Chapter 114: Ino-Shika-Cho vs. Hyuga
Though the village had entered wartime control status, this ultimately wasn't a large-scale external enemy invasion. Most areas of the village remained stable—only two locations were more complicated.
The first was the Hyuga clan compound.
Several of Hyuga Arima's shadow clones were lost midway, but two clones successfully returned to the compound, finding the elders at Tamaeda Shrine.
After the Main Family's rule was overthrown and Ritsu assumed the clan head position, he'd spent those initial days at Tamaeda Shrine handling clan affairs, teaching clansmen the complete Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Afterward, after deliberation, the elders felt they could use Tamaeda Shrine as the office space for handling clan head duties. Previously, clan matters had basically been conducted at the clan head's home.
But now Ritsu—this new clan head—lived in a single-family home. Housing one family was no problem, but squeezing out sufficient space for everyone's office work was impossible. Moreover, Ritsu had no plans to move.
Ultimately, Ritsu made the final decision—everyone would work at Tamaeda Shrine henceforth.
"Arima? What's happened?"
Seeing Hyuga Arima burst in, Elder Hyuga Takashi—who'd similarly just returned from the frontlines—tensed, asking aloud.
As clan elders, they naturally understood the conflicts between the family and village leadership thoroughly. Though Ritsu had remained at the frontlines, communication with the family never ceased. More accurately, Takashi and Hyuga Shin'ichiro were also at the frontlines—they'd already fully exchanged views with Ritsu and been persuaded by him.
For their Hyuga clan to truly escape the Main-Branch system's constraints, they not only needed to overthrow Main Family rule but also required a more enlightened Hokage.
Now, it seemed they'd reached some critical juncture.
"Honored elders, the Clan Head orders all clan jonin and special jonin to immediately assemble and rush to the Hokage building at maximum speed."
After catching his breath, Arima immediately relayed Ritsu's order.
Takashi and the other elders immediately realized the situation had developed to an extremely critical moment. They exchanged glances and made their decision without hesitation.
"Someone! Several people!"
The eldest, Takashi, called loudly.
Seven or eight clansmen appeared at the doorway.
Takashi immediately ordered: "Relay the Clan Head's command—summon all clan jonin and special jonin to assemble at the shrine immediately without the slightest delay."
"Yes!"
The clansmen responded loudly and immediately scattered in all directions.
Only then did Takashi ask: "Arima, what happened? Wasn't the Clan Head at the Military Police Force?"
"The Hokage sent people to the Military Police Force for the Clan Head, saying there was some matter. Afterward, I followed the Clan Head to the Hokage building. I remained outside while the Clan Head, Hiruko-sensei, and Hatake Kakashi entered the Hokage's office. I'm unclear what happened inside. Suddenly combat erupted, then the Clan Head commanded me to return and summon personnel to rush to the Hokage building."
Arima answered truthfully.
Takashi frowned.
They'd actually directly used force? His mood became exceptionally heavy. Using force meant no room remained for maneuvering—they could only grit their teeth and follow this path to the end. Either pass through darkness toward dawn, or silently fall in the darkness.
He couldn't help directing his gaze toward Hyuga Hizashi sitting to one side.
Perhaps when the Clan Head had deliberately spared the life of Hyuga Hiashi—Hizashi's brother, the former Main Family head—he'd considered this kind of situation.
If, if the Clan Head failed in his struggle with village leadership, these people certainly couldn't escape the village's reckoning. But Hiashi—this original Main Family member, former clan head—might very likely receive village support and return to the clan head's seat.
At that time, even if their efforts failed, the Hyuga clan's inheritance wouldn't be severed—at most they'd lie low for some years.
Of course, these were Takashi's own wild speculations.
"Hizashi, go watch your brother. Keep an eye on him. Don't let him do anything foolish at this time."
Takashi instructed.
"I understand. I'll go immediately."
Hizashi's expression changed slightly. He immediately agreed and departed with hurried steps.
This task could be said to belong to none but him. Aside from himself, no one was more suitable to watch former Clan Head Hiashi.
After Hizashi departed, Takashi and the others waited patiently.
The clan's jonin and special jonin arrived one after another. Watching the number of jonin in the shrine courtyard exceed double digits—several had just returned from the frontlines with Ritsu.
"Isamu Elder, Karin Elder, you two lead them ahead first. Hurry to support the Clan Head. We'll bring follow-up forces."
Among the six elders, Takashi was oldest, handled matters most skillfully, and commanded the other elders' trust. They didn't object to Takashi issuing orders.
Hyuga Isamu and Hyuga Karin acknowledged.
The two led these nine jonin and three special jonin, rushing toward the Hokage building's direction.
Just five minutes after Isamu, Karin and their group left the compound, suddenly hundreds of Konoha ninja appeared surrounding the Hyuga compound on all sides. Especially the side facing the Hokage building—everywhere were Konoha ninja wearing dark green vests.
Particularly, these Konoha ninja's collars and sleeves showed different clan crests—three types total. The corpulent ones were one type, those with pineapple-shaped hairstyles another, the remainder with flashy, colorful hair yet another.
"Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi."
Takashi came to the compound's edge, examining the Konoha ninja blocking their path, his expression exceptionally grim.
These ninja all came from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans. These three clans also had ancient inherited histories, each possessing secret techniques. Moreover, even before Konoha Village's establishment, the three clans had already been closely allied.
Though any single family couldn't compare to the Hyuga clan, when these three clans were bound together, they could actually suppress the Hyuga clan.
At this time, a Nara clan jonin stepped forward. His gaze fell on Takashi and the others at the forefront as he declared loudly: "Friends of the Hyuga clan, our apologies. Under the Hokage's orders, we're temporarily blockading your compound. Please honestly remain indoors. Then regardless of what turmoil occurs in the village, it won't affect you. Hyuga Ritsu's rebellion is only his personal affair—it won't implicate the innocent. But if you insist on breaking out..."
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued: "Whoever plans to break out becomes a village traitor. Though we're ten thousand times unwilling to draw blades within the village, the Hokage's orders must be thoroughly executed."
This Nara clan jonin faithfully relayed Sarutobi Hiruzen's order.
The Hyuga clan members stirred somewhat.
However, this wasn't because they'd become fearful, but because after measuring both sides' strength, they discovered breaking through the Ino-Shika-Cho encirclement wouldn't be easy.
Very likely, by the time the Clan Head's situation ended, they'd still be entangled in combat here. Once such large-scale internal strife erupted, it wasn't good for either the village or the family.
"Nara clansman, you're famously clever people. I don't expect you to release all of us, but at minimum you must let twenty jonin through."
Takashi spoke up.
The opposing Nara jonin's mouth twisted in a silent smile. Shaking his head: "That's impossible. The Hokage's orders—"
"Nothing's impossible. The current situation is our Clan Head fighting the Third. If ultimately the Third wins, your current actions are undoubtedly correct. But if the Third loses? If victory goes to our Clan Head, your current actions are bringing disaster upon your three families!"
The Nara jonin stopped smiling.
Takashi continued his verbal assault:
"Don't say I'm threatening you. Your three families have always been well-informed. Others might not know, but you should clearly understand our young Clan Head's formidable nature. So many Mist ninja experts working together were counter-killed by him alone. Now the village's Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato and others are all absent—only the Third, Shimura Danzo and a few other old bastards remain. Do you think they're truly our Clan Head's match?"
"Though Orochimaru, Jiraiya and others are absent, the village still has many jonin—"
"Many? So many of you were dispatched to watch us. I guess the Uchiha clan similarly has many people arranged watching them. How many people can serve the Third this way?"
Takashi's counter-question plunged the Nara jonin into silence.
The Nara jonin clearly understood Takashi was threatening him. But the problem was Takashi wasn't making empty threats—he was using genuine facts to persuade him.
This made things difficult.
"Now, I'm not demanding you release all of us. Doing so would leave you unable to report if the Third ultimately wins. But as long as you let twenty jonin through, even if the Third wins in the end, he won't pursue your responsibility. Because if you refuse my request, we'll have no choice but to fight to the death here—an internal war that only benefits the Mist, Cloud, Rock and Sand ninja!!!"
Takashi raised his hand.
Behind him, numerous Hyuga clan members assumed ready-to-strike attack postures. With one word from Takashi, they'd unhesitatingly strike deadly blows against these village comrades!
This was a ninja clan.
The clan's reputation ranked above village orders. The clan's interests outweighed village interests.
Seeing the opposing Nara jonin remain silent, Takashi frowned and threw out another bargaining chip: "Perhaps you don't yet know—recently the Clan Head by chance mastered the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai that the First Hokage possessed!"
This intelligence no longer needed concealing. Arima had just said the Clan Head directly used Wood Style at the Hokage building. In other words, before long, even the other four great ninja villages would receive news of Wood Style Kekkei Genkai reappearing.
"Wood Style?"
The Nara jonin's expression changed. As a Konoha ninja, he clearly understood what Wood Style Kekkei Genkai meant. Though the same Kekkei Genkai unleashed vastly different power in different hands, Wood Style was ultimately different in Konoha Village.
The Nara jonin's face darkened. He stared hard at Takashi, slowly saying: "Ten people. No more."
"Too few. Twenty."
"No. Only ten permitted."
"Fine. Then ten."
Takashi didn't waste time haggling and decisively agreed. Turning, he said: "Shin'ichiro, Tenma, take people and hurry to support the Clan Head."
He calculated in his heart—adding those who'd departed earlier with Isamu and Karin, this made over twenty jonin and special jonin. Already quite a formidable force. They should be able to help the Clan Head to some degree.
Those remaining to restrain the Ino-Shika-Cho jonin also contributed.
No need to truly fight the three families to mutual destruction.
Truly doing so wouldn't help the Clan Head while only grievously injuring the village. If the Clan Head ultimately won, he'd instead have to clean up a mess.
Thus, Shin'ichiro and Isamu selected eight jonin. The group of ten passed through under the Ino-Shika-Cho ninja's gazes without the slightest obstruction.
A Yamanaka clan jonin approached the Nara jonin, asking quietly: "Is doing this truly no problem? Given the Hokage's temperament, he'll definitely settle accounts later!"
The Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho clans similarly maintained close relations. They'd long since figured out what temperament Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen possessed—seemingly magnanimous, but actually someone who couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes.
They'd just released ten Hyuga jonin. If the Third Hokage learned of this afterward, he definitely wouldn't let it pass easily.
"Then what else? Should we truly have a fight-to-the-death internal war with the Hyuga clan?"
The Nara jonin's counter-question left the other speechless.
"Settling accounts later is settling accounts later! I'm also considering the village's greater situation. The Hyuga clan is Konoha's foundation. If we truly erupted in bloody battle with the Hyuga, ultimately only the village would be grievously injured. Doing this now preserves the village's vitality as much as possible. I have a clear conscience anyway."
Moreover, if the Third truly fell and Ritsu won, setting aside whether Ritsu could ultimately hold the fruits of victory, his choice at least counted as selling a favor. At that time, perhaps it could let their three families make choices more calmly.