunished!
So he formed the seal again, activating the Caged Bird curse seal.
Shrill screaming echoed once more in everyone's ears.
Many branch family members watched Neji roll on the ground, his body bouncing on the ground like a fish on a cutting board. They couldn't help empathizing, kneeling before Hyuga Tokuma to plead.
"Elder Tokuma, Neji is still young. His father died early. He entered the battlefield before graduating ninja academy without receiving proper education and guidance. That's why he's so ignorant."
"Please, Elder Tokuma, for the sake of his father's sacrificial dedication to the family, forgive him this once."
"We'll definitely educate him properly afterward, letting him know the family's devotion and protection toward him."
Amid the branch family's pleading, Hyuga Tokuma finally felt the respect he deserved.
He surveyed everyone, seeing fear and reverence on many branch family faces as wished. Only then did he release the seal, sparing Neji.
Many branch family shinobi hurried over to help Neji up, using healing ninjutsu to treat his injuries and stop pain while whispering advice, urging him to bow his head and speak softly to Elder Tokuma.
But no matter how everyone pleaded, Neji remained completely silent, unwilling to speak those insincere words, unwilling to bow and beg for mercy. Only those eyes remained full of hatred and fury.
However, under many branch family members' deliberate blocking, this gaze didn't fall into Hyuga Tokuma's sight.
Hyuga Tokuma waved his hand, having someone remove the Flying Swallow Twin Swords strapped to Neji's back. Holding them in hand and playing with them, he smiled at everyone:
"Everyone must understand—the village is currently locked in fierce battle with enemy nations. Every bit of assistance requires careful calculation."
"Such powerful ninja tools in Neji's hands are truly too wasteful. Better to hand them to powerful shinobi who can better display their effectiveness."
After speaking, he casually handed the Flying Swallow Twin Swords to a branch family shinobi behind him.
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