Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 221 The Hyuga Main Clan's Fortune Has Faded

"That's impossible!"

Hyuga Neito frantically formed hand seals, injected chakra, and activated [Caged Bird: Devour], only to find it had no effect time and time again.

After trying more than ten times, he finally realized that the "Caged Bird" method was ineffective, and fear immediately overwhelmed him.

Hyuga Neji's tense body gradually relaxed. He and the Hyuga branch family members around him stared at their own bodies in disbelief, then looked at the main family member Hyuga Neitoku, who was dumbfounded.

Neji's eyes revealed a look of understanding. It turned out that the Fifth Hokage had asked him to break down the gate because he had already broken the seal of the Caged Bird Seal.

The other Hyuga branch family ninjas looked puzzled; some's doubts gradually turned into hope, while others' turned into anger.

But regardless of their emotions, they gradually began to have the presence of living people, no longer living dead like puppets.

Hinata Netoku's nightmare came true; his proud head, which had always looked down on the branch family ninjas, drooped down at some point.

He was so terrified that his whole body trembled, yet he mechanically activated [Caged Bird - Devour] over and over again, as if he knew nothing else.

Hyuga Neji was the first to react. He suppressed the trembling in his body and swung his hands as he walked towards the Hyuga main family member who wanted to kill him with the Caged Bird Technique.

Neji did not intend to kill Hyuga Neto. The Fifth Hokage was standing behind him, and no Konoha ninja was qualified to kill someone in front of him without asking permission.

Therefore, the genin Hyuga Neji only intended to give the chunin Hyuga Neto a good beating.

Just then, Hiashi Hyuga rushed over and immediately shouted, "Neji, how dare you disrespect the main branch of the family?"

Upon hearing the voice of the Hyuga clan leader, Hyuga Neji was overjoyed and even reverted to his arrogant demeanor, raising his head once more and looking down at Neji with disdain.

But Hyuga Neji seemed not to hear Hyuga Hiashi's words and still swung his palm at Hyuga Neji, but his attack was blocked by Hyuga Hiashi.

Extremely disappointed, Hiashi Hyuga angrily rebuked, "Neji Hyuga, how dare you be so disrespectful! You have truly disappointed me!"

"You are nothing like your father; you have completely lost all your manners!"

The angry and disappointed Hyuga Hiashi didn't notice that the surrounding Hyuga branch family ninjas were all watching Hyuga Neitoku, staring at his still-forming hand seals, confirming that his repeated attempts to use [Caged Bird: Devour] had indeed failed.

Once these ninjas made a definite judgment, they would shift their gaze from Hyuga Netoku to Hyuga Hiashi, who was scolding his nephew.

Their eyes were so dangerous, as if the elite Jonin Hiashi Hyuga was merely prey.

At this moment, more and more Hyuga ninjas arrived, including Hinata Hyuga and Hanabi Hyuga; all the main branch ninjas of the Hyuga clan had arrived.

Seeing that the time was right, Xia Zuo deactivated his [Invisibility] technique and walked into the crowd, reaching out to pull Hyuga Neji back from Hyuga Hiashi's grasp.

He looked at the astonished Hyuga Hiashi and sneered, "So the Hyuga clan head's method of managing the clan is to not consider any causes and consequences; as long as the branch family attacks the main family, it's the fault of the branch family ninjas."

"Clan Head Hyuga, do you do this when handling Konoha's affairs?"

Upon seeing Natsume and Sasuke, the Hyuga branch family ninjas all knelt on one knee and bowed, shouting loudly, "Fifth Hokage!"

The crowded people suddenly shrunk, leaving only a bewildered Hyuga Hiashi and the Hyuga main clan ninja who had no concept of Hokage standing alone in place, looking so frail.

Realizing his mistake, Hiashi Hyuga quickly knelt on one knee and protested, "No, Fifth Hokage, I wouldn't do that when handling Konoha affairs."

Xia Zuo nodded: "Not bad. The fact that you can say that proves that you're not hopelessly stupid. At least you know what's right and what's wrong."

"Then why, when dealing with internal Hyuga clan affairs, did you immediately reprimand Neji even though you knew the fault didn't lie with him? Don't you find that awkward?"

Hiashi Hyuga replied respectfully, "This is a tradition of the Hyuga clan; the Hyuga clan has always done so."

Xia Zuo laughed and asked, "It's always been like this. When did it start?"

"Did your Hyuga clan's ancestors designate the main family and branch family for their children from the very beginning?"

Hiashi Hyuga was speechless. They didn't even know that their ancestor was Hamura Otsutsuki, so how could they know such details?

Xia Zuo continued, "Most importantly, is it right to always do things this way?"

"Even if it was right in the past, is it still right now?"

"Hyuga Hiashi, I hope that your Hyuga clan will abolish the system of main family and branch family, and completely seal off the use of the Caged Bird."

"Clan Chief Hyuga, are you willing to accept my orders?"

Xia Zuo's direct and unambiguous approach left Hyuga Hiashi's mind reeling, completely unable to react.

Hiashi Hyuga couldn't react because his extreme recognition of the Fifth Hokage's authority clashed fiercely with his accustomed system of main and branch families, shaking his worldview.

But the other members of the Hyuga main family were different. They were incompetent and cowardly, and simply stayed in the Hyuga compound, acting arrogantly and domineeringly. They firmly believed that the rules of the Hyuga were greater than the authority of the Fifth Hokage.

So they all spoke up: "Hokage-sama, the main family and branch family are traditions of the Hyuga clan. Even though you are the Hokage, you cannot interfere in the affairs of our Hyuga clan."

Xia Zuo retorted, "Who says the Hokage can't interfere in the Hyuga clan's internal affairs? Did you make that rule?"

The Hyuga main family member was speechless, completely unable to answer.

Another member of the Hyuga main branch fabricated, "That's exactly what the Third Hokage did!"

Xia Zuo sneered, "Is your brain filled with water? I, the Fifth Hokage Xia Zuo, have always maintained that the Third Hokage made many mistakes, and I have no respect for his principles."

"Besides, even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, still forced Hizashi Hyuga to his death. So forcing someone to their death counts as non-interference?"

Xia Zuo's expression suddenly turned serious, and he shouted, "Stop your wild fantasies! You're all out of your minds, so self-righteous. Do you really think the Hyuga clan is a village within a village of Konoha?"

The Fifth Hokage unleashed his full power, and the Hyuga main clan ninja instantly transformed from proud little roosters into cowering quails.

These adult members of the Hyuga main family, having never experienced life-or-death trials or even rigorous training, possessed mental fragility far exceeding Xia Zuo's imagination.

Just by showing a little bit of seriousness, these guys were terrified. Some knelt on the ground without any regard for their image, while others even prostrated themselves on the ground.

Look at those Hyuga branch family ninjas, they all remain expressionless. Even Hinata Hyuga, that "cowardly" genin, only turned slightly pale.

Not only the ninjas, but also Hinata Hanabi, a girl who had just started school, had a slightly pale face, but did not seem to be frightened.

Xia Zuo hadn't expected these guys to be so fragile; he was even a little worried that he might have killed a few of them.

After a long silence, the Fifth Hokage suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha, Hiashi Hyuga, look at what you've done with the Caged Bird Seal!"

The Hyuga main family members who were protected are all useless trash, not even as good as little girls.

"Can such a main branch really serve as a trump card to ensure the continuation of the Hyuga clan?"

As the clan head, Hiashi Hyuga had long known that these members of the main clan could only rely on the "Caged Bird" technique to bully others within their own group. At this moment, he could only forcefully explain, "Fifth Hokage, the 'Caged Bird' technique is a means to protect the Byakugan from being lost."

Xia Zuo chuckled coldly: "Is that so?"

"Clan Head Hyuga, why are there punishments and instant-death seals as means of protection?"

"This 'Caged Bird' looks like a punishment seal, and I feel it's even worse than the 'Tongue Curse Eradication Technique' from the Root."

"Most importantly, you haven't even guaranteed that the Byakugan won't be lost. After all, Ao, the Byakugan ninja, is the signature ninja of Kirigakure."

Hiashi Hyuga argued, "Hokage, while the Caged Bird Technique certainly doesn't guarantee 100% that the Byakugan won't be lost, you can't deny its value based on that."

"Since the founding of Konoha Village, the Hyuga clan has only lost this one Byakugan. Compared to the hundreds of Sharingan lost by the Uchiha clan, this is enough to prove the value of the Caged Bird."

You know what, Hiashi Hyuga's statement makes a lot of sense, and even Xia Zuo couldn't refute it.

Yes, the Great Wall did not completely stop the nomadic tribes from raiding southwards, but does that mean it has no value?

Xia Zuo never told lies that were easily exposed. He nodded and said, "The Hyuga clan leader is right. The value of the Caged Bird is beyond doubt."

Neji Hyuga and the Hyuga branch family ninjas around him suddenly looked gloomy, while the Hyuga main family members who were slumped on the ground were filled with joy.

Xia Zuo glanced at the Hyuga main family members, his sharp gaze imbued with powerful illusion magic, which terrified the group into complete cowardice.

Then, the Fifth Hokage faced all the Hyuga branch family ninjas and loudly proclaimed, "However, the dangers of the Caged Bird Seal cannot be ignored. I will not tolerate the Hyuga main family using the Caged Bird Seal to coerce and harm the Hyuga branch family again, because you are Konoha ninjas!"

"All Konoha ninja will be under my protection, the Fifth Hokage!"

Xia Zuo looked at Hyuga Hiashi: "Hyuga clan leader, I demand that you hand over all the information on the Caged Bird."

"The village will organize manpower to study this data and develop a 'Caged Bird' that does not have any punishment or harm functions, to protect the Byakugan, and even the Sharingan."

"Furthermore, I will classify the Caged Bird: Devouring Technique, which can kill, as a forbidden technique. Anyone who dares to use this forbidden technique will be considered to have attacked the Hokage."

"No!"

Xia Zuo's request undoubtedly struck at the heart of the Hyuga main family. Among these limp cowards, someone actually broke through the Hokage's genjutsu and stood up to express their opposition.

Moreover, these Hyuga main clan ninjas made no attempt to conceal the hatred in their eyes.

Sure enough, I've lost my mind.

Xia Zuo didn't even bother with such an idiot, and simply turned to look at Hyuga Hiashi.

Hiashi Hyuga immediately snapped to attention and hastily ordered, "Take these bastards down and lock them up!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than several Jonin from the branch family pounced on him, pinning these guys who dared to express hatred towards the Hokage to the ground.

They acted quickly, but they didn't have time to stop the clan members from using [Caged Bird - Devour]. After the familiar sealing fluctuations, nothing happened.

Those members of the main clan who hadn't witnessed what Hyuga Neitoku had been through were stunned. The ones who had been pinned down cried out as if the end of the world had come.

The Hyuga branch family ninjas got excited, slapped the crying main family ninja a few times to shut him up, and then dragged him away.

Xia Zuo raised his hand to stop the Hyuga branch family ninja's actions and said, "You will stay by my side. Within my line of sight, the Caged Bird cannot harm you, but if you are too far away, I may not be able to protect you in time."

Upon hearing the Fifth Hokage admit that it was he who suppressed the damage caused by the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga branch family members were overjoyed, and some of them even had dangerous glints in their eyes.

They were thinking that the secret of the Caged Bird was very well kept, and only the elders and the head of the main family knew about it. If they killed all the ninjas of the Hyuga main family now, wouldn't that be the same as eliminating the Caged Bird?

But just as these ninjas had such a thought, they felt a tingling sensation between their brows and involuntarily looked up to see Xia Zuo standing in the courtyard.

For some reason, they remembered that the Zong family were also their own people, and that not all of them were bastards. The murderous intent in their hearts gradually dissipated.

Just seconds later, the Hyuga branch family ninjas decided to leave everything to the Hokage.

The murderous aura of the branch family ninjas dissipated, but the main family ninjas were not blind; they saw and felt it all.

Everyone understood that when the Fifth Hokage demonstrated his ability to suppress the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga main clan was doomed. If they did not follow the Hokage's orders, today would be the day the main clan was completely destroyed.

There are too few members in the Hyuga main family.

Moreover, the main branch only has one Jonin, Hiashi Hyuga. Even if he is a senior elite Jonin, he could not possibly defeat the 21 Jonin from the branch family.

Hiashi Hyuga lowered his head: "Yes, everything will be done as the Hokage-sama commands. I will retrieve the information on the Caged Bird now."

Xia Zuo nodded in satisfaction: "That's good."

"Hyuga clan leader, you don't need to give me the data. Just have someone send it to the sealing team of the Ninjutsu Research Department and Orochimaru-senpai's laboratory."

"Once the village has made progress in its research, I will have them share their findings with the Hyuga clan."

At this point, Xia Zuo sensed the intense worry of the Hyuga branch family ninjas through his [Mind Network]. After thinking for a moment, he said to Hyuga Hiashi, "Hyuga clan head, gather all the main family ninjas who possess the [Caged Bird: Devour] technique."

"I will now completely seal away this harmful forbidden technique."

As soon as Xia Zuo finished speaking, the Hyuga branch family ninjas erupted in a huge cheer: "Hooray!"

"Long live the Fifth Hokage!"

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