Chapter 171: Learning From Uchiha Yasushi
That branch family shinobi was overjoyed, hurriedly bowing to accept it while spouting endless flattery.
"Elder Tokuma is fair and wise—truly the family's good fortune."
"Please rest assured, family and Elder. I will definitely fight valiantly on the battlefield, letting this treasure display its proper might, living up to the family's esteem and expectations."
This was proper! The branch family should have this attitude!
Hyuga Tokuma nodded with satisfaction, then turned to leave the plaza.
After all the main family members left and only branch family remained on scene, someone finally grumbled with indignation:
"That Hyuga Kuraya—for one ninja tool, to actually do such a thing is truly shameless!"
"If we'd known, Neji shouldn't have saved him!"
Others shook their heads sighing. "That's not just a ninja tool—it's a guarantee for survival in chaotic times!"
"Such good items weren't originally something we branch family had qualifications to use. Neji should have dedicated this ninja tool to the family from the start. Maybe he could have even received family rewards."
Neji pressed his head, forcibly enduring severe pain. Looking left and right at surrounding people, he spoke firmly:
"Don't mention any damned rewards. Those are just bones the main family throws out for branch family to fight over."
"I will never bow to the main family again. Even death—absolutely not."
"The main family fundamentally doesn't treat us branch family as human. Our future descendants will also suffer our fate."
"I don't want my descendants suffering this fate. I've decided to rebel against the main family."
"Those willing to rebel against the main family with me can stay. If you lack resolve to face death, you can leave now."
After listening, everyone exchanged glances, not believing he could truly rebel against the main family. The final result would be nothing but death.
They tried persuading Neji for a long while. Seeing Neji remained unwilling to change his mind, they could only give up.
Even those who'd previously received Neji's life-saving grace gradually left one by one.
Ultimately, barely a dozen people remained.
Neji's gaze swept over these remaining dozen faces before nodding with satisfaction.
"I'm not recklessly foolish. Wanting to rebel against the main family—naturally I have my own certainty."
"Let's leave here first and find a quiet place. I'll explain in detail."
Everyone hastily helped Neji to his home.
After the group sat down, Neji extended his finger and lightly tapped the floor. A White Zetsu immediately floated up from underground.
"Don't worry. There are no outsiders' eyes nearby."
During Konoha Village's destruction battle, White Zetsu had also appeared, so everyone present recognized this thing. Immediately shocked, they all jumped up, gripping kunai in their hands.
"White Zetsu!"
"Enemy infiltration!"
Seeing everyone alarmed, Neji hastily waved his hand, calling:
"Alright, everyone calm down. This is one of our own. Please sit."
Everyone exchanged glances, eyes hesitant. Nobody would sit.
Seeing this, Neji sneered coldly:
"White Zetsu is Konoha Village's enemy but not necessarily the Hyuga branch family's enemy."
"You've all witnessed what attitude Konoha Village has toward the branch family now."
"They and the main family are cut from the same cloth—completely disregarding whether we branch family live or die."
"Continuing to serve Konoha Village hereafter equals continuing as the main family's dogs."
"Whoever wants to continue being a dog can go be one. Either way, I won't!"
"If you can't accept cooperating with White Zetsu, you can leave now. We won't need to associate anymore afterward."
After hesitating for a while, several people silently turned and left. But those remaining resolutely sat back in their original positions.
"Excellent. Starting today, our organization shall be called 'Revive.'"
"We will break free from cage restraints and soar high!"
"But before that, we must follow procedure."
He turned and nodded at White Zetsu. White Zetsu clapped his hands. The door opened and several White Zetsu walked in from outside.
In their hands, they held several unconscious shinobi. Looking at their faces—exactly those people who'd just left.
"Lord Yasushi said correctly—to accomplish great things requires unified thinking. Being indecisive won't work."
"Since these people refuse to walk our path, they pose risk of betraying us."
"What we're doing relates to everyone's lives and families. We cannot tolerate even the slightest risk."
"Now, let these people serve as sacrificial offerings for our alliance."
"We'll kill them now. Everyone must act. Not one person can be excluded."
"Murdering comrades is a grave crime in the village. After taking this step, there's no turning back."
"This..." Now everyone gasped coldly, hearts hesitating again.
Seeing this, Neji waved his fist, passionately agitating:
"These people aren't dying because of us—they're dying because of the main family's brutality."
"They are the foundation of our mutual trust, necessary sacrifices and costs."
"We're not for our own selfish interests but for all branch family's future, so our next generation won't suffer main family enslavement."
"Think about it—can you accept living like dogs your entire lives?"
"Can you accept your descendants also being treated as slaves from birth like yourselves?"
"What are you still hesitating about?"
Under Neji's agitation, someone finally raised their blade first, stabbing down at one of the shinobi.
One blade fell. Blood splattered everywhere.
After the first, naturally came the second, the third.
Those shinobi on the ground were bound tightly. Their mouths were also thoroughly gagged, unable to speak. They could only struggle violently there.
But still to no avail. They could only watch helplessly as former comrades and friends walked over one by one, stabbing knives into their bodies. Their hearts filled with unimaginable regret.
Before long, everyone had submitted their pledges of allegiance. Finally Neji personally acted, killing these bound people one by one, thoroughly concluding this procedure.
White Zetsu smiled faintly, dragging these corpses to sink into the earth.
His evidence destruction methods were extremely skilled. In mere moments, the floor surface recovered spotlessly clean without even a trace of blood remaining.
Only at this point did Neji tell his followers the truth.
"Making the main family abandon enslaving the branch family is impossible."
"Currently our only method is killing all main family members."
"Once the main family all dies, naturally the 'Caged Bird' curse seals on branch family heads will be gone."
"We must learn from Uchiha Yasushi! Even he could ruthlessly act against his own clansmen. Naturally we can too!"