172. The Hyuga’s Defense: When Pride ets War (1)
Leading a formidable battalion of uniford and focused shinobi, Hiruzen, Danzo, and Orochimaru stord toward the once-grand gates of the Hyuga compound. Their approach was swift and rciless.
Without hesitation, Danzo unleashed his Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere, intending not only to shatter the gate but also to crush the Hyuga clan's pride. This provoked them to retaliate, justifying their escalating this conflict even more to its brutal conclusion.
The gust tore forward with destructive intent, yet the gate remained curiously intact upon contact, not even a crack appearing where it should have splintered. All three leaders flinched for a fraction of a second, their battle-hardened senses instantly alert.
"Sothing's wrong...", Orochimaru muttered, his serpent-like eyes narrowing.
Almost simultaneously, a trendous surge of chakra erupted from behind the gate. It flooded the air like a tsunami, overwhelming even the most seasoned of sensors within the group. Danzo clenched his fists as he recognized the unmistakable energy.
"It's him… Hirayoshi Hyuga! He already appeared with that power; it was definitely not a bluff then...", Danzo growled, his eyes narrowing,
"This is the sa chakra presence we sensed at that pre-war eting. He knows we're here. It seems that they've really been diligently monitoring us from inside their walls for a long ti already—violating the founding agreents on Byakugan usage all along. But at most, they only fully noticed our movents a few minutes ago."
His voice was cold and analytical, the enhancents from his Senju cells sharpening his sensory abilities to frightening precision. He scanned the compound with ticulous focus, calculating the Hyuga's strategic movents within monts.
"They've repositioned themselves...", Danzo continued, "Their largest force, led by Hirayoshi, is preparing to et our main group head-on. They've moved thinner units along the outer edges of the compound—less concentrated but still formidable.",
"They're preparing to push past us, forcing the fight out into the open to attack the village's heart. If they succeed, we'll maybe have no choice but to withdraw and defend the civilians, exactly what they're hoping for."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened, "They're trying to outmaneuver us, using the village itself as a shield..."
"Fortunately, we positioned the barrier loosely enough before they managed to detect us right on ti...", Hiruzen added, his tone sharp but asured.
Before more orders could be given, the massive gate creaked open with an eerie calm as though mocking the failed attempt to break it down. The tension in the air thickened, each side poised on the edge of violence.
"They're daring us to step inside...", Orochimaru whispered with a sly grin, eyes gleaming with intrigue.
Danzo clenched his jaw, his mind racing through possible counterasures: "They're trying to dictate the terms of this fight, but we won't let them."
Hiruzen silently nodded. The operation, ticulously planned for months, was finally at its climax. There was no turning back now. From this point forward, every step would determine Konoha's future.
"What is the aning of this, Hiruzen? Are you finally attempting so sort of complete takeover of the village? You can't control yourself anymore?",
Hirayoshi's voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of warning, "Your forces have encroached dangerously close to our clan's grounds, and we feel threatened. I strongly advise you to withdraw now—don't push into action; this won't be just a warning anymore like the last ti...",
As he spoke, faint arcs of white flas and rays flickered around his body, crackling in subtle pulses, a testant to the imnse chakra coursing through him.
His Byakugan was fully activated, his expression unwavering, a mask of calm yet deliberate readiness. Despite him being already in his sixties, his aura was undeniable.
Behind him, rows of main branch mbers stood firm, their eyes gleaming with hostility, postures tense as they prepared for confrontation.
"Hirayoshi Hyuga, we have uncovered credible information regarding Hikari Hyuga's actions in Kirigakure—specifically, the unauthorized privatization of the Tailed Beasts and illicit collaboration with another village.",
"Given the gravity of these findings, we now have reason to believe that your entire clan may be complicit and perhaps even planning a rebellion against the village..." Hiruzen declared, his voice steady yet laced with authority.
He coughed briefly, then continued, "As such, we are compelled to conduct a deeper investigation within your compound. Furthermore, you and several other elders are required to accompany us to one of our Anbu outposts for personal questioning and statents."
Hiruzen's posture was rigid, his hands clasped behind his back in the stance of a man invoking the weight of Hokage authority. Despite the formal tone, there was no mistaking the underlying tension.
His battle armor, already strapped on, made it clear that this was no re diplomatic visit. His words carried both the weight of an order and the silent threat of force should compliance not be given.
Hirayoshi's expression remained unreadable as he murmured under his breath, "Is that so…?", Without sparing them another glance, he turned toward the compound.
His eyes briefly scanned the scene—barriers already rising to shield key buildings and civilians evacuated to safety. Their Fuinjutsu Institute worked tirelessly before then. Then as if confirming everything was now in place, a subtle shift overca him.
In the next instant, his deanor changed entirely. His calm, asured presence gave way to sothing fierce and overwhelming.
One of his previously frail-looking arms suddenly transford—its surface turning bone-white and taking on a strange, fla-like texture.
Pulsating with imnse chakra, black markings coiled around it like serpents, feeding the energy within.
The arm swelled, growing larger with unnatural speed, expanding far beyond normal proportions. The chakra within it surged violently, crackling with raw power, as the massive limb shot toward Hiruzen, Danzo, Orochimaru, and their forces like a battering ram.
Orochimaru's expression shifted just slightly, a flicker of excitent flashing across his face as he slamd his hand onto the ground.
"Summoning: Rashōmon!", He hissed. A massive, ominous gate erupted from the earth, its grim visage rising just in ti to intercept Hirayoshi's enlarged, flaming arm.
The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the area, and for a brief mont, the gate held firm. However, the arm's chakra output surged exponentially, cracks spreading across the gate's surface.
Orochimaru's Rashōmon was powerful, but Hirayoshi's strength was overwhelming—seconds later, the gate splintered apart with a deafening crash, crumbling into debris.
Fortunately, those precious seconds allowed the surrounding shinobi to react. Most scattered, leaping away in ti to avoid the blast of debris and chakra.
"Leave this man to us!", Hiruzen's authoritative voice cut through the chaos, "Take down as many of the Hyuga mbers as you can! Use your range—keep your distance!"
The fragnted gate's destruction kicked up a cloud of dust and rubble, but it also created an opportunity.
Under cover of the swirling debris, the Hyuga mbers closed the gap, advancing swiftly with deadly precision, Byakugan eyes blazing with hostility.
However, despite the sudden pressure, Hiruzen's forces also used the previous opportunity and lined up their first jutsu in response, preparing to unleash a coordinated assault.
Orochimaru and Danzo also took advantage of the brief pause, swiftly activating their Edo Tensei summoning rituals right away.
The ground cracked open as five coffins erged, each creaking as their lids fell away to reveal figures from a bygone era.
Danzo's summons stepped forward first, their presence heavy with history. Ashina Uzumaki, the most powerful patriarch of the Uzumaki clan, stood beside him. Mito Uzumaki's aura was calm but dangerous.
His final summon was Sasuke Sarutobi, Hiruzen's father. His battle-worn armor was a grim reminder of his ti during the Warring States era.
On the other side, Orochimaru's summons erged just as powerfully. First was Kagami Uchiha, a shinobi whose potential rivaled even the brightest stars of his ti.
Next was Izuna Uchiha, Madara Uchiha's brother and an equally formidable warrior in his pri. The air around him felt heavy with power.
Orochimaru had managed to acquire their genetic material with the help of Danzo and Hiruzen, respectively.
The battle montarily ca to a halt as both the Hyuga and Konoha shinobi, already locked in heated exchanges, hesitated at the sight of the summoned figures stepping from the open coffins.
Even Hirayoshi, standing at the forefront, felt a flicker of unease for the first ti since the situation unfolded.
He retreated his giant hand back, and his sharp eyes scanned the five resurrected shiobi standing amidst the ruined gates and shattered walls of the Hyuga compound.
Hirayoshi's heart slowly sank in the next few monts. He recognized all these legendary figures—so he had even personally t in the distant past.
The weight of their chakra bore down on the battlefield with staggering intensity, indistinguishable from when they had been alive.
It was as if they had been fully restored to life, bringing the sa power they once wielded at their peak. That's what worried him the most.
For a brief mont, Hirayoshi's mind raced as he pieced together what he was witnessing.
'This must be from that forbidden technique Tobirama invented... But this—it's far more refined, far more dangerous. They've perfected it sohow...', His thoughts darkened further.
'And if I rember correctly… they can regenerate endlessly as well. This isn't just an annoyance; this could turn into a nightmare.',
The weight of the realization hit him: this was perhaps the most dangerous mont his clan had faced in centuries.
Yet, despite the cold knot of dread forming inside him, Hirayoshi kept his expression calm and composed, his white eyes glowing faintly. His mind continued to search for any potential flaw in the technique.
Reviews
All reviews (0)