Before this, even though Hyuga Hiashi had already made public the news about the moon, to most Hyuga clan members it still felt distant—whether in distance or in time—unreal, like something that belonged to a story.
But once the news spread that Hyuga Sōsuke had been murdered and his eyes taken, and that Hyuga Sōta's Byakugan had been forcibly gouged out—within an instant, that sense of unreality vanished. All that remained was a threat pressing right up against their throats.
Inside the Hyuga compound's assembly hall, the crowd was dense. Main house and branch house alike—every clan member still in the village had been urgently summoned.
Hyuga Hiashi sat in the main seat at the front, his face dark as still water, brows tightly drawn.
"Everyone, I assume you all already know what happened last night."
"Across the shinobi world, there is no shortage of those who covet the Byakugan. But to silently bypass Konoha's barrier system, infiltrate our compound, kill, and leave as if drifting away—this is the first time. It is the greatest humiliation in Hyuga history, and the crisis now looming over us."
"We have reason to believe the attacker is highly likely to be our 'distant kin' from the moon—the Ōtsutsuki clan. If you have thoughts, speak freely."
The moment he said that, hushed whispers rippled through the hall.
A main-house member, Hyuga Sōhiko, was the first to stand. His face was flushed red, his eyes bulging slightly with bloodshot strain—whether from anger… or fear, it was hard to say.
"This is entirely the branch family's dereliction!"
His voice instantly drowned out the noise and drew everyone's eyes to him.
"What is the branch family's duty? To protect the main house! That is your reason for existing! And what have you done?!"
"An enemy infiltrated our compound, killed a main-house elder, and stole two pairs of precious Byakugan! And you branch members didn't discover it until the next morning! How incompetent! How negligent!"
The atmosphere snapped tight. The branch members' faces varied—some lowered their heads, guilt written on them; others clenched their teeth, anger flashing in their eyes.
A young branch ninja couldn't hold it in. "Sōhiko-sama, we truly did fail in our duty, but you can't put it all—"
"No 'but'!" Sōhiko cut him off. "Your job is to protect the main house. If you can't do even that, what is the point of your existence?"
Another branch ninja, Hyuga Taihei, rose to support his side. "Sōhiko-sama, forgive my bluntness, but your accusation goes too far."
"What kind of attitude is that?" Sōhiko barked. "Are you saying this isn't your fault?!"
"It's your emotions that are excessive," Taihei answered coolly. "Last night's attacker was extremely strong and struck without warning. Against an opponent like that, we were powerless."
"So that's your excuse? 'Not strong enough' means you get to wash away negligence?"
The hall teetered toward open conflict—until Hiashi finally cut through it.
"Enough, Sōhiko."
Sōhiko froze, surprised. "Clan Head—"
Hiashi shot him a look that silenced him. "Taihei is correct. The intruder bypassed our defenses, and there are no signs of struggle in the room—meaning Elder Sōsuke was killed in an instant. An opponent of that level is beyond what most branch members can respond to."
"So blaming the branch family alone is meaningless. What we need now is a workable countermeasure—not internal strife."
Sōhiko, unwilling but unable to argue, sank back down with a stormy face, resentment still pooling in his eyes.
Hiashi sighed and said, "Now then… everyone, think of solutions."
The hall fell into silence again. After a moment, someone raised a hand.
"I suggest reinforcing the compound's defenses, increasing night patrols, and asking the barrier team to add more sensory seals within the compound."
Another nodded. "That's reasonable. But judging from last night, they seem to understand our defenses very well. And— they have Byakugan too. We can't keep Byakugan active on patrol forever. Even if our people endure it, what about other villagers—"
Someone else spoke up. "They may be 'distant kin' who know us inside and out, but we know nothing about them. If not for our ancestor's relic, we might not even know the name 'Ōtsutsuki.'"
"I think we should request aid from Konoha. Ask Anbu to assist."
"Wouldn't that make us look weak?" someone challenged. "The Hyuga are a prestigious clan of Konoha. If we can't even guard our own compound, won't we become a joke?"
"Is face more important, or safety?"
"Then give a better idea! Criticizing mine isn't helping!"
The arguments grew louder, but no one produced a plan everyone could accept. Reinforce defense. Strike first. Ask for help—
Time ticked by. The sun climbed overhead. The meeting still went nowhere.
Then Sōhiko stood again. "We should seek Konoha's help!"
"No matter what, the Byakugan is the Hyuga's most important bloodline limit—and also a key strategic asset of Konoha. Losing two pairs of Byakugan isn't only a Hyuga loss; it's a Konoha loss. Konoha can't ignore it!"
He had a point. The Byakugan's importance was unquestionable, and the enemy's strength was unfathomable. Without Konoha's help, it would be difficult for the Hyuga to face this crisis alone.
Some clan members were already nodding.
But Hyuga Hinata had reached her limit.
"You coward!"
A childish voice—yet razor-sharp—rang out. Hinata pointed at Hyuga Sōhiko, her finger trembling.
"You have none of the backbone a Hyuga should have!"
"You can dress it up however you want—'the Byakugan is Konoha's strategic asset,' 'Konoha can't ignore it'—but what are you really afraid of?"
"You're afraid your own Byakugan will be taken. You're afraid you'll die!"
Sōhiko's face turned iron-blue. His eyes flicked around the room, scrambling for support before others fully processed her words, and he snapped back, "Y-you… do you even know what you're saying?"
"I know exactly what I'm saying!" Hinata didn't retreat. "The Byakugan falling into another village's hands and the Byakugan falling into the hands of those 'moon relatives' are not the same thing!"
"You aren't truly worried about the village suffering losses. You just think the branch family can't protect you, and you're using that as an excuse to make Konoha protect you! You—are just afraid of dying!"
"You… you!" Sōhiko shook with rage. "You understand nothing! I'm thinking of the clan!"
"Thinking of the clan?" Hinata gave a cold laugh.
"You don't compare to the branch members fighting on the front lines! They'll risk everything to protect their families, protect the village, protect you cowards—and what about you?"
"You hide in the back and enjoy their sacrifice. Then when something happens, you shove the blame onto them!"
"Y-you're talking nonsense!" Sōhiko's eyes darted guiltily. "When have I ever feared death? The branch family exists to protect the main house, to protect the Byakugan!"
"Is that so?"
Hinata walked up step by step. Though her body was small, and standing only brought her to the same height as the kneeling Sōhiko, her presence crushed him.
"If you're so worried about the consequences of Byakugan falling into enemy hands, why don't you protect your own eyes with the Caged Bird seal?"
The entire hall froze—including Hiashi.
Even on the edge of life and death, no main-house member would ever willingly carve the Caged Bird seal onto their forehead. They understood better than anyone what that mark meant.
Sōhiko's face went chalk-white. His mouth opened, trying to refute her—but no sound came out.
"You can't answer, can you?"
Hinata snorted, then turned to the other main-house elders.
"And you? Are you cowards too?"
"HINATA. Enough." Hiashi finally spoke, his voice carrying weary helplessness.
"Please—!"
At that moment, Hyuga Kiyonari's voice suddenly rang out from the very back of the crowd. As always in gatherings like this, he had been tucked into some inconspicuous corner.
His loud voice instantly seized the room. The crowd parted like a tide, opening a path for him.
Kiyonari walked forward step by step until he stopped at Hinata's side.
No matter who starts the push—whether it's good or bad—if you're the support, you follow first.
Next, we're going to deliver a killer speech.
His eyes burned as he first swept over Hyuga Sōhiko, then the branch members, and finally settled on Hyuga Hiashi.
Then Kiyonari and Hinata exchanged a glance—
—and shouted in unison.
"Please, Clan Head, issue the order: have every main-house member carve the Caged Bird seal to keep the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands!"
"Please, Father, issue the order: have every main-house member carve the Caged Bird seal to keep the Byakugan from falling into enemy hands!"
The two voices echoed through the hall like thunder.
A dead silence fell.
Everyone was stunned. One was the six-year-old heir of the main house, the other was Tsunade-sama's student—yet here they stood, together challenging a thousand-year system.
Hiashi's expression twisted into something deeply complicated.
He was the clan head—the greatest beneficiary of the system—yet because of his younger brother he also carried resentment toward it. And precisely because he was clan head, he had never dared imagine changing it.
"Impudent!"
After what felt like an eternity, Sōhiko found his voice again. He pointed at Kiyonari and roared, "You branch trash—how dare you lecture the main house?! I—"
Kiyonari hadn't even opened his mouth before Hinata stepped in front of him.
And then—
"Byakugan: Pressure!"
No discussion. Hinata would not allow anyone to threaten Kiyonari with the Caged Bird seal.
A cold gaze burst from her eyes, and in the next instant it became tangible force crushing the whole hall—Sōhiko taking the brunt of it.
His anger turned to horror. His body was flung up and slammed into the wall with a heavy boom.
Cries erupted. Branch members stared wide-eyed, excitement surging in their gaze. Some main-house elders went pale, terrified Hinata might lash out at them too—while cursing under their breath.
"Is Sōhiko brain-dead?! He even dared threaten Tsunade-sama's student! The Hyuga still need Konoha's help!"
Even Kiyonari froze. He truly hadn't expected Hinata to show this side of herself.
But—am I the one living off soft power?
Then we're good.
Using the momentum Hinata created, Kiyonari raised his voice.
"The branch family protects the main house because the main house fulfills its responsibility to guide and protect the entire Hyuga clan!"
Now, with Sōhiko on the ground, the two of them could finally look down at him.
Hinata continued, "Main house or branch house—when the safety of the Hyuga clan as a whole is at stake, we bear equal responsibility! Yet when it comes time for you to fulfill that responsibility to protect the Hyuga, you refuse—then I, the branch family, and even the Hyuga clan itself can refuse to—protect you!"
Kiyonari stepped forward. "If you won't protect us, why should we throw our lives away for your selfishness!"
"So—" Hinata didn't even look at him anymore. With one sentence, she pronounced his fate. "From today on, no branch member will risk their life to protect you. If you fear death, go carve the Caged Bird seal."
In an instant, the branch members' eyes glittered with fierce exhilaration.
Yes—if you won't protect us, why should we protect you? Why is it only the branch who must shoulder the duty of protecting the Byakugan? Why is it only the branch who must bear the Caged Bird seal?
Sōhiko trembled, blood spraying from his mouth. Somehow he forced out one last line.
"Y-you… this is sophistry…"
But Hinata ignored him completely.
Kiyonari, however, softened for a moment and added, "The Caged Bird seal can destroy the Byakugan at death. So even if the enemy kills you, they can't take your eyes. If they can't take your eyes, they won't target you again. Isn't that exactly what you want?"
The finishing blow landed. Sōhiko glared at him, tried to breathe—failed—and fainted on the spot.
"Sōhiko!"
Another main-house member cried out.
Kiyonari cleared his throat and continued, "Rights and responsibilities are equal. If the main house enjoys the branch family's protection, and enjoys freedom from the Caged Bird's restraint, then they should realize they bear the same weight of responsibility."
Hinata stepped forward, gripping Kiyonari's hand, Byakugan still active as she swept her gaze over the hall.
"So—if the main house truly fears the Byakugan being stolen, then please carve the Caged Bird seal as well. That way, even if you're killed, your eyes can't be taken. Isn't that the best way to protect the Byakugan?"
"If you refuse to carve the Caged Bird seal, then it can only mean you're not truly worried about the consequences of the Byakugan being lost—you're afraid of death. You refuse to bear the responsibility of the main house!"
"And if that's the case, then from now on, the branch family will no longer bear what you call 'our duty'!"
"Because the meaning of the Caged Bird has changed—no longer a tool to protect the Hyuga, but a tool the main house uses to oppress and exploit the branch!"
~~~
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