I, Uchiha: Split Konoha

Chapter 103 The Hyuga Clan's Counterattack

Hyuga main family.

Inside the old, dimly lit room, the elders of the Hyuga clan all looked rather grim. Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods were still exceptionally shrewd; he seized the opportunity and struck immediately, truly swift, accurate, and ruthless.

Hyuga Hiashi, the clan head, glanced expressionlessly at the cunning Third Hokage and said in a deep voice, "Third Hokage, rest assured, the Hyuga clan will give Konoha a satisfactory explanation regarding the matter of Kumogakure."

Even at this moment, Hiashi Hyuga maintained the dignity of an ancient clan and did not lose in the slightest. The Third Hokage shook his head and held his pipe in his hand.

"Alright, I'll try to stall for a few more days, but it's been a month already, and I'm afraid I can't stall for more than a few days."

As the not-so-tall figure of the Third Hokage departed, the elders of the Hyuga main family immediately frowned and began to speak.

"What a Third Hokage! Not only did he intimidate Kumogakure, but he also wants to take this opportunity to teach our Hyuga clan a lesson."

"Who does Sarutobi think he is? He was not even a third-rate nobody during the Warring States period, yet now he dares to ride on the head of our Hyuga clan. How despicable!"

"Why didn't the Sarutobi clan have this guts when they first built the village? Now they've got some serious talent, producing a Hokage and they want to produce another one."

The elders of each clan were also furious. As old-fashioned and arrogant people, they had always considered themselves superior. If the Uchiha were proud, then the Hyuga clan was superior to others from the bottom of their hearts.

The Hyuga clan is essentially a powerful family that confines itself to its clan territory. Within that territory, they are the rulers, controlling everything, and the branch families are their servants.

As the clan head, Hiashi Hyuga looked at the elders' frustration with a calm expression. "Since the Third Hokage wants an explanation, then our Hyuga clan will give him one. Let's not have any conflict with Kumogakure over this matter, or the whole village will say that it was our Hyuga clan that caused this trouble."

"What do you want to do!" An elder, seeing Hiashi's calm demeanor, immediately lowered his voice and shouted loudly.

At this moment, it was clear that Hiashi Hyuga would not back down for the sake of the dignity of his Hyuga clan, and therefore chose to fight back.

"Perhaps Japan's idea is correct, but we can use someone else."

"What do you mean?"

Everyone seemed to be looking at the eldest elder, who smiled calmly and said, "Hiruzen Sarutobi is indeed a good maneuver, but he has forgotten that the dignity of a noble family is never to be trampled on. Does he really think everyone is his third-rate Sarutobi clan?"

"The branch family has always shouldered the responsibility of protecting the main family. Now, isn't it perfect that Hizashi can take Hizashi's place? This is how the Hyuga clan fulfills its duty!"

Upon hearing this, the usually composed Hiashi Hyuga's expression changed drastically, and he angrily exclaimed, "Hizashi can't go!"

In an instant, pairs of eyes turned towards him. Hiashi Hyuga, under immense pressure, stared intently at everyone. "I am the head of the Hyuga clan, and Hizashi is my younger brother. I absolutely will not allow this!"

He couldn't change his fate as a caged bird, so he could only accept it, but he absolutely couldn't let his younger brother die in his place.

However, the elders of the main family remained calm. "Hiashi, you must remember that you are the head of the Hyuga clan. You bear the responsibility for the rise and fall of the Hyuga clan, and Hiashi's destiny is to protect the main family."

"That's right, the branch family was originally established to protect the main family."

"Let Hizashi go, and then we'll see what Hiruzen Sarutobi does next."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to take this opportunity to teach the Hyuga clan a lesson, but he didn't expect that the Hyuga clan was not to be trifled with and immediately came up with a fierce counterattack.

Once the Hyuga clan hands over their own people, this fire will be thrown at the Third Hokage. One life for one life. Our Hyuga clan has offered the life of the branch clan head. You, Third Hokage, as the Hokage, do you think that's enough? If it's still not enough, the Hyuga will continue to send over corpses.

In short, as the Third Hokage, you have the final say. It can be said that the Hyuga clan's counterattack was extremely clever, hitting the nail on the head.

It can be said that when masters clash, every move can be fatal.

……

The Hyuga branch family.

The old-fashioned house, though not as imposing as the main family's, still exuded a sense of antiquity.

With a screech, the sliding door opened, and a member of the branch family who was inside immediately showed a look of joy upon seeing the newcomer.

Some of them were so nervous that they secretly activated their Byakugan, looked around, and said in a deep voice, "Lord Hizashi, there is no one watching us nearby."

The one who walked in was Hyuga Hizashi. Looking at the four trusted members of the branch family in the room, the once lifeless Byakugan of the branch family showed a hint of excitement at this moment.

"The plan has changed and needs to be implemented ahead of schedule."

Looking at the four people, Hyuga Hizashi lowered his voice and spoke. The four people were startled upon hearing this, but one of them excitedly said, "Lord Hizashi, we've been waiting for this for ages."

"Let's talk about how the mission went."

Hyuga Hizashi had just returned from the main family, and his heart was filled with anger and resentment. If it were before, he would probably have had no choice but to accept his fate, but now he had a new choice. For his child and for the future of the branch family, he was going to take a gamble.

"Lord Hizashi, to prevent the news from leaking out, all the Jonin and below in the village are doing it in secret. Don't worry, the seal was placed secretly while the other party was unconscious and asleep. At this time, they themselves do not know that the Caged Bird has been sealed."

"It's just that we can't contact some members who are on missions in the Land of Fire or who are stationed at the border, because it's easy for information to leak out."

"Children and women are easy to deal with; there are almost none who have been overlooked. It's just that we haven't dared to make any rash moves against some Jonin-level individuals whose identities are still uncertain."

Listening to the four's report, Hyuga Hizashi nodded under immense pressure and said in a deep voice, "Alright, tomorrow, summon all the Jonin from the branch families to the village for a meeting in the evening under the guise of a branch family and main family meeting. Make it clear then that those willing to join us will work together to help seal the Caged Bird Seal. Those who are unwilling but remain loyal to the main family will be subdued first, and then we will launch an uprising in the middle of the night!"

"So eager?" someone couldn't help but exclaim, while Hyuga Hizashi suppressed his worries, for he was now on the verge of action.

"The main family has already begun to have doubts. We can't wait any longer. Once we succeed in our uprising, the branch family members outside the main family will definitely not dare to make a move, because we have all become caged birds and have lost our usefulness."

"If the main family really makes a move, it will be a fight to the death. The main family members aren't that stupid. Therefore, the branch family members outside are safe. As long as we succeed in our uprising, we can send people to seal all the Caged Birds of the Hyuga family members. From then on, the fate of the Caged Birds of the Hyuga will end in our generation!"

End the caged bird's fate!

When these words echoed in the ears of the four Hyuga branch family members, tears of excitement welled up in their white eyes. Their hearts had long since sank into silence, and they had chosen to accept their fate. However, a month ago, their branch family patriarch, Hyuga Hizashi, secretly found them and said that he had found the seal that sealed the Caged Bird. At that moment, they were shocked to realize that their hearts had not died, but were simply locked up by the fate of the Caged Bird.

At this moment, they were no longer living for themselves, but for their descendants and to end the fate of the family splitting up.

……

Beneath the peaceful aura of Konoha, a turbulent undercurrent was brewing. With the Third Hokage in charge, he was demonstrating his shrewd methods honed over many years of rule to the fullest. The mobilization of Konoha's elite forces could not escape the eyes of other major powers. Moreover, this time Konoha was not hiding anything, clearly stating its attitude: if Kumogakure dares to come, Konoha dares to fight.

Thanks to the Third Hokage's shrewd methods, Shinnosuke Sarutobi on the front lines gained some prestige.

Meanwhile, undercurrents were also swirling within Konoha Village. The common people believed that peace was on the horizon. After all, the matter of Kumogakure was only causing trouble among the higher-ups and wouldn't affect the common people yet. Otherwise, things would get out of hand, and it would be difficult to handle. After all, this was also a diplomatic game between the two countries.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. These three days were also the time given to Hyuga Hizashi by the main family, after all, he was the younger brother of the head of the main family and the head of the branch family.

As the sun sets, its afterglow paints the leaves red.

Within the staid and oppressive Hyuga clan compound, in Hyuga Hizashi's mansion, the two brothers sat facing each other.

The two brothers remained silent. Although there was a distinction between the main family and the branch family, the two brothers had grown up together since childhood and even fought on the battlefield together. Although their relationship was somewhat distorted in this distorted world, their brotherly affection had never dissipated; it was just that the two of them hid it very well.

"Tonight is the deadline."

Hiashi Hyuga remained calm, as if discussing something trivial, while Hizashi Hyuga, on the other hand, nodded in response with a similarly stern face, saying, "Understood, tomorrow morning."

Upon hearing this reply, Hiashi Hyuga calmly picked up his teacup and took a small sip. "Hashi, you haven't changed at all. You never lie."

Hyuga Hizashi, who had a stern face, was holding a teacup when he was suddenly startled by these words, causing the tea in his hand to tremble and almost causing him to lose his composure.

However, suppressing his anxiety, Hyuga Hizashi calmly said, "Brother, I don't understand what you mean."

Hiashi Hyuga didn't say anything, calmly drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and as he calmly put down the cup and lowered his head, he slowly said, "Perhaps time was too tight, and your people revealed a flaw tonight."

When he heard this, Hyuga Hizashi almost lost his composure, but he still managed to hold back. However, Hyuga Hiashi seemed not to notice and sighed softly with his head down.

"The Hyuga clan may have truly become corrupt. The resentment between the main family and the branch family has accumulated for over a hundred years. Hizashi, do you know how much I wished I were from the branch family instead of you? But after becoming a father and looking at Hinata, I suddenly feel fortunate to be from the main family."

"At this moment, I suddenly understood the origin of the resentment between the main family and the branch family. However, the Hyuga's deeply ingrained ideas, which have been ingrained for hundreds of years, are not so easy to break."

As he spoke, Hiashi Hyuga slowly took out a scroll from his pocket, and when he looked up, a rare smile appeared on his face.

"Hizashi, you've protected me for so many years. This time, consider it my duty as an older brother. I've also studied the Caged Bird technique, but I couldn't find a way to use it. Perhaps you'll succeed this time. Here are some of my personal savings and the Gentle Fist secret technique that the main family possesses. Don't overthink things when you get there. Take good care of yourself."

At this moment, the two brothers seemed to have returned to that war-torn battlefield, where there seemed to be no distinction between the main family and the branch family. The two brothers were filled with firm belief amidst the encirclement.

A complex emotion flickered in Hyuga Hizashi's eyes. He knew his actions had been discovered, but his older brother had chosen to keep it a secret.

"Brother, I want to ask you, if the 'Caged Bird Seal' hadn't been solved, would you...?"

Although the words were not finished, the two clearly understood what it meant. Hyuga Hiashi nodded firmly without the slightest hesitation and said, "I will! Because I am the head of the Hyuga clan, and also your brother. If I die, there will be a new head of the Hyuga clan, and you, Hizashi, will still be a member of the branch family, as will Neji. The destiny has not been broken. Only when I am still the head of the clan can I protect Neji and Hinata."

Even though it was his own brother who admitted that he would watch him go to his death, Hyuga Hizashi was not disappointed at all after hearing this answer; instead, he smiled.

"So what's the reason now?"

At that moment, Hyuga Hizashi already had the answer in his heart, but he still wanted to hear his older brother's reply.

"Now I see an opportunity to break the caged bird's fate. I don't want Neji to resent the main family in the future. Let the grudge between the main family and the branch family end in our generation." Hyuga Hiashi said calmly as he slowly stood up.

As the neighbor reached the door, Hiashi Hyuga suddenly paused, and said softly, "Hizashi, will you still protect me from now on?"

Neither of them looked at the other, but even without being seen, a faint glow seemed to appear in their eyes.

Upon hearing Hiashi's abrupt question, Hizashi Hyuga gave a rare, disdainful snort, and with a sigh of disappointment, the sliding door slowly opened.

"After the family splits up, I will no longer protect the main family. If we are still fighting on the battlefield, I think I will protect my eldest brother as his younger brother."

A hoarse voice echoed in his ears. At this moment, the usually stern and unsmiling Hiashi Hyuga looked at the setting sun and revealed a sincere smile.

"If that time really comes, I also want to protect my younger brother as an older brother. That feeling is really comforting."

The footsteps faded into the distance, and it seemed as if an abyss had appeared between the two Hyuga brothers, separating them. But both of them wore faint smiles. At this moment, they were no longer the main family and the branch family, but the older and younger brothers.

In the quiet room, Hyuga Hizashi suppressed his complex emotions and said calmly, his voice still a little hoarse, "You heard that, didn't you?"

When the sliding door to the inner room was pushed open, two figures were revealed inside. They were Jonin from the branch family, and the two of them were silently looking at the head of the branch family.

"I heard you."

The relationship between the main family and the branch family is very complicated. They were originally brothers, related by blood, but the system of the main family and the branch family caused uncontrollable rifts to develop between them.

Over the years, resentment has been present, but there are also those like Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi who still retain brotherly affection. After all, this is a ninja world, and with the branch family protecting them countless times, the main family is not a cold-blooded animal, especially when they see their own younger brother desperately protecting them.

Although the caged bird incident played a part, their blood was still hot. The main family also had countless members who watched helplessly as their younger brothers died protecting them, only to collapse in regret afterward.

The feud between the main and branch families of the Hyuga clan is complex, stemming from fraternal grudges. They envy the brotherhood among commoners, yet are equally proud of their own lineage.

My child had the flu, but I ended up getting it myself X﹏X. Luckily, I have enough drafts saved up, otherwise I would have really had to write while sick. However, I really don't have the energy to check for typos. I'll correct them as soon as I'm better. I apologize in advance.

(End of this chapter)