Hyūga Sōga found himself surrounded by six individuals.
To be precise, five encircled him directly, while the sixth lurked in the shadows, their face obscured by deliberate concealment. The way the others shielded this hidden figure told Sōga that this person was the key.
"Do you realize what you're doing?" Sōga demanded, his voice heavy with authority.
Damn it.
Why was the Caged Bird Seal completely ineffective?
"If you surrender now and reveal how you've blocked the Caged Bird Seal, I might still plead for leniency on your behalf. But if you continue to resist, neither the Hyūga nor Konoha will tolerate your existence."
He was trying to reason with them.
Fighting even one would be difficult, but five? There was no way he could handle five at once.
"Kill him!"
The others didn't hesitate. All five attacked simultaneously.
They already knew their fate—no reminder from him was necessary.
As the five charged, Sōga immediately activated the Rotation, a blue dome of chakra enveloping his body. His eyes darted toward the exit.
I need to escape. I have to get this information out.
Otherwise, he'd be dragged down here by these traitors.
"Move!"
Hyūga Kiyoshi's voice cut through the chaos.
The five instantly retreated, creating space. Kiyoshi leaped into the air, finally revealing his face to Sōga.
"It's you!! Hyūga Kiyoshi!!"
Kiyoshi wasted no words. Chakra surged around his hands.
"Eight Trigrams Palms: Six Meridian Divine Sword – Modified Rotation!"
A blue spherical dome encased Kiyoshi, expanding outward at an alarming speed.
"This is the Rotation!?"
Sōga stared in disbelief. Kiyoshi had executed the technique mid-air, and while it resembled the Rotation, the speed of its expansion was unprecedented!
The two domes—one large, one small—collided. A violent gale erupted in the underground chamber, sending debris flying and whipping at the attackers' clothes.
Sōga hadn't anticipated this. Kiyoshi's Rotation wasn't just larger—it was far more powerful, pressing him relentlessly into the ground.
Soon, his stamina gave out.
As Sōga faltered, Kiyoshi halted his attack.
The next moment, five figures appeared around Sōga simultaneously.
"Guh—"
Blood trickled from Sōga's lips. He looked down to find five kunai embedded in his torso.
"You…"
His trembling finger pointed at Hyūga Kuwashi, but words failed him.
He'd never imagined he'd die at the hands of the branch family.
"The Hyūga… will never forgive you!!"
The kunai were yanked free. The five vanished, reappearing behind Kiyoshi, who knelt on the ground.
All six watched as Sōga staggered, clutching his chest and abdomen. After two unsteady steps, he collapsed face-first.
His body twitched, eyes brimming with resentment, before his life faded entirely.
"There's no turning back now," one of the Hyūga muttered grimly.
Killing a main family member was an unforgivable crime for the branch family—punishable by torture and death.
"We burned that bridge the moment we acted," Kuwashi replied solemnly.
By exposing the main family's stockpile of Byakugan, they'd sealed their fates. The main family would hunt them down regardless.
"Let's move."
Kiyoshi issued the order.
If they didn't leave now, they'd be discovered—and escape would become impossible.
The six hid in the room, peering through the doorway.
The patrols moved as usual, oblivious.
The main family wouldn't dare reveal what happened here. They had to guard against not just Konoha, but their own branch family as well.
The tradition of collecting Byakugan had existed since the Warring States era, but the branch family had never been allowed to know, not even blood brothers.
Like how Hyūga Hizashi still dreams of serving his elder brother, Hyūga Hiashi.
The six waited for the patrols' line of sight to shift.
The moment the guards turned, they activated Shave, darting to a distant rooftop.
They moved cautiously, avoiding detection by other Hyūga.
Once outside the compound, they exhaled in relief.
"Now it's up to you, Kiyoshi."
Kuwashi gripped Kiyoshi's shoulders.
"Come with us."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
"I must serve Lord Kin. If I endure, my name will be cleared. But you… You'll be branded missing-nin, hunted by Konoha."
The others exchanged glances.
"It doesn't matter anymore," one whispered.
The people they'd fought to protect were already gone—their eyes plucked, their bodies desecrated by the main family.
This village wasn't worth staying in.
The streets of Konoha were empty in the dead of night.
Still, the six remained vigilant.
If caught, they'd be dragged back and handed over to the Hyūga.
As one of Konoha's noble clans, the Hyūga held considerable influence.
They reached the village's barrier.
Uchiha Kin stood with his hands behind his back, studying the wall.
It wasn't physically imposing, but crossing it would alert the village—a precaution against external threats.
Sneaking in undetected required specialized methods, known only to major villages.
And each method could only be used once before Konoha patched the vulnerability.
The village had been infiltrated often enough that its seals were now meticulous.
Footsteps approached. Kin turned to see Kiyoshi leading the five Hyūga toward him.
"You're here."
Kin's lips curled into a practiced smile. Kiyoshi instinctively took his place behind Kin.
The five knelt in unison.
"We pay our respects, Lord Kin."
"I'm only doing this as a favor to Kiyoshi. Rise."
Kin waved a hand.
"Just remember to deliver what you promised."
Losing so many Byakugan would drive the Hyūga mad. Keeping them would risk exposure.
Better to send them to the Land of Rain.
Consider it their pledge of allegiance.
Darkness swirled before Kin.
"Step through, and your new lives begin."
He gestured to the oval-shaped void.
The five took a deep breath. Though uncertain, they had no other choice.
One by one, they vanished into the abyss.
As the last disappeared, the darkness dissolved.
"Now it's your turn, Kiyoshi."
Kin turned to him.
"Don't be afraid. With me behind you, no one can touch you."
"Yes, Lord Kin!"
(End of Chapter)