The Hyuga Clan.
As one of the founding families that joined the Hidden Leaf Village in its earliest days, the Hyuga held supreme status and prestige within Konoha.
Through multiple Hokage eras and the annihilation of the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga had become indisputably Konoha's greatest clan.
As the most ancient noble house, the Hyuga's position was somewhat elevated – more precisely, the Main Family's position in Konoha was elevated.
The Main Family's children did not need to serve as genin or undergo standard training. They could receive education at home and then directly take the Chunin Exams.
That alone spoke volumes about the Main Family's transcendent status.
At that moment, at the entrance to the Hyuga compound…
Ranmaru sat on a step near the gate, looking rather bored, occasionally glancing down the street in both directions.
Several Mist shinobi stood guard around the entrance besides him.
"Lord Ranmaru, why don't you go rest? We can handle things here."
"The Hyuga won't make any moves if they don't want to be exterminated. There's no need for you to keep watch."
A Mist shinobi not far away wore an ingratiating expression.
"No."
Ranmaru did not even lift his head, declining flatly.
They did not wait long.
Two sets of footsteps approached from the left street, making everyone perk up.
Under the Mist shinobi's watchful eyes, Yuto and Hyuga Neji appeared in view.
The moment they saw Yuto, every Mist shinobi withdrew what they were doing. Excitement and adoration filled their faces as they stood ramrod straight.
Ranmaru leapt from the step and jogged toward Yuto.
"Lord Yuto!"
He ran up to Yuto, beaming.
"Thank you for standing guard here."
"Are you injured?"
Yuto looked at Ranmaru with a gentle expression, noticing the bloodstains on his clothes.
"Just a few minor wounds. The medical division's sisters treated me. I'm mostly healed."
Ranmaru casually brushed at the blood on his clothes, smiling.
Yuto patted Ranmaru's head and nodded gently.
Yuto led Ranmaru and Neji to the Hyuga compound's entrance and looked up.
The Hyuga estate was enormous.
More precisely, it could not be called an estate. A mere glance revealed countless buildings within the compound.
Yuto even spotted shops in his peripheral view.
This was practically a small village.
"Quite impressive."
Yuto murmured in admiration, a smile on his face.
A gleam of interest crossed Yuto's eyes. Winning over a clan like the Hyuga would greatly strengthen the village.
But the key to everything lay with Hyuga Neji.
An outsider could not rule a clan as ancient as the Hyuga.
Yuto turned to look at Neji, standing at his side.
Neji stared at the familiar yet foreign Hyuga gate, his face showing both confusion and a trace of excitement.
Who would have thought that the boy who had defected from Konoha would stand here again – and in such a capacity?
For a moment, Neji hesitated.
"Lord Yuto, I'm ready!"
But soon, Neji composed himself. Determination filled his eyes as he looked at Yuto and spoke respectfully.
Yuto smiled lightly, lifted his foot, and walked into the Hyuga compound.
Compared to what one saw from outside, actually entering the compound revealed the true depth of Konoha's oldest and greatest clan.
A straight stone path led from the entrance deep into the compound's heart.
Not far away, a training ground roughly half a football field in size sprawled to one side.
Opulent!
That was Yuto's only thought, though it was merely a passing observation.
Konoha, far larger than this, would belong to the Hidden Mist. How could Yuto care about a mere Hyuga compound?
With Neji leading the way, Yuto and Ranmaru strolled forward as if admiring scenery.
From the houses on either side, eyes filled with fear and dread peeked through cracks in doors and windows at the three.
When the trio looked their way, those eyes quickly withdrew.
Yuto extended his perception slightly and easily detected that most occupants had no chakra. Those who did barely reached genin level.
Not a single capable shinobi remained.
These were clearly women and children.
The further they walked, the more refined the houses became.
"Ahead is where the Main Family resides. All Hyuga shinobi should be gathered there now."
Neji led the way, speaking softly.
"In that case, the rest is up to you."
Yuto's pace suddenly slowed, his tone flat.
Before Neji could react, Yuto and Ranmaru vanished simultaneously.
Facing their sudden disappearance, Neji was momentarily startled. But recalling Yuto's parting words, he understood.
Neji raised his head, determination etched on his face, and strode forward.
After passing through a narrow path separated by a wall, a vast courtyard opened before Neji.
Before him!
Nearly a hundred Hyuga shinobi stood silently in the courtyard. At their forefront stood the current Hyuga patriarch, Hyuga Hiashi.
Seeing Neji appear, every Hyuga's eyes flickered with complex emotions.
"You've come, Neji."
Hiashi's expression was remarkably calm as he regarded Neji.
Neji did not speak. He remained silent, though hatred burned in his gaze as he looked at Hiashi.
Regardless of the reason back then…
His father, Hyuga Hizashi, had died in Hiashi's place.
Just because of the branch and main family distinction, a branch member had to die unconditionally for a main family member?
This was unjust!
"I didn't expect you to have reached this level."
"It seems your choice was correct in some ways."
Hiashi spoke softly again, though a bitter smile laced his tone.
"Rather than a choice, it was coercion."
"A bird that has escaped its cage will never return to it."
Neji's voice was cold, his tone slightly frigid.
His words made the branch family members standing behind him shift their gazes, though none spoke.
Everyone watched Hiashi and Neji in silence.
"A bird that escaped its cage?"
Hiashi murmured to himself.
In his eyes, placing the Caged Bird seal to protect the Byakugan had not been wrong.
But in the branch family's eyes, this was not merely a cage – it was cruelty.
Yuto and Ranmaru now stood on the roof of a Main Family building at the courtyard's rear.
Yuto watched the scene with keen interest.
Beside him, Ranmaru's eyes emitted a red glow – the activation of his Kekkei Genkai.
Ranmaru used his Red Eye ability to create a special field that shielded both himself and Yuto, rendering them invisible to the Hyuga's Byakugan.
"Lord Yuto, is it dangerous to let Neji face the entire Hyuga Clan alone?"
Ranmaru looked down at Neji, concern in his voice.
Yuto heard Ranmaru's words and simply chuckled, without a trace of worry on his face.
[
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