Chapter 21: The Main Family Remnants Receive Shocking News
Land of Fire, Eastern Coastal Region.
Front-line base.
Over a thousand Konoha shinobi were stationed here, contending against Mist ninja under the command of one of the Sannin, Orochimaru. In one corner of the camp, Konoha ninja wearing white wide-sleeved robes with pure white eyes could be seen everywhere. This was the encampment area Orochimaru had specifically designated for the Hyuga clan visitors.
Hiashi and the others hadn't come to the front lines as reinforcements and weren't under Orochimaru's command.
They'd come to handle the stolen Byakugan matter—primarily to hold Ritsu accountable for his inadequate rescue. They wouldn't interfere with front-line battles. As for recovering the stolen Byakugan, that matter required long-term planning.
"Damn it! That bastard Orochimaru is truly detestable!"
Main Family Elder Hyuga Hisho pushed aside the tent flap and stormed in angrily.
"Elder Hisho, watch your words. Where do you think you are?" Inside the tent, Hiashi—seated in the main position—frowned and glared disapprovingly at the loose-lipped, loudly spouting Hisho.
"Hisho, the clan head is right. Watch your words. Orochimaru is the Hokage's student. He might even become the Fourth Hokage in the future. Speaking so recklessly—are you trying to bring trouble to the family?"
Main Family Elder Hyuga Daichi, sitting to the side, also frowned with displeasure as he glared at Hisho.
"It was just one complaint... Fine, fine, I get it. I spoke out of turn. But Orochimaru still has... *cough cough*... Orochimaru still maintains the same attitude, still saying he doesn't know when Ritsu will return."
Hisho sat down huffily. He looked at Hiashi and clamored, "Clan Head, we can't just keep waiting like this! Today's the third day, and Ritsu still hasn't returned. I suspect this little bastard has defected!"
If Ritsu is a little bastard, then what are we who are also Hyuga?
Hiashi glared at Hisho irritably. After pondering a moment, he spoke slowly. "Defection shouldn't be likely. Unless he plans to hide his identity for life, where could he escape to? His parents are both in the compound. He's not the type to abandon his parents."
"That's debatable."
Hisho disagreed.
Hiashi wanted to say something, but just then, hurried footsteps came from outside.
"Clan Head, Lord Orochimaru and Jonin Namikaze Minato have come to visit, saying they have urgent business with you." A Branch Family jonin reported respectfully outside the door.
"Namikaze Minato?"
Hiashi froze. "Isn't he fighting Rock ninja in the north? Was he transferred here to fight Mist ninja?"
But this confusion lasted only an instant. Hiashi collected his scattered thoughts and looked left and right. "Elder Daichi, Elder Hisho, since Lord Orochimaru and Jonin Minato are visiting, let's all go out to greet them together!"
Orochimaru and Minato—Konoha Village's only two Fourth Hokage candidates. The Fourth Hokage position would definitely belong to one of them. Even the Hyuga clan needed to treat them with great respect.
Neither Daichi nor Hisho objected to this.
The three walked out together.
At the encampment entrance, they saw Orochimaru and Minato standing side by side.
"Lord Orochimaru, Minato-jonin, forgive our poor reception!"
Hiashi's attitude was very polite.
However, Minato today—before Hiashi could finish his courtesies—spoke directly. "Hiashi-senpai, I truly came to find you on urgent business. Pleasantries aren't necessary. Please... find a secure, convenient place to talk."
He surveyed the surroundings.
There were quite a few Hyuga clan members here. This wasn't a place for conversation, especially with sensitive content.
"Hmm? What happened?"
Hiashi's heart skipped a beat. Minato's attitude made him somewhat anxious. But he still forcibly suppressed his inner unease and quickly led Orochimaru and Minato to a tent with an internal barrier that he used as a study.
"Minato-jonin, did something happen in the village?"
After lowering the tent flap, Hiashi asked somewhat urgently.
"Hiashi-senpai, and these two senpai."
Minato looked at the three Hyuga Main Family members before him. For a moment, he actually felt somewhat troubled, not knowing how to begin. But he had to speak. Steeling himself, he spoke. "This matter... is very shocking. Please prepare yourselves for the worst!"
At these words, Hiashi's complexion immediately turned extremely ugly.
Daichi and Hisho exchanged glances, also pressing their lips together with grave expressions.
Nearby, Orochimaru smiled happily, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. He didn't know why Minato had come either. Minato had only told him he'd come by the Hokage's orders to find Hiashi and the others.
But this didn't prevent him from watching the show. Rather, watching a show while knowing nothing was the most interesting!
"It's like this. Your clan's Branch Family jonin, Hyuga Ritsu, secretly returned to the village today. He killed the Main Family members your clan left guarding the compound and summoned Hyuga Branch Family members to remove you from the clan head position, Hiashi-senpai. Ritsu himself succeeded to the position. Afterward, he selected six elders from among the Branch Family jonin... Hiashi-senpai, are you alright?"
Minato looked at Hiashi, whose complexion had turned deathly pale, and asked with some concern. He was very worried Hiashi might faint from being unable to withstand this devastating news.
Fortunately, Hiashi held on.
The one who didn't hold on was Daichi. This relatively good-tempered Main Family elder's eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"Elder Daichi!"
"Daichi?"
"Someone come quickly! Find a medical ninja!"
The tent immediately descended into chaos. Hiashi and Hisho rushed over. Minato also helped call for medical ninja. Only Orochimaru wore a face full of amazement, shocked by the news Minato had spoken.
Honestly, when Hiruko had asked him days ago to help arrange an external assignment for his precious student, he'd figured Hiruko was arranging for Ritsu to defect. For Hiruko's sake, he'd very readily signed the document.
These past days when Hisho came to make trouble, he'd sent him back, thinking Ritsu had long since fled somewhere far away.
But now with this commotion, he finally knew—turns out the guy ran back to Konoha!
And accomplished such a great deed! Because he couldn't escape the blame the Main Family came over to pin on him, he simply destroyed the Main Family? This line of thinking was truly surprisingly delightful!
It was really too interesting!
If not for being tied down by front-line warfare, he'd wish to return to Konoha right now to see exactly what was happening and how this Ritsu brat had accomplished such a great deed!
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