Chapter 190: Seizing the Inheritance
After everyone left, the ground fluctuated—White Zetsu surfaced.
"Beautifully done, Neji."
"Leave corpse and scene disposal to me. I definitely won't disappoint you."
Since learning about the moon's Otsutsuki Hamura and shinobi world Hyuga family connections, Zetsu had been full of malice toward the Hyuga clan, giving strong support to Hyuga Neji's activities.
With his help, Neji succeeded in everything, repeatedly recruiting new members.
Those who learned of Neji's plan but refused to join were all dealt with by Zetsu, handed to newly recruited members as "pledges of allegiance."
After multiple collaborations, Neji had great confidence in Zetsu's abilities. He immediately nodded without saying anything, using Body Flicker to leave and vanish into darkness.
While Zetsu chuckled darkly, activating jutsu to make the ground roll like an abyss's maw, swallowing all corpses.
Moments later, the ground once more restored flatness. Some wild flowers and grass even grew—showing no signs this had been a crime scene moments before.
"Neji, I'm very optimistic about you! Don't disappoint me!" Zetsu muttered to himself, his body sinking back into the earth.
Night deepened. Dark clouds dispersed. Within the Hyuga clan grounds, all remained quietly still—as if nothing had happened.
Next day, dawn barely broke when piercing alarm sounds rang out.
Neji unhurriedly climbed from bed, methodically dressing. Panicked footsteps sounded as someone rushed inside in confusion.
"Neji, are you awake?"
"Big trouble! Lord Tokuma's patrol squad went missing last night."
"The Main House is now gathering everyone to patrol the clan grounds."
"Jiro, stay calm and composed when encountering matters. Don't lose your composure."
Neji said very steadily: "This is Konoha Village. No enemy can silently kill here. Mostly Lord Tokuma encountered something and left."
"You also know—Main House matters are always numerous. Going anywhere doesn't require reporting to Branch House."
"Probably so." Hyuga Jiro's complexion turned ugly.
The scroll sealing Hyuga Tokuma's head sat conspicuously on the table, but Hyuga Jiro completely ignored it.
Scrolls had this advantage—without unrolling, no one knew what was sealed inside.
Just placed openly like this—no one would suspect.
Neji prepared both tool pouches, then with Hyuga Jiro departed through the door to assemble at the small plaza.
Along the way, crowds surged—all heading that direction.
Many people bumped together—gazes meeting briefly before calmly moving away. No one spoke, yet they shared wordless understanding.
After everyone assembled, Main House Elder Hyuga Hishi said gravely:
"Currently the Five Kage Summit is proceeding. Hidden enemies are mostly unwilling to accept this—might infiltrate the village to deliberately cause sabotage."
"I've reported Elder Tokuma's matter to the village. The village will also dispatch people to patrol everywhere."
"But internal clan ground patrols must still be handled by our clan itself."
"Now I'll assign tasks. Each squad will cover one area, conducting net-style searches. Any clues must be reported to me."
"Main House Byakugan is extremely precious—absolutely cannot flow outside."
"Understood?"
"Understood!" Everyone answered in unison.
Hyuga Hishi immediately assigned tasks.
Because Neji usually performed well, he also led a squad, following behind Hyuga Hishi to begin patrols.
Because this was net-style searching, many originally forbidden Main House areas now opened to Branch House, with Main House leading search teams.
This opportunity was relatively rare. Neji remained composed, pretending serious appearance while looking east and west. Though not digging three feet deep, inspecting very carefully.
Hyuga Tokuma's traces definitely couldn't be found, but seizing this opportunity to investigate more intelligence within Main House areas was never wrong.
The group busied all day, ultimately finding nothing.
This infuriated Main House members who found minor faults and severely punished some unlucky Branch House members to finally vent their anger.
The village side also found no clues—completely unclear how Hyuga Tokuma's squad vanished into thin air.
That evening, all patrol teams doubled—numbers and frequency both increased.
But the second day, another team still disappeared—also a Main House-led squad.
Now everyone in the village knew—this enemy targeted the Hyuga clan.
"Bastards!" Hyuga Hishi angrily slammed the table. "They stole one pair of Byakugan and still aren't satisfied? They actually dare steal a second pair?"
"Saying such things now is useless." Another Main House elder waved his hand, saying: "I suggest starting today, stop Main House nighttime patrols. Change to Branch House handling full responsibility."
Everyone agreed, but some harbored doubts.
"But entrusting family safety entirely to Branch House hands—isn't that somewhat..."
"Nonsense! What Main House, Branch House—everyone is one family! Could Branch House actually plan rebellion?"
"We must trust our clansmen!"
Consecutively losing two Main House members made remaining Main House members anxious—particularly unwilling to patrol at night. Therefore this proposal quickly gained most Main House approval and was implemented.
Branch House had no objections—anyway Main House privileges were numerous. Not caring about one more. At most complaining internally.
Only Neji and others, after learning, frowned deeply.
With Main House not coming out to patrol, catching isolated Main House members for assassination became impossible.
The group hastily gathered at Neji's home, beginning to discuss countermeasures.
"Neji, what should we do? Stop here?"
"Perhaps we can lie low for a while. After some time find another opportunity. I don't believe Main House will just hide home forever, going nowhere."
"Stop talking nonsense! Right now is the Five Kage Summit—Lord Hokage took many elite shinobi away from the village, creating this current vulnerable situation. After they return, our operations will become even more difficult."
The group argued noisily with everyone offering opinions—no one producing a reliable suggestion.
"Alas, truly still must follow Lord Yasushi's suggestion!" Neji sighed darkly, raising his hand to interrupt everyone's argument, saying seriously:
"This small-scale skirmishing cannot thoroughly solve problems. We must use powerful strength to directly crush forward, eliminating all Main House in one effort."
"In other words, we must gather all forces, find an appropriate opportunity, launch a coup, and completely eradicate the Main House in one move."
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