Naruto: The Shadow Lord of the Nara Clan

Chapter 24 Betraying one's clan and village

Snapped--!

The expensive vase was smashed to pieces.

Nara Salt Water's eyes, hidden beneath dark circles, revealed a fierce gaze.

Staring at his unconscious brother lying on the bed, he gritted his teeth and spat out each word:

"Do everything in your power to heal him!"

The private doctor standing to the side glanced back and forth, looking troubled.

"I'm afraid that will be difficult."

"Multiple comminuted fractures throughout the body, with significant displacement of the fracture ends, complicated by severe soft tissue contusions and lacerations..."

He paused at the end, then added:

"It's already quite remarkable that he survived."

"Only if Lady Tsunade treats you personally can you be fully cured; otherwise, you will definitely suffer from lasting effects."

Nara Shizuku's already gloomy expression darkened even further at this moment.

He couldn't possibly persuade Tsunade to do that...

Therefore, due to the long-term effects of his mobility impairment, his younger brother will have to take care of him for the rest of his life.

Forget about becoming a ninja; you can only live your life as a commoner.

Thinking of this, Nara Shizuku clenched her fists, her gaze turning icy:

"Nara Shikage!"

Although he had long anticipated that the clan leader would retaliate against him because of Shikamaru.

But not now!

Shouldn't we wait until the changes within Danzo's faction have completely subsided?

Nara Shikaku, when did you become so tough?

He didn't understand, but that didn't stop him from making a decision.

"Go tell them." Leaving the ward, Nara Shizuku summoned a close member of her clan:

"Nara Shikaku almost beat my brother to death."

"Let them assess the seriousness of this matter for themselves."

"Remember to remind them that Nara Shikaku is preparing to hold a clan meeting tomorrow."

"If they want to maintain their current status, bring all their men here!"

The Nara people nervously swallowed.

"I see!"

……

The next day.

Nara's main residence, the council chamber.

Because only elders and senior members with honorary status are allowed to attend the Nara clan's internal meetings.

Therefore, the assessment room used to discuss clan affairs is not large, and can only accommodate about thirty people.

In previous clan meetings, the space in the evaluation room was not exactly more than enough, but it was never completely full.

However, the people attending the meeting today almost completely filled the evaluation room.

Even in the front courtyard outside the main residence in Nara, many clansmen were standing or sitting.

Judging from their expressions, they didn't show much respect for the clan leader.

Instead, there was more hostility and jealousy.

This atmosphere was even stronger in the evaluation room.

Sitting in the head seat, Nara Shikaku looked at Nara Shizuku with a blank expression, his tone serious:

"Saltwater, what's the meaning of bringing so many people from your tribe here?"

Several elders standing nearby were equally displeased, expressing their dissatisfaction through their eyes.

Nara Shizuku seemed completely oblivious to the pressure, staring fearlessly into Shikaku's eyes and enunciating each word clearly:

"I demand an explanation!"

"Nara Shikakage crippled my younger brother!"

Upon hearing this, the clansmen following behind Nara Shizuku subtly took a few steps forward.

Suddenly, pressure from Danzo's faction came crashing down on them.

Even Shikaku, seeing his clansmen united in their hatred of the enemy, couldn't help but feel troubled at this moment.

Not to mention the other clan elders, who subconsciously averted their gazes from Nara Shizuku.

Although they belong to the clan leader's faction, it doesn't mean they can offend the Danzo faction to the death for the sake of the clan leader.

At the height of the tension, a calm and composed voice rang out.

Shikakage walked out from the corner of the judging room, stood to Shikaku's right, and looked coldly at Nara Shizuku:

"So, what kind of explanation do you want?"

"Nara Deer Shadow!" Nara Shizuku's eyes narrowed slightly, his aura sharp and menacing.

"This is a family meeting; you have no right to speak!"

Lu Ying didn't say anything, but stared at him intently.

Shikaku said on his behalf:

"Lu Ying has already graduated."

"I'm preparing him to start taking over the family business."

Although she didn't directly answer Nai's question, her words already explained the situation.

Upon hearing this, Nara Saltwater visibly became unsightly.

His gaze swept back and forth between Lu Jiu and Lu Ying, finally uttering a sarcastic remark:

"As expected of someone from the clan chief's family."

"We members of the collateral branches of the family still need to pass an examination if we want to get involved in the family business."

"It seems that Nara Shikakage is much better than us; he doesn't even need to compete with his clansmen."

The words weighed heavily on his mind, and the Nara clan members behind him frowned to varying degrees.

Before Nara Shizuku could even crack a smile, a cold snort silenced all her discontent:

"That's right, I am indeed better than you."

Standing at the top, Lu Ying's gaze swept over the members of Danzo's faction. Although he was not particularly tall, he gave the impression of looking down on the entire scene.

"Nara Shikakage, you're too arrogant!"

Seeing that Lu Ying not only refused to bow his head but also dared to be so arrogant.

Nara Shiso stepped forward and shouted:

"You must give me an explanation today!"

"Explain?" Lu Ying also stepped forward, coming to a distance of about one meter in front of Nara Shizuku.

The light behind him cast his shadow onto Nara Shiso.

At this moment, facing the preemptive strike of Nara Saltwater, Shikakage's momentum was even stronger.

As a member of the Nara clan, Nara Shizuku instinctively dislikes being in the shadow of others.

And he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he always felt there was a crimson tinge in Lu Ying's shadow, which made him very uncomfortable.

He was about to turn away when he suddenly realized that his body was completely out of his control.

He couldn't even open his mouth!

This anomaly did not cause panic in Nara Salt Water.

Instead of being afraid, he felt a sense of absurdity.

—How dare Nara Shikakage attack me in front of so many of his clansmen?

—Has this kid lost his mind?

How dare he?

Lu Ying saw the mockery in Nara Shizuku's eyes, and he seemed to guess what Nara Shizuku was thinking.

He slowly raised the corners of his mouth, silently opening and closing his lips with the help of the shadows.

I dare!

Under Nara Shizuku's increasingly puzzled and confused gaze, Shikakage stepped forward, pointed at him, and spoke in a booming voice:

"I do want an explanation from you!"

"Nara Shizuku, you've colluded with external forces, concealed your clan leader's plot against the enemy, and are attempting to create trouble in secret!"

"According to the definitions of Konoha's laws and family criminal code, you deserve the death penalty!"

For a moment, Nara Salt Water's brain didn't react.

It took him a while to realize what Lu Ying was talking about.

—We're doomed, we've been found out!

Immediately, he saw the kunai blade hidden at Lu Ying's waist.

—This guy wants to kill me!

Driven by instinct and the will to survive, Nara Shiosu resisted.

He quickly drew his weapon and stabbed at Lu Ying's body.

But as soon as he moved, two people forcefully pressed him to the ground.

"They actually intend to attack their own people?"

Lu Ying squatted down in front of him, staring into his eyes, and said coldly:

"Your crime is compounded!"