Rotation sent the two Main House members flying.
The black-blue flames clinging to them ignited instantly—
And then—
Explosion.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two detonations rang out.
The two Main House Hyuga were blown completely apart, reduced to nothing but drifting ash.
No need for a cremation.
The Main House had chosen these two to attack Hyuga Arin because they had absolute confidence in them. In terms of raw strength, both could be considered elite jōnin.
But they had trained behind closed doors within the clan.
Their real combat experience extended no further than sparring among Hyuga members. Lacking true battlefield experience and untempered by war, they couldn't withstand Hyuga Arin's killing intent.
Being instantly killed was only natural.
If these two had faced a seasoned jōnin, they might have even been counter-killed.
To be rated elite jōnin required more than strength—it required experience in life-and-death combat, and killing intent forged through slaughter.
Unfortunately, they had neither.
"Hyuga Arin, how dare you!!" Hyuga Hiashi roared in fury.
He had never expected Arin to kill without hesitation.
[Experience: 50889]
[Experience: 50457]
Landing lightly, black-blue flames still coiling around his body, Hyuga Arin smiled faintly at Hiashi.
"You saw it yourself. Why ask if I dare? I already killed Hyuga Hizashi. Two more Main House members don't make much difference."
That was a false accusation!!
Hiashi's breathing grew ragged. Even now, he didn't truly believe Arin had killed Hizashi.
Lightning Release and blade techniques were the evidence.
Only the day Arin revealed Lightning Release would real suspicion arise.
And as far as everyone knew—
Hyuga Arin did not know Lightning Release.
"I dare you to kill this old man too," Hiashi growled through clenched teeth.
Those two had been the heirs of two Main House branches.
And now they were dead.
Blue chakra lion heads formed around his fists. A faint Eight Trigrams diagram spread beneath his feet.
"Gentle Step · Twin Lion Fists!"
And—
"Eight Trigrams—"
"I can use that too."
Hyuga Arin withdrew his flames. Black-blue lion heads formed around his own fists.
"Gentle Step · Twin Lion Fists."
His Gentle Fist was level ten.
He had mastered every derivative technique—whether officially passed down by the Main House or not.
Hiashi's pupils contracted.
"You actually—"
Developed it himself.
He didn't suspect theft. This technique had numerous subtleties known only to the Main House.
And yet—
Rotation earlier.
Now Twin Lion Fists.
These were Main House techniques.
"Eight Trigrams · Sixty-Four Palms!" ×2
Both vanished from their spots and collided at the center.
Four lion-wreathed fists struck in a blur.
"Bang bang bang bang!!"
As the only one present able to withstand Hyuga Arin's killing intent, Hiashi fought at full strength.
"You're not bad for an old man," Arin said with a grin. Their arms blurred from the speed of their exchanges.
His base strength far exceeded Hiashi's, yet the elder still matched him evenly.
A true veteran of the Warring States era.
Hiashi gritted his teeth, unable to respond.
Every collision sent pain through his fist bones.
This boy was a monster.
It didn't feel like fighting a human—
It felt like colliding with a creature possessing ten times a human's strength.
In the end, age betrayed him.
He was half a beat too slow.
Arin's palm struck his chest, sending him flying into the surrounding crowd.
The Branch House members stood frozen.
The Caged Bird Seal—
It had failed.
The seal they had relied on for generations to control them had been neutralized by Hyuga Arin.
Many thoughts stirred in their hearts.
Not everyone was willing to be controlled.
Even those without exceptional talent harbored dissatisfaction.
Some desired more.
The greedy.
The gifted.
All suppressed beneath the Caged Bird.
Now—
They saw hope.
Hiashi spat blood and roared, "Attack!! Kill him!!"
He refused to believe so many of them couldn't take down one Hyuga Arin.
"I'd like to see who dares."
A furious shout echoed as the compound gates were kicked open.
The guards lay unconscious on the ground.
A bandage-wrapped man stepped in slowly.
Behind him stood several masked figures in Root combat uniforms.
Danzō had arrived at the critical moment.
"Danzō-sama," Hyuga Arin greeted respectfully.
Danzō stopped beside him and asked coldly, "Any ninja listed in the registry dead?"
"No," Arin replied with a bright smile.
Danzō knew.
Of course he knew the Hyuga maintained private forces.
Konoha ultimately belonged to the Hokage's faction. Completely hiding private armies was impossible.
Hiruzen had once tolerated it to stabilize his rule.
Danzō, however, had long despised it.
Arin had killed precisely because those two were not registered ninja.
He still intended to remain in Konoha.
If he had killed official ninja—
That would have been irreparable.
Danzō nodded in satisfaction and looked toward the blood-spitting Hiashi.
"Hyuga Arin is my man. He is also the disciple of one of the Three Ninja, Orochimaru. What right do you have to lay hands on him?"
Hiashi coughed up another mouthful of blood.
His eyes rolled back.
He fainted.
If they had subdued Arin first, they might have twisted the narrative.
But now—
Arin had crushed them.
And Danzō stood behind him.
There was nothing Hiashi could do.
The Branch House members subtly relaxed.
Few were eager to fight the one who might free them from the Caged Bird.
Danzō snorted.
"Hyuga Arin belongs to me. He has nothing to do with your Hyuga clan."
"I don't care what your intentions are."
"But if you want to touch him—ask me first."
Arin almost felt moved.
In truth, Danzō protected him primarily because of his abilities.
Neutralizing seals—
Perhaps useless now.
But someday, invaluable.
Add his strength.
And his hostility toward the Uchiha.
He was the perfect Root candidate.
For every reason—
Danzō had to protect him.
At that moment, another Main House elder stepped forward.
Hyuga Kōku.
He bowed slightly toward Danzō.
"This was a misunderstanding."
Danzō's voice was cold.
"For your sake."
"I hope it was."
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