Chapter 8: Create a Fait Accompli
"It can be done!"
Ritsu answered decisively.
He looked at Takuma and spoke bluntly. "Adding up all seven Main Family bloodlines totals only seventeen people. Among them are nine jonin. But Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi, Elders Hyuga Hisho and Hyuga Daichi, plus that mediocre waste Hyuga Daisho are all at the Eastern Front base. In reality, only five Main Family jonin remain in the compound currently. Two of them are over seventy years old and no longer possess jonin-level combat capability. That means only three Main Family jonin with real fighting ability remain in the compound!"
The Hyuga clan's Main Family-Branch Family division was actually quite simple.
The Hyuga ancestor who established this system had seven sons—the source of the seven Main Family bloodlines. Each bloodline had one and only one Main Family member per generation. A bloodline might have as few as one member, or as many as four or five.
For example, current Clan Head Hyuga Hiashi's bloodline.
As the eldest son, Hiashi was Main Family.
His father was naturally Main Family.
His eldest son or eldest daughter would likewise be Main Family.
Currently, Hiashi's father and grandfather had both passed away, and he had no children yet, so his bloodline had only him as Main Family.
Normally, a bloodline would have two to three Main Family members simultaneously. But if four or five generations coexisted, that bloodline might have four or five Main Family members.
All other clan members were Branch Family.
Like Hiashi's own younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi—merely because he was born slightly later, he too received the Caged Bird Seal and became a Branch Family member.
"Ritsu, you haven't accounted for Branch Family members who staunchly support the Main Family. Though the clan head and two elders took many skilled fighters, more than ten jonin remain behind."
Takuma pointed out a flaw in Ritsu's logic.
"Takuma, have you forgotten I no longer have the Caged Bird Seal? Do you think I can now control the Caged Bird Seal like the Main Family and restrain other Branch Family members?"
"What? This..."
Takuma was stunned.
Even though he clearly knew Ritsu no longer had the Caged Bird Seal, habitual thinking still made him unconsciously overlook this point. He'd forgotten that Ritsu, having erased the seal, not only was no longer restrained by it—he might even possess the ability to control other Branch Family members.
"If you can manipulate the Caged Bird Seal like the Main Family, then Branch Family jonin indeed pose no concern. You'd only need to consider how to defeat three Main Family jonin."
After a moment of silence, Takuma admitted Ritsu's plan did have a degree of feasibility.
"However, there's another problem."
Before Ritsu could say anything more, Takuma pointed out another difficulty. "Have you considered how to explain this to the village? Acting against the Main Family, destroying the Main Family-Branch Family system—will the village allow such a thing to happen?"
Konoha's management approach toward clans was clan autonomy. As long as outsiders weren't involved, as long as clan members serving in village positions weren't implicated, each clan's internal affairs were basically self-determined.
However, the Hyuga clan was also Konoha's Hyuga clan.
Unlike the unruly Uchiha, the Hyuga were more tightly bound to Konoha Village. That Konoha could fight on four fronts simultaneously—the Byakugan's role in this was undeniable. The Byakugan's powerful reconnaissance abilities let Konoha shinobi always seize the initiative in battle or discover danger in advance.
Precisely because the Byakugan was so important, the village wouldn't allow major upheaval within the Hyuga clan—at least not before the war ended. Large-scale turmoil within the Hyuga wouldn't be permitted.
"As long as we move fast enough and create a fait accompli."
Ritsu spoke with confidence.
After brief consideration, Takuma realized Ritsu's words were actually sound. Once those Main Family members were dead, and the Hyuga clan could maintain stability without Main Family oversight, what could the village do even if displeased? Would they go against the will of numerous Branch Family members and forcibly maintain the Main Family-Branch Family system?
He wasn't like Arima and Akiba, who were still relatively young with simpler worldviews, single-mindedly focused on studying killing techniques.
At seventeen, though he loved studying adult literature, he'd already recognized that the village's leadership wasn't as noble as propaganda claimed. Those people probably didn't care about the Hyuga clan's internal joys and sorrows. To the village leaders, maintaining the Hyuga clan's stability was far more important than determining right and wrong between Main Family and Branch Family.
Nearby, Akiba was growing impatient.
"Takuma, you're so long-winded! Are you done yet? When exactly are we going to kill those Main Family people?" Akiba muttered and complained.
"We depart once ready."
Ritsu stood up.
He didn't retie his headband but stuffed it into his pocket, leaving his forehead exposed. "Takuma, Arima, Akiba—hurry and prepare. Whatever tools you need, take from Arima's stock. We'll resupply him afterward."
"I'll get them!"
Arima dashed into the house. Two minutes later, he charged back out with a pile of well-maintained shinobi tools.
Takuma and Akiba had come hastily, and being within the clan compound, they'd only carried minimal tools. They hadn't brought items like flash bombs or explosive tags.
Neither stood on ceremony. They quickly filled the tool pouches hanging at their waists.
"Ritsu-aniki, aren't you taking any?"
Seeing Ritsu remain motionless, Arima couldn't help asking.
Though the Hyuga clan specialized in taijutsu and their Gentle Fist was renowned throughout the shinobi world—killing with Gentle Fist was no slower than others killing with blades—this didn't mean they only fought with taijutsu. Tools were used when necessary. After all, items like explosive tags and flash bombs served purposes taijutsu couldn't replace.
"No need."
Ritsu waved his hand in refusal, smiling. "This might sound arrogant, but it's fact—dealing with those few Main Family jonin poses no difficulty for me!"
His confidence emanated from within, overflowing outward.
After using the Chimera Technique to steal the Shikotsumyaku bloodline, his chakra reserves had increased tenfold. His Byakugan's performance had been comprehensively enhanced. Moreover, beyond the Byakugan, he now possessed the Shikotsumyaku—a bloodline that severely countered taijutsu specialists.
Even before, Ritsu had already been called the Branch Family's greatest prodigy.
With Level 3 Physical Regeneration, Ritsu could handle three or four ordinary jonin without issue.
Those few Main Family jonin—polished turds with shiny surfaces—truly didn't concern Ritsu. What he guarded against was village intervention. The village's top fighters weren't as easy to deal with as those Main Family wastes.
"Is everyone ready? If so, we're departing."
Ritsu surveyed the three and asked.
"I've been waiting forever!"
"I want to smash those disgusting Main Family faces right now."
"Ready for orders!"
All three responded in succession. Not just the already eager Akiba and Arima—even the composed Takuma couldn't help showing excitement.
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