It was precisely because Ryuji had considered this point that he altered Mukai's memories to make him seek the Hokage's help, rather than taking the Branch Family's members and directly fleeing to betray Konoha... because that was something destined to fail.
Moreover, after being betrayed, Mukai himself would also lose faith in Konoha, thus developing the idea of defection.
If he had directly altered the memory to make Mukai defect with the Branch Family... this would neither align with the conclusion derived from Mukai's own thought patterns, nor would it be the optimal answer from a risk perspective, making it easy to suspect that the memories had been tampered with.
This approach reduced risk while greatly increasing the success rate.
"It was other higher-ups who informed the Main Family, not Hokage-sama!"
"Without the Hokage's permission, could other higher-ups privately leak such an important secret to the Main Family?"
Hearing this, Takeso fell silent once again.
'Yes, such an important secret… without the Hokage's permission, would anyone dare to leak it privately?'
After all, the most important thing for a Shinobi is to obey orders... Although Konoha has a strong sense of camaraderie, in matters of major principle, no allowance is made for personal sentiment.
Thinking of this, Takeso couldn't help but feel sorrow rise in his heart, and he said mockingly, "I grew up listening to stories of the Hokage and the Daimyo. The person I respected most in my heart was Hokage-sama, and I would go through fire and water for his orders. Most of my comrades felt the same way... Yet, in the face of interest, he abandoned us without a shred of mercy!"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen's false pretense of kindness is quite famous among the high-level circles of the Shinobi World. It's normal that you, who grew up in Konoha and were brainwashed by him, couldn't see it." While comforting Takeso outwardly, Ryuji pondered internally whether Hiruzen was indeed the one who leaked the secret.
Although in such a situation, no one would privately leak the secret without the Kage's permission,
But Konoha has a troublemaker, Danzo.
He does not blindly follow the Hokage's orders like other Konoha's Shinobi; he has his own views. His methods are decisive, ruthless, and he stops at nothing, not allowing any unstable elements within the village.
The Hyuga Branch Family showing signs of breaking free from the Main Family's control... this is an unstable factor. Given his character, he would definitely resolve it with iron-fisted measures.
But ultimately, this is a matter of the Hyuga Clan; it wouldn't be appropriate for him to interfere directly.
Moreover, the Hyuga Main Family controls the Caged Bird Seal and has absolute control over the Branch Family. As long as the Main Family is informed and prepared, there's no chance of things going awry.
Therefore, the possibility of Danzo privately leaking the secret is very high.
But in the end, Hiruzen, as the Hokage, also cannot be ruled out as the possible informant.
Although his nature is soft and he doesn't seem like someone who would do such a thing, when it comes to matters concerning the village's major affairs, he shows no mercy.
"It's hateful that my comrades and I were deceived by that hypocrite..."
Takeso angrily cursed the injustice he suffered and the hypocrisy of Hiruzen and the Konoha's elders. Many of the things mentioned were rather far-fetched and wouldn't hold up under serious scrutiny.
All said and done.
No matter what the organization, it is ultimately a collective of interests.
After seeking the Hokage's help only to be betrayed instead, they came to understand the true nature of Konoha's so-called 'family' as still being a collective of interests. The once glorious and great Hokage in their hearts had fallen from his pedestal.
This was exactly what Ryuji was happy to see.
He didn't want to later receive a group of Byakugan-wielders who still harbored lingering feelings for Konoha or Hiruzen.
…
After about half an hour, perhaps because he was tired of talking or for some other reason, Takeso finally closed his mouth.
Ryuji smiled slightly and asked, "And then? After the betrayal, what kind of punishment did you receive?"
"Mukai-sama was expelled from the Hyuga Clan. Several of the senior members who led the effort were executed. All other participants were subjected to three days of torture through the Cursed Seal."
The Caged Bird Seal can control life and death, can be used as a punishment to inflict pain on the target, and destroys the eyes upon the target's death. It is a sharp tool used by the Main Family to control the Branch Family and protect the Byakugan.
Mukai was not branded with the Caged Bird Seal, and his personal strength was formidable. The Hyuga Clan could do nothing to him and could only expel him.
"Hmm, pretty much as I expected." Ryuji nodded slightly, then asked, "Did Mukai give you any other instructions?"
"He requests that after Ryuji-sama finds a solution to the Caged Bird Seal, you go to the outskirts of Konoha to rendezvous. He intends to take the clan members who wish to escape the Main Family's control away from that place of trouble."
"Understood."
The development of events was exactly as anticipated. Satisfied, Ryuji nodded and focused on researching the Caged Bird Seal.
…
The Caged Bird Seal is indeed a complex, high-level Cursed Seal.
But no matter how complex or advanced, it could not hide from the Observation Device. Its operational process was quickly analyzed, and a solution was reverse-engineered, all taking less than two hours.
"Time waits for no one. Let's head to Konoha now!"
After successfully removing Takeso's Caged Bird Seal and watching the Byakugan-wielder's expression cycle through stunned disbelief, incredulous joy, and other fluctuating emotions, Ryuji smiled slightly.
Behind him, the space door opened.
Hearing the voice, Takeso snapped back to reality, still unable to believe it. He asked Ryuji, "The Caged Bird Seal is removed? The curse that has bound the Hyuga Branch Family for centuries is gone? Is this all real!?"
"Of course it's real. If you don't believe it, I can give you two slaps so you can feel if you're dreaming."
"Uh, that won't be necessary."
Takeso quickly refused.
He had accompanied the clan's elders to watch the three Konoha vs. Sunagakure duels at the arena and witnessed firsthand how Ryuji had beaten Setsuna to death with his bare hands.
While Ryuji's fists might not be as monstrous as Tsunade or Gin's, his own small frame certainly couldn't withstand them.
"Then let's go!"
Leaving these words, Ryuji stepped out first.
Takeso reacted a beat slower and hurriedly followed.
A steel wall dozens of meters high appeared before them.
Two enormous golden statues, requiring one to look up, were half-embedded in recesses in the wall, appearing as if they were half-standing on the ramparts of the Mechanical City. Sunlight shone on the golden figures, casting rings of light on the ground.
The busy crowd and machinery within the rings of light seemed like busy ants.
"So... so big!"
Takeso's jaw dropped.
When he arrived, preoccupied with his mission, he hadn't paid much attention. Only upon leaving did he truly appreciate the grandeur of these golden statues.
'But isn't the Mechanical City a war fortress?'
'Why embed such statues in the walls?'
'Could it be that they believe it's impossible for anyone to attack this place?'
'If they believe it's impossible to be attacked here, then what's the point of building walls in the first place?'
"Get on!"
The words from beside him interrupted Takeso's further contemplation.
He looked back to see Ryuji already standing on a mechanical bird crafted from a mix of steel and solid wood. Beside him stood a middle-aged man with black hair and black eyes but a gloomy expression, as if someone owed him millions.
He recognized this man; his name was Kuro.
"Coming."
Takeso responded and quickly jumped onto the bird's back.
The large bird slid forward, flew off the edge of the cliff, and soared into the sky.
Below, a loud noise erupted.
Takeso looked back. Amidst the sound of people and various machinery, the two golden statues perfectly merged with the city wall...
"Ebizo-senpai, I leave the command here to you for now!"
Ryuji waved to an old man on the Mechanical City, not caring whether his voice could carry such a far distance at this height.
However, seeing the old man wave back, he probably heard.