bookbashuk Chapter 43 Kill, make a scene. The stage is set.
Chapter 43 Kill, make a scene. The stage is set.
"Boom!"
A deafening thunderclap suddenly exploded over Konoha Village, and a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the entire world for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, a torrential downpour began, relentlessly enveloping the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
A misty haze hung in the air, and the wind howled mournfully.
The weather at this moment is just like the situation in Konoha Village.
Amidst the storm, their lives hung by a thread.
In the southern part of the village, between the two major clan territories of Konoha, the atmosphere was different from the somber atmosphere of the Uchiha clan's territory. On the other side, in the Hyuga clan's territory...
But there was only deathly silence.
"Has the list been finalized?"
Hiashi Hyuga's voice was somewhat hoarse, and his pure white eyes held an inescapable melancholy.
Compared to the spirited, composed, and dignified Hyuga clan leader of the past, he now resembles a loser forced into a corner by reality, yet forced to make a choice.
"It's basically all drafted..."
Higa Higo, who was standing to the side, paused for a moment, and said in a heavy tone, "Except for those who secretly went to the battlefield, everyone else has been organized."
As he spoke, he handed over the list.
Hiashi Hyuga reached out and took it, his gaze slowly sweeping across the paper.
Those familiar names came into view.
Most of them were core members of the main family or ninjas secretly trained by the clan. However, not a single name of the branch family members who truly supported the Hyuga clan's bloodline and fighting power appeared.
Hyuga Hizashi is not present.
Hinata Seiran didn't have it either.
"Evacuation...is this what we're supposed to do?"
Hiashi Hyuga looked at those familiar names, his heart aching.
While the branch families were being used as shields on the front lines and were being worn down, the main family was discussing retreat routes in the rear.
As the head of the Hyuga clan, did he really... do something wrong?
"Hiashi, this is to preserve the bloodline of Byakugan."
Higo Hyuga looked at him and finally sighed, his tone filled with helplessness and the cruelty of reality.
"If Konoha hadn't collapsed, our Hyuga clan wouldn't have needed to make this decision to evacuate; we could even have continued to send people to the front lines to provide support."
"But Konoha right now..." Hyuga Higo shook his head, "Even the Third Hokage and the Yellow Flash might not be able to stabilize the situation. Why should we, the Hyuga, continue to wade into this mess?"
"We're almost certain to lose this battle. When that happens, those guys from Kumogakure and Kirigakure will probably pounce on us like mad dogs that smell blood, and they'll be targeting our Byakugan."
"..."
Hiashi Hyuga remained silent.
The only sounds in the room were the patter of rain outside the window and the gentle breeze.
A moment later, Hiashi Hyuga suddenly raised his head, and for the first time, a sharp, almost resolute glint appeared in his usually calm Byakugan eyes.
"If a family is reduced to nothing more than a group of wretched, desperate people who only know how to run for their lives..."
He slowly put down the list, his voice not loud, but every word was as firm as iron.
"Then what's the point of talking about dignity?"
After speaking, he stood up and straightened the clan leader's kimono robe.
At this moment, the dignified and determined expression of the clan leader finally reappeared on that previously calm and weary face.
"Have Hizashi take the children of the main family and the elders and leave through the secret passage to the backup base on the border of the Land of Fire."
"And what about you, Hiashi!" Elder Higo's expression changed drastically, and he blurted out.
"I?"
Hiashi Hyuga turned his head, his expression calm, but a long-lost fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
"I'm going to the front lines. I'll lead the branch family ninjas into battle."
"If I were to flee without even fighting, then my name, Hyuga Hiashi, would not be worthy of being written into the Hyuga clan's genealogy."
He paused slightly, his gaze calm and resolute.
"Qinglan is still on the battlefield."
"As the head of the Hyuga clan, I can't afford to lose too badly... can I?"
at the same time.
On the other side of the southern district, within the Uchiha clan's territory, the atmosphere was completely different from that of the Hyuga clan.
There is no despondency, no deathly silence here.
Some of them possessed a fighting spirit soaring so high it seemed to burst through the roof.
"You are the last hope of my Uchiha clan."
Inside the Naga Shrine, Uchiha Setsuna stood at the very front, his voice loud and clear, each word ringing out, echoing throughout the main hall.
"That's why, even when the village is in its most critical moment, it's not your turn to go to the battlefield, for the sake of the family and the village."
Inside the shrine, apart from the clansmen who had already gone to the front lines, almost all those remaining were the elderly, women, and children.
Even so, everyone still straightened their backs and looked at Uchiha Setsuna on the stage.
The elderly ninjas, the silent old men, and the children with innocent expressions were all waiting for the elder to continue.
"The current Third Hokage was appointed by that old dog Tobirama Senju."
Uchiha Setsuna's tone suddenly turned cold, "He uses the Uchiha, yet he fears and suppresses them!"
He snorted coldly, then changed the subject: "But it cannot be denied that Konoha was ultimately created by Madara and Hashirama Senju. When the village is in trouble, the Uchiha clan cannot, and will never, stand idly by!"
"Let the adults handle the support work on the battlefield."
As Uchiha Setsuna finished speaking, a sinister smile crept onto his lips.
"As for you children..."
His gaze returned to Shisui, Itachi, and the other younger generation.
"We'll only bring up going to the battlefield again when you've unlocked the three-tomoe skill!"
"Boom!"
A pale bolt of lightning tore through the sky, and a deafening roar echoed outside the shrine.
The rain poured down harder and harder, as if even the heavens were weeping for this long-suffering village.
Uchiha Shota turned around and led the adult ninjas of his clan toward the shrine gate.
But at that moment, a clear and firm voice came from behind him, carrying an unquestionable determination.
"Elder, I'm going too!"
Uchiha Shisui, who had been sitting silently in the corner, spoke with unusual firmness.
And those eyes, usually so gentle and warm, were now a deep crimson...
Three-tomoe Sharingan.
......
Deep in the rain, on the muddy mountain path leading to the battlefield of Yanyin.
A ninja army was rushing through the storm, mud and water splashing everywhere, but their steps did not falter in the slightest.
"All my scheming has been for nothing..."
Hinata Seiran maintained his even breathing as he sped through the ranks.
His gaze passed over the layers of ninja soldiers and landed on the still imposing figure at the forefront.
He even summoned Qing to deliberately provoke Hanzo.
Surprisingly, this guy, despite seeming somewhat indecisive, turned out to be quite decisive when it came to execution…
"Moreover, those few provocative words seem to have reignited Hanzo's ambition to become the 'pinnacle of the ninja world'..."
Be confident.
Be confident.
When you actually fall from a great height and are smashed to pieces.
That arrogance will then be completely crushed.
Hinata Seiran chuckled inwardly, but his expression remained as calm as ever.
At the same time, his mind raced, constantly reviewing the forbidden technique from the Leaf Village Scroll.
He wanted to maximize his own interests amidst the chaos of this battle.
To purify one's bloodline, increase the concentration of the Tenseigan, and even find one's own Otsutsuki remains again...
The technique to be used is related to Tobirama Senju.
"Go ahead and kill, go ahead and cause trouble. The stage is set."
"Let Orochimaru handle the rest..."