Chapter 224: 224.Mission Completed
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"What did you say?"
Hiashi's eyes turned icy as he fixed his gaze on Tokuma.
"Lord Hiashi, the clan members have gathered at the main house," Tokuma replied, his expression equally troubled.
"What's going on!" Hiashi shot up to his feet and glared at the elders. "Something of this magnitude is happening, and you all know nothing about it? What about your subordinates?"
The elders, equally stunned, were momentarily speechless.
"Lord Hiashi!" Tokuma, still standing at the door, glanced outside anxiously. "Please come out and take control of the situation."
"I understand."
Hiashi turned away from the elders, his face dark as he strode out with an imposing air.
"I want to see what these people are up to!"
The elders in the room scrambled to their feet and followed close behind him.
Hiashi walked briskly down the corridor. Under the glow of the lanterns, he saw the courtyard and the area beyond filled with clan members. He spoke first, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Why are you all here so late at night?"
The crowd fell silent, and every gaze turned to Hiashi.
"Lord Hiashi."
The group parted, and a young man with a ponytail, clad in a jonin vest, stepped forward to face Hiashi.
"Homura?"
Hiashi's eyes narrowed as he stared coldly at Hyuga Homura, who stood at the front of the crowd.
"Did you organize this gathering?"
"You could say that." Hyuga Homura smirked faintly. "Though everyone helped."
"Homura!" the chief elder bellowed from behind Hiashi. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What am I doing?"
Hyuga Homura's smile faded, and he spoke seriously. "I heard that earlier tonight, the Hokage and the clan leaders held a crucial meeting about the future of the Hyuga clan."
"The future of the Hyuga clan is for the clan head to decide!" the second elder interjected, glaring at Homura. "We, the branch family, are here to assist the clan head. That's all."
Homura's lips curled into a mocking smile. "The branch family? Heh, even among the branch family, there are differences. Don't lump us all together with people like you."
"Everyone already knows." He locked eyes with Hiashi, ignoring the dark threat in his gaze. "The Hokage said that whether the Caged Bird Seal should remain is a matter for the Hyuga clan to decide. We're merely here to express our true thoughts to the clan head."
"Oh?" Hiashi's voice was chilling. "And what are your thoughts?"
"They should be obvious." Homura removed his forehead protector and pointed to the seal on his forehead with his thumb. "This thing has long outlived its purpose."
"That's not for you to decide!"
Hiashi, aiming to make an example, decisively formed hand seals.
"The traditions of the Hyuga clan, upheld for generations, are not yours to break!"
"AHHHH!"
Homura clutched his head and screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground.
"See that?" the chief elder said sharply, his aged eyes sweeping over the crowd. "This is what awaits you restless troublemakers!"
Yet, to his shock, the onlookers remained unmoved. There was no fear or panic in their expressions.
"Heh…"
Homura, lying on the ground, struggled to lift his head. His bloodshot eyes glared at Hiashi, who continued to manipulate the seal, and he rasped. "As… clan head… you should… listen to… the majority of the clan…"
"That's right."
Another young man, wearing a headscarf and a jonin vest, stepped forward. "The thoughts of the majority truly represent the Hyuga clan. Outdated traditions that have persisted for centuries should end."
"Hyuga Iroha!" the second elder pointed an accusing finger at the newcomer. "You insolent traitor, how dare you speak such nonsense!"
"And what of it?" Hyuga Iroha smirked. "Clan head, am I next?"
Hiashi cast a cold glance at him. Without hesitation, Iroha collapsed beside Homura.
"Hahaha…" Iroha laughed bitterly, writhing on the ground. "This… this is our… clan head… resorting to such methods… to force us… into submission!"
"AHHH!"
Homura screamed again.
"Homura!"
"Iroha!"
The nearby clan members crouched down to comfort the two, while simultaneously glaring angrily at Hiashi.
"Hm?"
Feeling the angry stares, Hiashi didn't stop manipulating the seals. His icy gaze swept over the courtyard as he spoke in a low voice.
"Do you want to try me too?"
No one answered.
No one retreated.
Everyone silently glared at Hiashi, their anger palpable.
"You fools!"
The third elder suddenly stepped forward, leaping to the edge of the corridor. He grabbed Homura by the vest and growled.
"Where are they?!" He shook the sweating Homura violently. "Where are the clan members loyal to the main family?!"
"Heh…" Homura let out a weak chuckle. "Blame… yourselves… for being too confident…"
"What do you mean?!" The third elder tightened his grip.
"Don't worry…" Homura's smile was grim. "After all… we're not like you… we won't hurt… our own bloodline…"
Hearing this, Hiashi and the elders visibly relaxed.
But the third elder continued pressing. "What did you do to them?!"
Deciding Homura was too weak to answer, he turned to a nearby boy who had been tending to Homura.
"Speak! Where are the others?!"
"Don't… bully… Shoshu…" Homura interrupted weakly. "And don't think… you've won…"
The third elder noticed Homura's gaze shift behind him and saw a strange smile spread across his face. Alarmed, the elder spun around.
To his shock, he saw something he never would have expected.
Standing silently behind Hiashi, Tokuma extended two fingers and pressed them against Hiashi's neck.
"Ugh…" Hiashi's eyes widened as everything went dark, and he collapsed.
"I told you, you were too confident," Hyuga Iroha's voice murmured near the third elder's ear. "You thought the clan head's control of the Caged Bird Seal meant he held our lives in his hands. Yet with so many of us gathered, he didn't even activate his Byakugan…"
Iroha's tone carried a trace of regret. But before the third elder could react, he followed Hiashi into unconsciousness.
"Tokuma?" The chief elder pointed a trembling finger at Tokuma. "You… you…"
"Heh." Tokuma calmly brushed his hand aside, then looked at Homura and Iroha. "Mission accomplished. The task is complete."