Hearing the cold voice from behind, the clansmen of the branch family turned around and realized that the one who spoke just now was not someone else, but Elder Aoyama–one of the elders of the main family–who was humiliated by Kuroto in the clan meeting a week ago.
‘Not good...!’ thought one of the branch family members as he noted Elder Aoyama’s mood.
Angered Elder Aoyama coldly looked at the four clansmen and scolded them, “You people were speaking ill about the main family... your masters! Have you forgotten that it is a crime?! Where did the courage to speak about us in this way come from?”
If it was in the past, they wouldn’t have dared to talk anything about the members of the main family, whether good or bad, but since Kuroto humiliated several elders of the main family in the previous clan meeting, all the members of the branch family felt a little proud, and not so afraid anymore which is why they dared to not only talk about the main family but even criticized them.
All the members of the branch family immediately bowed their heads and apologized, “Please forgive us Aoyama-sama... it was just a slip of the tongue.”
But Elder Aoyama didn’t calm down because of the apology, rather, he became angrier and slapped all four members of the branch family.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
The shrill sound of slaps resounded on the streets as the attention of various people turned towards the scene.
Elder Aoyama felt that he needs to make an example to keep everyone in control. Since that clan meeting, everyone is trying to step out of their limits, and now a few servants dare to talk ill of them.
‘It’s all because of him!’ thought Elder Aoyama in anger, ‘Even that Summon!’
The reason behind Elder Aoyama’s Anger is not just the humiliation he went through; it’s also related to the matter of the giant Summon that Kuroto recently gave to Neji and the chaotic fight that took place outside the village after that.
Reasonably speaking, the fight between the three children a few days ago was not a bad thing for the Hyuga Clan, after all, one of the children was Neji–a member of the Hyuga Clan–the absurd chaos created by Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and their summons can be regarded as the demonstration of the strength of the Hyuga Clan, however, Elder Aoyama was not happy about it at all.
This is because the more he thought about it, the more he realized that something is wrong with all of this.
Kuroto had such a powerful Summon for so many years, but he never informed the main family. Moreover, he didn’t pass the summon to the heir of the main family as he should have, rather he chose another member of the branch family, that too without the permission of the Patriarch! This is very disrespectful to the main family!
Elder Aoyama was already dissatisfied with Kuroto because of the humiliation he was put through by him, on top of that, if something of this sort happens, it is natural for him to be angry.
But Aoki also seemed to be determined and steadfast, and he refused to beg for mercy. No matter how much pain Aoyama tried to inflict on him with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, Aoki did not give in.
Seeing that Aoki had no intention to beg for mercy, killing intent started to brew in Elder Aoyama’s eyes, and he decided that it would be best to kill a traitor like Aoki.
Hizashi saw through Aoyama’s thoughts and hurriedly interfered, “Aoyama-sama... Aoki is a cripple and he has lost his mind, please don’t be like him and make any rash move.”
Hearing Hizashi’s words, Aoyama noted the gloomy expression on the faces of all the branch family members surrounding him and realized that it won’t be a wise move to kill Aoki at this time. With this in mind, he restrained his killing intent, deactivated the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, and decided to punish Aoki in some other way, as he announced, “Hyuga Aoki is guilty of disobedience and disregard. As punishment, he will be imprisoned in the underground dungeon for the next three years!”
Hizashi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately instructed the branch family members around him to send Aoki to the underground dungeon.
Although the matter with Aoki was dealt with, Elder Aoyama was still angry and stormed the Patriarch’s mansion.
...
“Hiashi... this can no longer go on... we can not allow Hyuga Kuroto to do whatever he wants!” said Elder Aoyama.
Hiashi frowned as he listened to Elder Aoyama’s words.
This top has been discussed more than the ones within the main family, and he is already tired of listening to the complaints of Elders in regard to Kuroto. His response has been the same, and he didn’t plan to change it as he said with a sigh, “Haven’t we discussed this more than once?”
“Hiashi, don’t you see that Hyuga Kuroto is challenging the authority of the main family?!” said Elder Aoyama, dissatisfied with Hiashi’s response.
Hiashi shook his head, “I know Kuroto-kun, he wouldn’t do something like challenging the authority of the main family. That’s so out of his character.”
“Out of character or not... he is doing it right as we speak!” shouted Elder Aoyama, and added, “He may not be doing it directly, but he is indirectly influencing others to challenge the authority of the main family! Just a while ago... that cripple dared to direct his killing intent on me...”
Hiashi was taken aback, and questioned, “You mean Aoki?”
“Who else could it be?!” replied Elder Aoyama. Thinking of what happened a while ago, he was once again furious, and said, “Who do you think gave that cripple the courage to rebel? It’s all because of him!”
Hiashi was really surprised. In his opinion, Aoki is like a transparent person who neither interferes with the affairs of the clan nor does he interact that much with anyone. Why would someone like him–who has nothing to do with anything–do something of this sort, and too so suddenly?