"It's simple—just bring Madara-sama's soul back from the Pure Land!"
"In the entire shinobi world, only the Impure World Reincarnation has the ability to pull the souls of the dead back from the Pure Land. And right now, in the whole shinobi world, you're the only one who still knows this forbidden jutsu!"
What Black Zetsu needed Yakushi Kabuto to do was actually very simple—but also very difficult.
Just as it said, in the current shinobi world, only Kabuto could perform the Impure World Reincarnation. That meant that without Kabuto's cooperation, Black Zetsu could only sit around hoping that Nagato would suddenly lose his mind and resurrect Uchiha Madara!
"Can you really be sure the leader of the Akatsuki will be that obedient?"
Although Kabuto was already tempted—leaning toward cooperation—before agreeing, he still needed to assess the strength of the one he would be working with.
In other words, Kabuto was no longer someone who would partner with just any nobody.
"He doesn't have a choice!"
Black Zetsu spoke words it didn't even fully believe itself. But that didn't matter—as long as Kabuto believed them.
As their hands clasped together, Kabuto and Black Zetsu formally reached a partnership.
...
Meanwhile, in Konoha—
With Uchiha Keizumi's return, the entire village atmosphere was practically purified overnight. Those who had previously dared to commit shady deeds in secret now wished they could just leave the village altogether.
The ones most terrified were the new main-branch elders of the Hyūga clan.
To successfully secure positions as new main-branch elders, each and every one of them had done plenty of things that couldn't see the light of day. Back then, all they cared about was obtaining main-branch status.
But now that they had achieved it… they had finally begun to fear retribution.
"We…"
Inside the Hyūga clan ancestral hall, three main-branch elders gathered together, their faces as grim as if their fathers had just died.
"We don't have a choice!"
"Before Uchiha Keizumi notices us, tonight—we break into Konoha's prison!"
"The Caged Bird seal on our heads has already been removed. Whether those old main-branch fossils like it or not, we are already the main branch!"
"As long as we rescue those main-branch elders, whether they want to or not, they'll have no choice but to walk this dark path with us!"
A middle-aged Hyūga elder, Hyūga Tsukasa, had a ruthless glint in his eyes.
He did not regret becoming part of the main branch. Only after attaining that status did he truly understand just how miserable his life had been before.
The Hyūga clan had treated him as something to be used and discarded at will—and now that he had tasted power, he had no intention of ever letting it go.
"Can't we… make peace with Uchiha Keizumi?"
"Or go plead with Tsunade-sama? As long as the Hyūga clan is willing to submit to her, Uchiha Keizumi wouldn't go so far as to attack us, right?"
Another elder voiced a naïve suggestion. In fact, both of the other elders shared similar thoughts.
To them, "absolute justice" was nothing more than a slogan—just a banner Uchiha Keizumi used to justify seizing benefits for himself.
As long as they completely submitted to Tsunade, as her allies, Keizumi should have no reason to move against them.
After all, if you've already become a dog, how could you still be killed?
"That's how you see Uchiha Keizumi?"
Tsukasa frowned at the two elderly men. He couldn't understand—when fighting for main-branch status, these two had been ferocious beyond belief.
So why were they backing down now?
"Let's at least try."
"If it really doesn't work… we can also pull Hyūga Neji into the main branch. After all, he's one of Uchiha Keizumi's followers—he wouldn't kill his own follower too, would he?"
The second elder laid out his plan.
But what he didn't know was that the one who most wanted them dead right now… was probably Hyūga Neji himself.
How could Neji possibly join their so-called main branch?
"Idiots unworthy of counsel!"
Tsukasa shot them a cold glare. He had already made up his mind—no matter what, he would go to Konoha prison tonight.
Since these two old fools refused to see reason… then it was time they were buried.
...
"The three new main-branch elders of the Hyūga clan are going to die."
Inside Konoha prison, Hyūga Neji stood before Hyūga Hiashi and informed him of Uchiha Keizumi's return.
During this time, Hinata had repeatedly asked Neji to visit Hiashi, and through those visits, Neji had finally learned the truth about the past.
But even knowing that his father had died for Hiashi… he still could not forgive the existence of the Caged Bird.
"They deserve to die."
Hiashi looked at Neji with a complicated expression. He hesitated—unsure whether to reveal the greatest secret of the Hyūga clan.
After all, he didn't know how long he would remain imprisoned.
And within the Hyūga clan, Neji was already the most talented one. Now that he was free from the Caged Bird's restraint, his future might truly lead him to become the strongest Hyūga.
"I'll remove your Caged Bird seal."
After a moment of silence, Hiashi finally made his decision.
The Hyūga clan's secret was far too significant—so significant that someone had to know it and bear its weight.
And in Hiashi's view, no one was more suitable than Neji.
"No need."
"As long as you all bear the Caged Bird, then everyone is the same. Whether I have it or not doesn't matter."
To Hiashi's surprise, Neji directly refused.
"That's impossible!"
"The Hyūga clan's main branch must always retain at least one person—there must be at least one, no matter what!"
"If every member of the Hyūga clan were marked with the Caged Bird, that would mean the entire clan could be controlled by others!"
Hiashi spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.
Hearing this, Neji's brows furrowed deeply.
"What do you mean… the entire Hyūga clan being controlled by others?"
Neji could sense it—Hiashi was revealing the clan's deepest secret to him.
"It means exactly what it sounds like. The Hyūga clan's Caged Bird is not only meant to prevent others in the shinobi world from coveting the Byakugan…"
"It's also meant to guard against those outside the shinobi world who covet it."
The moment those words left Hiashi's mouth, Neji's pupils trembled violently—his voice even began to shake slightly.
"Outside the shinobi world… what does that mean?"