As Shura departed, the thick mist permeating the Hyuga compound slowly dissipated, revealing a scene of utter devastation.
The destruction caused by Akimichi Choza's fierce battle against the enemy's summoned beast was concentrated primarily around the Main House's Great Meeting Hall. Fortunately, the structural damage was not as severe as it could have been.
"Notify the Medical Department immediately. Tend to the wounded."
Once certain the enemy had truly vanished, Hiruzen Sarutobi dispelled the Enma summoning and issued a sharp command to the nearby Anbu.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Several Anbu vanished in a blur of Body Flicker techniques.
While Hiruzen coordinated the cleanup, Hyuga Hiashi approached the elders of the Main House. These men were the elders who had watched Hiashi grow; though they often gave him cold looks and political grief, they were still kin, bound by blood.
Seeing the four elders sprawled on the ground, groaning in agony, Hiashi felt a wave of crushing guilt and self-reproach wash over him.
"Are you alright?" Hiashi turned his attention to his wife and daughter.
Under the desperate protection of the Branch House guards and the elders, they had remained unharmed. Little Hinata was actually chewing on something, her white eyes wide with curiosity as she observed the chaos. To Hiashi's surprise, she even cast a look of subtle disdain toward the fallen elders.
"We are safe. We owe it to Hizashi and the elders," his wife replied, clutching Hinata tightly while looking toward the corner of the courtyard, where Hyuga Hizashi lay unconscious.
As Hiruzen's orders spread, more and more Konoha shinobi arrived at the Hyuga compound.
Hiashi knew this incident was a disgrace unlike any the clan had faced in centuries. However, with so many clansmen injured—including the critical condition of four Main House elders and the Head of the Branch House—secrecy was no longer an option.
Understanding the gravity of the Hyuga's pride, Hiruzen ensured that only shinobi of Special Jounin rank or higher were permitted on-site, keeping the information tightly contained.
Soon, the medical teams arrived to transport the wounded to the Konoha Hospital.
"Lord Hokage!" Nara Shikaku found Hiruzen amidst the ruins.
"The Medical Department has received all the injured. The good news is that there are no fatalities. However, we have thirty-seven casualties; thirty are from the Hyuga clan alone, with the four elders being in the most critical condition."
Hiashi's face darkened, his brow furrowing into a deep, jagged line.
"At least no lives were lost," Hiruzen offered, attempting to console him. "That is a blessing in itself."
Compared to the catastrophic loss of life during the Nine-Tails' attack years ago, Shura's appearances in the village had resulted in zero deaths thus far. For Hiruzen, this was a small mercy—otherwise, Danzo would undoubtedly have used the body count as political leverage to attack his leadership.
"But four pairs of Byakugan were stolen..." Hiashi hissed through gritted teeth. His expression was terrifyingly grim.
These were pure Byakugan from the Main House. Unlike those of the Branch House, they were not restricted by the Caged Bird seal. They would not self-destruct upon leaving the body.
Hiashi's mind raced back to the bloodiest days of the Third Great Ninja War. When Ao of the Hidden Mist stole a single Byakugan from a Main House successor, it became a century-defining stain on the Hyuga's honor.
At the time, the elders wanted to place a thirty-million-rye bounty on Ao's head through the underground black market just to see the eye destroyed. Hiashi had blocked the move, fearing a bounty would merely put a price tag on their bloodline and signal weakness to the world.
And now, four elders had been robbed of their eyes within the very heart of their "impenetrable" compound.
It was a staggering humiliation.
Hiruzen surveyed the ruined hall, recalling the "Gift of Hamura" Shura had mentioned in his advance notice and during the fight. He also noted a strange detail: when Hiashi had first arrived as backup, the Byakugan couldn't even see Shura.
"The enemy seems to share a deep history with your clan," Hiruzen noted. "Furthermore, he possesses an ability specifically designed to shield himself from the Byakugan. Does your clan have any ancient rivals?"
It was a logical suspicion. The Senju and Uchiha had been locked in a blood feud for generations during the Warring States period; it stood to reason the Hyuga had their own shadows.
Hiashi nodded solemnly. "I've questioned the clansmen. After the enemy used a technique similar to the Hidden Mist, hundreds of illusions appeared. In the Byakugan's vision, these phantoms possessed complete chakra pathway systems, causing severe interference."
"Yet, when struck, they were revealed as mere images—they didn't even have the offensive capability of a Shadow Clone. And then there was Shura's stealth in the hall..."
Hiashi sighed, shaking his head. "I am sorry. I have never heard of such a thing."
"Clan Head—"
An elderly Main House member, eyes wrapped in thick bandages and supported by a relative, hobbled toward them.
"I once heard my grandfather speak of a nemesis to the Hyuga," the elder rasped. "The Ketsuryūgan... the Clan of the Red Eyes."
Both Hiashi and Hiruzen focused intently on the old man.
"It was a long, long time ago," the elder continued slowly. "Our ancient enemies, the Red Eye Clan, vanished into the annals of history. If I recall correctly, it has been over two hundred years."
"Two hundred years?!" Hiruzen's eyes widened.
Countless clans had been wiped out during the Warring States era. Those that survived were either exceptionally powerful or, like the "Ino-Shika-Cho" trio, maintained ironclad alliances. However, dōjutsu (eye-based) bloodlines were rare. Aside from the Byakugan and Sharingan, few were known to the world.
"What was their surname? What were their specific abilities?" Hiruzen asked. Despite his title as the 'Professor' of ninjutsu, even his knowledge of pre-village history had its limits.
The elder shook his head weakly. "You might find something in the clan's historical archives, but I have nearly forgotten the tales my grandfather told. I only vaguely remember one thing..."
"The Red Eye Clan was once known as the natural predator of the Byakugan."
Hiashi's pupils contracted. As the Clan Head, he had never even been told this history.
"I suppose," the elder sighed, "since they have been extinct for two centuries, the clan simply stopped speaking of them."