As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the New Hyūga Clan became excited.
Didn't this mean that as long as they didn't kill, they could settle every grudge and repay every hatred?
Over four hundred people left the research institute and marched toward the original Hyūga clan's compound in a mighty wave. Just the sight of them was enough to make people feel fear.
The Hyūga main house wasn't without experts, but the number they could truly bring to bear, those with the strength of jonin, was at most just over a dozen.
With both numbers and experts unequal, the outcome of this battle was obvious.
At this time, the Hyūga clan's compound had already grown desolate. After all, with eighty percent of their people gone, it was only natural for the place to feel deserted.
During this period, the main house members truly lived with their tails between their legs. They'd never gone out much before, and now they'd half sealed themselves off from the outside world. Even when they occasionally went out to buy supplies, they went quickly and returned quickly.
After all, they used to be prominent figures, calling themselves Konoha's number one clan.
But after Tsunade's actions, their reputation in Konoha had completely collapsed, they'd lost all reputation, and no matter where they went, people pointed and whispered.
How could they endure it?
Even though they'd cut themselves off from the outside world, their lives these past few days had still been miserable.
The Hyūga Main House members had all lived comfortably; every household had branch house members to serve them. If they needed anything, they never went out themselves
A single command, and someone would bring it to them.
Now, no matter how they called out, no one answered, and they had to do everything themselves.
That lofty and noble air from before had long since vanished, and many households even began quarreling.
Especially for those who had never so much as touched spring water with their fingers, now having to cook for themselves was utterly unbearable. Everyone began to miss the days when they could order the branch house around as they pleased.
If only those people were still here.
If they were willing to come back, at worst they'd treat them a little better, reluctantly viewing them as servants instead of slaves.
---
The New Hyūga Clan members had already entered the compound.
"You've come back?" someone asked with surprise, stepping forward. "Good, you're back. Hurry and go home. Don't worry, we know we were wrong. From now on, we'll live in peace. Whatever your work is worth, we'll pay you in full."
Hearing such hypocritical words, not one of the four hundred members of the New Hyūga Clan reacted.
Now you know how to speak nicely? If Orochimaru-sama hadn't already laid your true nature bare, we might actually have felt pity.
But now?
I still prefer your arrogant, defiant faces from before.
"What's the meaning of this?" one of the main house elders sensed something was wrong and stepped forward.
"We're here to take back what's ours," Hizashi said, now the leader of the New Hyūga Clan, stepping forward and cursing directly.
At present, his strength ranked among the very top in the New Hyūga Clan. After all, he had spent the past half year following Minato, and his progress had been rapid. Not to mention, as Minato's teammate, Minato's initial reason for seeking Tsunade's help had been for him.
Now he was also a student of Shin, and it was through Orochimaru's research on him that the method for breaking the Caged Bird was discovered.
One could say that the New Hyūga Clan's rise was entirely thanks to him. Even though he was young, no one in the clan challenged him.
As for the few branch house elders from before, the New Hyūga Clan had already been generous in not expelling them and allowing them a place.
But if they caused trouble again, they would definitely be driven out.
"Your property?" The elder's face immediately darkened. "Everything in the Hyūga clan belongs to the main house. Even if we're going to set new rules, they'll apply from now on. As for the things from before, what do they have to do with you?"
"You guys only know how to enjoy yourselves, don't forget, all these years it was us working hard to earn the money while you spent it in luxury," Hizashi said coldly.
"The money you've already spent, we in the New Hyūga Clan won't pursue, because we're so generous, aren't we? But as for the money that hasn't been spent yet, along with the land, shops, and various businesses, that's no longer for you to decide."
"Are you rebelling?" the elder roared angrily.
Although they had said they were willing to graciously accept the branch house members back and even raise their status somewhat, that didn't mean they were willing to let these once lowly, less-than-dog people ride on their heads.
"And what's this you said, 'New Hyūga Clan'? What do you mean by that?"
"I don't think we need to waste words with them," someone beside Hizashi stepped forward and said.
With no other choice, everyone had settled for his cousin instead.
This cousin's name was Youki. Whether in strength or reputation, he was among the very best in the New Hyūga Clan.
Over the years, he had never flattered the main house, instead, he had repeatedly demanded they improve the branch house's treatment and status.
For that, he had been punished many times, yet he persisted.
If not for his great strength and the many difficult missions he had completed for the clan, the main house would have expelled him long ago.
Even many branch house members had avoided associating with him out of fear of being implicated. But now, his defiance toward the main house had become a huge asset in the New Hyūga Clan.
"Hizashi, I agree, there's no need to talk any further," Youki stepped forward and said, "They will never suddenly grow a conscience. Our new clan, with a new spirit, if we want something, we take it with our strength."
"You're right," Hizashi said. "I thought they might at least reflect a little, but I've still underestimated human nature."
"Attack!"
As soon as Hizashi's words fell, the entire New Hyūga Clan moved into action. But one person charged into the Hyūga clan crowd faster than anyone else.
In fact, it wasn't so much that he charged quickly as that he seemed to suddenly appear there.
That person was Minato, carrying Samehada on his back.
He even winked at Hizashi before plunging into the crowd.
Hizashi was speechless.
In his view, Minato had simply been idle for a few days, his hands itching, uncomfortable unless he found someone to fight. And now that he had a "righteous cause," of course he was going all out without hesitation.