Standing upon the top-floor balcony of the Hokage Residence, one could take in a panoramic view of the entirety of Konohagakure. Located diagonally to the right of the building was the towering old residence of Mito Uzumaki, which currently served as the dwelling for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki. Directly below stretched the massive Konoha Plaza, and further out lay the village's central commercial sector, Tea Street. Gazing out from this height, one could even catch a glimpse of the distant apartment complex where Hyuga Yu resided.
However, as Hyuga Yu stood at this vantage point, sweeping his gaze from the inside out to scan the surrounding area, he was entirely unable to pinpoint the source of that suddenly emerging, malicious gaze from any direction.
In the Konoha Plaza below—nothing.
In Mito's old residence to the right—nothing.
A short distance to the left, which marked the Uchiha clan compound and the direction of the Naka River that partitioned the east and west of Konoha—nothing as well.
Further away on Tea Street, amidst the crowds of shinobi from various clans and official village departments flowing toward the plaza—absolutely nothing.
In that case, there is only one answer left. Hyuga Yu felt a brief flash of surprise. He then turned his head slightly to look beside him, focusing on the elderly man clad in the attire of the Third Hokage. That venomous, hateful glare, as sharp and toxic as a scorpion's sting, was unmistakably emanating from none other than this "Third Hokage" who stood atop the building to welcome him!
"Heh heh heh, ha ha ha..." At this moment, the old man let out a chilling, low laugh. Veiled by the two long fabric panels draping down from his Hokage hat, he faced the vast crowd of Konoha villagers. Meanwhile, a kunai silently materialized within the palm of the hand he had resting on Hyuga Yu's shoulder, its icy, sharp edge instantly pressing directly against Hyuga Yu's throat!
"Don't move!"
A freezing, sharp voice rang out right by Hyuga Yu's ear.
Hyuga Yu cast his eyes downward, glancing at the kunai bared against his throat, and found the situation somewhat amusing. After a brief thought, however, he cooperatively remained entirely still.
Unsurprisingly, this was the main house's hidden trump card.
Furthermore, Hyuga Yu was quite curious—what exactly did this individual disguised as the Third Hokage intend to achieve? Who was he? How had he managed to appear here, and what kind of methods did the main house intend to use to deal with him while absolving themselves of any suspicion?
Allowing himself to be held hostage by the elderly man who stood half a step behind him, Hyuga Yu maintained an unperturbed expression as he spoke in a calm, detached tone: "This celebration was organized by the Foundation."
"The fact that you are able to appear here only proves that there is someone within the Foundation secretly cooperating with you."
"Looking at it this way, it seems there is someone... who truly does not wish to see me receive that Hokage half-sleeve, hm?"
"So, the public opinion spiraling out of control before my return, along with the compromise and patience displayed by the Hyuga main house earlier, were all orchestrated for this exact moment?"
The old man's gaze grew increasingly frigid. He applied more pressure to the kunai against Hyuga Yu's throat, slicing a faint line of blood across his neck!
"Shut your mouth, brat!"
Hyuga Yu shook his head slightly, stating with absolute serenity: "Just a reminder—this kunai is not going to help you kill me."
"Former Great Elder of the main house, Hyuga Sodo."
"Hmph!" Hearing Hyuga Yu's words, Hyuga Sodo was not surprised that the youth had identified him. Having secured physical control over Hyuga Yu, he no longer bothered to disguise his voice. Given this brat's intellect, the instant he spoke, the boy would have recognized that he was the life-and-death enemy who had previously orchestrated an ambush against him.
But that mattered little to Hyuga Sodo; he had never intended to hide his identity in the first place.
Now, beneath the Hokage hat, Hyuga Sodo's face twisted into an expression of sheer malice as he let out a harsh, cackling laugh. "Hyuga Yu, you didn't actually think you had won for good, did you? Did you honestly believe that by relying on a few clever tricks to gain a fraction of superficial power within the secular framework, you could look down on the main house and ignore the Caged Bird?"
"Allow this old man to enlighten you on a secret—"
"The absolute control of the Caged Bird varies depending on proximity!"
"During our clash in the nameless forest back then, there was a distance of over three hundred meters between us. That was the sole reason the activation of the Caged Bird suffered a split-second delay, allowing you to desperately struggle and unleash that sphere of azure chakra."
"But now,"
"You and I are within a single step of each other. The Caged Bird suffers no delay whatsoever. The exact instant it is activated, it will violently disrupt your chakra network, rendering you utterly incapable of executing any technique regardless of what tricks you possess."
"You can only rot like a rabid dog shackled and bound by heavy chains, coming to terms in the final moments of your life with the reality that the branch house is nothing more than livestock bred by the main house!"
Hearing this, a smirk tugged at the corner of Hyuga Yu's mouth as he let out a soft scoff. "Then what are you waiting for?"
Hyuga Sodo ground his teeth until they clicked, the resentment in his eyes burning like a demonic flame. He jeered, "Allowing you to simply die like a stray dog on the side of the road would be far too merciful!"
"This old man intends to make everyone witness your true colors—a beast who slaughters his own clansmen and uses any vile means necessary to secure power. I want everyone to watch you writhe like a maggot before me, begging for death, so that you, the so-called candidate for the Fourth Hokage, will become a reviled dog cast out by all!"
"Only then can the burning hatred in this old man's heart be appeased!"
As his words fell, several Konoha villagers in the plaza below began to notice that something was amiss. "The Third Hokage and the Tennin have been standing up there for quite a while now. What are they doing?"
"Why hasn't anyone started the speech..."
"Wait, isn't the way the Third Hokage is holding the Tennin a bit strange?"
Just as the crowd began to sense an anomaly, another sudden turn of events transpired!
Before the eyes of the mass of villagers, another figure emerged from the staircase leading to the top floor of the Hokage Residence. He wore a simple white robe, holding a tobacco pipe in one hand while cradling a brocade box in the other, his short hair a mottled gray. Upon seeing this figure, the crowd erupted into a flurry of startled cries: "Wait, that's—the real Third Hokage?!"
"Then who is that 'Third Hokage' standing right next to the Tennin?!"
Buzz!
The entire Konoha Plaza instantly fell into a state of tumultuous uproar.
Meanwhile, atop the building, Hiruzen Sarutobi—who had ascended to the top floor according to the schedule arranged by the Foundation to participate in his capacity as a Hokage Advisor Elder—was momentarily stunned by the scene before him. How had another Third Hokage suddenly materialized?
And why was the imposter wearing his own official robes?
Promptly, his brows knit tightly, his expression turning thoroughly stern. Staring at the elderly man clad in the Hokage robes he had worn prior to stepping down, he demanded in a heavy, commanding voice: "Who are you?!"
As his question echoed, swish!
Standing before the railing of the balcony, the old man cloaked in the "Third Hokage's" robes jerked his hand up, flinging away both the Hokage haori and the hat, exposing the elderly form beneath. His wide-open eyes revealed a pair of glaring Byakugan.
The man possessed symmetrical features but an incredibly sullen countenance, his face heavily lined with wrinkles. He wore a black, tight-fitting outfit beneath a brownish-yellow overcoat. Facing the countless Konoha villagers below, as well as the genuine Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, behind him, he bared his Byakugan in broad daylight, the veins around his temples bulging violently. He thrust the kunai forward once more, pinning it firmly against the throat of the entirely composed Hyuga Yu, and bellowed to everyone present: "Everyone!"
"This old man is the former Great Elder of the Hyuga main house, Hyuga Sodo!"
"Today, I shall unveil a supreme truth before all of Konohagakure!"
Witnessing this spectacle, the plaza fell into a momentary, breathless silence before the chaotic chatter of the villagers surged like a wave. "A truth? What truth?"
"Why would the Great Elder of the Hyuga main house hold the Tennin hostage? What is going on here?"
"Wasn't the main house just kneeling to the Tennin moments ago?"
On the balcony, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. Looking at the kunai Hyuga Sodo had pressed against Hyuga Yu's throat, and then at the hostage who remained exceptionally calm, he couldn't help but find the situation somewhat absurd. Once a shinobi reached the pinnacle level of a "Kage," Hiruzen knew very well that attempting to slay someone as formidable as the Tennin with a mere kunai was nothing short of a fool's dream.
Yet, for some reason, the brat Hyuga Yu was cooperating with the old man as if playing along with a prank. This left Hiruzen temporarily at a loss for words, uncertain whether he ought to step in to save Hyuga Yu or save Hyuga Sodo, who was holding him hostage. Ultimately, he raised his hand, offering a placating word: "Alright, alright. This old man knows who you are, Hyuga Sodo. What is it that you wish to achieve? Let us speak calmly. First, lower your weapon; do not incite the Tennin's wrath!"
"Enough!"
However, Hyuga Sodo's face twisted into an expression of raw fury as he sharply cut off Hiruzen Sarutobi. He then spun around, keeping his grip on Hyuga Yu as he faced the massive public gathering, his face darkening as he projected his voice coldly: "During the Third Shinobi World War, the current 'Tennin'—the former Hyuga Yu—was posthumously awarded the title of a Hero of Konoha by the village!"
"Does anyone among you not wish to know exactly how this title of Hero of Konoha came to be?"
Hyuga Sodo paused. Then, letting out a chilling laugh, he used one hand to rapidly form the 'Ram' hand seal of the Caged Bird while using his other hand to violently tear away the Konoha forehead protector bound across Hyuga Yu's brow, completely exposing the green, cross-and-hook Caged Bird curse mark etched upon his forehead for all to see!
He raised a finger, pointing it directly at Hyuga Yu's face, and roared righteously: "The Caged Bird forces those of the branch house to unconditionally obey every command of the main house!"
"Today—"
"This old man shall execute our clan laws right here!"
"By utilizing the Hyuga main house's 'Caged Bird,' I shall force this monster to confess on his own accord to the vile, shameless, and treacherous atrocities he has committed in the past!"
As these words echoed out, the entire crowd fell into another massive uproar. The villagers stared at this sudden development in sheer disbelief, their gazes shifting between the speaker and Hyuga Yu, who stood beside Hyuga Sodo without offering an ounce of resistance. "Why isn't Lord Tennin making a move? Has he already been completely restrained?"
"Could it be... that the rumors of the Hyuga main house being able to control the Tennin are actually true?"
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in place, pondering for a brief moment. His brows knit together as he prepared to form hand seals to summon Enma to put an end to Hyuga Sodo's disruption of the venue. From the corner of his eye, however, he suddenly noticed Hyuga Yu—whose back was turned to him—subtly turn his palm backward and give a gentle wave.
Hiruzen's hand movements came to an abrupt halt.
Immediately following that, the Great Elder of the main house, Hyuga Sodo, brought his hands together on the field, executing the 'Ram' seal without a shred of hesitation!
Facing Hyuga Yu, a torrential surge of chakra erupted from the three hundred and sixty-five chakra pathway points across his body, channeling entirely into his control over the Caged Bird!
Consequently, everyone in the Konoha Plaza witnessed the green, cross-shaped Caged Bird curse mark on the forehead of Hyuga Yu—who stood atop the Hokage Residence with his forehead protector removed—suddenly flare up with a brilliant, blinding green radiance!
As Hyuga Sodo funneled more and more of his chakra into the technique, the Caged Bird mark blazed brighter and brighter!
At this moment, enveloped by the surging waves of chakra with his hair whipping wildly about his face like a demon, Hyuga Sodo's expression turned utterly monstrous. His eyebrows flared outward, veins bulged across his countenance, and he bellowed with furious intensity:
"Hyuga Yu!"
"Spill every single one of the sins you have committed, right now!"
Hearing his roar, the mass of Konoha villagers and ninjas below held their breath in unison, their eyes locked collectively onto Hyuga Yu, whose forehead was glowing brilliantly.
Just like that, one second passed, two seconds passed, three seconds passed...
Half a minute went by.
The entire square remained dead silent; one could have heard a pin drop. Only the whistling roar of the chakra driving the curse seal—resembling a massive bellow—confirmed that the Caged Bird was indeed being actively channeled!
However...
What next? Was that it?
The looks the crowd cast toward Hyuga Sodo grew increasingly bizarre.
At this point, the expression on Hyuga Sodo's face shifted from pure malice to grave solemnity, then to utter bewilderment. Finally, he turned his head with stiff, mechanical movements to look at Hyuga Yu.
Coincidentally, Hyuga Yu slowly turned his head as well, casting a detached, indifferent glance back at him. Witnessing this, Hyuga Sodo's face underwent a dramatic, horrified transformation. "This... how is this possible?!"
"The Caged Bird has clearly been activated!"
"You... you are supposed to fall to your knees, thrashing around in agony, grabbing my robes and begging this old man for mercy as you confess the truth! That is what is supposed to happen?!"
"What on earth is going on here?!"
Faced with his panic, Hyuga Yu remained entirely calm and composed. He chose to patiently explain to Hyuga Sodo, and to the entire gathering present, in a detached tone: "The technique known as the Caged Bird is fundamentally a curse seal designed to restrict chakra."
"However, it carries an inherent risk—"
"A risk?" Hearing this, the expressions of Hyuga Sodo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the various clan ninjas, and even the Hyuga branch house ninjas hidden within the crowd attending the celebration flickered uniformly. Following that, they heard Hyuga Yu continue to speak in a flat voice: "As long as one comprehends the underlying principles and intended functions established at the inception of this technique, the individual whose chakra is restricted by the curse seal can reverse its flow, using it as a conduit to extract even greater chakra."
"Greater chakra?"
Hearing his words, a collective gleam flashed across the eyes of the crowd. Everyone immediately thought of the Tennin's terrifying rate of growth—climbing from an obscure genin to the absolute peak of the shinobi world in less than half a year. Could the source of the Tennin's staggering strength be directly related to this?
If so, could they perhaps... replicate it?
Right at that moment, Hyuga Yu's pure white eyes shifted upward slightly, locking onto Hyuga Sodo before him. He spoke in an indifferent tone: "Failing to comprehend the original purpose behind the creation of the Caged Bird, you merely utilized it as a tool to subjugate others, eventually producing this distorted system of main and branch houses."
"But the moment a member of the branch house manages to master this point..."
"That means you all are in massive trouble."
As his words fell, Hyuga Sodo's heart leaped violently into his throat, an ominous presentiment instantly flooding his mind. In the very next second, he witnessed it—
Hyuga Yu slowly raised his right hand, splaying his five fingers wide!
From within the flashing Caged Bird curse mark on Hyuga Yu's forehead, a physical, deep azure chakra began to emanate outward, enveloping his entire form within the span of a single breath!
In the following instant, boom!!!
The concrete floor cracked open as the entirety of the Hokage Residence shook violently. Centered around Hyuga Yu, a terrifying storm of azure chakra erupted, soaring straight into the sky!
Compared to this development, the chakra fluctuations surrounding Hyuga Sodo's body resembled nothing more than a fragile blade of grass swaying helplessly in a tempest.
Twisting, golden vortices spiraled and coalesced around Hyuga Yu!
An invisible, repelling force ran rampant, roaring through the air!
Silver lines, sharp to the absolute extreme, thrashed violently about!
An intangible aura, akin to an emperor reigning supreme over all living things at the highest echelon of existence, manifested as a deep red ripple, blasting outward with a deafening resonance!
The sky above Konohagakure abruptly plunged into darkness!
"An immortal body, plasma vortices, Almighty Push, Universal Pull, the Dance of Water and Moon..."
"Acting completely independent of the caster's control, fully capable of free movement."
Hearing these concepts, Hyuga Sodo's eyes stretched wider and wider, his eyeballs nearly bulging out of their sockets as he stared in sheer horror at the youth beside him, whose presence was growing increasingly cataclysmic. "Could it be?!"
At this point, Hyuga Yu's gaze turned chillingly cold as he cast a sidelong glance at Hyuga Sodo, stating flatly: "I shall use you to deliver a message to the entirety of the Hyuga clan."
"The Caged Bird is not something to be abused!"
As his voice fell, Hyuga Yu brought his hands together after a long absence, cupping his palms as he formed the 'Ram' seal, delivering a low command:
"Caged Bird, Release!"
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