Chapter 13: I'm Clan Head—Who Objects?
Dead?
Main Family Elder Hyuga Masamune was killed just like that?
Like a dead dog, he lay lifeless on the roadside.
Everyone stared blankly at Masamune's corpse, looking at those pure white eyes staring straight at the sky. Some invisible shackles seemed to have taken a devastating Vacuum Palm capable of shattering gold. The sound of shattering chains echoed repeatedly in many hearts.
CRACK!
Deafening thunder reverberated between the clouds.
Drip! Drip!
Bean-sized raindrops fell.
The long-brewing rainstorm arrived as expected. Torrential rain scattered the pool of blood beneath Masamune's body.
"Run! Run! Scatter and flee!"
Elder Hyuga Mizuki, over seventy years old, finally snapped awake. The cold sensation of rainwater and clinging wet clothes reminded him this wasn't a terrible nightmare but an even worse, crueler reality.
Thus, the recovered old man screamed hoarsely, "Find the Hokage! Request the Third Hokage to bring us justice!"
Regret gnawed at his heart like insects.
Earlier, they'd thought that with Masamune and others working together, capturing this rebellious brat Ritsu would be simple. Therefore, there was no need to spread this family disgrace to the village.
But now it seemed they'd been too overconfident.
They'd underestimated the weight behind the title "Branch Family's Greatest Prodigy."
If only they'd sought the Hokage from the start and borrowed the village's power to capture this traitor Ritsu.
"How could I possibly let you escape from my hands? I already said it—I will destroy the Main Family-Branch Family system. You outdated trash should stay obediently in the garbage heap!"
Ritsu attacked from afar.
Three consecutive Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm strikes pierced the rain curtain, precisely hitting the scattering Shunsuke, Taiga, and the surprisingly spry seventy-plus-year-old Atsu.
Three corpses fell to the ground.
Only Elder Mizuki remained alive among the Main Family present.
"Hyuga Ritsu, you won't die well!"
Mizuki released a roar of extreme rage. Supporting his aged body, he trampled through puddles on the ground and pounced toward Ritsu, launching a suicidal attack like a moth to flame.
However, his aged, decayed body couldn't generate much power.
Ritsu easily dodged Mizuki's sluggish, feeble attack and said with a smile, "Elder Mizuki, you're still hoping the clan head and others will take my life, aren't you? Unfortunately, they lack the ability to take my life. On the contrary, they'll soon be joining you below."
The instant his words fell, a palm wreathed in high-density chakra shaped like an azure lion head struck heavily against Mizuki's chest, directly claiming the life of this elder who'd been conscious since Konoha's founding.
Thus, not a single living Hyuga Main Family member remained at the scene.
Branch Family members stood soaked in rain, momentarily at a loss. They didn't know what to do.
Should they charge forward fearlessly to attack Ritsu and avenge the Main Family? Or report to the Hokage, informing the Third Hokage that rebellion and coup had occurred within their clan?
But no one moved.
Instinct resisted choosing either of these two paths.
Simultaneously, a thousand years of heavy Hyuga tradition pressed upon their bodies, making it difficult to lift their feet and walk to Ritsu's side, to clearly support this rebel!
They could only stand motionless in place.
Those most loyal to the Main Family still wailed on the ground.
The Caged Bird Seal made their heads split with pain. They couldn't even stand, still floundering on the ground.
"Takuma, Arima, Akiba—tie up all these brainless fools. I'm going to clear out the Main Family's remaining troubles."
After giving instructions, Ritsu leaped up and returned to the Main Family residences.
The Main Family had seventeen members total.
Clan Head Hiashi and four others were at the Eastern Front base. Masamune and five others had all died at Ritsu's hands. Currently, eight Main Family members remained in the residences—not a single jonin among them.
Before long, Ritsu returned.
In his hands, he carried four still-dripping heads—three middle-aged and one elderly.
Thus, all adult Main Family members in the compound were dead. Only four children remained, the oldest no more than five years old. The wives of men like Masamune also lived—because they weren't Main Family.
"The Main Family is finished. I will replace Hyuga Hiashi as clan head of the Hyuga clan. Who objects?"
Ritsu held the severed heads, standing in the rain, shouting his challenge.
Silence all around.
No one spoke.
Only the rainstorm fell like a breached heavenly river, drenching everyone into drowned rats.
Ten seconds later, Ritsu wiped his face, preparing to speak.
"Hyuga Ritsu, is it true you won't plant Caged Bird Seals on children anymore?"
From among the Branch Family members, a tall man stepped forward.
Ritsu's gaze sharpened.
The other Branch Family members also showed shocked expressions.
The reason was simple—this man who stepped forward was named Hyuga Hizashi, the younger brother of current Clan Head Hiashi. Though Branch Family, the Main Family didn't order him around like other Branch Family members or drive him like cattle and dogs.
Ritsu smiled and answered loudly, "Of course! The Caged Bird Seal is the foundation of the Main Family-Branch Family system's existence. I said I'd destroy this damned system, so naturally I won't plant seals on our children anymore. I'll even commission my teacher Hiruko to continue researching methods to break the Caged Bird Seal and help everyone remove it!"
"How did you erase your Caged Bird Seal?"
Hizashi asked.
"I used a forbidden technique that cannot be replicated or widely applied."
"Forbidden technique..."
Hizashi narrowed his eyes slightly. This answer was reasonable—if the Caged Bird Seal could be easily broken, that would be the lie. He didn't press Ritsu on what forbidden technique he'd used, instead asking:
"Though I dislike saying this, the Caged Bird Seal undeniably reduced outsiders' covetousness toward the Byakugan. Without the Caged Bird, how do you—planning to seize my brother's clan head position—intend to protect the Byakugan from leaking out?"
"That question, huh!"
Ritsu scratched his chin, his smile growing even brighter. "The answer is simple—become stronger! As long as we become strong enough, whoever the hell dares covet the Byakugan, I'll beat them to death!"
He released intense, nearly tangible killing intent.
This was the real thing, forged through combat against Mist ninja.
With this killing intent alone, he could intimidate inexperienced genin rookies.
Hizashi naturally wasn't intimidated, but the scene of Masamune's Revolving Heaven being forcibly broken remained vivid, making one believe Ritsu truly could accomplish what he said!
"One last question. My brother—must he die too?"
Hizashi stared at Ritsu and asked.
"Do you take me for some bloodthirsty demon?"
Ritsu chuckled softly. "Masamune and the others' children all live. Hyuga Hisho and his son Daisho must die. Hyuga Daichi must also die. Not one of these elders is any good. But Hyuga Hiashi—"
"Considering he never oppressed Branch Family members and often protected them, as long as he doesn't resist stubbornly to the end, he can live!"
Ritsu gave his promise.
"Then, Hyuga Hizashi pays respects to the Clan Head."
The current clan head's younger brother, Hizashi, under the watchful eyes of numerous Branch Family members, knelt on one knee before Ritsu.