"Something's happened!!!"
The Hyūga clan members stationed on the Cloud front had descended into complete chaos.
As Akira and the other two returned to camp, they immediately heard the shouting.
Nawaki grabbed a Yamanaka clan ninja and asked, "What happened?"
The Yamanaka ninja spoke in a grave tone:
"The heir of the Hyūga main family—Hyūga Hiashi—is dead. His eyes were gouged out, and his brain was destroyed."
Nawaki sucked in a sharp breath.
This… was serious.
For Konoha, it didn't matter much—Hiashi was only a genin. His death wouldn't change the course of the war.
But for the Hyūga clan—
This was a disaster of catastrophic proportions.
Not only had the main family heir died—
Even his Byakugan was gone.
That alone was enough to drive the entire clan insane.
"I guess that line of the main family is finished," Akira said from the side, clearly amused—without the slightest awareness that he was the culprit.
The Yamanaka ninja glanced at him.
…Demonic Flame Akira.
Yeah, that made sense.
Akira had already earned himself a title, and it was spreading quickly.
Demonic Flame Akira.
His Fire Release was impossible to defend against—like demonic flames.
Full name: Demon Flame.
Shortened to: Demonic Flame.
Everyone knew Akira and the Hyūga clan were completely at odds—open hostility.
If the main family died and he wasn't happy, that would be strange.
The Yamanaka ninja didn't dare linger.
The Hyūga clan was a powder keg right now—ready to explode at the slightest spark.
And Akira?
He was exactly the kind of spark they'd target.
With a sympathetic glance, the Yamanaka ninja quickly left.
Nawaki sighed.
"Looks like the Cloud ninja were targeting the Hyūga."
They hadn't seen a single Cloud ninja along the way—yet somehow, the Hyūga heir ran straight into them.
If it wasn't deliberate—
Nawaki didn't believe it.
Completely unaware that the killer was standing right beside him.
Akira nodded in agreement.
"The Hyūga have been beating the Cloud pretty badly. Makes sense they'd want payback."
Because of Hiashi's death, the entire frontline camp mobilized.
Under Hyūga Hikaru's command, they began a frantic search of the surrounding area, trying to find the killer.
Having one of the killers lead the search—
They were never going to find anything.
Some clan members even wanted to march straight to the Cloud ninja and demand an explanation.
Hikaru stopped them.
What explanation could they possibly demand?
This was war.
Who said you couldn't kill a Hyūga main family member on the battlefield?
Hiashi's death could only be written off as bad luck.
And the Byakugan?
Even if the Cloud truly had it—
Why would they return it?
Just because the Hyūga asked nicely?
Unless Konoha stepped in and traded something valuable—
And even then, it would depend on whether the Cloud agreed.
They could simply deny everything.
And the Hyūga would have no way to prove otherwise.
Lightning wounds and blade marks?
That proved nothing.
Plenty of ninja used Lightning Release and sword techniques.
Even Konoha's White Fang fit that description.
In short—
The Hyūga clan at the frontline was drowning in gloom.
Everyone…
Except Akira.
They couldn't take it out on the Cloud.
But they could take it out on him.
Even if it made no sense.
"Was it you?!"
Akira had just stepped out of his tent, planning to see who he could farm EXP from—
When he was suddenly surrounded by a group of Hyūga clan members.
They all stared at him with hostile eyes.
Akira tilted his head slightly.
Well…
It was him.
But—
"Yeah, it was me. So what?" he replied casually.
He had never liked lying.
"He admitted it!!"
"It really was him!!"
"Kill him!!"
The crowd exploded in rage.
Not everyone was like Akira or Hikaru.
Years of indoctrination—
Combined with real benefits from the main family—
Had created true loyalty.
To some, the main house was oppression.
To others—
It was protection and privilege.
Different people saw entirely different truths.
They all rushed at Akira at once.
A faint Eight Trigrams formation appeared beneath his feet.
His stance shifted into Gentle Fist.
Then—
His body suddenly expanded.
His clothes tore apart as his muscles swelled like solid rock.
Heat radiated from his body.
His skin turned red.
[Oni Form (Lv.1) EXP (0/1000) Trait (Evolution + Prediction)]
A fusion of max-level Demon Back and Demon Mind—
Fully unleashing his physical potential.
"Gentle Fist Art—Eight Trigrams: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms."
Akira moved through the crowd like a phantom.
His hands became a blur, striking countless times.
The Hyūga clan members tried to retaliate with Gentle Fist—
But every move was predicted.
Every strike—
Countered.
Numbers flashed.
5648 / 5486 / 12354 / 4566 …
One by one—
They collapsed.
Soon, a pile of bodies formed.
Akira didn't hold back.
Even without chakra, his raw strength could rival a chūnin.
Now—
With Oni Form amplifying everything—
They never stood a chance.
Akira looked at the EXP gained with satisfaction.
[EXP +88,888]
"Nice number."
He clapped his hands.
He hadn't killed them.
Killing fellow Konoha ninja here would be too much trouble.
Besides—
Branch members didn't drop anything good anyway.
"Another perfect day."
At that moment, Hikaru rushed over from the distance.
Seeing the pile of unconscious Hyūga members, he covered his forehead helplessly.
"Don't worry. No one's dead," Akira said, patting his waist.
…Damn height.
Hikaru visibly relaxed.
Then he looked at Akira with a cold expression.
"I know you're not the one who killed the young master."
"They just needed someone to vent their anger on."
"Please understand."
"But don't forget—you're still a branch member."
Akira rolled his eyes and walked past him without a word.
The mission was complete.
No activity from the Cloud.
No one needed treatment either—
Wait…
Akira's lips slowly curled into a strange smile.
Hyūga Meisuke slowly opened his eyes.
That technique Akira used—
Wasn't that the main family's Gentle Fist?
Eight Trigrams… Sixty-Four Palms?!
Why could a branch member use it?
That was supposed to be exclusive to the main family!
Only those with great merit would ever be taught—
And Akira?
With his relationship with the clan?
There was no way.
"Damn you, Hyūga Akira!!"
He must have stolen it!
But—
Wasn't it supposed to be sixty-four palms?
Why did it look like one hundred twenty-eight?
"You called me?"
Akira's face suddenly filled his vision.
Hyūga Meisuke: "???"
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