Chapter 189: Main house Deserves to die
Konoha Village, Hyuga clan grounds.
Tonight was overcast—moonlight dim like gauze. Dark clouds drifted back and forth, obscuring what little light existed.
Dark moon, strong wind—exactly when accidents easily occurred. Patrol work became particularly important.
Hyuga Tokuma was currently leading guards on routine patrol.
He was Main house—only needing to patrol within the clan. Village matters didn't require his responsibility. The village had unified arrangements.
This work was relatively safe. Even if enemies came, they'd definitely target the Hokage building first rather than specifically seeking Hyuga clan trouble.
He first circled conspicuous areas without seeing problems, couldn't help yawning, wanting to return to his warm house.
But after rounding several corners, he discovered ahead—faint candlelight seemed to flicker. A group seemed gathered together, doing something unknown.
His brow furrowed. Instinctively activating his Byakugan for a glance, he discovered this group's chakra flow was very calm—unlike enemies, more like clan members.
So his heart relaxed. He closed his Byakugan, leading people forward, calling from afar:
"Hey! Not resting properly late at night—what are you doing here?"
"Though peace talks between villages have started, whether they'll reach agreement remains uncertain! You can't slack off!"
"Ah, Lord Tokuma!" The group parted left and right, revealing the leader in the middle. "We're mourning unfortunate sacrificed clansmen."
Borrowing moonlight and dim lantern glow, Hyuga Tokuma immediately recognized that leader's appearance.
"Neji?" Hyuga Tokuma's brow furrowed with some displeasure. He clearly remembered Neji's previous insubordination. This guy still hadn't properly apologized yet!
His gaze swept across—indeed seeing everyone holding white candles. Before them on open ground stood many people's memorial portraits and plaques in a row. White flowers placed ahead—clearly conducting mourning.
He looked around, asking strangely:
"Why not conduct mourning during daytime?"
"And this location is too remote. Why not go to the Memorial Stone?"
Seeming triggered by Hyuga Tokuma's words, everyone began complaining.
"We also want daytime, but currently the village has much restoration work! Daytime we still have lots of work!"
"We really can't spare time!"
"The Memorial Stone location is in the village rear—quite far! We fear if something happens, we can't return in time!"
"Moreover, too many people mourn at the Memorial Stone daily. Some words we only want to privately tell deceased relatives—don't want others hearing."
"Fine, fine!" Hyuga Tokuma couldn't be bothered managing these trivial matters. Seeing they weren't speaking ill of the Main family, he didn't want to linger and waste words, planning to leave. "I still need to patrol—won't disturb you."
Just as he lifted his leg to leave, he suddenly heard someone say:
"Won't Lord Tokuma offer flowers? Surely with Lord Tokuma's blessing, those sacrificed clansmen can rest in peace underground!"
Hyuga Tokuma paused, wanting to refuse, but seeing numerous Branch House members' expectant gazes, knew such small matters were hard to refuse.
The Main House's magnanimous image still mattered!
Anyway, just offering flowers and praying—no big deal. So he could only nod agreement, staying behind.
"You're right. Since I encountered this, let me offer flowers and pray for our Hyuga clan heroes!"
Nearby someone brought several small white flower bundles, distributing them to Hyuga Tokuma and his two guards—one bundle each.
Everyone parted left and right, inviting the three before numerous portraits. Then the crowd stood behind, encircling the three in the middle.
"Please offer flowers, Lord Tokuma."
Hyuga Tokuma bent to place flowers before portraits. The three clasped hands, eyes closed in prayer. His two guards also followed suit, closing their eyes.
But just as the three closed eyes in prayer, the crowd behind exchanged glances. Wrists flicked—kunai fell into hands.
Everyone stepped forward, each with assigned tasks. Covering mouths, dislocating arms—in an instant, they controlled Hyuga Tokuma and his two guards.
Before the three could react, under moonlight cold metal flashed. Several short blades rapidly entered and exited their bodies—movements uniform as if practiced a thousand times.
"Thud, thud, thud..." Blade-entering-flesh thuds connected into one piece.
Almost instantly, Hyuga Tokuma and his bodyguards were stabbed into sieves. Each blade's entry and exit brought blood jets like fountains.
Life force and fresh blood sprayed outward together, rapidly vanishing into this night.
Some shinobi harbored hatred, striking extremely viciously. Short blades deliberately twisted left and right between organs, grinding internal everything to fragments.
Hyuga Tokuma's eyes bulged like goldfish. Opening his mouth wanting to shout, but his mouth was blocked tightly. He could only see Hyuga Neji and those beside him with gazes full of cold hatred.
"Hyuga Tokuma, I've long wanted to kill you!"
"You Main House bastard—everyone deserves excessive death!"
"Not just you—your parents, your wife and children—I won't spare any!"
"You're the first, but you won't be the last!"
"Just wait—I'll send all Main House bastards to accompany you!"
Hearing these malicious words, Hyuga Tokuma's heart filled with terror. He wanted to warn other Main House members, letting them know Branch House planned rebellion.
But at this moment he was step by step approaching death, unable to do anything. He could only watch as Hyuga Neji disemboweled him, pulling out internal organs and displaying them before portraits like pigs and sheep offered as sacrifices.
His body gradually collapsed. Blood from his body streamed along the ground, dyeing the small white flowers he'd just offered bright crimson.
On portraits behind the flowers, fresh blood had long splattered everywhere, making those portrait faces appear extraordinarily fierce.
After everyone took turns delivering finishing blows, Neji finally waved his hand, severing Hyuga Tokuma's head and sealing it in a scroll for safekeeping.
This contained Main House Byakugan—an important tool for continuing his next plan. It couldn't be lost.
Everyone had pre-arranged plans with assigned tasks. While Neji sealed Hyuga Tokuma's head, others had already swiftly gathered props and such.
"Scatter!"
With Neji's single command, everyone immediately dispersed like homing birds in all directions, rapidly vanishing into the black night.