CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156: RECTIFICATION

Chapter 156: Rectification

"This is the danger list. These individuals must be dealt with swiftly—no hesitation."

"This one is a watchlist. Potential radicals, mostly fence-sitters. We’ll need to observe further before making a judgment."

"And this... this is the trusted list."

...

In the days following the clan meeting, the Hyuga compound was unusually active. Not in the streets, not among the general populace—but behind closed doors, beneath a heavy veil of silence and shadows.

Inside a sophisticated illusionary realm crafted by Ryosuke, the clan’s leaders gathered—Hyuga Hiashi, the family elders, branch head Hyuga Hizashi, future heir Hinata, their acknowledged genius Neji, and a number of Ryosuke’s trusted followers.

Each one of them had willingly allowed themselves to fall into the illusion—not resisting, but embracing it.

They stood before glowing panels of illusionary light, as if watching a film projected onto the world itself. Ryosuke’s Yin Release-based genjutsu had no combative use, but it served as a memory archive—allowing others to view scenes recorded from his perspective like holographic memories.

The content on display: the entirety of the recent clan meeting, along with behavioral patterns and movements of various Hyuga members over the past year since the new family laws were established.

From the moment those reforms were passed, Ryosuke had quietly begun observing. He often disguised his surveillance as leisurely walks through the compound—sometimes while cradling a sleepy cat—chatting with fellow clansmen or simply watching.

Today, all that seemingly mundane data was being weaponized.

By linking their chakra to his illusion, Ryosuke could tap into their visual memories and extract what they’d seen and stored unconsciously—bringing forth the details they never realized they remembered.

The purpose was simple: to hunt down the traitors.

The clan had long known they were being infiltrated from within. It wasn’t that past clan leaders were passive—they had tried. But no matter how many purges were attempted, only a few irrelevant lackeys were ever caught. The true threats—the ones feeding secrets to outsiders while posing as loyalists—always remained hidden.

The Hyuga’s large population and the safety net of the Caged Bird Seal made detection difficult. And the traitors knew how to disappear in plain sight.

Even for Ryosuke, this wasn’t an easy mission.

His Byakugan still lacked the spiritual depth of an Ōtsutsuki, incapable of peering directly into the heart. He couldn’t read minds. But what he could do—was force the truth into the light.

By leveraging the emotional volatility caused by Neji’s graduation and the recent reforms, he had drawn out the dissenters. Their behavior during the clan meeting had spoken louder than any confession.

Now, the group reviewed these anomalies frame by frame.

"That one..."

Hiashi pointed toward a frozen frame of a man’s face.

"There’s something off about his expression. What was his name again?"

"Hinata Chiichi," Ryosuke replied without missing a beat. "Male. Thirty-six. Chūnin. Married. Household records show a standard family background. Notably, he has a son of age to enter the Academy, but the child has never been selected due to limited slots. So the boy remains at home, studying privately."

The others listened intently.

"He has shown no direct contact with anyone on the danger list, and only minimal proximity to a few names on the watchlist. The behavior observed during the clan meeting was subtle—hesitation, a flicker of resentment. My assessment is that he acted emotionally, likely triggered by his son’s situation. Not a core threat."

Ryosuke moved with calculated ease, drawing up memory snippets and parsing context like a living database. His capacity to manage such massive amounts of fragmented data bordered on the impossible.

But even he had limits.

While his mental processing speed rivaled any shinobi alive, it was nowhere near the level of a true supercomputer. He could not filter through it all on his own. That’s why this method—layering illusion with collective human judgment—was the optimal solution.

So, one by one, the names were reviewed. Each suspect dissected. Each memory re-analyzed. Each behavioral cue matched against observed trends from the past year.

Suddenly, a faint step echoed on the tatami floor.

A silhouette flickered at the threshold, and then stepped fully into the dim glow of the illusion.

"Master Ryosuke," came the familiar voice. "Another individual attempted to leave the compound during the meeting. He has been captured and detained."

It was Hyuga Hoshicai—freshly returned from the capital of the Land of Fire.

Hoshicai had been summoned back by Ryosuke the moment this internal purge began. Trust was scarce, and Ryosuke couldn’t risk relying on anyone but his most loyal subordinates.

To ensure absolute control of the clan borders during the meeting, he had even borrowed several elite guard ninja from the daimyo to reinforce the entrances and exits.

In Hyuga tradition, the compound was sealed during clan gatherings. Outsiders were denied entry, and insiders were forbidden to leave. Anyone caught violating this—without clearance—was hiding something.

"The captured individual is Hyuga Junji. He’s already been marked for elimination according to the internal report."

The elders stirred, satisfaction flashing across their eyes.

Junji had been a high-priority suspect. And if he had chosen to run...

"Then his close associates are likely part of the same network," one elder muttered, rubbing his chin.

Ryosuke nodded, his tone calm but certain. "Maintain full lockdown. No one leaves without our clearance. Not even messengers."

"Yes, sir." Hoshicai bowed respectfully and disappeared into the shadows again.

With each passing hour, the plan unfolded flawlessly.

"That makes seven confirmed escape attempts," an elder said thoughtfully. "All seven matched names from our blacklist."

He stroked his beard, leaning back. "If this trend continues, we may truly succeed in purging every last parasite embedded in our clan."

But then he turned, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"There’s something I still don’t understand, Ryosuke."

The others looked toward him too.

"You speak with such certainty. How are you so confident that these are true traitors—and not just dissatisfied but loyal clansmen?"

All eyes turned to Ryosuke again.

The question had lingered in many minds. Even the elders, who had seen countless schemes in their lifetime, didn’t fully understand why Ryosuke’s judgment seemed so absolute.

Ryosuke, however, only smiled and shook his head.

"I’m not," he said frankly. "I can’t guarantee it."

His relaxed tone caught them off guard. Chuckling lightly, he added, "I simply took advantage of some psychological loopholes."

He raised his hand. The illusion shifted once more, now showing hidden scenes—moments from weeks prior, where Ryosuke had quietly given instructions to hand-picked clan members.

"Perhaps you didn’t notice, but among those who argued with the traitors... a few were actually planted by me."

Gasps and murmurs followed. Even Hiashi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"I knew from the beginning that if we wanted to expose the poison in the clan, we had to make them believe they were winning."

Ryosuke’s voice remained casual, even amused, but the depth of his planning was chilling.

"If everything went too smoothly, they would’ve grown suspicious. But if there were just enough hurdles—just enough resistance—they’d feel it was a real struggle. And when people think they’ve earned a chance, they lower their guard."

He gestured again.

"They wanted to vent their bitterness. They wanted to believe they were finally taking back power from the ’untouchables’ in the main family. So I gave them that stage."

It was Ryosuke who had strategically allowed Neji’s genius to become the clan’s whispered legend. It was Ryosuke who had subtly let word of Hiashi and Hizashi’s "divide" linger among the more rebellious members. He had even gone so far as to let a few arrogant branch families throw their weight around unchecked—fueling resentment, heightening emotion.

For those who had long felt powerless, what was more seductive than the fantasy of overthrowing their superiors?

"They chose the easiest trap, the one dressed as opportunity," Ryosuke said. "Which fits, honestly. Most shinobi are still simple at heart. No schemes, no subtlety. They know how to fight. But they don’t know how to think beyond the mission."

In the past, Ryosuke had relied on tactics and deception to make up for his lack of strength. But now that he had both power and intelligence, he reserved his planning not for battle, but for matters like these—internal stability, trust, and clan survival.

"I can’t say all the fish we caught were big ones," he admitted. "But that wasn’t the goal. The point was to make sure the clan sees our stance—that betrayal, no matter how small, won’t be ignored."

Calm, unwavering, methodical.

Ryosuke’s demeanor brought a sense of quiet assurance to the room.

Had he not taken this path, then one day—should he reveal his true strength—these same traitors might have vanished into the shadows like frightened rats. But now, they had been flushed out while they still believed they had the upper hand.

"Even if some of them hadn’t acted yet," Ryosuke continued, "they were bound to, eventually. This was just a way to let them choose how they’d reveal themselves."

He paused.

"Human hearts are complex. Power alone can’t command loyalty. Fear doesn’t work forever. People will resist, plot, rebel, even under the strongest tyrant. So instead of force, I gave them a mirror—and they showed us their true faces."

There was nothing more to say.

Everyone sat in silence, digesting the weight of what had been accomplished.

---

The final night of the clan meeting arrived.

The illusion dispersed at last, and with it, the burden lifted. One by one, the elders, clan heads, and participants collapsed onto the soft grass of the Hyuga courtyard—some exhausted, others simply relieved.

Even Hiashi, ever reserved and composed, allowed himself to sit beside the others.

Ryosuke, too, leaned back. His body was resilient—far beyond the limits of a normal human—but the mental strain of managing the strategy, illusions, surveillance, and data filtering over several sleepless nights left him lightheaded.

"Thank you... everyone."

Hinata, though pale and fatigued, rose with effort and bowed to the group.

Her voice was quiet, but sincere.

The others, including Ryosuke, looked on with faint smiles. She had endured far more than any child her age should have, and she hadn’t crumbled.

After a short rest, the group moved inside to eat a late meal prepared by the house housekeeper. Simple, hearty food—rice, grilled fish, miso soup. Afterward, they returned to their guest rooms.

No one said it aloud, but they all knew: tomorrow would be the real conclusion.

The closing ceremony.

The final statement to the clan—and the last move in this game of purification and realignment.

---

Another night fell.

In the firelight, four strong men moved slowly through the main courtyard, lifting the carved statues of the Hyuga clan’s ancestral heroes and returning them reverently to the mourning hall. These lifelike wooden effigies, carved from sacred mahogany, marked the start and end of every clan meeting.

Tradition dictated that the spirits of the ancestors were "invited" to attend at the beginning—and now, at the end, they would be symbolically returned to the underworld.

But unlike years past, something had changed.

Hiashi stood atop the raised platform in front of the hall. But unlike the usual solemn announcements marking the end of the ceremony, he remained silent.

The courtyard was quieter than usual. The crowd, noticeably thinner than on the first day, left wide gaps in the formation. Word had spread—many of the louder voices from earlier in the meeting were now... absent.

Hiashi’s voice finally broke the silence.

"I imagine many of you are wondering why this year’s clan meeting ends at night, instead of morning as it always has."

He surveyed the crowd, eyes piercing.

"And why I’ve delayed the final announcement until now."

A heavy pause followed.

"In truth... it is because we elders wished for our ancestors—before they return to the afterlife—to witness the faces of those who have disgraced the Hyuga name."

He lifted a hand.

From both sides of the courtyard, stern-faced Hyuga shinobi escorted a procession of bound individuals into the light.

Dozens of them.

Many had once held respectable positions—squad leaders, instructors, even administrative officers. Now, they stood in silence, hands tied behind their backs, stripped of dignity.

"W-what...? Isn’t that...?"

"Wait, isn’t that our team leader...?"

"I don’t understand... What did they do?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Eyes widened. Heads turned.

Those who stood among the ranks watching the ceremony were all shinobi of the Hyuga clan—and some of them now saw former mentors, leaders, or direct superiors standing accused.

Panic brewed behind hushed whispers.

Hiashi raised his hand once more, commanding silence.

"Do not misunderstand," he said clearly. "These people are not here because of petty political divisions. This is not about main house versus branch house."

Despite the murmurs and furrowed brows in the crowd, Hyuga Hiashi remained perfectly composed—unshaken, as if he had expected the skepticism.

"I’ve already discussed this with the elders," he said firmly. "The reason these people are to be executed... is not because of some petty family feud. It’s because they leaked clan secrets. They colluded with outside forces, leading to the deaths of many in our Hyuga clan over the last few decades—possibly even longer."

Gasps rippled through the courtyard.

"I won’t waste time asking you to take my word for it," he continued. "Nor do I expect blind faith. So today, we spent time gathering evidence—items and records that prove what’s been done."

As he spoke, he unfurled a sealed scroll, its wax emblem unmistakably marked with the Hyuga crest. Beside him, several clan members stepped forward carrying wrapped objects—scrolls, blades, artifacts covered with protective cloth.

"In the 41st year of Konoha—during the Third Great Ninja War—the conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Mist intensified. My father, the clan head at the time, was called to the front lines."

Hiashi paused, his voice growing heavier.

"While on mission... he was betrayed. Stabbed in the back by those standing behind me now."

The bound traitors stood silently at the foot of the platform, heads bowed.

"That was the second time this generation of traitors acted against our clan. When my father’s body was returned to the village, one of his Byakugan was missing. The eye was never recovered... and the secrets of our bloodline were exposed."

The murmuring among the gathered shinobi died instantly.

At first, many had assumed this was internal politics—an inheritance struggle, perhaps. But this was no longer a matter of favoritism or power. The very bloodline of the Hyuga clan had been compromised.

Hiashi continued, his gaze steady.

"We still don’t know who took the Byakugan—or which enemy nation holds it now—but the betrayal that enabled it came from within. These traitors ensured our secrets fell into the hands of foreign powers."

He let the silence linger before speaking again.

"And this wasn’t their first offense."

"In the 39th year of Konoha, during the Second Ninja World War, this same group orchestrated internal assassinations—using the chaos of war to eliminate their rivals within the clan and rise in status."

He gestured to the items now being unwrapped and displayed for all to see.

"Among those they murdered were clan heroes—Hyuga Teru, Hyuga Shino, Hyuga Shuichi and many more. These men were all bearers of sacred ninja tools passed down from generation to generation—tools forged with chakra-conductive ore, gifts reserved only for those who had earned the clan’s highest trust."

The items gleamed under the torchlight. A black-forged blade with engraved seals. A curved sickle etched with runes. A scroll case carved with the crest of the Hyuga’s eastern branch.

"They never used them publicly, of course," Hiashi said. "They hid them at home, hoarding them like trophies. But many among you—especially our senior members—will recognize these relics."

Cries of shock rose from the crowd.

"That... that’s Captain Akutagawa’s blade! It was said to be lost at sea!"

"And that’s Vice Captain Hanekawa’s chakra sickle! Weren’t we told it was stolen by Iwagakure agents?!"

Hiashi let the crowd speak. Let their outrage grow. Let them realize how deeply they had been lied to.

"For decades, these criminals leaked our movements, our structure, our seals and protocols—for coin, for prestige, for protection. And they weren’t alone."

He unrolled the scroll further.

"Many of their fathers, too, betrayed our clan. This is not a single generation of corruption. It is a legacy of treachery."

By now, the mood in the courtyard had turned to fury. Some shinobi trembled with rage. Others looked ready to lunge at the restrained figures, kunai already trembling in their fists. There were even whispers of digging up the graves of the deceased to strip them of the clan’s symbols.

But Hiashi raised his hand again.

His voice was calm. Iron in velvet.

"This is not over."

The crowd fell silent once more.

"In addition to those already exposed and detained," he said, "there are still others among us whom we suspect."

Instantly, gazes shifted. Clan members subtly stepped away from those beside them. Eyes narrowed. Bodies stiffened.

"But there is no need for blind guessing," Hiashi continued. "Because of the gravity of this betrayal, the elders and I have created a new internal division—an invisible investigation team that will operate independently, free from clan politics."

He turned his gaze across the sea of faces.

"This team will work in silence. They will accuse no one without proof. But they will also show no mercy to those who threaten our unity."

He let those words settle.

"The Hyuga clan is the oldest noble bloodline in the Leaf. We are not only warriors, but stewards of legacy. And so, from this day forward..."

Hiashi’s voice grew firm once more.

"...we must hold ourselves to a higher standard."

He took a deep breath and concluded:

"In the days to come, I ask each of you to walk with discipline. Guard your hearts. Guard your honor. Let the world see again what it means to stand as a shinobi of the Hyuga."

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