In no time, a swath of Hyuga main family members had collapsed, each covered in several of the white parasitic creatures.
Their chakra had been completely drained.
Only the three branch family members, with their sharper senses and quicker movements, managed to react. As the spores appeared, they helped one another knock the parasites off their bodies. They alone escaped with only minor effects.
But at that moment, Hyuga Kaito turned his gaze upon them and formed the hand seal for the Caged Bird.
The three branch family members screamed, clutching their heads as they fell to the ground. Moments later, all signs of life vanished.
White Zetsu began a massacre, preying on the now-defenseless Hyuga shinobi. Amid the spray of fresh blood, a few surviving but exhausted young members mounted a desperate resistance.
Suddenly, several figures leaped into the compound.
The White Zetsu were scattered like leaves in the wind, sent flying in every direction.
In the end, only fifteen of them managed to escape and retreat behind Danzo.
The newcomers were Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi—four of Konoha's most powerful shinobi.
Another attacker was Hiashi, who furiously demanded, "Why, Kaito? Why would you do this!"
Facing the accusation, Kaito expressionlessly met all of Hiashi's attacks.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!" Hiashi yelled, thrusting his hands forward to unleash a powerful shockwave.
Kaito used the exact same technique to meet the assault head-on. The tremendous collision of energy sent both men flying backward.
On one side stood one of Konoha's strongest fighting forces: the Third Hokage and his students, the legendary Sannin.
Tobi considered the situation. Konoha has activated its protective barrier. To escape, we'll have to rely on Danzo. Hasn't Danzo always wanted revenge on the Hokage? Isn't this the perfect opportunity?
As a medical-nin, Tsunade was aghast at the scene of carnage upon her arrival.
Biting her thumb, she quickly performed the seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A gigantic slug materialized, gasping at the devastation. "So many are injured..."
"Never mind the details! Save lives, now!" Tsunade commanded.
Katsuyu nodded, then divided into countless smaller slugs that crawled toward every living person on the ground, beginning the healing process.
As for the Hyuga clan members who hadn't arrived in time, many had likely already perished.
Watching Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade appear together, Danzo, who had been on edge, felt a sliver of calm return.
He needed to find a way to retreat without revealing his true identity. As he pondered his options, an idea crept into his mind.
Instantly changing his plan, Danzo spat with hatred, "Three of you means nothing! You old monkey, Hiruzen Sarutobi, I'll make sure you die here today!"
Jiraiya moved to protect Tsunade as she tended to the wounded, while Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi advanced.
"Who are you people? How are you controlling a member of our Hyuga main family?"
Danzo let out a cold laugh.
Suddenly, his face twisted and contorted, returning to its original appearance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared in shock. "It's you, Danzo!?"
"Surprised to see me, old friend?" Danzo's voice was venomous. "You tricked me, telling me I'd only be gone for two days. In reality, you pinned all the blame on me to save your own skin!"
Meanwhile, Hiashi's eyes were locked on Hyuga Kaito, who stared back without a flicker of emotion—no remorse, no hostility.
"You're not the real Kaito! Who are you?"
Kaito responded with an eerie laugh. "But of course I am, Lord Hiashi. I am Hyuga Kaito."
He then formed a hand seal.
Hiashi's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the sign for the Caged Bird.
The Caged Bird curse could not be undone or resisted. The caster merely had to picture their target, and within three seconds, they could end a life.
If someone knew another individual intimately, they could visualize them with lethal speed.
So, who was the most valuable target in the Hyuga clan?
Without a doubt, it was Hizashi.
He was currently waiting anxiously just outside the compound, having been forbidden from entering despite accompanying Hiashi.
After learning of Kaito's betrayal, Hizashi's own position had become precarious.
As a high-ranking village advisor, he was not permitted to take such risks.
But now, his heart was filled with unease.
In the clan's history, he was the only main family member to have ever left the village.
Even if the reasons were unknown, that event had been a devastating blow to the Hyuga clan.
The Third Hokage swung his Adamantine Staff, creating an impenetrable defense that shattered the exploding trees around him.
Before long, he could feel his stamina waning. He was seventy years old now, his physical strength a shadow of its former self.
But the onslaught of Wood Style was relentless, and ordinary jutsu were useless against it. He could only rely on his staff for protection.
The Fifth Hokage, Orochimaru, watched Danzo with an excited gleam in his eyes. After all, he had been the one to personally transplant that arm for Danzo years ago.
He knew the extent of Danzo's Wood Style capabilities—back then, he could barely manage a few trees.
Now, the power Danzo displayed was on another level entirely, first with Deep Forest Emergence and now the Wood Human Jutsu.
Orochimaru was the most agile of the group, his body twisting into impossible shapes amidst the splintering trees.
One moment he was a snake, the next he was using a Substitution Jutsu. No one could pin him down.
He dodged with ease, curious to see what other surprises Danzo had in store.
Jiraiya, needing time to summon the two great sage toads, had to rely on his other summons for defense.
He brought forth Gamaken and Gamahiro. With the two toad guards protecting him, his safety was more or less secured.
Tsunade, despite her monstrous strength, found herself struggling in the chaotic environment.
Hiashi, sticking close to her, was a considerable liability.
He tried to use his Rotation to repel the trees, but more would just erupt from the ground to take their place.
Hiashi was quickly overwhelmed. Thankfully, Tsunade pulled him back just in time, shattering the trees before them with a single, powerful punch.
It was then that Hiashi truly felt the powerlessness of the Gentle Fist in this kind of battle.
He couldn't even defend himself, let alone counterattack.
Hiashi was frantic, trying to get to Kaito, but the traitor had already retreated behind Danzo.
The Four Violet Flames Formation finally gave way, shattering with a sharp crack.
A colossal wood human, a hundred meters tall, instantly materialized.
Many villagers saw the gigantic figure, and even spies from other nations turned pale with fright.
Such powerful Wood Style... what crisis had befallen the village?
Tsunade seized the opportunity when the barrier broke to evacuate the wounded.
Faced with such an overwhelming assault, the Anbu could only assist from the periphery, unable to even enter the battlefield.