Malphegor
patreon
HGBW: Ch. 23
🕑 Added 2025-03-03 01:32:44 +0000 UTCThe Revolving Heaven couldn't stop me!
At least... The Revolving Heaven used by Hyūga clan members without Kage-level strength can't withstand the cutting power of the Op-Op Fruit.
Tanaka's breathing was noticeably heavier than before, and a hint of joy flickered in his eyes.
With a single slash, he had cut through the 10-meter-wide Revolving Heaven. In fact, if he wanted to, he could have sliced through Hizashi as well. However, while this attack was undeniably powerful, it also consumed a lot of stamina.
If he kept using this level of attack continuously, he probably wouldn't be able to activate his ROOM again for a short while. But even so, he couldn't hide the joy in his heart.
Because that one slash had already proven—if he wished, even a jonin could be killed in an instant.
"It's done, Hizashi-sensei."
Tanaka retracted his ROOM.
He had cut through the Revolving Heaven as easily as slicing through paper.
Bound by the Caged Bird, the Hyūga clan had not produced another Kage-level powerhouse since the very first clan leader at the founding of Konoha.
In other words, among the entire Hyūga clan, there was no one who could rival him. No one could stop him from doing whatever he wanted.
Hizashi looked at the black-haired boy in front of him, at a complete loss for words to describe his emotions.
At just eight years old, he had already reached a level where no one below Kage-class could stand against him.
In fact, he even believed that if the Third Hokage faced Tanaka without prior knowledge of his abilities, he might suffer a major loss.
The power of the Op-Op Fruit was simply too broken.
Especially in the Naruto world, not only did it adapt perfectly, but it also created a complete power disparity against anyone below Kage-level.
"Let's go, Hizashi-sensei. It's time to begin the Main House Crush Plan."
After steadying his breathing, Tanaka turned and walked toward the village.
"The Main House Crush Plan…?"
Hizashi's heart trembled at these words, but his body responded instinctively—without a moment's hesitation, he stepped forward and followed closely behind Tanaka.
In the past, the main house had used the Hyūga name to determine the life and death of the branch house at will.
Now, the branch house could naturally use the Hyūga name to send the entire main house to their deaths.
Including his own brother.
---
Inside the grand courtyard of the main house head, Hiashi sat kneeling on a cushion, occasionally glancing in the direction of another residence outside the courtyard.
That was where his younger brother, Hizashi, lived.
"Still thinking about Hizashi?"
At that moment, the sliding door opened, and a woman of similar age to Hiashi stood at the entrance, looking at him with concern.
No one knew a husband better than his wife.
As his wife, she immediately saw through his thoughts.
"When the elders branded Hizashi with the Caged Bird back then, he stayed outside for three whole days." Hiashi glanced at his wife, not bothering to hide his thoughts from her.
"He personally raised Tanaka, both as a disciple and as a son. He had to watch as you branded Tanaka with the Caged Bird."
"That must have been extremely painful for him."
Although she was born into the main house, she had witnessed many branch house members receiving the Caged Bird over the years.
Saying "there is no greater sorrow than a dead heart" would not be an exaggeration.
"Sigh…" Hiashi shook his head and sighed deeply.
As the head of the main house, he had felt no guilt, no hesitation, and no pity when he personally branded Tanaka with the Caged Bird.
He simply didn't want this matter to stir up unpleasant memories from Hizashi's childhood, affecting their brotherly relationship.
So, if given the chance to do it again, he would still brand Tanaka without hesitation.
Not just Tanaka—even if the one being branded with the Caged Bird today were his own younger brother, he would still do it.
When it came to family inheritance, the interests of the main house, and preventing the Byakugan from being taken by outsiders, so-called brotherly affection was insignificant.
"You should go rest first. I want to sit here a little longer," Hiashi said to his wife.
"Don't stay up too late," She nodded. Before leaving, she made sure to close the sliding door behind her.
Hizashi, as the head of the branch house, you should be able to understand me. Not just your disciple—even if it were my own descendants, I would show no mercy. Hiashi kept repeating these words to himself.
Only by doing so could he convince himself that he had the right to exercise absolute control over the branch house with a clear conscience.
But was that really the case?
According to the Hyūga clan's rules, branch house members were supposed to be branded with the Caged Bird at the age of three.
And yet... Neither Hinata nor Hanabi had received the Caged Bird until adulthood.
Tap tap…
Knock knock…
After sitting in the room for another half an hour, just as Hiashi was about to stand up from his cushion, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside, followed by a knock on the door.
"Hiashi-sama, Hizashi says he has something important to discuss with you."
"He and Tanaka are waiting outside."
Wearing a maid's uniform, Natsu knocked on the door and slid it open. She first bowed to Hiashi inside the room before stating her purpose.
"Bring them in."
Upon hearing this, Hiashi secretly speculated about their intentions.
His younger brother was probably here to plead for Tanaka, begging him to remove the Caged Bird.
Thinking of this, his heart remained as cold as stone.
Even though Hizashi was his own younger brother, and despite having wielded absolute power for so many years, he had never once considered lifting Hizashi's Caged Bird, let alone that of any other branch house member.
Even if he acknowledged that the boy was the most gifted clansman he had ever seen, that still wasn't enough to exempt him from the Caged Bird's control.
The more talented a branch house member was, the more impossible it became for them to escape the Caged Bird.
Before long, Natsu, who had just left, returned.
This time, she was accompanied by Tanaka and Hizashi.
"You may leave now," Hiashi waved her away before motioning for his younger brother and Tanaka to enter.
"Hizashi, coming to see me so late—what's the matter?"
"If you're here to ask me to lift the Caged Bird from Tanaka, then you don't need to say another word. I can agree to anything else, even allowing you to learn the secret taijutsu techniques exclusive to the main house."
"But when it comes to the Caged Bird—There is no room for discussion!"
As soon as Tanaka and Hizashi sat down, Hiashi spoke directly, not giving Hizashi a chance to speak first.
Then, he turned to look at Tanaka.
"The main house bears the responsibility of protecting and advancing the Hyūga clan, while the branch house is tasked with protecting the main house. The two must work together—only in this way can the Hyūga clan remain strong for generations."
"But I do recognize your exceptional talent."
"And as the clan leader, I cannot show favoritism, but I can make an exception and allow you to train in the main house's secret taijutsu techniques."
It appeared as though he was giving Tanaka special treatment.
But in reality, he was simply sharpening the blade in his hands—making it more powerful, more effective.
After all, as long as Tanaka remained bound by the Caged Bird, the stronger he became, the stronger the Hyūga clan would be.
No—more precisely, the main house would become even more powerful.
