On the original body of Aokawa, clumps of special Chakra lit up on the five fingers of his empty left hand.
Following closely, these Chakras converged in his palm, forming a series of profound runes, eventually creating an "X" shape in the center of his hand.
The form of that Chakra caused the pupils of all the branch family members to contract violently!
That was... the special Chakra that only appears when carving the Bird in a Cage Curse Seal!
"No! Don't!"
Hyuga Zetsu finally understood what they were about to do and let out a scream that was terrified to the point of being out of tune.
"You can't do this! I am of the Main House! I am the grandson of the Second Elder!"
"You are subverting the rules of the Hyuga!"
He struggled frantically, his legs kicking wildly, trying to break free from that hand which was like a steel pincer.
The Shadow Clone curled its lip in disgust.
"So noisy, this guy is twisting around so much it's hard to make a move."
"How about knocking him out first?"
Just as the Shadow Clone was about to act, a raspy voice rang out.
"I'll hold him down." Hyuga Ryosuke, who had been silent all along, stepped forward.
Step by step, he walked up to Aokawa.
Aokawa looked at him, gave a slight smile, and tilted his head to signal him to hold Hyuga Zetsu down.
Hyuga Ryosuke took a deep breath, walked over, and firmly pinned down Hyuga Zetsu's struggling body.
"Brother, I'm betting my life and everything I have on you."
Hyuga Ryosuke's voice wasn't loud, and it even carried a hint of a tremor, but every word fell clearly into the ears of all the branch family Ninja present.
Inside and outside the Barracks, there was a deathly silence.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the youth who was firmly pinning down the young master of the Main House.
Their hearts felt as if they were being squeezed tight by an invisible giant hand.
Crazy!
Ryosuke must be crazy!
That was the Main House! That was Hyuga Zetsu, who held the power of life and death over them!
How did he dare?
How did he dare to do such a treasonous thing!
This wasn't just talking back; this was flipping the table, this was using his own life to challenge the iron laws of the Hyuga Clan that had stood for thousands of years!
An emotion mixed with shock, fear, and a hint of excitement they were unwilling to admit was spreading through the crowd.
Just then.
A clear sound of footsteps came from outside the Barracks, breaking the suffocating silence.
"I'm joining too."
Everyone snapped their heads around to look.
They saw Hyuga Kamon standing at the door, his pure white Byakugan already activated, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes, clearly having seen everything happening inside the room.
He didn't hesitate for a second and strode in with large steps.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he walked to the other side of Hyuga Zetsu and, along with Hyuga Ryosuke on the left and right, firmly pinned down Hyuga Zetsu's upper body.
Aokawa's movements paused, and he looked at him with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Hyuga Kamon felt his gaze and grinned, a smile filled with the boldness of someone who had thrown caution to the wind.
"What are you looking at?"
"If you guys aren't afraid, why should I, an orphan, give a damn?"
Aokawa shook his head with a light laugh, the curse seal in his palm ready to be pressed onto Hyuga Zetsu.
Just then.
"Stop!"
Everyone was stunned and looked toward the source of the voice.
It was the two guards on the ground.
"Yes, yes! Hyuga Go, Hyuga Shin, you two are guards, you can't let me get hurt." Hyuga Zetsu, pinned to the ground, seemed to have caught a life-saving straw and struggled frantically.
"As long as you save me, you will be handsomely rewarded when we return."
Hyuga Kamon frowned as he looked at the two figures picking themselves up from the ground.
The two guards stood up, supporting each other.
They gritted their teeth and, dragging their injured bodies, walked over step by step.
Under the unbelievable gazes of everyone, these two respectively pinned down Hyuga Zetsu's wildly kicking left and right legs: "We're joining too!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire room fell silent.
Hyuga Go looked up at Aokawa, a smile on his face that was uglier than crying.
"We two brothers are also orphans. Our parents died on the Battlefield, and we were chosen to be Main House guards from a young age."
"We've long been tired of taking this guy's crap."
"At worst, we all die together!"
"Good! Very good!" Hyuga Zetsu, pinned firmly to the ground by the four of them with his face against the cold floor, was shaking all over with rage, his voice turning shrill with anger.
"Even you two dare to betray me!"
"You two dogs raised by the Main House!"
"Don't fall into my hands! Otherwise, I will definitely make you wish you were dead!"
"Pah!" Hyuga Shin, who was holding down his left leg, didn't even think before directly kicking him in the butt.
"Aow!" Hyuga Zetsu let out a scream like a slaughtered pig.
"Days spent by a bastard like you are what's fucking worse than death!" Hyuga Go sneered, his eyes full of loathing.
The two looked at each other, as if they had made some kind of decision, then simultaneously looked up at Aokawa and nodded solemnly.
Aokawa also gave them a slight nod in response.
The surrounding branch family Ninja were completely dumbfounded.
What was going on today?
One after another, they were all acting like they had eaten bear hearts and leopard galls!
First Ryosuke, then Kamon, and now even the Main House's most loyal guards had rebelled!
A surge of hot blood rose uncontrollably from the hearts of some young Ninja.
Some were infected by this atmosphere, clenched their fists, and subconsciously took a step forward.
But that single step made him see the same excitement in his companions' eyes, as well as the deep-seated fear hidden within them.
He thought of his parents in the Village, and his underage younger siblings.
That courage that had just flared up was instantly extinguished as if doused by a bucket of cold water.
The foot that had stepped out was slowly pulled back with a sense of lingering regret.
Aokawa saw all of this, but his heart remained untroubled.
He no longer paid attention to those who were hesitating, and his gaze fell back onto the profound Chakra rune in his palm.
He looked at Hyuga Zetsu, who was shaking violently in his hands due to extreme terror, and spoke calmly.
"Don't be afraid."
"It'll be over soon."
The Shadow Clone leaned in, rubbing its hands, and asked with an excited face.
"Where to carve? Still the old spot, on the forehead?"
Upon hearing this, Hyuga Zetsu's Soul was Flying Away and Spirit Scattering in fear, and a warm, pungent smell came from his crotch.
"No... don't... I beg you..." He finally broke down, his voice carrying a sob.
"I was wrong! Lord Aokawa! I was really wrong! I won't ever do it again!"
"Let me go this once, I'll give you all my money! I'll have my grandfather give you the branch family Secret Techniques! No! The Main House Secret Techniques!"
"As long as you let me go..."
"Too noisy." Aokawa frowned.
The Shadow Clone understood the hint and cleanly struck Hyuga Zetsu's throat with a Chakra needle.
The world became quiet.
"Do it." Aokawa said to the Shadow Clone.
The Shadow Clone chuckled, formed hand seals, and a similar special Chakra lit up in its palm.
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