"Hinata Hyuga!"
After Indra's children left, Isamu finally got a clear look at the man and woman. The moment his eyes landed on the woman, he blurted out the name instinctively.
"Isamu, her name is Ōtsutsuki Karura. She is Ōtsutsuki Hamura's youngest daughter. She is not this 'Hinata Hyuga' you're talking about," Indra explained.
"My apologies. You look so much like someone I know that I almost mistook you for her," Isamu said with a slight nod.
Still, he couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Karura looked far too much like the Hinata Hyuga he remembered—at least ninety percent alike. He had never seen two people resemble each other so closely.
At that moment, Isamu recalled something Ōtsutsuki Toneri had said in the future.
No wonder Toneri had called Hinata the Byakugan Princess.
The resemblance was uncanny.
It was even possible that Hinata Hyuga was a distant descendant of Karura. Thinking about it that way, the title "Byakugan Princess" suddenly made a lot more sense.
"It's alright," Karura replied gently.
Her voice was soft and warm, almost identical to Hinata's. On the surface, she appeared to be a delicate young lady.
But appearances were deceiving.
Isamu could clearly sense the immense chakra hidden within her body. It was several times stronger than that of the man standing beside her. More importantly, her pale blue eyes possessed a faint black pupil at their center.
That was no ordinary Byakugan.
It was a fully awakened Tenseigan.
Even Isamu was slightly surprised by the power contained within those eyes.
As expected of the third generation of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. They were worlds apart from their diluted descendants a thousand years later.
Karura was not inferior to Indra in the slightest.
Although Mandala did not possess the Tenseigan, his strength had already reached the peak of Super Kage level, only a step away from the Six Paths realm.
Isamu couldn't help sighing inwardly.
In a world ruled by bloodlines, it was truly difficult for ordinary people to rise to the top.
"Enough with the small talk. Let's get straight to the reason for your visit."
Indra sat down in the main seat and immediately got to the point.
"Big Brother, it's like this. A few days ago, Ashura came to find Karura and me. He hopes we'll help him deal with you," Mandala said with a slight bow.
"Oh?"
Indra's eyes narrowed.
After briefly glancing at Isamu, he replied indifferently,
"If that's the case, then go help him. Why bother telling me?"
Indra's pride was immense.
Even if it meant gaining two powerful enemies, he would never lower himself or show weakness.
"Big Brother, how can you say that?"
Karura immediately stood up.
"We're family. Blood relatives. You're our elder brother. How could we possibly join forces against you?"
"Family?"
The moment he heard that word, Indra's expression darkened.
His Sharingan instantly appeared.
Staring at the siblings, he said coldly,
"Never mention that word in front of me again."
"When the Old Man rejected my ideals, did he ever think about me as family?"
"Since he chose Ashura's philosophy over mine, then I'll defeat Ashura completely and prove to him who was right all along."
For Indra, the wound left by Hagoromo's decision had never healed.
He had been hailed as a genius since childhood.
He created the hand seals used by shinobi.
As a teenager, he surpassed the older generation of the Ninja Sect and became second only to the Six Paths Sage himself.
Yet despite all that, Hagoromo chose the mediocre Ashura as his successor and even entrusted him with the Six Paths power.
For someone who had always stood at the pinnacle, that rejection was devastating.
It became an obsession that consumed his life.
Unless he defeated Ashura and proved himself right, he would never escape that shadow.
"Big Brother, that's exactly the problem."
Mandala stood up as well.
"Just because Uncle didn't choose you doesn't mean you should hold a grudge forever."
"Instead of wasting your life fighting, why not reflect on whether your ideals are wrong? If they are, then change them. That's the real solution."
"This endless conflict serves no purpose."
"Brother, stop talking!"
Karura's heart nearly stopped.
She knew Indra's personality too well.
Trying to reason with him was one thing.
Directly criticizing him like this was another.
As expected, Indra's face instantly darkened.
His Sharingan locked onto Mandala.
"Leave. Right now."
"Or don't blame me for taking action."
"You want to fight?"
Mandala's temper flared immediately.
A trace of blue appeared within his Byakugan as he glared back.
"Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"Enough! Enough!"
Karura quickly stepped between them.
"We surrender!"
Without giving either side a chance to continue, she grabbed Mandala and forcibly dragged him outside.
Outside the hall, Mandala shook off his sister's hand.
"Why did you stop me?"
He looked extremely displeased.
"That arrogant bastard has been getting on my nerves for years."
"Brother, have you forgotten why we came here?"
Karura frowned.
"If you and Big Brother Indra started fighting, wouldn't that only make things worse?"
"You know his temper."
"Hmph."
Mandala snorted.
"That guy always acts like he's above everyone else."
"One day, I'm definitely going to beat him up."
"Yes, yes, I know."
Karura rolled her eyes helplessly.
"Now listen carefully."
"I'm staying here."
"You go back to Ashura."
Mandala froze.
"What?"
"I'm serious."
Karura's expression became firm.
"This is the only way."
"Big Brother Indra and Big Brother Ashura are family."
"I absolutely refuse to keep watching them fight each other."
"Don't argue. I've already made up my mind."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Mandala could only sigh.
Once Karura made a decision, no one could change it.
"…Fine."
"Take care of yourself."
With those final words, Mandala turned and left.
Watching her brother disappear into the distance, Karura let out a quiet sigh.
"Absolute power really does make people lose themselves…"
Shaking her head, she turned and walked toward Indra's clan compound.