The Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system is to protect the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan!" Hyuga Hatsume had a bitter taste in his mouth.
He couldn't understand how Hyuga Mio and her group had escaped from the Anbu's custody, nor could he understand why all the Caged Bird Curse Marks on the foreheads of the Branch Family members had lost control.
If the Konoha Higher-Ups had done it, it wouldn't have been possible to tamper with the Caged Bird Curse Marks of all Branch Family members in such a short time, which is why he didn't suspect the Konoha Higher-Ups.
"Absurd!
That's just an excuse for the Main Family to control the Branch Family!
If it's truly to protect the Byakugan, why don't Main Family members get the Caged Bird Curse Mark?" Hyuga Kojin removed his forehead protector, revealing the ugly Caged Bird Curse Mark on his forehead, unable to suppress the unvented rage in his heart.
He clutched the forehead protector in his hand, and bright red blood flowed down it.
"It's because you don't want to bear this ugly Caged Bird Curse Mark!
It's because of your Main Family's arrogance!
It's because you know that Branch Family members marked with the Caged Bird Curse Mark are beings you can freely control!" The Branch Family members all removed their forehead protectors and unwrapped the bandages on their foreheads, revealing the Caged Bird Curse Mark that symbolized the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family.
"Hyuga Hatsume!
The prestigious clan you speak of was earned by the Branch Family members' desperate struggles!
What right do you, the Main Family, have to boast about it?!
Unwilling to abolish the Main Family and Branch Family system...
Then, today we will make you, the Main Family, realize the anger of our Branch Family!" Hyuga Mio adopted the Gentle Fist stance, and the Branch Family members also took up fighting positions.
They had no retreat, no way out, and would not hesitate to go down with the Main Family, even if it meant mutual destruction.
"Stop—!" A loud shout rang out, and countless dark figures flashed by.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in armor, appeared with a stern expression in the courtyard of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family residence.
"If you want to kill each other so badly, why not fight us instead?!"
Danzo Shimura changed into his wartime armor, and fully armed ANBU Ninja from Root appeared beside the ANBU Ninja.
"If you don't stop now…"
"We will be your opponents."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado appeared beside Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi, respectively. The armor they wore still bore traces of the First Shinobi World War, and the killing intent they exuded was far more terrifying than the combined total of everyone else present. It was a killing intent forged through countless battles on the brutal battlefield, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
The members of the Branch Family watched the Konoha Higher-Ups lead the ANBU Ninja, feeling extremely nervous. They were worried that the Konoha Higher-Ups would side with the Main Family.
If they sided with the Main Family, what would become of them?
"Hokage-sama!"
Hyuga Hatsume looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado as if they were family—no, even closer than family.
"Hokage-sama, the Branch Family is trying to attack the Main Family! They are rebelling against Konoha!"
The elder who had been so frightened that he fell to the ground earlier, seeing the Konoha Higher-Ups arrive, stood up and shouted loudly.
"Silence!"
Danzo Shimura roared, giving the elder a cold glare. "You have no right to speak here now!"
Danzo Shimura's reaction caused a sense of unease to ripple through the Main Family, who had just found a pillar of support. They realized that the Konoha Higher-Ups had not come to side with their Main Family this time.
Seeing Danzo Shimura's reaction, the members of the Branch Family saw hope.
At the very least, the Konoha Higher-Ups had not sided with the Main Family.
"Things have escalated to this point, it's no longer just a matter for the Hyuga Clan. This is a crisis concerning Konoha's safety!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked sternly at Hyuga Hatsume, reprimanding him: "Hatsume, you have disappointed me greatly. As the leader of the Hyuga Clan and the head of the Main Family, you have condoned the Main Family's oppression of the Branch Family. How utterly disgraceful you are, unable to control the Caged Bird Curse Mark!"
"Hokage-sama, I…"
Hyuga Hatsume hadn't expected things to turn out this way; the Konoha Higher-Ups were not siding with the Main Family.
"For the Hyuga Clan to be in this situation today, you, as the clan leader, are solely responsible. As clan leader, you failed to treat everyone equally, which was the fuse that led to this situation today! Look at the anger and hatred the Branch Family has for your Main Family!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of relief after his outburst. He had been under so much pressure before, and now he could finally vent it openly.
"We are here today to resolve the conflict within your Hyuga Clan. If your Hyuga Clan continues to cause trouble, it will affect Konoha's safety, trigger a crisis for Konoha, and become a problem we must resolve!"
Danzo Shimura scanned the surroundings, his sharp gaze piercing, sweeping across everyone's faces. "The Branch Family will send a representative. We need to know your demands."
Danzo Shimura stated solemnly: "I will reiterate, we are here to resolve the conflict and will not favor any side."
Danzo Shimura's words made it clear to everyone that they were not here to help the Main Family.
You Main Family members, stop thinking wishfully and honestly resolve the conflict between the Main Family and Branch Family.
Upon hearing this, the members of the Branch Family looked towards Hyuga Mio, who stood at the very front.
Hyuga Kojin and Hyuga Kai looked at Hyuga Mio.
Hyuga Mio took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said: "Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, both Advisor, our Branch Family has only one demand: the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system must be abolished. The Main Family can no longer control us through the Caged Bird Curse Mark. Now, the Caged Bird Curse Mark protects our Byakugan from being coveted; it is no longer a tool for the Main Family to manipulate us."
Without the distinction between the Main Family and Branch Family in the Hyuga Clan, those secret Ninjutsu only passed down to the Main Family would also be taught to all who were once part of the Branch Family, provided they could learn them.
"Is that your demand?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the members of the Branch Family, then at Hyuga Mio. Just as Orochimaru had said, the Branch Family's hatred for the Main Family had accumulated over a long time. Finally, he looked at Hyuga Hatsume.
"Hatsume, what is your answer?"
"…"
Hyuga Hatsume fell silent. He knew everyone was waiting for his answer. Could he give a negative answer?
He could not!
From the moment the Konoha Higher-Ups did not side with the Main Family, the abolition of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system was no longer up to him. The Main Family could no longer use the Caged Bird Curse Mark to force the Branch Family into submission.
"I agree to Hyuga Mio's demand. The Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system is abolished, starting today."
Every word Hyuga Hatsume spoke was incredibly heavy. The Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system, passed down for generations, was abolished under his watch. He knew very well that his days as the Hyuga Clan leader would also end with the abolition of the Main Family and Branch Family system.
With such an incident happening under his leadership of the Hyuga Clan, what face did he have to continue in the position of clan leader?
The Branch Family—no, those who were once the Branch Family—cheered upon hearing Hyuga Hatsume's words. They had finally abolished the wicked Hyuga Clan's Main Family and Branch Family system. They would no longer be oppressed by the Main Family, nor would they have to endure the condescending gazes of the Main Family members.
On the distant Hokage Rock, a petite figure stood on the statue of Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking down towards the Hyuga Clan compound. Her golden eyes were slightly narrowed, her smooth black hair fluttering in the wind. Kikaichu, slightly different from those of the Aburame Clan, swarmed around her.
Orochimaru raised her hand, and a Kikaichu landed on her finger.
"Good, the plan succeeded."
Orochimaru smiled, feeling very pleased that everything had unfolded according to her plan, even if wasting time on this brought her no profit.
Immediately, the smile on her face turned to surprise.
How did Tsunade know it was a Shadow Clone?
To prevent Tsunade from overthinking and dragging Grandma Mito around that night, Orochimaru left a Shadow Clone at the Senju Residence and secretly slipped out herself.
However, Tsunade still discovered it was a Shadow Clone.
Never mind, I'll go back for now.
Orochimaru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to the Senju Residence, paused briefly at Tsunade's room door, then grasped the doorknob, opened the door, and walked in.
"Orochimaru, what were you doing out so late?"
Tsunade sat on the bed with her arms crossed, glaring at Orochimaru, her cheeks puffed out.
"I was out for a night walk."
Orochimaru gave a thumbs-up and said seriously; "I heard there's a pervert who likes to peep at the bathhouse on Third Street. I thought I'd go check tonight to see if it's Jiraiya."
"No way, didn't Jiraiya go to Mount Myōboku for training?"
Tsunade mused that Jiraiya had gone to Mount Myōboku for a new round of training not long ago. How would he have time to run back and peep into the women's bathhouse?
She clearly believed Orochimaru's flimsy excuse.
Tsunade said with disdain and a hint of contempt: "That perverted Jiraiya isn't so easily caught. That guy developed a boring Ninjutsu called 'See-Through Jutsu' specifically for peeping. He wouldn't be caught so easily."
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