"As a branch house member, you only see the power that the main house holds over the branch house."
"You only see the cage that imprisons."
"But you fail to see the role of the Caged Bird and the sacrifices the main house makes for the clan's legacy."
Mitsuhiko struggled to lift his head, glaring angrily at Tanaka:
"As long as the main house exists, the Hyūga clan will exist."
"As long as the Caged Bird exists, the Hyūga clan will remain prosperous."
"Without the main house and the seal, the clan will become the next Senju, the next Uchiha."
"Destroyed. Suppressed."
His words were shocking.
"Do not think Mitsuhiko is just fearmongering."
"Why did the Senju vanish? Was it really because the First Hokage chose to integrate his clan into Konoha?"
"Then what about his descendants?"
"And the Second Hokage? He never integrated his own bloodline into Konoha."
"But in the end, aside from those who abandoned the Senju name and merged into Konoha, there remains only one ninja who does not carry the Senju name."
"Tsunade."
"Apart from her, every ninja who bore the Senju name has disappeared into the river of history."
Eito spoke between labored breaths:
"The Uchiha were the same. After the Senju disappeared, what followed was continuous suppression."
"If not for the unique way the Uchiha members awaken and evolve their Sharingan—on the battlefield, through intense emotional stimulation, ensuring that new users emerge and existing ones evolve—"
"The Uchiha clan would have followed the Senju clan into extinction."
"Even so, in the Warring States period, at the founding of Konoha, the Uchiha members numbered over a thousand. Now, they are down to just five hundred."
"After Konoha was established, rather than experiencing a population boom in the era of peace, the Uchiha clan steadily declined."
"All of this is because Konoha cannot tolerate bloodline clans."
His words cast a shadow over Hizashi's face.
In contrast, Tanaka remained calm and composed, unaffected even by the elders' presence.
Ignoring them, he casually picked up his chopsticks and began eating the medicinal dish brought by Natsu.
"Konoha applies the same policy to the Hyūga clan, though not as harshly as it did to the Senju and Uchiha clan."
"That is because, in the eyes of Konoha's leadership, only the members of the main house truly represent the Hyūga clan. The branch house, bound by the Caged Bird, poses no threat as long as the main house remains in control."
"Likewise, because of the Caged Bird, neither foreign ninja villages nor Konoha's upper echelon covet the Byakugan of the Hyūga."
"The main house and the Caged Bird ensure the clan's continuity while also shielding the branch house from oppression by Konoha's leaders and the predation of foreign villages."
"But if the main house were to disappear, if the Caged Bird were to be abolished, the Hyūga would become the next Uchiha. Those who once coveted the Byakugan would once again set their sights on it."
"A Hyūga without control, akin to the Uchiha, would not be tolerated by the higher-ups. They would not offer protection, only suppression—until the Hyūga were once again manageable."
Even as his eyes and heart were gouged out, Mitsuhiko forced himself to remain calm, laying out the consequences in a final attempt to persuade Tanaka.
"For you and Hizashi, becoming the head and heir of the main house is the best choice."
"For the branch house, the Caged Bird is both a shackle and a shield."
"For the Hyūga, maintaining the status quo is the key to eternal prosperity."
"Believe me, Tanaka. You are still too young to handle the clan."
Eito also tried to convince him.
"The Uchiha clan had no Caged Bird—so why didn't foreign ninja dare to steal the Sharingan? And yet they are eager to claim the Byakugan?"
"Because of Konoha? No. Because the entire ninja world knew that if anyone dared to take a single Sharingan, the Uchiha clan would retaliate as a whole."
"Not even Konoha could stop them."
"The Uchiha clan had that kind of resolve. The Hyūga clan, after being castrated by the Caged Bird, do not."
Tanaka picked up a piece of venison, placed it in his mouth, and chewed lightly before swallowing.
Though it wasn't the meat of a Sea King, and he hadn't mastered Life Return, the Nara clan's produce was indeed exceptional.
He could already feel warmth spreading through his body, his stamina and chakra slowly recovering.
When it came to nourishing the body and restoring stamina, this was undoubtedly the best in Konoha—no, in the entire ninja world.
No wonder even ordinary jonin couldn't afford it.
"As for Konoha's suppression... If it's really as you say, then the solution is simple—replace the ones sitting in the Hokage's office."
"Just like I replaced the main house today."
After finishing his antler broth, Tanaka set down the porcelain bowl.
"You... You dare to say such things?"
"Tanaka!"
"Do you think you're the First Hokage? Or Madara? You're completely lawless!"
Mitsuhiko was utterly horrified by Tanaka's words, his body shivering involuntarily.
"Hizashi, he's still young and ignorant—that's understandable. But do you also lack understanding?"
"If you continue letting him act recklessly, he will be the one to bury the thousand-year legacy of the Hyūga in a single day!"
Seeing that Tanaka was unmoved, Eito had no choice but to turn his persuasion toward Hizashi.
In his view, after being oppressed by the main house for so many years, Hizashi should still hold some reverence for them. Surely, he could be reasoned with.
Hizashi spoke, his voice steady, "Let me ask you one thing—when the First Hokage and Madara were eight years old, could they single-handedly kill the five of you?"
"..."
Silence fell over them.
Because they understood what Hizashi meant.
"So what makes you think Tanaka won't surpass the First Hokage in the future? What makes you think he won't surpass Madara? What makes you believe that under the main house's rule, the Hyūga will continue to thrive, but under Tanaka, it will be destroyed?"
"Konoha's suppression? The shinobi world's covetous eyes? I see none of that."
"What I see is a main house that sits on empty titles."
"What I see is the main house oppressing the branch house."
"You claim the Hyūga clan will be buried, that the branch house was being protected? I see none of that."
"What I see is that the branch house will rise because of Tanaka."
"What I see is that the Hyūga clan will become great because of Tanaka."
Hizashi's gaze turned ice-cold as he looked at the elders before him.
"For the rise of the branch house..."
"For the Hyūga to be great once more..."
"Please die."
With that, he struck.
One palm, one heart—he crushed four hearts in succession.
"Ahh! You... Hizashi! You will regret this!"
"Without the main house, the branch house will perish too! The Hyūga clan can only be great under the leadership of the main house!"
"We... will be waiting for you in the afterlife!"
With their hearts destroyed, unless Tanaka personally intervened with the Op-Op Fruit to transplant new hearts, even the medical genius Tsunade herself would be powerless to save them.
Facing Hizashi's ruthless strike, they were helpless.
They could only widen their eyes, filled with hatred, staring at the master and disciple before them.
And with the last of their strength, before death claimed them, they cursed them with all their might.