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The Kaguya clan's public declaration spread through the ninja world like wildfire.
The rumors surrounding the Hyuga clan were already widespread, fueled by both the Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand. In this world, the enemy of an enemy isn't always a friend—the Sand and Rock still shared a bitter, bloody history—but for now, their goals aligned perfectly.
In the Lands of Fire, Earth, and Wind, the gossip was inescapable.
Because it involved the Hyuga, a clan whose prestige rivaled the Uchiha, everyone was tuned in. The Byakugan was a prize every village coveted. That was why Ao had become such a high-profile figure in the Mist; possessing that eye meant instant status, placing him on par with geniuses like the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Naturally, the rumors of Konoha selling out their own for a ceasefire were the talk of the town.
"It's all bullshit," one supporter argued. "Konoha might be ruthless, but they wouldn't sell their own people's bloodline for a truce. Even the Sand wouldn't do that. Why would the Leaf?"
"Konoha is a hundred times stronger than the Sand," another added. "Look at the Beni-yama clan—they were practically wiped out. At least the Uchiha are still alive."
A critic scoffed. "The Uchiha are alive because Konoha couldn't kill them. The Uchiha are leagues above the Beni-yama. And look at the context: the Beni-yama betrayed the Sand first and tried to assassinate Rasa. The Uchiha were targeted by their own village before they ever did a thing."
"You only believe what you want to hear," the first man spat. "If I were a ninja, I'd choose the Leaf any day."
"Then I hope you're born into the Leaf in your next life," the critic retorted. "So you can be suppressed and broken even when you've done nothing wrong."
The world watched, waiting for the Hyuga to snap. Unlike the Uchiha rumors, which were buried in the past, these events were fresh. The details were too sharp, too visceral.
But the silence from the Hyuga was deafening.
Aside from a few younger members looking dejected, there was no reaction. No strikes, no protests, no demands for the truth.
The public was disappointed.
"The Hyuga are cowards."
"They don't even have the balls to investigate?"
"A waste of a bloodline. They're just Konoha's lapdogs."
Near the front lines, Rock ninja were relentless in their mockery of their Hyuga opponents. "So this is the great Hyuga clan? You're not ninja—you're just the Leaf's pets. The Branch family are slaves to the Main house, and the Main house are Sarutobi's bitches. You don't even dare to bark."
The Hyuga ninja clenched his fists, his Byakugan bulging with veined intensity as his eyes turned bloodshot. "You insult my clan... you're dead!"
The Rock ninja laughed. "Truth hurts, doesn't it? Thousands of you, and not one has the spine to ask about that missing eye. The Mist stole your heritage, and you're still out here doing their dirty work. It's pathetic."
"It's worse than pathetic," a voice interjected. It was Baki.
No one hated the Mist more than Baki. He had nearly been slaughtered by three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. To him, they were honorless cowards who hid behind numbers to bully a kid.
"If my Master hadn't arrived, I'd be a corpse," Baki thought. "He came for me alone, without hesitation. I owe him a debt I can never repay."
The Hyuga ninja pivoted his rage toward Baki. "Die!"
But before he could strike, a Mist ninja moved to intercept. They knew if the Hyuga were pushed any further, they might actually break.
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
Baki flicked his fingers, sending a transparent blade of pressurized air whistling through the air.
Squelch!
The invisible strike was lethal. Even elite ninja like Hayate Gekko would eventually fall to this technique. Though Baki was young, his opponents weren't much stronger, and his talent was undeniable. Two Mist ninja hit the dirt instantly.
Suddenly, a dozen figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding Baki in a coordinated trap.
"You little brat," a Mist ninja growled. "Jinin and the others died because of you. I'm going to take your head to appease their ghosts!"
But something was wrong. Baki didn't look afraid. His "terror" looked staged, a hollow mask.
"What is this?" the Mist ninja wondered. "Is he in shock?"
The answer came from behind them.
"Hiramekarei, Release!"
A massive sphere of pure chakra energy erupted with a blinding flash.
In an instant, the Mist reinforcements were engulfed in the explosion. As they stared in horror at the source, they saw the Hyuga ninja watching them coldly.
"You betrayed us?" the Mist ninja screamed.
But there was no time for an answer. The shockwave hit them with the force of a tidal wave. And beneath that force, they felt a secondary, terrifying power.
Their eyes went wide. "What?!"