Chapter 203: Hyuga Clan Internal Affairs—The Village Need Not Trouble Itself
A Branch House shinobi charged before that Main House member. Facing the Main House member's attack, he didn't even try to block—he simply thrust the blade in his hand with all his might into the Main House member's body.
His movement contained no technique whatsoever, purely a desperate stabbing strike with every ounce of strength.
The Main House member screamed, his body staggering backward, staring with shocked eyes at the Branch House member who'd also been stabbed by his own blade.
He could see clearly—this wasn't some reanimated body. Once struck by the blade, death was certain.
Yet when trading injury for injury, this person hadn't hesitated in the slightest, willing to take a fatal blow himself just to carve a hole in his opponent.
At the instant his blade struck home, he'd seen it clearly—this Branch House member's eyes had released emotions that could only be described as wild joy. Mixed within were also venting, relief, and various other complex emotions. The light that flashed in those eyes was even more blinding than the Tenseigan.
He couldn't understand at all—why was it like this?
In his memory, this Branch House member was the most docile one. Every time he punished him, the man never dared raise his head to look at him, only knowing how to apologize constantly. But now...
Had Branch House hatred toward the Main House really grown so powerful they'd trade their lives for it?
This realization brought a terror greater than the knife wound in his abdomen. He suddenly understood how much poisonous hatred lay behind all that bowed-head submission.
But before he could comprehend this question, a flood of Branch House shinobi surged forward again, blades raining down to hack him into bloody pulp.
"Haha... I killed a Main House member!"
"I killed a Main House member!"
One shinobi suddenly began shouting with joy, face full of excitement, as if he'd accomplished some incredible meritorious deed.
His voice carried a sobbing quality, hoarse and inhuman—more like a beast's howl.
He violently pulled down his forehead protector, revealing the bird-shaped curse mark beneath, carefully smearing the blood from his blade tip across its surface.
That was something he'd always hidden deeply in everyday life, too ashamed to show anyone. But now, he dared display this curse mark openly for all to see.
Because after tonight, these curse marks would no longer be symbols of shame, but totems of resistance—silently testifying to a hundred years of Main House tyranny.
With his shout, more and more Branch House members seemed encouraged, their attacks growing increasingly fierce.
But soon, those who would disrupt things arrived.
"Stop this at once!"
With a loud shout, a group of shinobi charged toward them.
With such a major upheaval occurring in the village, if Konoha still hadn't noticed, the village wouldn't have survived until now.
At first, Shikaku Nara thought it was just the Hyuga Main House causing some messy trouble again and didn't want to get involved. But he quickly received word that the situation had become serious.
The sounds of battle and killing shook the skies—clearly no small matter.
Only then did Shikaku grow tense, leading village personnel in a hasty rush over, fearing enemies had infiltrated again.
But before they could approach, figures flashed and a patrol team blocked their path.
"The Hyuga compound lies ahead. Please halt, Jonin Nara."
Shikaku's gaze swept over them, recognizing that those before him were indeed Branch House members, not imposters. His eyebrow immediately arched as he shouted loudly:
"Lord Hokage is absent. I'm temporarily overseeing all village security matters."
"Stand aside immediately!"
"Don't obstruct my investigation!"
But those Branch House members kept cold expressions, gripping their weapons tightly as they stood firmly blocking the way, instead issuing a warning:
"Our Hyuga clan's internal affairs need not trouble the village."
"Jonin Nara, you wouldn't want to break the village's longstanding neutrality rules, would you?"
"You!" Shikaku's eyes blazed with fury as he glared at the Branch House member before him, receiving only cold indifference in return.
Hearing the sounds of killing grow increasingly fierce, Shikaku wanted to charge through directly but truly couldn't bear the responsibility for breaking the rules. He could only shout questions:
"What are you doing over there?"
"Why are so many people fighting and killing?"
"Who's the enemy?"
"Will this threaten the village's safety?"
The lead Branch House member hesitated. Seeing the village personnel's tense expressions as they gripped their weapons, clearly prepared to force their way through, he had no choice but to steel himself and say:
"Please rest assured—today's matter is purely Hyuga clan internal affairs. There are no external enemies."
"Are you certain?" Shikaku still didn't quite believe it, suspecting this person had been bribed. He called out, "Have Main House Elder Hishi come speak with me."
"Once I see him, I'll immediately lead everyone away."
At the mention of the Main House, those Branch House members' expressions immediately changed.
"Hmph. Since it's come to this point, there's nothing left to hide."
"Today's events are us Branch House rising up to slaughter every Main House member who enslaved us."
"From today forward, there will be no more Main House."
"What?" Not only Shikaku but all the Konoha shinobi were shocked. "Are you joking?"
"No one's joking with you."
Since everything was already exposed, the Branch House members stopped pretending and laid their hatred of the Main House on the table.
"All these years, the Main House has treated the Branch House like slaves, beating and cursing us constantly."
"We've had enough of this kind of life."
"Today we'll slaughter every last Main House member. Once they're all dead, we Branch House will naturally be free."
Shikaku's mind went "bang" as if exploding.
While he was managing village affairs, a prestigious clan's Main House was being exterminated—what a serious matter this was!
"Right now the village's strength is greatly damaged. This is a time when everything needs rebuilding. How can you engage in internal conflict?"
"No, I must stop you!"
"This is Hyuga clan internal affairs. It's not the village's place to interfere!"
The Branch House member still tried reasoning with him, but Shikaku had no interest in listening. He simply waved his hand and commanded:
"This matter concerns the village's strength and safety. How could it not involve the village?"
"No need for more words—charge in immediately and rescue the Main House!"
"Yes!" Numerous Konoha shinobi responded in unison and surged forward.
"Block them! Don't let them interfere with the slaughter plan!" The Branch House patrol team desperately tried to obstruct them, but with such disparity in numbers and strength, they were immediately swept aside.
Having broken through the defense, the Konoha shinobi immediately rushed toward the Hyuga cemetery, intent on ending this internal conflict.