"You're too slow. Your punching form is wrong. At this level, not only can't you hit me—you wouldn't even land a blow on a regular jōnin. Hyuga Chikazu, you've had access to so many resources from the main family, and this is all you've got?" said Hyuga Asana, as she casually slapped Chikazu away with a single palm.
"You... you said you wouldn't fight back!"
"Sorry, you're too weak—I couldn't help it. Are all you main family members like this?"
"Of course not! I just... don't have much talent..." Chikazu tried to explain.
"Oh, so you know you're talentless. Then why hog so many resources? If a talented branch family member had your advantages, they might already be Kage-level by now."
Chikazu glared at her hatefully, without replying.
"What? Don't think what I said is wrong? Heh! If you ask me, the reason the Hyuga clan can't compare to the Uchiha clan is because of its rotten system."
"Who says we're weaker than the Uchiha?!" came a sudden voice.
Hyuga Hiashi and the rest of the main family members had arrived.
"Hyuga Asana, how dare you kill Elder Three of the main family? Surrender now, or we won't hold back!" one of the main family members threatened.
"Heh! Come on, then."
"Asana, why did you do it?" Hiashi looked down at the elder's corpse and asked.
"Because he activated the Caged Bird Seal on me."
"That's it?" Hiashi was surprised.
"She's gone mad! Let's take her down right now!" said another elder, who activated the seal.
Asana grimaced in agony. She was about to command the Third Kazekage puppet when suddenly, the pain in her head vanished.
A gentle voice whispered in her ear, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Yuan, take me, my parents, and my brother and let's leave."
"Leave? Why not today? All the Hyuga main family's here—I'll kill them all. Then no one will ever use that cursed seal on you again."
With that, Uchiha Yuan activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. The pressure in his gaze caused cold sweat to form on Hiashi's forehead.
"Uchiha Yuan, you've trespassed into the Hyuga clan compound—are you planning to betray the village?" asked a trembling elder.
"Betray the village? You Hyuga people have the right to decide that? Are you the Hokage?"
"You—"
"Enough! Second Elder, calm down. Uchiha Yuan, what do you want?"
"I told you—take this chance and kill you all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuan vanished. The second elder's head flew into the air.
Then, one by one, members of the main family fell. In no time, only Hiashi remained standing.
Hiashi never imagined Uchiha Yuan would really act. His speed was so fast that not even their Byakugan could track him—no afterimage, no motion.
From the moment Yuan attacked until only Hiashi was left took less than ten seconds.
These were the Hyuga main family—half of the entire main house's power. All of them were roughly jōnin level.
As Chikazu had said, it wasn't that the Hyuga main family were weak—she was just talentless.
But even dozens of jōnin stood no chance. They couldn't even react.
Just as Yuan's blade was about to slash Hiashi's throat—
A repelling force knocked Hiashi aside.
Yuan stopped and turned to Asana, waiting for an explanation.
"Yuan, that's enough. Stop. If you kill the Hyuga clan head now, all your efforts to change the Uchiha's image will be for nothing.
I overheard your talk with the Second Hokage. I know your dream. I don't want to be the reason you fail."
"If this path doesn't work, I'll find another."
"It would be harder. I don't want to drag you down."
Yuan fell silent, then sheathed his sword. He turned to Hiashi and said, "Your clan's lucky today. You live—for now. If you're unhappy, go find the Third Hokage. I'll be here waiting."
Hiashi paused. "Hyuga Asana, from this day forward, you are no longer part of the Hyuga clan. Never return. As for your parents and brother—if they're willing to leave, you can take them with you."
Hyuga Asana turned back to the house and brought her parents and brothers out.
She summoned Shadiao and asked it to fly them to Orochimaru at the Hidden Sound Village.
"Hyuga Asana, the traditions of our clan go back a thousand years. They won't change because of one person. This is the most I can do. Go now—and don't come back," Hiashi said with a complicated expression.
Asana had always disliked the Hyuga clan, but now that she was leaving for real, she felt an unexpected sadness.
Yuan took her hand. "Asana, if the Hyuga don't want you, come home with me. My home will be yours."
Asana nodded silently and left the Hyuga clan, hand in hand with Yuan.
—
The next morning, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi both heard about what had happened in the Hyuga clan.
So did the other great clans—Uchiha Yuan had slaughtered half the main house to protect an old teammate.
Since joining Konoha, the Hyuga main family had never suffered such losses. The event rocked the major clans.
Among the civilians, though, there was little discussion. In fact, hardly anyone even knew.
The Hyuga were a prestigious clan. Getting attacked and slaughtered in their own compound—and then letting the perpetrator leave unharmed—was disgraceful. Naturally, they wouldn't go around advertising it.
The other clans knew because many of their members were in the ANBU, part of the Hokage's intelligence network.
Ordinary people didn't have that.
Uchiha Yuan had already alarmed the clans by fighting the Nine-Tails alone during its attack. Now he'd slaughtered a clan's main family like walking through air.
Without exception, all clans now recognized Uchiha Yuan as the single most untouchable figure in Konoha.
(To Be Continued...)