Chapter 22: Punish Only the Ringleader
Standing on the shore, Orochimaru watched the unfolding drama with barely concealed amusement. Inside the command tent, however, the three Hyuga Main Family members felt as if they'd been plunged into icy water, drowning beneath a wave of shock so powerful they couldn't catch their breath.
"Taiga! Taiga! My son—what about my son, Hyuga Taiga? Is he alright?"
The moment Hyuga Daichi regained consciousness, he grabbed Minato, frantically demanding information about his son's condition.
But—
"Please accept my condolences."
Minato could only offer a helpless sigh of sympathy.
"..."
Daichi froze.
His body swayed unsteadily, as if he might collapse again. But this time he didn't lose consciousness. Instead, flames seemed to ignite within his pearl-white eyes as he spoke in a voice cold as ice water: "Clan Head, we must return to the village immediately and execute the traitor!"
"Elder Daichi, please be patient. We need to understand the full situation first."
"What's there to understand?"
Daichi's agitation reached its peak. His fists clenched tight, veins bulging at his temples. "Wasn't what this Minato boy said clear enough?" His fury burned away his reason, causing him to address Minato without any honorific.
Fortunately, Minato's generous nature made him understanding of others' circumstances. He took no offense at the unintentional slight.
"Elder Daichi, don't let anger cloud your judgment. Do you know exactly how Elder Masamune and the others were killed? Even if it was an ambush, with Elder Masamune's abilities, surely he could have activated the Caged Bird Seal, couldn't he?"
Hiashi met Daichi's gaze without flinching.
Five or six seconds passed.
Daichi pressed his lips together and turned his head away.
Hiashi released a quiet breath, collected himself, and turned back to Minato with proper composure. "Minato-jonin, please forgive us. Elder Daichi spoke rashly in his grief over his son's death."
"It's nothing. Hiashi-senpai, ask whatever you need to know. Before I left, the Hokage instructed me to answer all questions openly and honestly."
Minato responded with his characteristic warmth. Without waiting for Hiashi to speak, he continued, "You want to know how Hyuga Ritsu managed to kill Hyuga Masamune and the others, correct? I didn't witness the events myself, but I can confirm one thing—the Caged Bird Seal on Ritsu has been removed."
"What?"
Hiashi's face went pale with shock.
Beside him, Elders Daichi and Hisho showed equally bloodless expressions.
"The Caged Bird Seal was removed? No wonder—no wonder! Without that restraint, given Ritsu's abilities, it's perfectly reasonable that Elder Masamune and the others couldn't defeat him." Hiashi's thoughts churned in turmoil. He didn't know what to do.
Return to the village and execute Ritsu? Restore order? Ensure the Main Family-Branch Family system remained unshaken?
By all logic, this approach aligned best with his position, his understanding, and his interests.
However...
Could the three of them—himself, Elder Daichi, and Elder Hisho—actually defeat Ritsu?
He didn't factor in the Branch Family jonin loyal to the Main House who'd accompanied them. Not because he didn't trust them, but because he'd considered that Ritsu could likely control Branch Family members through the Caged Bird Seal. Against Ritsu, any number of Branch Family jonin would be useless.
With just the three of them, defeating Ritsu—the Branch Family's greatest prodigy—was far from certain. His main concern was his lack of confidence in Elders Daichi and Hisho. He knew exactly what level the Main Family jonin operated at.
Even he himself would likely be just as inadequate as the two elders if he hadn't pushed himself hard during six months of fierce combat against the Cloud ninja on the northeastern front.
Indeed, the silence from Daichi and Hisho proved this point. They knew their own limitations.
But they still needed to respond somehow.
"Minato-jonin, what is the Hokage's position on this matter?"
After a moment's consideration, Hiashi focused his attention on Minato.
Since the Hokage had specifically dispatched Minato to the eastern front to inform them, he must have some plan in mind. Perhaps before making a decision, Hiashi should understand the Hokage's—or rather, the village leadership's—stance.
"That's right! The Hokage would never allow the Hyuga clan to descend into chaos. Perhaps we should ask the Hokage to help us eliminate this traitor Ritsu!"
"Minato-jonin, Minato-jonin, please help our clan suppress this rebellion. When the Third Hokage retires, our clan will definitely support your bid to become the Fourth—"
Before Hisho could finish, Daichi clapped a hand over his mouth.
Both Hiashi and Daichi felt mortified. If only Minato were present, such words might be acceptable. But with Orochimaru—the other leading candidate for Fourth Hokage—standing right there, wasn't this insulting?
Orochimaru's smile remained unchanged.
Minato, however, frowned. His opinion of the Hyuga Main Family dropped even further. No wonder the Hyuga clan, despite having the largest population and the highest number of jonin in the entire village, always seemed easy to bully. When Main Family Byakugan were stolen, their first instinct wasn't to recover them—it was to blame and sacrifice Branch Family members.
Unfortunately, Ritsu's massacre of the Main Family had gone too far.
"The Hokage believes the vast majority of the Hyuga clan are innocent. The clan's stability is an indispensable foundation for the village's prosperity. Therefore..."
Minato paused, then stated firmly: "The Hokage's position is to punish only the ringleader."
"Good! Punish only the ringleader!"
Hiashi agreed without hesitation.
Beside him, Daichi released Hisho's mouth and stepped forward, his voice thick with emotion. "I will personally execute that traitor Ritsu!"
"Elder Daichi, compose yourself. Don't disgrace the Main Family."
Hiashi's sharp reprimand cut through the air.
Then he asked again: "Minato-jonin, when do we return to the village?"
"If you're ready, Hiashi-senpai, we can leave right now."
"Then let's go now." Hiashi glanced back at the two Main Family elders. "Elder Daichi, Elder Hisho—any objections?"
"None!"
Daichi answered decisively. He couldn't wait to return and avenge his son.
Hisho hesitated slightly. "Clan Head, my son Daisho's injuries..."
"The medical facilities in the village far exceed what we have here."
Hiashi then looked to Minato. "You're planning to transport us back via Flying Thunder God, correct? Is there a limit on the number of people?"
"Ten at most."
"Elder Hisho, go fetch Daisho immediately."
Hiashi's tone brooked no argument.
He'd never liked the useless Daisho before, and now he despised even more the fool who'd caused all this trouble. He wouldn't allow Daisho to continue embarrassing the clan at the front lines. If Daisho weren't Main Family, Hiashi would honestly have preferred to have him killed.
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