Sage Art taijutsu attacks inherently possess a certain deceptive quality. The super-dense Sage Chakra cloaking the user's limbs can effectively act as an invisible extension of their body, easily fooling normal vision. Of course, a dojutsu like the Byakugan should certainly be able to discern this enhanced reach and impact zone under normal circumstances.
So why was Elder Shoya of the esteemed Hyuga clan struck so easily, almost contemptuously, by Habara? There were likely a couple of contributing factors. Firstly, comparing sheer speed, Habara was already naturally exceptionally fast, let alone when further enhanced by the amplification of Sage Art. Secondly, it was highly possible that his opponent, Elder Shoya, was genuinely just old and rusty, his combat instincts dulled by decades of peace or political maneuvering. Who knew when this esteemed elder had last engaged in actual, life-or-death combat? Perhaps it truly dated all the way back to the First Hokage's era. Habara certainly hadn't heard of anyone by the name of Shoya playing any significant or memorable role during the Third Shinobi World War.
"Everyone saw!" Habara announced loudly to the stunned, silent onlookers in the ruined dojo, his voice cutting through the settling dust. "He attacked me first. I was merely acting in self-defense—an instinctive reaction triggered by his aggression! Trying to pull a compensation scam by feigning injury (pèngcí) at his advanced age? Is the noble Hyuga clan truly that short on operating funds?"
This claim wasn't entirely untrue, from a certain twisted perspective. The elder's sudden, aggressive attack had startled him somewhat, prompting his body to instinctively shift into its strongest available combat readiness – Sage Mode. The resulting counterattack truly was almost subconscious, a deeply ingrained reflex honed by years as a frontline ninja constantly facing threats. Such individuals were easily startled into lethal responses; everyone present should surely understand his precarious position.
Therefore, immediately after delivering that single, decisive kick, Habara instantly deactivated Sage Mode. There was no need for a visible, time-consuming process of gathering natural energy beforehand, as his unique physiology meant his body was already saturated with it. This physiological quirk allowed him to activate and deactivate the enhanced state practically instantaneously. Maintaining Sage Mode any longer than necessary might have caused… unfortunate misunderstandings. It could have made his actions appear less like a defensive response and more like he'd come here with the premeditated intent to wipe out the Hyuga clan entirely. Even if he felt entirely justified, appearing overly aggressive would only weaken his negotiating position.
However, Habara claiming pure 'self-defense' wasn't quite accurate either; 'grossly excessive self-defense' perhaps came closer to the legal mark. Most impartial observers present likely felt he'd struck out with excessive force, probably fueled by anger ('striking out of hatred'). It couldn't really be helped; they had all heard Elder Shoya's deeply insulting and provocative words preceding the attack.
Even Hyuga Hizashi, arguably the only person present whose stance theoretically aligned somewhat with Habara's interests, seemed utterly stunned by the sheer, casual brutality of the counterattack. When Hizashi finally snapped back to reality, processing the sight of the elder embedded in the far wall, he desperately wanted to grab Habara and remind him, Friend, that's not how you play diplomatic hardball!
Despite the questionable justification of Habara's actions, a pragmatic concern did surface in his mind. He found himself slightly worried that his reflexive, Sage-Art-enhanced kick might have actually killed the old man. If Elder Shoya died from the blow, pinning the blame squarely on Habara would become significantly harder to avoid, regardless of who initiated the physical confrontation. Therefore, Habara sincerely hoped the elder hadn't just croaked on impact. Even ending up in a vegetative state was preferable from a liability standpoint; alive, however damaged, meant the situation was technically accountable and potentially resolvable through negotiation or compensation. Dead was just… messy, politically and legally.
See? Habara truly was a rare example of a good person. Even though the opponent had dishonorably attacked him first, lacking all martial virtue, Habara found himself deeply concerned about the old man's frail health after delivering the blow. He silently resolved, right then and there, that if the elder did unfortunately pass away due to this incident, Habara would, out of basic humanitarian consideration and a sense of collegial respect (however strained), willingly cover the necessary funeral expenses and contribute generously towards a suitable burial plot.
Compared to Elder Shoya's insults, Habara felt his own arguments were clearly the more reasonable ones now, primarily because at this specific place, at this precise moment, no one present was stronger or more capable of enforcing their will than him. In the shinobi world, might often did make right, or at least, made one's arguments significantly more persuasive.
Still, the actual physical confrontation part was decidedly over. Possessing a fundamental level of social intelligence (when he chose to employ it), Habara decided it was prudent to offer the thoroughly intimidated Hyuga leadership an honorable way out of the immediate confrontation – metaphorical 'steps down' from the precipice. Otherwise, the situation could easily become intractable and embarrassing for both sides.
"Regarding the Hyuga clan's renowned Gentle Fist," Habara declared formally, his tone shifting smoothly back towards respectful inquiry, effectively changing the subject while subtly asserting his position, "I have long heard of its great fame throughout the shinobi world. Today presents a rare and valuable opportunity. Therefore, I sincerely wish to learn more about its intricacies by receiving your esteemed instruction. I hope you all might find it within yourselves to grant me this distinct honor."
Seeing the clearly offered escape route – a chance to de-escalate and save face – Hiashi immediately seized upon it. Demonstrating the shrewd political calculation expected of a Clan Head, he carefully avoided using the honorific term 'grant instruction' (which would imply placing Habara in the student role, subordinate to Hyuga teachers). Instead, he stated they would merely 'demonstrate' their techniques, thereby subtly maintaining the Hyuga's inherently higher status in the exchange. After all, if Habara had demanded formal instruction, who exactly would end up instructing whom in the ensuing 'lesson'? The power dynamic had clearly, violently shifted.
"If Habara-jōnin wishes to witness the Gentle Fist," Hiashi stated with careful formality, regaining some composure, "then we naturally would not hesitate to demonstrate its principles."
Habara gave a slight, formal nod of acknowledgment, then subtly shifted his stance, mentally preparing himself for the next phase. He adjusted the familiar weight of the large sword box always strapped to his back, briefly considering and then dismissing the idea that the upcoming 'demonstration' might require him to draw his blades. No, he decided internally, that shouldn't be necessary. He reminded himself that he occasionally preferred peaceful resolutions and truly wasn't here today with any intention of committing clan genocide.
"However," Habara added, ensuring his own terms were perfectly clear before the 'demonstration' began, "instruction isn't just instruction in this case. We still need to definitively settle the underlying matter of right and wrong between us regarding Neji. I sincerely hope you all understand my meaning." For the sake of fairness and thoroughness, Habara fully intended to 'receive instruction' from all the relevant Hyuga parties present who had opposed him – likely Hiashi and the remaining, now very nervous, elders. Requesting simple one-on-one duels at this point seemed rather inappropriate given the circumstances.
With the terms implicitly set, Habara activated his defenses. The fine Iron Sand stored within his seals swirled rapidly around him, coalescing in moments into dense, dark metallic plating that completely covered his entire body just before any Hyuga could even think of initiating the 'demonstration.'
He then charged the nearest Hyuga elder.
It had to be said, the Hyuga clan's vaunted Gentle Fist taijutsu was indeed exceptionally refined and technically brilliant. The elder Habara targeted reacted instantly, skillfully evading Habara's initial powerful lunge with practiced grace. Then, nimbly closing the distance with surprising speed, the elder's fingertips flashed out, striking Habara's armored body multiple times in quick, precise succession, aiming for vital points.
However, did these expert strikes have any discernible effect? Habara was, for all practical purposes, permanently armored. The Hyuga's pride, their legendary pressure-point strikes designed to disrupt chakra flow and damage internal organs, were rendered utterly useless against his solid Iron Sand plating. They could likely shatter their own fingers striking his specialized inner armor repeatedly before they could ever hope to penetrate it or affect his chakra network beneath.
Habara, through pragmatic experience, now knew exactly how to fight effectively using taijutsu, at least for someone with his unique advantages: first, restrain or neutralize the opponent's primary mode of attack or movement, then proceed with a thorough, overwhelming 'ninja beatdown.' His incredibly high defensive capability granted him an enormous margin for error in close combat engagements. Taking a few – or even many – glancing or ineffective hits from the enemy was completely inconsequential to him, a luxury most conventional ninja, who relied on evasion, simply couldn't afford.
Therefore, after systematic consideration and practical application, he had developed this peculiar but highly effective fighting style: 'grapple or block first, then relentlessly pummel.' No one needed to worry about his taijutsu strikes missing their mark anymore; his battered enemies could readily attest to their fight-ending effectiveness when they eventually connected.
Habara completely ignored the flurry of ineffective strikes peppering his armor, essentially choosing to tank the hits without concern. Go ahead, his stance seemed to say, kill me if you possibly can, because otherwise, I am definitely going to disable you. He deftly caught the striking arm of the Hyuga elder attacking him, used the grip to pull the startled man bodily off balance towards him, then unhesitatingly stomped his heavily armored foot hard onto the elder's abdomen, eliciting a sharp gasp of pain.
Habara threw the stunned elder aside carelessly, then immediately turned and charged towards the second elder who was attempting to flank him. Without preamble, he closed the distance in a blur, stomped hard on the opponent's leading foot to anchor them momentarily, simultaneously pressed down hard on their shoulder with his right hand to disrupt their balance further, then delivered three rapid, brutal, armor-reinforced punches with his left fist directly into the man's side and ribs—wham, wham, wham.
This second elder fought back wildly, perhaps trying to create distance or strike at Habara's head. Habara simply deflected the frantic blows and swiftly looped a powerful arm around his neck from behind. Then, ignoring the man's desperate struggles, Habara brought up a sharp, vicious knee strike directly into the elder's face. The combined force of the impact and the momentary asphyxiation from the chokehold caused the elder to instantly lose consciousness.
Habara dropped the unconscious man unceremoniously and immediately moved towards the third remaining elder. He caught this one by the foot as they attempted a wide kick, easily tripped him off balance, slammed him hard onto the floor mats, and delivered a vicious, decisive stomp to the chest while he was down.
He apparently dispatched the fourth elder with a series of precise, targeted strikes aimed seemingly at disabling points on the head, jaw, and ears – efficiently and brutally neutralizing them.
As Habara prepared to deliver a final, incapacitating neck chop to the fourth downed opponent, the remaining Hyuga ninja present—likely Clan Head Hiashi himself and perhaps one or two other elders who had held back initially—finally seemed to coordinate their efforts, recognizing the dire situation. They attacked Habara simultaneously from multiple angles, unleashing their clan's signature long-range technique in powerful unison:
"Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Empty Palm!"
Multiple directed blasts of focused, invisible chakra slammed forcefully into Habara's Iron Sand armor from different directions. As expected, such concussive attacks were largely ineffective against his formidable defenses, causing little more than superficial ripples on the metallic surface.
But the follow-up attack coordinated behind the initial barrage was potentially more dangerous: a dense hail of projectiles—kunai and shuriken—suddenly rained down towards Habara's position from concealed positions or thrown by supporting Hyuga, clearly intended to distract or wound him while the primary attackers simultaneously charged forward again, aiming desperately for close-quarters combat, perhaps hoping to find a gap in his armor or overwhelm him through sheer numbers.
Habara braced himself, sensing the combined assault. He didn't attempt to dodge. Instead, he activated another technique, one developed for precisely such chaotic, multi-directional threats:
"Ninpo: Divine Aegis Manifestation!"
Dark, intensely violent chakra began to coalesce instantly, visibly gathering in Habara's outstretched palms. The energy crackled and jumped ominously, seeming to contain truly devastating power, yet held firmly compressed by his will within two small, intensely bright spherical spaces hovering just above his hands, until…
BOOM!
A massive, omnidirectional shockwave erupted simultaneously from both spheres of contained energy, expanding outwards instantly in both horizontal and vertical directions. Being at the epicenter felt like being caught in the heart of a raging hurricane. Powerful, untamed chakra shockwaves instantly filled the entire expansive inner dojo space. The aged, lifeless square wooden support pillars, the thick plank walls, and the heavy tiled roof proved utterly incapable of containing the sheer explosive impact of this unleashed power.
The remaining Hyuga ninja caught directly within the blast radius were violently blown away—sent tumbling upwards, downwards, leftwards, rightwards, slammed against collapsing walls or thrown clear through disintegrating sections of the roof. The entire structure around them cracked, splintered, and fractured under the immense pressure, then collapsed inwards upon itself with a deafening roar of stressed timbers and shattering tiles.
When the thick dust finally began to settle, revealing the utter devastation within the formerly pristine dojo, only Habara remained standing upright amidst the wreckage, his Iron Sand armor unmarked.
He quickly located Hyuga Hizashi amidst the debris—the man was pale-faced, his ears clearly ringing, his mouth trickling blood, his robes torn and dirtied, but remarkably conscious and relatively unharmed compared to the elders. Habara moved swiftly to help him up, offering a supporting arm as they quickly departed the scene of destruction before other Hyuga or potentially ANBU observers could arrive to investigate the commotion.
As they neared the entrance to Hizashi's private residence within the now-chaotic Hyuga compound, Habara leaned close and whispered urgently, almost conspiratorially, into his ear:
"The Branch family's Curse Seal… is it truly impossible to remove, Hizashi-san? Think about it. No. I believe you understand the truth. For Konoha's leadership, for the Hokage, some things aren't a matter of can't, but simply a matter of won't. The Hokage requires overall balance and stability above all else; rocking the boat with the Hyuga clan is politically inconvenient. But…" Habara paused, letting the implication hang, planting a seed of rebellion, "…opportunities to change even long-standing traditions are never truly non-existent for those willing to seek them, are they?"
Hizashi stopped dead in his tracks, completely stunned by Habara's audacious, whispered words. His mind, already reeling from the day's events, struggled to process the enormity of the suggestion. He felt like a drowning man who had just been thrown an unexpected, perhaps treacherous, lifeline. His earlier fierce joy upon witnessing Neji's breakthrough had been brutally crushed by the elders' immediate decision to impose the seal, replaced by a familiar, impotent resentment towards his own clan's rigid traditions. But Habara's carefully chosen words now ignited something else entirely within him – a desperate, dangerous spark of hope.
And despite the violence he had just witnessed, despite Habara's ruthless methods, Hizashi felt an immense, overwhelming wave of gratitude towards the man. Regardless of the confrontation's brutality, Habara had, in effect, potentially saved Neji's future from being irrevocably chained by the Caged Bird Seal. He had achieved something Hizashi, bound by clan duty and ingrained fear, could never have accomplished himself. This feeling transcended clan loyalty; it was basic human emotion – a father's gratitude.
"Really… possible?" Hizashi murmured aloud, looking lost, hope warring with decades of ingrained resignation.
By the time Hizashi fully processed the implications of Habara's whisper and turned perhaps to ask more, Habara was long gone, having melted away into the compound's shadows, leaving Hizashi standing alone at his own doorstep like a stone statue carved from conflicted emotions.
Later, back inside his home, when Neji saw his father's battered and bruised appearance, he too was momentarily stunned into silence. "Father, you're… injured?"
"It's… it's a good thing, Neji," Hizashi managed, reaching out with a trembling hand to gently ruffle his son's hair. A rare, albeit pained, smile touched his lips despite the lingering aches. It was a truly strange, almost surreal situation; he'd just been thoroughly beaten up (or at least caught in the collateral damage caused) by Neji's enigmatic teacher, yet somehow, standing here now, he felt profoundly, deeply thankful towards the very man responsible for the destruction.
"I know, Father," Neji replied, naturally trusting Habara implicitly after the 'gift' he'd received. "Habara-sensei taught me a lot these past few days." But even Neji, young as he was, couldn't entirely suppress his curiosity about his father's state. "Father… what exactly happened back there at the dojo?"
"Just... good things, Neji," Hizashi repeated, offering a faint, mysterious laugh, providing no further explanation to his bewildered son. He needed time to think.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, in a dimly lit, oppressive underground space far beneath Konoha's surface…
Deep within Root's secret headquarters, an operative wearing a standard animal mask delivered a detailed, dispassionate report to Shimura Danzo regarding the highly unusual incident that had transpired earlier that day within the normally sacrosanct Hyuga clan compound.
After Danzo finished carefully reading the written summary provided and listening intently to the operative's concise verbal account, he placed the intelligence file down deliberately on the stark desk before him. His fingers, scarred and aged, began drumming a restless, rhythmic tattoo on the polished wood surface. A long, heavy, calculating silence filled the oppressive underground chamber.
This man, Habara, was a cancer growing within Konoha, Danzo thought grimly, and like certain other unpredictable elements he constantly monitored, represented a major complication, a dangerous variable that had to be constantly factored into his long-term plans for the village's 'true' security. Due to several previous clashes and fundamental conflicts of interest between them, Danzo had long considered Habara fundamentally untrustworthy—a significant problem child who, sooner or later, would inevitably commit acts detrimental to Konoha's best interests (as exclusively defined by Danzo Shimura, of course). The violent Hyuga incident, Habara's blatant disregard for clan autonomy and tradition, only served to strengthen this deeply held conviction. For Danzo, precious few individuals in the entire village were truly trustworthy besides himself and his most indoctrinated agents.
But the frustrating problem remained: he consistently found himself without any readily available, effective means to control or, preferably, eliminate Habara without causing significant, unacceptable collateral damage or political fallout. This impotence was deeply, personally frustrating for the man who secretly styled himself as the vigilant, necessary guardian operating in Konoha's essential darkness. Even the ruthless Shimura Danzo, it seemed, occasionally found himself utterly stymied by obstacles he couldn't immediately remove.
"Several matters require immediate action," Danzo finally announced, his voice cold, flat, and decisive, breaking the heavy silence. "Arrange for them to be implemented without delay..."
"First: maintain, even increase, close surveillance of the Hyuga Main Branch's subsequent attitudes and movements regarding this incident and Habara."
"Second: find a plausible, high-priority reason or manufacture an important mission that will require Jōnin Habara to be dispatched outside the village for a significant, extended period of time. Get him away from the center of power."
"Third: intensify efforts to gather all available intelligence regarding this so-called 'Curse Mark of Man' developed by Habara. Primary objective: acquire its complete manufacturing method for our own analysis and potential replication. Secondary objective: identify any hidden flaws, vulnerabilities, or potential control mechanisms within the technique."
"Fourth," Danzo leaned forward slightly, his one visible eye narrowing with grim intensity, "and this directive is now of the utmost importance… You must locate Orochimaru's current whereabouts. I absolutely must re-establish contact with him as soon as possible."
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the masked Root operative acknowledged instantly, then bowed low and melted back into the oppressive shadows, leaving Danzo alone once more in the dark underground room. Another long, calculating silence descended.
The following afternoon, the Third Hokage formally summoned Habara to his office.
Habara arrived promptly, knowing full well the reason for the summons. The Hyuga incident, involving significant property damage and physical assault on clan elders and potentially the Clan Head himself, would have been reported immediately through multiple channels – by the aggrieved Hyuga clan hierarchy seeking redress, and certainly by the Hokage's own ANBU observers who likely monitored Habara's movements.
He entered the Hokage's office with a relaxed, almost cheerful smile, seemingly unfazed by the previous day's dramatic events. "Lord Hokage," he began breezily, adopting a tone of polite surprise, "surely such a small, internal clan matter didn't require your esteemed personal attention?"
"Small matter?!" Hiruzen retorted instantly, his voice sharp with carefully controlled indignation, the ever-present pipe in his hand trembling slightly, his formidable 'monkey king' whiskers seeming to bristle with annoyance. "You may not care about the consequences, Habara, but the situation was extremely serious! Now, explain yourself fully regarding your actions concerning Hyuga Neji!" (Hiruzen wasn't asking about the fight itself, but specifically about Habara's direct interference with the Hyuga's intention to apply the Caged Bird Seal).
"Ah, that matter," Habara replied smoothly, his expression shifting to one of reasonable concern. "As you know, Lord Hokage, I had only just administered the Curse Mark of Man to young Neji. I naturally feared that performing any other major, invasive procedure on him so soon afterward—especially applying another powerful, potentially conflicting curse seal—might severely interfere with the proper integration and efficacy of my own technique, potentially rendering months of research useless." He paused, adding gravely, "Furthermore, if the two distinct Curse Marks were to unfortunately conflict within his developing chakra system, it's truly hard to say with any certainty whether Neji would even survive such an ordeal." Habara leaned slightly on plausible medical logic mixed with a subtle, veiled threat regarding Neji's safety. "Naturally, as his teacher and the researcher responsible for his current condition, I could not simply stand by and permit the Hyuga clan to recklessly endanger a human life, especially since Neji is, after all, my student."
Hiruzen absorbed this carefully crafted explanation, likely recognizing the blend of potentially valid concerns and shrewd manipulation. He sighed internally; the politics of dealing with powerful, independent assets like Habara were exhausting. Some battles simply weren't worth fighting head-on, especially when compromise was possible. "How long," he asked, cutting directly to the practical, logistical issue at the heart of the matter, "will it take for Hyuga Neji to fully adapt to this Curse Mark of Man you've given him?"
"That's very difficult to determine precisely at this stage, Lord Hokage," Habara answered vaguely, deliberately offering no firm timeline that could be held against him later. "It will depend significantly on his individual physiological development and growth rate over the coming years."
Years, Hiruzen thought grimly, potentially decades before the Hyuga felt comfortable sealing him. But he also clearly understood Habara's current strategic value, his demonstrated power, and the potential widespread utility of his research (if proven safe). Alienating him completely over this Hyuga internal dispute, however traditional, was strategically counterproductive. It was time to mediate. Time, as the saying went, to 'mix the mud' and find a path forward, however messy. The Third Hokage excelled at this particular political art form, a true professional… If there were ever a world championship competition for smoothing over intractable conflicts and feigning serene, impartial wisdom while subtly advancing one's own agenda, Sarutobi Hiruzen would undoubtedly be a perennial gold medalist.
"Alright, Habara," Hiruzen finally announced, his tone shifting to one of decisive resolution, outlining the terms of the compromise. "Here is how we will proceed regarding this matter. Two points. First:" – this was the concession to Habara – "The Branch Family member, Hyuga Neji, must eventually receive the Caged Bird Seal as dictated by inviolable clan tradition. However, given his current special circumstances relating to your ongoing research project, the timing of the seal's application can be… slightly delayed, pending further assessment of his condition." Hiruzen paused, then added firmly, ensuring the Hyuga side was also addressed: "Regardless of the timing," – this was the assurance to the Hyuga – "you must understand, Habara, that you cannot fundamentally undermine or interfere with the Hyuga clan's established Main and Branch family system itself. That ancient structure remains inviolate as far as Konoha is concerned."
"Second," Hiruzen continued, turning his attention fully back to Habara, outlining the next step: "You will find another suitable Hyuga child – preferably, this time, one from the Main Branch – and arrange for them to receive your Curse Mark of Man under controlled observation. Let the Hyuga clan leadership witness firsthand, on one of their own, the benefits potentially conferred by your technique. Do you understand?" This was the carefully crafted carrot offered to Habara (an opportunity for wider application and validation of his work) and simultaneously the incentive offered to the Hyuga (a chance for their own children to potentially benefit might make them less resistant to Habara's influence, or at least shut them up about demanding immediate punishment).
Habara had already nodded once today when accepting the Hyuga's offer of a 'demonstration.' He found himself obliged to nod again now, accepting the Hokage's political maneuvering. Besides, this second directive didn't fundamentally violate his own principles or objectives. Despite his personal distaste for the Hyuga Main Branch's arrogance and oppressive traditions, the Curse Mark of Man was ultimately designed with the potential for widespread, beneficial proliferation in mind.
"One more thing, Habara," Hiruzen added, fixing him with a stern, unwavering gaze just as Habara turned respectfully to leave the office. "In the future, you are to strictly refrain from engaging in large-scale, destructive brawls within the village limits. Especially when directed against fellow Konoha shinobi, regardless of provocation."
Habara paused at the door, a whirlwind of cynical thoughts flashing through his mind. How the hell was that entire mess my fault? I was blatantly attacked first! It was legitimate self-defense! Just because I happen to be significantly stronger than my attackers, all the responsibility automatically gets dumped on me? Should good, law-abiding people just stand there passively and let themselves get shot in the head? The Hokage really is getting old and senile... Utterly incompetent political hack.
Outwardly, however, he simply offered another respectful nod. "Understood perfectly, Lord Hokage. I shall strictly obey your command regarding future conduct within the village."
Then, he made a swift and undeniably grateful exit before the Hokage could potentially change his mind, add further inconvenient stipulations, or perhaps assign him some tedious diplomatic mission as penance.