Malphegor
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HGBW: Ch. 21
🕑 Added 2025-03-03 01:31:34 +0000 UTC"ROOM."
The moment Tanaka raised his hand, an invisible space expanded, enveloping Hizashi within it.
Whoosh!
In the next second, he vanished from where he stood, only to reappear almost instantaneously right in front of Hizashi.
Not only that, by the time he teleported, his hand had already silently and effortlessly landed on Hizashi's left chest.
"Look, Hizashi-sensei. If I wanted to, I could touch your heart right now."
Tanaka's right hand pressed lightly against Hizashi's chest.
"When…?"
Hizashi's pupils widened as he stared at Tanaka, who had appeared in front of him without him even noticing.
That speed... If Tanaka had been an enemy, he could have simply held a kunai or a ninja blade and, in that very moment, plunged it straight into his heart.
Could it be the Flying Thunder God Technique? But I didn't see him leave behind any marks!
Such a powerful space-time ninjutsu… Where did he learn it? Or did he develop it on his own?
Just like how he broke the Caged Bird?
His heart pounded like a tidal wave crashing down, unable to calm itself.
If breaking the Caged Bird had already showcased Tanaka's unparalleled genius, then the space-time ninjutsu he had just demonstrated was proof of his overwhelming power, one that made even elite jonin seem insignificant.
Yes. Just that one technique, allowing him to teleport without the need for marks, meant that over 90% of the ninja in the world would stand no chance against him.
An instant kill upon first encounter.
Even Hizashi himself was no exception.
No, in his opinion, even his elder brother would suffer the same fate.
Unless... Unless they already had prior knowledge of Tanaka's abilities and formulated countermeasures in advance, assembling a team of skilled ninja to launch a coordinated attack.
Otherwise, in a one-on-one battle, even Hiashi, as the clan leader, would fall to an instant kill.
A ninja battle wasn't about who knows the most techniques—it was about who could strike first and land the decisive blow.
No matter how many secret main house taijutsu techniques one possessed, if there was no chance to use them, they were meaningless.
"I must admit I underestimated you. But with your current chakra reserves, how many times can you even use that space-time ninjutsu?"
"Once the main house has witnessed it, they will develop countermeasures."
"If all the main house members attack at once, you won't be able to kill them all before your chakra runs out."
"And don't forget—Hiashi can command the entire branch house with the Caged Bird alone."
"When that happens, what will you do?"
Hizashi acknowledged that Tanaka had already surpassed him as a teacher, but he still didn't believe Tanaka could defeat the main house.
No matter how strong an individual was, if they were outnumbered enough, even the Five Kage could be overwhelmed and killed, unless your name was Madara or Hashirama.
"But what if the one commanding both the main and branch houses… isn't Hiashi, but you, Hizashi-sensei?"
Tanaka's words left Hizashi completely stunned.
"Is that… even possible?"
He frowned, finding it unbelievable.
Despite being the branch house leader and holding significant influence, he was ultimately just a figurehead.
The main house never truly regarded him as important.
And the one who held absolute power over the branch house's life and death was not him.
That was the reality of the Hyūga clan.
"Trust me, Hizashi-sensei. It's not impossible."
Tanaka raised a kunai and slashed toward Hizashi, who was still within the ROOM.
Snap!
With his Byakugan still activated, Hizashi saw something that left him utterly shocked. His pupils contracted in sheer disbelief.
In his vision, his field of view suddenly expanded to a full 360 degrees, and his visual prowess surged dramatically.
But more importantly, through his Byakugan, he saw it with his own eyes.
The ugly, wretched Caged Bird—something that had shackled him for decades—was severed and removed.
"This… is what it feels like… to be free of the Caged Bird?"
He stood frozen, his expression dazed, as if caught between a dream and reality.
Even though he had personally witnessed Tanaka break the Caged Bird, even though he had seen with his own eyes as Tanaka severed it from his own forehead, Hizashi still felt as if he were in a dream.
He didn't dare speak loudly. He didn't dare make any sudden movements.
For fear that, with the slightest mistake, the dream would shatter.
"It's not just you. Every member of the branch house will no longer be bound by the Caged Bird."
"Come to my side, Hizashi-sensei."
"The branch house will rise because of us."
"The Hyūga clan will become great because of us."
Tanaka's voice, like the whisper of a devil, ignited the blood within Hizashi's heart.
If breaking the Caged Bird had granted Hizashi freedom, then Tanaka's words had given him a new mission—to lead the Hyūga clan to greatness.
"The branch house will rise because of us!"
"The Hyūga clan will be great because of us!"
"Is it really possible, Tanaka?"
Hizashi murmured, his voice growing louder and louder. But within the confines of the ROOM, his furious roars remained trapped inside, unable to escape.
The only person who could hear his rising excitement was Tanaka.
"Of course it's possible. Haven't you already seen it?"
"A branch house free from the Caged Bird. A Hyūga clan without the division of main and branch houses. A clan that truly deserves the title of Konoha's strongest."
"Isn't this your ideal vision? Don't you want to see that vision become reality?"
Tanaka raised his left hand, reaching out to his teacher.
"Come to my side, Hizashi-sensei."
"I will not shackle you with the Caged Bird like the main house did. I will not bind the branch house with it, forcing them to sacrifice themselves."
As his words fell, waves of emotions surged through Hizashi's heart.
When he first learned that his student had broken the Caged Bird, his initial reaction was shock and disbelief. Then came overwhelming joy and relief. And finally, concern for Tanaka's safety.
Because he knew—The main house would never allow the Caged Bird to be undone.
In fact, he had already thought of a backup plan.
If things were exposed, he would plead with Hiashi.
However, when Tanaka displayed his overwhelming power, proving he could instantly defeat even him—a jonin—he realized something.
The Caged Bird could no longer restrain Tanaka.
And neither could the Hyūga main house.
Yet, what Tanaka said next shattered Hizashi's very worldview.
So the branch house could break free from the Caged Bird.
So the branch house did not have to accept their so-called fate.
So the branch house could rise to power.
In the face of such a grand, overwhelming vision—no, not just a vision, but an ambition, a conviction—everything else seemed utterly insignificant.
Whether it was the bond between him and Hiashi as brothers, or anything else.
None of it mattered anymore.
He stared at his student, his lips trembling as if he wanted to speak, yet no words came out.
The only thing that moved, was his foot, lifting from the ground, stepping forward.
Step by step, he walked toward Tanaka.
It was ironic.
He was the teacher. Tanaka was the student. Yet, in this moment, it was Tanaka who was guiding him forward, breaking his chains, and leading him out of the darkness.
He was the branch house leader. Tanaka was just a clansman. Yet, in this moment, the boy had become the true leader, the one who would lead the branch house to glory.
"That's right. Just like that, Hizashi-sensei."
As Hizashi stepped beside him, Tanaka's lips curled into a faint smile.
