Yemen was struck down, sent flying, and crashed into the ground with a dull thud.
As he lay on the floor, his blood boiling with rage, he turned his eyes toward Naraku, who was slowly approaching step by step.
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!!"
Today was supposed to be a beautiful day for him!
He was to be officially named the next patriarch of the Hyuga Clan!
And Naraku, that cursed branch family member who should've died today, had the audacity to humiliate him in front of everyone?
None of the branch family shinobi who had followed him even dared to move. Not a single one approached to help him.
Naraku came to a stop beside Yemen, grabbed him by the collar, and effortlessly lifted him into the air.
"You bastard—ughh!" Yemen gasped, only to be silenced by a brutal punch to the stomach.
"I hit you first for disrespecting Uncle Hizashi," Naraku said coldly.
"This one's for breaking down my door."
Then, without another word, Naraku flung Yemen aside like discarded trash.
Yemen seethed with hatred. He had never been humiliated like this before. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he glared at both Naraku and Fugaku—both of whom treated him as if he were no more than dust.
"You arrogant bastard! Don't get too full of yourself!" Yemen shouted bitterly, struggling to stand.
Then, turning to the Uchiha trio who had watched silently, he snapped:
"Patriarch Uchiha, you can attend the meeting too."
"You can even use your Sharingan to witness what's coming—engrave it in your memory!"
He wanted Fugaku and the others to see Naraku's death.
Clutching his aching stomach, Yemen staggered out of Naraku's house, followed by his group of branch family retainers, all leaving in awkward silence.
"Isn't this dangerous?" Hizashi asked worriedly.
No matter how strong Naraku was, the Caged Bird Seal meant instant death for any branch member—Naraku included.
Their lives could be snuffed out with a mere thought from the Main House.
"Don't worry. Their authority is limited," Naraku said calmly with a faint smile.
The only reason the Main House dared to confront him now was because they believed they could still use the Caged Bird Seal to kill him instantly.
But that assumption was flawed.
"I believe Naraku-san would never act without being fully prepared," Shisui said without hesitation.
Itachi nodded in agreement.
In his eyes, Naraku was too cautious and intelligent to make a move without having already accounted for every variable.
"Shall we attend the assembly together?" Fugaku asked politely, not asserting himself, but clearly interested.
Naraku grinned. "Yes, let's. Maybe there will be a few surprises."
Hizashi watched the scene with growing confusion.
He suddenly realized—he barely understood Naraku at all.
Why were high-level Uchiha like Fugaku and Shisui treating Naraku with such subtle respect?
It was as if, unknowingly, they had begun to follow his lead.
...
Outside Naraku's house, another group of Hyuga branch shinobi waited.
These men were not part of Yemen's entourage.
Over the years of oppression and control through the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga branch family had slowly fractured into two factions.
One faction remained submissive to the Main Family, afraid to rebel, even though they secretly resented their cursed fate.
The other, smaller faction had given up their dignity entirely, becoming loyal dogs to the Main House in exchange for a few minor privileges. These traitors looked down on their fellow branch members, despite still being treated as inferiors by the Main Family themselves.
Thus, the branch had split into two bitterly opposed groups.
And the ones outside Naraku's home clearly weren't part of the submissive camp.
As Yemen, still bloodied and humiliated, stumbled past them, their quiet whispers died out. They stared at him with veiled ridicule.
For a moment, Yemen straightened his back, trying to reclaim some of his lost dignity.
But then, he caught it—a smirk. A faint, mocking look in the eyes of a few branch shinobi.
Blood stained his robes. His defeat had been seen.
"Hmph!" Yemen scoffed, but he didn't dare stay longer. He turned and left.
Behind him, laughter erupted.
That laughter—
"You bastards! Why are you laughing!?" Yemen turned and shouted at them.
"A bunch of trash!"
Furious and humiliated, he pushed away the retainers who had accompanied him and stormed off alone.
...
"Father, why… why didn't you just activate the seal and kill that bastard!?" Yemen demanded, his eyes blazing with frustration.
The Great Elder of the Hyuga Clan remained calm and composed, his expression unreadable.
"Hokage wants to be there," he said slowly.
"Hokage-sama said, 'I want to witness the death of Hyuga Naraku with my own eyes.'"
Yemen's face lit up with vicious delight.
He had known the Third Hokage was behind today's actions.
But he hadn't expected him to appear in person.
"And the execution will be public?"
"Most likely."
"Then there's nothing to worry about," Yemen sneered. "Naraku is finished!"
The elder nodded, but his eyes burned with hatred.
He still remembered the shame of Naraku grabbing him by the throat.
That boy dared to touch him, the Great Elder?
No. His death should not be quick.
"It must be slow," Yemen added darkly.
"We need to torment him, make him suffer, make him beg to die."
The elder's face twisted into a grim scowl.
He agreed.
He was sure even the Hokage would enjoy such a display.