Those former main family members cursed loudly at Hiashi Hyuga.
"You actually tricked us here just to brand us with the Caged Bird Seal?"
"You turned all of us into branch family members so that only your household can monopolize the treatment of the main family?"
"How can you face the ancestors of our lines who sacrificed so much?"
"Where is your conscience?"
"You are too selfish!"
"I would rather die than let you control me!"
Before Hiashi Hyuga could speak, the branch family members who had come with him were the first to become dissatisfied.
"The sacrifices of the ancestors from your lines? How much could that have been? Could it compare to what we branch family members have sacrificed?"
"Just because your ancestors had that tiny bit of merit back then, you have enjoyed privileges for so many years. Did you deserve that?"
"We were born into the branch family. Why can't you become branch family members?"
"Bah!"
"If you want to threaten Clan Head-sama, you will have to get past us first!"
This was exactly what Hiashi Hyuga had hoped to see.
Dealing with every main family member and branding them with the Caged Bird Seal, turning them into branch family members, would certainly improve the branch family members' opinion of him.
But that alone was not enough.
At this moment, these former main family members were furious and accusing him.
Then the branch family members would naturally defend him.
In this way, the branch family members' trust in him would rise even further.
As for these former main family members, Hiashi Hyuga honestly did not care about them very much.
There were too few of them.
Now that they also bore the Caged Bird Seal, their Byakugan possessed the same flaw as branch family members.
Furthermore, after so many years of pampered living, very few main family members went outside for missions or entered battlefields.
Many main family members had already become useless.
They had not trained properly at all in ordinary times, caring only about enjoying life.
Hiashi Hyuga's main goal was to gain the recognition of the branch family members.
"I do not intend for my household alone to monopolize the treatment of the main family. My daughter, Hyuga Hinata, has also been branded with the Caged Bird Seal."
"My future children will also be branded with the Caged Bird Seal."
"Once the Hyuga clan's situation stabilizes, I will also brand myself with the Caged Bird Seal."
"The Caged Bird was originally created to protect the Hyuga clan, but some people turned it into a tool for seizing benefits. I am merely returning the Caged Bird to its original purpose."
"I want the Hyuga clan to no longer have any distinction between main family and branch family."
"I want the Hyuga clan to be united as one."
"Can you understand my painstaking intention?"
A former main family member interrupted Hiashi Hyuga and said angrily, "I don't care about any of that. I only know that you have broken the rules of our ancestors. You have forgotten your roots!"
Hiashi Hyuga sighed.
"I knew it would be like this. You main family members have lain in your positions and enjoyed too many benefits. Your hearts are already filled with personal interests. You have no clan, and no clansmen, in your eyes."
"That is precisely why I have not yet branded myself with the Caged Bird Seal."
Hiashi Hyuga let out a cold snort.
"Since you refuse to cooperate, then I can only use the authority of the main family to punish you branch family members!"
With a thought from Hiashi Hyuga—
The next instant, all those former main family members clutched their heads and began wailing.
The branch family members outside watched with schadenfreude.
"Serves you right!"
"Now you get to experience what it feels like to be harmed by the Caged Bird Seal!"
"This pain is something you should taste for yourselves!"
The effect of the Caged Bird Seal was too powerful.
Otherwise, the main family would not have been able to use it to control the branch family for so many years.
Moreover, these former main family members had always lived in comfort. They could not withstand it at all.
Very soon, someone begged for mercy.
"Clan Head-sama, I submit. I am willing to support your decision. I think being a branch family member is not bad either. We are all members of the Hyuga clan. There should never have been a distinction of high and low between us."
Once there was a first, there would naturally be a second and a third…
Before long, all the former main family members had chosen to beg for mercy.
As for whether they were sincere, that was hard to say.
To accept so quickly that one had fallen from a lofty main family member into a humble branch family member was not something ordinary people could do. Hiashi Hyuga believed that most of them were definitely still dissatisfied.
But Hiashi Hyuga did not think that mattered.
The branch family members outside revealed regretful expressions, probably wishing that these former main family members could have persisted a little longer, suffered more torment, and let them enjoy the sight for a while longer.
Hiashi Hyuga turned toward the branch family members.
"Do you believe me now?"
The branch family members exchanged glances.
Afterward, they bowed together.
"Clan Head-sama, please give your orders."
"No matter what kind of order it is, we will execute it with absolute resolve. We have already understood your determination, and we understand that you are undoubtedly acting for the good of the Hyuga clan."
Hiashi Hyuga revealed a smile.
"Good."
"In that case, listen to my command!"
"…"
Hiashi Hyuga formulated a plan.
A plan that used the special nature of the Byakugan to manipulate intelligence and create an opportunity for Konoha, Sunagakure's army, and Kumogakure's army to erupt into a fierce collision at the same time.
The members of the Hyuga clan would use that opportunity to escape from Konoha.
They would flee to the Land of Water.
Like the Uchiha clan, they would establish a maritime corps and cooperate with the daimyo of the Land of Water.
From then on, they would gain freedom.
…
Night fell.
Yet the lights in the Hokage Building were still on.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two battle reports before him and felt an intense headache.
One side was Sunagakure.
The other was Kumogakure.
"What exactly is wrong with Onoki?"
"He suffered such a massive loss, yet he still refuses to take action against Sunagakure?"
"Since when did he become so cowardly?"
"This is ridiculous!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi truly wished that Iwagakure would step forward at this moment and share half of Konoha's pressure.
But there was nothing.
Iwagakure's army and the army led by Chiyo were facing off.
But they were merely facing off.
They had not placed much pressure on Sunagakure.
As a result, Sunagakure could still keep applying pressure against Konoha.
Furthermore, rumors about the Hyuga clan had appeared one after another. People's hearts were restless, and even the intelligence gathering on Konoha's front lines had become less smooth. The Hyuga were a very important component of Konoha's army.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples.
"What should I do?"
"No one in the village gives me any peace."
"And Danzo."
"Reactivating Danzo not only failed to bring help to the village, but even caused trouble for the village."
"Jiraiya has vanished. Orochimaru alone is not enough to support both sides."
"I must have Tsunade return. No matter what, she cannot continue running away!"
"This is Konoha. I believe that no matter what Tsunade has become, she cannot simply watch Konoha collapse."
An ANBU shinobi quickly left with Hiruzen Sarutobi's order.
Suddenly—
A figure rushed in hurriedly.
"Hokage-sama, bad news!"
"What happened?"
"The Hyuga clan has defected!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened sharply.
"What?"