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

Chapter 248 Hyuga Higo: Don't panic, it must be Danzo who's made a move against the branch family.
"Haha! Hahaha!"

He let out a series of incomprehensible, maniacal laughs, then scrambled off the still-warm corpse, rushing desperately toward the iron gate he remembered!

His hands groped along the cold, rough wall, searching for the outline of the door, for that crack that represented a way out!
Just as he finally touched the cold iron door, his joy reached its peak.

Crack crack crack... Bang!

A crisp, familiar sound of metal scraping and colliding suddenly came from behind him!

Hinata Haruto's movements suddenly froze, his ecstatic expression frozen on his face, and a question popped into his mind.

What is this sound?
next moment.

Whoosh! Snap!

A piercing whistling sound rang out, and a whip shadow, imbued with power and hatred, ripped through the air and struck Hyuga Yoto's unsuspecting back hard!

"what!!!"

It felt as if a red-hot iron had struck his back, and the excruciating pain of his skin being torn open instantly swept over his entire body. Hinata Hito let out a scream that was extremely shrill.

His legs buckled, and he collapsed heavily to his knees with a thud, writhing in pain.

Click...click...

The sound of something being dragged on the ground, accompanied by footsteps, gradually approached him.

"No! No!" Hyuga Haruto screamed in terror, "You swore an oath in the Hyuga name, you said you wouldn't lay a hand on me, you said you'd let me go!!"

"Yes."

His response was a voice that was both sinister and cold.

The voice was incredibly familiar, but it definitely wasn't Hyuga Iroha!
“Iroha, you did make that oath, but…” The voice paused slightly, then surged with hatred and ferocity, “I never said I would let you go!”

That sound, that sound is...

"Hyuga Takashi?!"

Hinata Yoto's blood seemed to freeze at that moment, and his mind went completely blank.

Why, why Hyuga Takashi?

Wasn't this guy already tortured to the point of barely having a breath left?!
Just as he was momentarily stunned by this sudden fear.

Whoosh!
The piercing sound of something tearing through the air rang out again!

The leather whip that originally belonged to Hyuga Ryoto was now in Hyuga Takashi's hand, and he lashed it hard at Hyuga Yoto once again!

This time, the whip will not stop!

Snapped! Snapped! Snapped! !

Hinata Takashi's arm moved wildly, pouring all his pent-up anger, pain, humiliation, and hatred into the whip!
The whip's shadows almost formed a blurry afterimage, accompanied by a series of piercing shrieks, pouring down on Hinata Hiudou like a storm!
"Ah! Ahh!!"

Hinata Haruto let out a series of incoherent, shrill screams. With nowhere to hide, he could only curl up on the ground, convulsing violently.

Each lash brought a new, searing pain.

Soon, he completely lost the strength to scream, and could only let out weak moans and groans from deep in his throat, like a dying beast.

Snapped!
With an exceptionally loud cracking sound, the battered whip could no longer bear the strain and broke in two, one piece falling into a pool of blood.

The whipping finally stopped, and Hyuga Yoto had turned into a completely rotten pile of flesh, lying on the ground, his body still twitching slightly unconsciously.

Almost no part of his skin was intact; it was covered with crisscrossing whip marks, and blood kept seeping from the wounds, turning him into a blood-soaked figure.

"Huh...huh..."

Hyuga Takashi, panting heavily with his chest heaving, casually tossed aside the remaining half of the whip in his hand and said in a hoarse voice, "Truly, trash."

It's unclear whether he's cursing the useless whip or the muddy puddle on the ground in front of him.

"Why, why..."

Hinata Haruto's breathing was weak, his voice barely a whisper, yet still filled with hatred and resentment: "Why, why won't you let me go..."

"My eyes have been gouged out..."

"My father has been killed by you..."

"Why, why..."

As Hyuga Hito continued to blame others for all his mistakes without any reflection, a look of disgust flashed across Hyuga Takashi's bloodshot eyes.

He slowly raised his hand and grasped the iron chain binding his wrist.

“I didn’t gouge out your eyes,” Hinata Takashi said coldly. “I didn’t kill your father either.”

"but……"

Hyuga Takashi's gaze was fixed on Hyuga Yoto's face, all his hatred and killing intent condensed to the extreme at this moment!
"I took your life with my own hands!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hyuga Takashi swung the iron chain in his hand without hesitation and flung it away!

The heavy iron chain taut instantly, carrying terrifying power and killing intent, tearing through the air with a piercing whistle, and lashing fiercely at Hyuga Hito's head!

Bang! !

With a terrifyingly loud bang, Hyuga Hito's head instantly exploded into a spray of blood, with red and white liquid splattering everywhere.

All the screams, pleas, and resentment came to an abrupt end.

That heavy iron chain strike almost drained Hyuga Takashi of his last bit of strength.

A strong sense of dizziness suddenly struck him, his vision went black, he stumbled, and his body fell backward uncontrollably.

But the expected pain of hitting the cold ground did not come.

A steady arm reached out from behind him just in time, firmly supporting his shoulder and embracing his almost limp body.

"how do you feel?"

Hyuga Iroha frowned and asked, her tone tinged with concern.

"Huff! Cough cough!" Hinata Takashi was breathing heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows.

But then, a slow grin spread across his face, which was covered in blood and sweat, revealing a smile that was a mixture of pain and pleasure. His voice was hoarse but excited as he said:
"It's great! It's so great!"

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Iroha's eye twitched involuntarily, feeling both annoyed and helpless: "I'm asking you, how are you feeling? Can you still hold on?"

The almost manic smile on Hyuga Takashi's face gradually faded.

He shook his head, not directly answering the question about his injuries, but instead asked worriedly, "Brother Iroha, the person who came with you outside, is that Neji?"

"We killed Hyuga Ryojin and Hyuga Yoto, and neither the Hyuga clan nor Konoha can tolerate us. Is it really our only option to defect?"

His voice carried a hint of resentment and confusion.

After the initial thrill of revenge, the chill of reality quickly washed over him.

"What betrayal? What escape?" Hyuga Iroha exhaled a breath of stale air. "Do you think that Neji and I were the only ones who made a move this time?"

As he spoke, he helped Hyuga Takashi up and turned to face the heavy iron gate.

He raised his other hand, and with a soft "click," he deftly pulled open the latch inside the door, allowing the heavy iron door to be slowly pushed open.

"Solve it?"

A cold, emotionless voice came from outside the door, and a figure stepped in from the deep shadows.

Upon seeing the person's face, Hyuga Takashi's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He exclaimed, "Tetsu? How... how could it be you?!"

Hyuga Tetsuya still carried a trace of lingering blood, his eyes cold and composed.

"Why can't it be me?" Hyuga Tetsu glanced at him and asked calmly.

“Because…” Hinata Takashi was speechless for a moment.

He looked at the face that bore a resemblance to Hyuga Ryoto, but was now filled with indifference, and couldn't utter a word.

"Because I'm Hyuga Ryoto's second son? Because I'm Hyuga Haruto's younger brother?"

Hyuga Tetsuya took over the conversation, his gaze falling on the two gruesome corpses on the ground.

His eyes were devoid of any emotion, only a chilling coldness.

“They never treated me like family, and I never stepped into that house.”

Hyuga Tetsuya's voice was deep and calm as he said, "Only the branch family that has been gathered and united by Lord Kumokawa is my home."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Takashi was stunned and felt a great shock.

"Wait a minute." He seemed to suddenly remember something and hurriedly asked, "If it's you who's coming, then Neji..."

"Do you think our operation tonight is just to rescue you from here?" Hyuga Iroha interrupted him.

He raised his head slightly, as if looking out, and took a deep breath, saying, "Now that I think about it, they should have already started making their move outside."

"What?" Hyuga Takashi's throat bobbed as a terrifying and insane thought surfaced in his mind, "You...you mean...?"

“Just like I said to Hyuga Ryoto,” Hyuga Iroha said in a deep voice, “why should we leave like stray dogs?”

"here……"

"It's our Hyuga clan!"

------

The night grew darker, the forest quieter, and the wind colder.

In Hyuga Higo's residence, a spacious Japanese-style room used for receiving guests was filled with a depressing and somber atmosphere.

The only light source was a candle placed in the center of the room. The leaping flame cast distorted and swaying shadows of the four cross-legged figures onto the surrounding walls.

Aside from Hyuga Higo, the other three people present were the powerful elders from the other three branches of the Hyuga main family.

They were all dressed in formal family attire, yet at this moment, they all frowned, staring intently at Hyuga Higo, who remained meditating with his eyes closed, as if deep in slumber. Time passed silently, with only the faint crackling of the burning candles clearly audible.

“Riwu”.

Finally, an elder with a slightly impatient temper couldn't help but speak, breaking the suffocating silence: "What urgent matter do you have that you've summoned us here for?"

"Why are you being so secretive? You've even dismissed the servants."

Higo Hyuga slowly opened his eyes, but instead of looking at the person who spoke, he glanced at the clock on the wall, which pointed to a rather late hour.

"Never mind," he said calmly. "Ling Ren hasn't arrived yet, so let's not wait for him."

"The reason I invited you all here today is still because of the previous proposal." Hyuga Higo's gaze slowly swept over the three elders present, his eyes deep, and he got straight to the point.

"What to do after the family division?"

Another elder, with a gaunt face, spoke up, his tone knowing yet tinged with impatience: "Wasn't it already agreed upon?"

"By taking advantage of the incident where Hyuga Takashi murdered a member of the main family and stole the Byakugan, we will publicly execute him to intimidate all the branch families and suppress their recent arrogance."

“No, that’s not enough.” Hyuga Higo shook his head, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee. “Killing just one Hyuga Takashi is not enough to instill fear in all the branch families.”

"You want to kill more?" The third elder, who had been silent all along, frowned and said in a low voice, "Higo, this is too much of a commotion. The Third Hokage won't allow it."

“You should know very well that what he cares about most is the stability of the village, and he will never sit idly by and watch us launch a large-scale purge in the village.”

"And another thing," the gaunt elder said, "don't forget the lesson of the Uchiha clan. You don't want to create a 'Hollow' in your clan, do you?"

“I already have a solution for this,” Hyuga Higo’s tone grew even more somber. “Please allow me to introduce you to a new friend of the Hyuga clan.”

As soon as the words fell, a slow and clear sound came from the shadows deep within the Japanese-style room, crisp and ethereal, as if resonating with the air and the skull.

Tap...tap...tap...

The three elders tensed instantly, turning their heads sharply almost simultaneously, their gazes fixed on the direction from which the sound came.

Then, a figure slowly emerged from the thick shadows.

The newcomer wore a large robe, half of his face and one arm were tightly wrapped in bandages, and he exuded a cold and gloomy aura.

His steps were slow, but each step seemed to be in rhythm with the three people's heartbeats, bringing a heavy sense of pressure.

Upon seeing the person's face, the three men's pupils contracted.

"Danzo?!" The gaunt elder blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief and astonishment.

"It is indeed Lord Danzo."

Higo Hyuga nodded calmly, as if introducing an ordinary guest: "Lord Danzo has reached an agreement with me."

"In order to maintain the stability of Konoha and prevent the unrest of the branch families from shaking the peace of the village, he and his Root are willing to assist us in cleaning up the current problems of the Hyuga clan."

"Moreover, the Root has already obtained more information about the Hollows, so there is no need to worry about the threat posed by the dead branch families."

Upon hearing this, the air in the room seemed to drop several degrees instantly.

The elder who had been most wary narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Shimura Danzo and Hyuga Higo, and asked in a low voice, "What are the conditions?"

He simply didn't believe that Danzo Shimura would be so kind as to clean up their mess.

"Once Hiruzen Sarutobi steps down," Higo Hyuga said slowly, "we will support Lord Danzo to take the Hokage position."

The words had barely left his lips when they stirred up a storm of emotions in the hearts of the three elders of the clan.

Their expressions turned extremely solemn, and they exchanged glances, plunging the room into an even more complex silence.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the uncertain expressions on everyone's faces, yet no one spoke first.

Support Danzo Shimura's rise to power...

This is no small matter.

This means standing on the opposite side of the Hokage faction led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, completely binding the entire Hyuga clan to Danzo's unknown and dangerous chariot.

A sense of weighing options, hesitation, and unease filled the three hearts. The flickering candlelight stretched the distorted shadows on the wall to be longer and more eerie.

However, just as this oppressive silence was about to reach its peak...

"what!!"

A piercing scream from outside the mansion suddenly rang out!

The sound was filled with extreme fear, tearing apart the tranquility of the night sky and piercing the eardrums of everyone in the room!

The three clan elders almost reflexively sprang up from their cushions, their solemnity and hesitation instantly replaced by astonishment and vigilance!

"what happened?!"

"what happened?"

However, in stark contrast to their panic, Higo Hyuga remained as steady as a mountain, not even lifting an eyelid.

"Don't panic," he said calmly. "It's just that Gen has started to take action against the branch family."

"Gen, you've made your move?"

Upon hearing this, the three elders were taken aback at first, and then the astonishment on their faces gradually turned into a complex sense of relief.

Although I am dissatisfied with Hyuga Higo's unauthorized actions and the fact that he allowed Root to take action on the clan's territory without prior notice, it's too late now...

They exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying a mixture of helplessness and tacit agreement, before slowly sitting back down.

However, their bodies remained tense, unlike Hyuga Higo who was truly relaxed.

They didn't see it when they relaxed their guard slightly.

Danzo Shimura narrowed his only exposed eye, a cold and mocking smile flashing across its slit.

Danzo Shimura, who had been standing silently in the shadows like a statue, suddenly spoke.

“Speaking of which,” he said slowly, “I also have a friend I would like to introduce to you all.”

Upon hearing this, all four people present, including Hyuga Higo who thought he had the situation under control, were stunned. They subconsciously raised their heads and cast questioning glances at Danzo in the distance.

Introduce me to a friend?

At a time like this?
After they had just reached such a secretive and dangerous deal?

However, before their questions could even take shape...

Then, Shimura Danzo raised his hand and clapped it twice.

popping.

The crisp sound of clapping stood out starkly in the quiet Japanese-style room.

The next moment, a figure emerged from the shadows behind Danzo.

He was dressed in the style of the Root Clan and wore an animal mask, but his figure gave the four clan elders present a strange sense of familiarity.

The man raised his hand and slowly removed the mask from his face.

That calm and familiar face was exposed in the flickering candlelight.

Hinata, Hinata?
wrong……

wrong! !
The four saw the ugly curse mark on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead.

Almost instantly, their minds went blank.

what?
what is that?
A caged bird curse?!

But just as their composure crumbled...

Danzo Shimura and Hiashi Hyuga vanished from their spot at the same time, their speed reaching an extreme!
Hiashi Hyuga appeared beside Higo Hyuga and the gaunt elder, his hands transforming into two blurry afterimages as he slammed into the joints between their shoulders and arms!
Click! Click! !

Two sharp, chilling cracking sounds rang out almost simultaneously!
Before the two could even react, they felt a sharp pain in their shoulders, their arms hanging limply as if their bones had been removed, and all their joints were destroyed.

At almost the same time, two extremely faint sounds, as if only a gentle breeze was blowing through the air, rang out!
Swish!Swish!
Danzo Shimura appeared like a ghost behind the other two elders, flicking his blood-stained kunai, which spilled blood onto the ground.

The other two elders felt a chill on their shoulders, followed by a slight stinging pain.

Suddenly, smooth cuts appeared on their robes at the shoulders, and they slowly slid down to the sides.

Beneath their robes, a thin red line appeared on their skin.

puff! !
Fresh blood gushed out from the circular red line!

As blood splattered down, their arms slid down the red line from their shoulders and crashed onto the tatami floor.

The sound of it landing was dull yet clear, even carrying a strange rhythm.

Immediately following were four wails and screams that erupted almost simultaneously!
"Ah!! My hand!"

"Danzo! How dare you!!"

The excruciating pain and fear instantly consumed the four pampered elders of the clan.

They collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, blood gushing from their severed arms, staining the expensive tatami mats beneath them a shocking crimson.

"What a bunch of useless trash."

Shimura Danzo looked down at the four of them with disdain and sneered, "Even if I were to cooperate, I wouldn't stoop to cooperating with trash like you who are utterly worthless to Konoha."

The position of Hokage?

No, he wants more than just the Hokage position.

He also intends to transform the souls of these clansmen into "emptiness"!
He also wants to use the Caged Bird Seal to control the branch family and Hyuga Kumokawa!

(9,000 words, please vote for me! My monthly votes are about to drop! QAQ)

(End of this chapter)