Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 42: Go Bully the Snow Country's Ninja

"Tokuma, why are you back?"

In the former clan leader's residence, Hyuga Hiashi's father frowned as he looked at Tokuma standing in the courtyard.

Tokuma, a spy sent to Root by Hiashi, was supposed to report to Hiashi. Yet now he was here—what for?

"Lord Third had Lady Tsunade work on breaking the Caged Bird Seal. Danzo discovered this and has already sent the method to the Clan Leader. I'm worried Hiashi-sama might hesitate or make the wrong decision, so I came to you for guidance."

Hiashi's father's pupils contracted as he locked his gaze on Tokuma, analyzing his every expression for signs of deception. After a long moment, he closed his eyes.

"Master, tea," a maidservant said as she entered the courtyard. She briefly made eye contact with Tokuma before setting down the tea tray and leaving at Hiashi's father's impatient wave.

Tokuma glanced at the retreating maid before bowing slightly.

"Danzo has already taken control of the ANBU and struck a deal with the two advisors. The Police Force and other clans unaware of the situation have been intercepted by Root operatives. Now that Danzo has isolated Tsunade, she may be forced to leave Konoha temporarily.

"And without her to oppose him, Danzo will take full control of the village's management."

Hiashi's father fell into deep thought after hearing Tokuma's assessment.

Facing Danzo head-on under these circumstances would be unwise.

"Very well. Tell Hiashi to follow Danzo's instructions for now."

"Understood."

Tokuma bowed and left the residence, his expression darkening as he looked back at the house one last time.

I had worried you might cause trouble for the Hyuga clan in your final moments, but it seems I arrived too late.

A pity I couldn't handle this personally.

Inside the house, Hiashi's father collapsed onto the floor, clutching his throat as he struggled to breathe.

Standing over him, the maidservant revealed a twisted, deranged smile.

"Master, I really wanted to inscribe the original Caged Bird Seal on you myself and watch you writhe in pain until your last breath."

"But… you have a good son. For Hiashi-sama's sake, I'll grant you a dignified death."

Hiashi's father glared up at her, trying to activate the Caged Bird Seal, but his arm didn't even lift before the light left his eyes.

The maidservant stood silently for another three minutes, ensuring the poison had completely done its work, before bending down to take his Byakugan. Without another glance, she vanished into the shadows.

...…

"This… this is…"

Hyuga Tokuma stepped into the meeting room, a suffocating silence enveloping him immediately.

The dim lighting revealed faint outlines of overturned chairs, dark red stains on the floor, and lifeless bodies scattered across the room.

Tokuma swallowed hard, suppressing the surge of glee in his heart as he turned his gaze to the only person still alive in the room.

"Lord Hiashi, what… what happened here?"

Tokuma's face was as emotionless as ever, devoid of concern or grief.

Hiashi looked at him for a long moment, remembering the branch members who had just departed. He sighed.

"Nothing but deserved retribution," he said.

"You're here under Danzo's orders, aren't you?"

Hiashi rose from his seat, his white robes now stained with blood, though he didn't seem to mind. He walked slowly toward the exit.

Tokuma stepped aside and bowed slightly as Hiashi passed.

"I'm going to change my clothes. Notify Hizashi to take over the Hyuga clan."

Tokuma froze, his head snapping up to look at Hiashi.

In the bright midday sun, he could see the exhaustion on Hiashi's stern face… and a trace of relief.

"This time, I'll side with Danzo. All the blame will fall on me. When the Fourth Hokage returns, I'll resign as Clan Leader, and Hizashi will take my place.

"From this moment on, you don't need to address me as 'Lord.' There is no main family in the Hyuga clan anymore."

Tokuma remained silent for a long time before bowing deeply.

"As you wish."

Hiashi turned his gaze to the horizon, his voice soft but resolute.

"The birds that seek freedom have shattered their cages and can now fly wherever they wish. But those who remain in the cage by choice… will gain the favor of their master."

"It's hard to say who will gain more or lose more in the end."

"But since you've chosen this path, I can only hope you'll walk it with smiles on your faces. Fly higher and farther than any of us."

...…

"If it weren't for you reaching out to me, I wouldn't have known so many in the clan wanted to leave," Hyuga Fuji said, glancing at Yuki as they weaved through Konoha's streets.

Her gaze flicked briefly to the twenty-some people following them before she took a deep breath.

Yuki activated his Byakugan, scanning their surroundings. "If it weren't for that person, I wouldn't have realized there was someone like you in the branch family—a true expert."

"I've been meaning to ask… who is that person?"

"You'll find out when the time comes," Yuki said with a small smile, shaking his head. He wasn't ready to reveal anything yet.

"Come on," joked one of the branch members, his tone relaxed in a way none of them had ever dared before. "He keeps saying 'that person, that person,' but he never tells us who it is. I'm starting to think this so-called 'person' doesn't exist and that Yuki just made them up to justify rebelling."

Yuki chuckled. "Given everything that's happened today, doesn't it all feel a bit like a dream? Perhaps it's not so far-fetched to call it a fantasy."

The group collectively broke into soft laughter.

It really did feel like a dream.

"So, where are we headed, Clan Leader Yuki?" one of the Hyuga shinobi asked, his eyes glancing at the large scroll strapped to Yuki's waist.

The scroll, capable of storing living beings, wasn't something available on the market. It had been given to them by Yuki, who had used it to store their unconscious family members before bringing them along.

Their trust in Yuki's mysterious benefactor came largely from items like this.

Yuki glanced at the road ahead. "We're heading to the Land of Snow. The ninja there are weak, and there aren't any strange legends or powerful clans to worry about.

"With Danzo keeping Konoha preoccupied for now, we can establish a foothold there, conceal our presence, and slowly grow stronger."

As they walked, Yuki turned to Miyuki, who had been quiet.

"What about you? What are your plans?"

Miyuki thought for a moment before replying, "I'll stay with you for now."

Her gaze shifted slightly, and she added, "But there's something I need to figure out first—something missing, something incomplete."

The group fell into a contemplative silence, their focus turning toward the path that lay ahead.

Their dream of freedom had only just begun.

(End of Chapter)

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