Chapter 204: What Does Victory or Defeat Matter?
In the distant shadows, two figures watched the proceedings from afar.
With White Zetsu serving as wireless WiFi, every movement on the scene, even every spoken word, couldn't escape the attention of Yasushi and Zetsu.
"Yasushi, you're still just watching here—aren't you going to step in and help?" Zetsu asked with some anxiety.
"Help with what?" Yasushi responded dismissively. "If the Branch House wants liberation, they can only rely on themselves."
"Only by personally overthrowing the masters above them with their own hands can they possibly be reborn from the ashes."
"If they want freedom, how can they achieve it without paying enough in blood and sacrifice?"
"The greater the price paid, the more people who die, the more they'll cherish the fruits of their struggle, and the less they'll be able to turn back from the path of rebellion."
"So ultimately, this is the Hyuga clan's internal affair—a war between the Branch House and Main House. It's not our place to interfere!"
"But if we don't interfere, the Branch House is about to lose!"
"Heh... So what if they lose?" Yasushi laughed coldly, his eyes devoid of warmth. "Zetsu, have you forgotten why we encouraged the Hyuga Branch House to resist Main House rule?"
"You can't really believe we're so kindhearted as to help the Branch House liberate themselves from the Main House, can you?"
"Uh..." After Yasushi's reminder, Zetsu immediately understood. "You bastard—you say such pretty words, but ultimately it's still about revenge!"
"All you want is to cause internal chaos in Konoha. Whether the Hyuga Main House or Branch House wins or loses, you don't actually care, do you?"
"Exactly." Yasushi smiled smugly. "It's just a shame the Third Hokage wasn't in the village. Otherwise, this show would be even more entertaining."
"What a pity I can't see those magnificent expressions on their faces. So disappointing!"
"By the way, where is Konoha's main force? Why are they taking so long?"
"By the time they return to the village, the show will be over."
"How about you send a White Zetsu to tip them off, Zetsu? Have them run faster—they should still be able to catch the finale."
"Heh, you really do have twisted tastes, Yasushi." Though Zetsu said this, the White Zetsu half automatically detached and sank into the earth.
The sudden appearance of Konoha's forces drew everyone's attention. The Main House members immediately grew excited, frantically calling for rescue.
"Jonin Nara, quickly save us!"
"As long as the village helps us suppress this rebellion, we'll agree to any terms afterward!"
"All expenses and losses during the suppression—we Hyuga will compensate tenfold! We absolutely won't let our village comrades suffer!"
Seeing these Main House members' ugly behavior, Neji's anger intensified. His brow arched as he shouted loudly:
"All Branch House members—block those Konoha shinobi! Life or death doesn't matter!"
"Let the reanimated bodies handle the Main House."
Following his command, the Branch House members immediately split into two groups, each facing their respective enemies.
Seeing former comrades now charging at them with bloodshot eyes, fighting with reckless abandon, Shikaku Nara panicked.
"Everyone, stop this internal conflict!"
"We're comrades from the same village!"
"Don't be manipulated by power-hungry schemers! Wake up!"
But his shouts not only failed to awaken those Branch House members—they made them even more furious.
"Shut up!"
"Village bastards!"
"You say you don't interfere in Hyuga clan internal affairs—what are you doing now?"
"So your so-called non-interference just means helping the Main House!"
"You're clearly on the Main House's side!"
"If it weren't for your backing, how could the Main House continue using the Branch House as slaves?"
"We're perfectly clear-headed right now!"
"There's no power-hungry schemer manipulating us—only the Branch House awakening!"
"If the village doesn't want internal conflict with us, then stand aside and don't interfere!"
"Once we've killed all the Main House members, everything will naturally be settled!"
"I'm telling you—whoever blocks us from killing the Main House becomes a mortal enemy of the Branch House!"
"Fight to the death!"
The Branch House members roared loudly as they clashed with the group of Konoha shinobi.
Main House members rarely went to the battlefield. The Hyuga who fought and killed on battlefields were all Branch House members.
In the previous life-and-death battles, these Branch House members had fought side by side with Konoha shinobi countless times, sharing life and death together. They had some camaraderie.
Now facing comrades they'd once fought alongside on the battlefield, Konoha's people couldn't bring themselves to deal killing blows. They could only parry left and right while continuously trying to persuade.
"Ninjo, you need to calm down!"
"The village is very weak right now and can't withstand more turmoil. Stop this quickly!"
"Miyu, are you really going to betray the village?"
"Think about your family and friends!"
"We're not your enemies! Get out of the way!"
Their pleas did make their opponents' movements slower and strikes less vicious, but they still blocked their path, refusing to let them pass.
"If you still consider me a friend, then don't interfere in our Hyuga clan's affairs."
"I promise you—as long as the village doesn't interfere, we'll remain members of the village and never betray it!"
"Main House members are very few in number and don't go to the battlefield anyway. Even if they all die, it won't diminish the village's strength!"
"I just don't understand why you must stop us from killing them all!"
"Right now it's not us Branch House trying to conflict with the village—it's you making things difficult for us!"
"Do you think the Main House will just pretend this rebellion never happened after they're rescued?"
"After the Main House survives, they'll purge all Branch House members who participated in the rebellion!"
"Think carefully—are those Main House members more important, or are we Branch House members more important?"
After the Branch House members exposed this critical point, the Konoha shinobi began having second thoughts.
They weren't ignorant of what kind of people the Hyuga Main House were. How could they not guess what the Main House's attitude would be toward this matter in the future?
Helping the Main House now was equivalent to sending these former comrades—who'd fought enemies and faced death together—to their doom.
With doubt in their hearts, their hands naturally slowed.
Everyone made a show of fighting while simultaneously turning their gazes toward their leader, Shikaku Nara, waiting for him to make the decision.
"Ugh, what a headache!" Shikaku Nara painfully slapped his forehead, feeling like his skull might explode.
If he simply weighed the value between the two sides, undoubtedly the Branch House side held greater value.
More people, higher combat capability, and even their reason for rebellion was justifiable—they held the moral high ground.
But in this world, many things couldn't be simply measured by value or right and wrong.
Things like shinobi world customs, the daimyo's attitude, clan hierarchy, the degree of Main House versus Branch House recognition and support for the village, the loyalty of village shinobi and villagers—these couldn't be measured by value alone.
Ordinary shinobi only needed to consider right and wrong and their own conscience. But as the village's acting administrator, he had far more to consider.
Fortunately, at this critical moment, someone who could make decisions returned.
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