Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 161 Hiashi! You'll regret this!
"I……"

Higo Hyuga never expected that Hiashi Hyuga would turn his attention to him. Being questioned like this, his old face turned pale and then red!

He knew, of course, that this method was extremely extreme and brutal, but the arrogance of being in a high position for so long was ingrained in his bones, making him habitually ignore the dissatisfaction and anger over the division of the family.

In his eyes, no matter how dissatisfied he was with the division of the family, he couldn't really cause any major upheaval.

He originally intended to take this opportunity to give Hyuga Kumokawa, whose reputation was rising and who was showing signs of becoming the leader of the branch family, a good lesson.

Let this damned troublemaker understand that no matter how strong he is or how great his reputation is outside, he's still a branch family member when he returns to the Hyuga clan! He still needs to obey the main family's orders!

Higo Hyuga even wanted to use this as an example to suppress the growing discontent within the branch family.

But he never expected that the family, which had previously been timid and hesitant in the face of the main family's division of the family, would choose such a fierce and resolute way of resisting today.

What made him even more desperate was that Hiashi Hyuga's sudden appearance and forceful intervention not only severely criticized his actions, but also left him in a dilemma and humiliated in front of everyone!
"..."

Hyuga Higo opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but he was met with Hyuga Kumokawa's calm, disdainful gaze, dozens of silent and resolute stares, and then with Hyuga Hiashi's cold and stern face.

All the words were stuck in my throat.

Hyuga Higo suddenly understood.

I did something stupid today.

His reckless and brutal actions not only won over the hearts of the people of Hyuga Kumokawa, but also aroused the dissatisfaction of "Hyuga Hiashi", and even caused him to lose his prestige.

Now, forget about suppressing Hinata Kumokawa; you can't even continue investigating the murderer.

Anger, shame, resentment, and a nameless fear surged violently within him.

He stared intently at Hyuga Kumokawa, then glanced at the silent branch family members, his face ashen and his chest heaving violently.

"good very good!"

He squeezed out each word through his teeth, his voice hoarse and trembling from suppressing his emotions.

He didn't look at Hyuga Kumokawa again, but instead looked at Hyuga Hiashi and said coldly, "Hiashi, if you don't kill this scourge now, you'll regret it sooner or later!"

"You'd better watch yourself!"

Having said that, Hyuga Higo abruptly flicked his sleeves and turned to leave without looking back.

The group following him exchanged bewildered glances, and finally lowered their heads and slunk behind him, not daring to look at the branch family members again, their figures quickly disappearing into the night.

They came in full force, but left in a sorry state.

Even after they disappeared from sight, the open space remained deathly silent.

Only the howling of the night wind and the pattering of dripping blood resonated in everyone's hearts.

"..."

Hyuga Hizashi looked at the branch family members who were still standing there. As the former head of the branch family, he felt helpless and troubled for a moment.

Who could have imagined that Hyuga Kumokawa would establish his authority in the branch family so quickly, even achieving things that he himself might not have been able to do back then?

But what's the cost?

You can't fight city hall.

Hyuga Higo ultimately held their lives in his hands.

In other words, Higo Hyuga still cares about the Hyuga clan in essence.

Otherwise, if that old man really goes mad, he might execute all these rebellious branch families, even at the risk of the complete disintegration of the Hyuga clan.

However, who can guarantee that Hyuga Higo wouldn't do that under the influence of excessive emotion?
Even if they are held accountable or even executed later, so what?
The family has already split up; it's dead now, and nothing can bring it back.

This is also why Hyuga Hizashi, despite being dissatisfied with the main family's practices, did not take any drastic actions but instead mediated between them.

Even though he was grateful to Yun Chuan for unintentionally helping Neji solve his problem, Hyuga Hizashi really didn't understand why Yun Chuan did it.

Don't they know that such extreme actions could lead to extremely serious consequences?
Or is it that Hyuga Kumokawa is ultimately not mature enough, too emotional, and prone to fighting on impulse?
Thinking of this, Hyuga Hizashi felt somewhat helpless and looked at the branch family members, saying in a deep voice, "Aren't you leaving? What else do you want to do? Isn't this enough trouble?"

At that moment, Hinata Kumokawa finally moved.

He turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces of the branch family members. Looking at the blood flowing from their arms, he smiled slightly and said, "Go back and take good care of your wounds."

"Everyone did a great job tonight."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Takashi stepped forward and asked in a hoarse voice, "Brother Yunchuan, we thank you for standing up for us and sparing us from torture and pain."

"But what if that old bastard Hiugo Hyuga attacks you after he goes back...?"

Upon hearing this, the group, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly felt a tightness in their chests.

Yes, if that old man were to make a move in the shadows, not only Yun Chuan, but even those of them who resisted would likely be...

If Hyuga Higo were willing, he could even have other members of his clan do the work for him.

But Hyuga Yunchuan simply shook his head and said, "Then let him come. After I die, I hope one of you can help me kill that old guy and avenge me."

"Same reason."

His gaze swept across everyone's faces as he said, "Anyone present here today who dies because of the cursed seal, or who suffers an unfortunate accident in Konoha, I will kill that old man."

"Wait a minute," someone blurted out, "What if the killer isn't him?"

Hinata Kumokawa smiled and said softly, "Does it matter?"

Upon hearing this, the branch family members, including Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Aoi, stared at him blankly, but quickly understood the meaning behind his words.

Hinata Kumokawa doesn't care who the murderer is.

If anyone dies inexplicably from the cursed seal, or from any other cause of death that could be fabricated as an accident, the blame will be placed directly on Hyuga Higo.

In other words, each of their lives was tied to that old man.

Nobody cares if you're the real murderer or not; you're the prime suspect anyway, so we'll send you down to be buried with the dead.

Is it unreasonable? Is it domineering and extreme?
That's how unreasonable they are, that's how domineering and extreme they are!
However, upon realizing this, the members of the branch family present felt an intense and morbid excitement, their faces flushed, and their gazes toward Hinata Kumokawa became fanatical.

Because they knew that their lives, which were considered lowly in the eyes of the main family, now carried the same weight as those of the dignified elders of the main family!
So what if he kills one of them? Can he kill everyone present?

If you can't, then you're just waiting to die!
"..."

Hyuga Hizashi was surprised by Hyuga Kumokawa's answer. Given his status, he should have reprimanded him, but instead, he stood there dumbfounded.

He was certain that if Hyuga Kumokawa's words reached Hyuga Higo's ears, the old man would be so angry he'd vomit blood.

But would Hyuga Higo still dare to make a move? No, based on Hyuga Hizashi's understanding of him, that old guy would absolutely not dare.

Not only did they not dare to attack Hinata Kumokawa, they also prayed that nothing unexpected would happen to him.

Otherwise, the family members present would hold him responsible for the debt, and he might be killed one day.

"Everyone, please stand up straight from now on, because behind you is me, and behind us."

Meeting their gazes, Hinata Kumokawa pointed to his arm and smiled, "As long as we stand together, they won't dare to do anything, nor can they do anything."

"They may be able to take our lives, but we can take theirs just as easily."

"Our blood is just as warm!"

"Our lives are equally precious!"

"And they, apart from the cursed seal, have nothing and are extremely vulnerable."

After the words were spoken, a deathly silence fell.

But this deathly silence was not the oppression or fear of before. A morbid yet incredibly intense madness appeared in their eyes, and their heavy breathing and heartbeats seemed to surge in the shadows!

Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Aoi were completely speechless.

Looking at the group of branch family members whose eyes seemed to be burning with fire, and at Hyuga Kumokawa standing tall in front of them, both of them felt a surge of turbulent emotions.

They knew that, starting tonight, things would be completely different.

This time, it's no longer about compromising as before, but about truly standing on equal footing.

Hinata Kumokawa didn't say anything more, he just waved his hand gently.

This time, no further words are needed.

All the branch family members received a silent command, and took one last look at Hyuga Kumokawa, their eyes filled with the fervor of having found their leader.

Then, they turned around and dispersed in an orderly fashion, silent, yet with an unprecedented air of pride.

Under the moonlight, those departing figures, no longer hunched or humble, stood tall and straight.

Moments later, under the pale moonlight, only pools of dark red blood, not yet dried, remained on the ground, silently telling the story of what had just happened.

"It's already very late." Hyuga Kumokawa glanced at Hyuga Hizashi and said, "Lord Hiashi, please return."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hizashi's eyes twitched involuntarily, but in the end he just sighed and disappeared from the spot.

Hinata Kumokawa turned around and walked towards the gate of his mansion.

But at this time.

"Wait a moment."

Hinata Aoi's voice came from behind.

Watching Hinata Kumokawa's retreating figure, she opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she swallowed it back, only saying in a complicated tone in a low voice, "I will tell Father about your warning."

"Thank you, Miss Aoi," Hinata Kumokawa said indifferently.

With that, his figure disappeared from Hinata Aoi's sight, and the door was closed by the wind.

------

Click.

Hinata Aoi dragged her heavy steps into her family's mansion, which stood out as particularly grand yet also as cold, in the center of the clan's estate.

The living room lights were off, with only the pale moonlight streaming through the window and casting cold, dappled patterns on the floor.

A figure sat in the shadows of the living room with his back to the door.

"You still know about coming back?"

Higo Hyuga's voice rang out, cold and hoarse, like rusty iron scraping against each other.

Hinata Aoi stopped in her tracks, standing in the shadows of the entryway without saying a word.

She could clearly feel the burning rage emanating from her father, a rage that seemed to threaten to consume everything.

"Humph!"

Higo Hyuga suddenly turned around, his old face, which looked particularly sinister in the moonlight, now filled with rage.

"Aoi! Listen to me carefully!"

He stared intently at his daughter, his voice trembling slightly with anger: "From today onwards, you stay as far away from that damned guy as possible!"

"You are not allowed to have any further contact with him!"

"And you are absolutely forbidden from having any more unrealistic fantasies about him!"

"Does he think that by inciting a mob, he can stand against the main family? Or defy the fate of the branch family?"

"wishful thinking!"

"He's courting death! It won't be long before he pays the price for his arrogance!"

Higo Hyuga became increasingly agitated as he spoke, as if he wanted to vent all the humiliation and frustration he had suffered at the branch family's place that night by belittling and cursing Hyuga Kumokawa.

However, Aoi Hinata remained unusually calm in the face of her father's almost roaring warning and curse.

She stood in the shadows.

There was neither rebuttal nor agreement; they simply remained silent.

Those pure white eyes, bathed in light, calmly gazed at her enraged father.

The awe and obedience of the past were gone from the depths of his eyes; instead, there was an indescribable complexity in them.

After Hyuga Higo finished venting his anger, Hyuga Aoi said in a calm tone, "Father."

"Hyuga Kumokawa said a few things after you left."

(It's a bit late. I originally wanted to finish writing this part and then post it together, but I still couldn't finish it because I ran out of time. I'm humbly asking for your monthly votes QAQ)

(End of this chapter)