Chapter 16: The Real Madman

"How about this—get down on your knees and beg. Maybe then I'll spare her," Hyuga Gakuya said with a brilliant, mocking smile as he stared down at Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi shut his eyes, refusing to look at his wife's broken body. He knew what he had done. And because of that, he understood exactly what kind of fate awaited him.

No matter what, Gakuya wasn't going to let his family go. There was no point in groveling—he'd rather die with some dignity intact.

Fortunately, his wife had persuaded him to send Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi out for the day. Hopefully, when Konoha and the Hyuga clan find his body tomorrow, they'll kill this lunatic in revenge.

...

"So you're not going to beg me after all," Gakuya mused. "Unlike you, I'm not heartless. If you had begged, maybe I would've given you a quick death like the rest of your clan."

It was like he could read Hiashi's thoughts—deliberately striking at the last fragment of hope in his heart.

"Oh? Did I say that out loud? Whoops," he said with feigned innocence. "Come to think of it, your family's the only ones left. The elder council? First, second, all gone."

"By tomorrow, the whole ninja world will hear the news: the Hyuga Clan has been wiped out. A shame, really. Konoha's 'greatest clan,' gone just like that."

Hiashi's eyes burned with rage. He had spent his entire life carrying the will and legacy of the Hyuga clan. And now, today—it ended.

"You maniac! I should've killed you ten years ago!"

Gakuya basked in Hiashi's fury, listening until the man's voice grew hoarse from shouting.

Then, Gakuya dropped another bombshell.

"You're thinking Hinata and Hanabi made it out, right? Don't worry, I'm not going to kill them. You didn't kill me ten years ago, so I won't kill your daughters now."

"Fair trade, wouldn't you say?"

Hiashi felt a small wave of relief wash over him. If they lived, then maybe—maybe there was still a sliver of hope.

But Gakuya's next words dragged him straight back into hell.

"Of course, just killing them wouldn't be enough to satisfy my rage. I'm going to do to them what you did to Neji."

"I'll take everything from them. They'll end up marrying the man who killed their father. They'll think of you as their shame… and me? I'll be their savior."

"You sick bastard! You can't do this!" Hiashi screamed, practically foaming with madness.

But Gakuya just smiled and brushed a finger along the lifeless cheek of Hiashi's wife.

"Why not? Wasn't this your method?"

"Your wife is stunning. I bet your daughters will grow into beauties too."

With that, the last of Hiashi's resistance shattered.

"You can't do this… I'm begging you. Just give them a quick death. Please… just kill them!"

If Gakuya's plan was real, then death would be a mercy. At least the Hyuga clan wouldn't have to carry such disgrace.

But Gakuya only sneered and shook his head in disgust.

"You're heartless to the end. I'm not letting them die."

"When you reach the Pure Land… wait for my summons. We're not finished."

With Gakuya, even death was a luxury.

He slowly clenched his hand—and in that moment, flesh twisted and blood gushed. Hiashi and his wife fell together, dying in each other's arms.

Their deaths should have brought satisfaction.

And yet, as vengeance was fulfilled, a torrent of emotion surged through Gakuya. A special chakra exploded in his eyes. The three tomoe in his gaze spun rapidly, finally merging into a twisted, swastika-shaped design.

No joy. Only cost.

He understood exactly what it took to awaken these eyes.

That restless stirring in his vision was growing stronger. After devouring the Hyuga clan, he could feel it—the Rinnegan, fully awakened, was just a matter of time.

It had taken Madara almost twenty years to restore his Eternal Mangekyō and evolve it into the Rinnegan after using Izanagi.

But Gakuya was only thirteen.

He would open a power that rivaled the gods. Time was on his side.

He activated the Tenseigan again, scanning the clan head's quarters. Sure enough, he spotted a hidden tunnel leading underground.

He descended to a massive sealing door. More than just a lock—this was the second layer of protection. Even if someone found the passage, the seals would block entry.

Gakuya wasn't a sealing jutsu expert. Maybe an Uzumaki could've cracked it—but he certainly couldn't.

There was only one solution: brute force.

He took a few steps back and summoned all his chakra.

"Wind-Fire-Infused Taijutsu!"

Wind and fire surged in his arm. He punched.

BOOM!

The stone gate exploded in a storm of flame and wind—but the entire tunnel started collapsing along with it.

Of course. A failsafe. The Hyuga had ensured any forced intrusion would trigger a self-destruct mechanism.

Gakuya rushed inside before the whole thing came down. Inside the chamber, rows upon rows of Byakugan stared blankly from within glass jars—decades of accumulation.

He didn't hesitate. Bloodline Seizure. The room was instantly swept clean.

Aside from the Byakugan, there were also scrolls—Gakuya grabbed those too. No time to waste.

The collapse was accelerating. If he didn't move fast, he'd end up buried like Obito once had.

...

Back on the surface, he saw several figures rushing toward him.

"Kakashi, Yamato… and the others, huh? Wasn't planning on seeing you again. But since you're here, let's make this a proper farewell."

He stood still, waiting as they approached.

"Gakuya, what happened here? Where are the Hyuga?" Kakashi asked, his voice low. He and a few ANBU had rushed over the moment they heard the explosion.

Though he and Gakuya were friends, and he'd long since lost respect for the Hyuga clan, he still had to ask.

They'd seen the estate on the way in—deserted. Not a single body.

"They're gone," Gakuya said, glancing around. "I devoured them."

"What…?" the ANBU gasped, stunned.

At first, they didn't believe him. But the absence of bodies spoke louder than words.

An entire clan… wiped out, and not even a corpse left behind.

Before anyone could say more, Gakuya continued. "I did it. I destroyed the Hyuga Clan. We already had bad blood—this just settled it."

With that, he turned and prepared to leave.

"You're not going anywhere!" one ANBU shouted and stepped forward.

But Gakuya turned, his gaze glacial. One eye was now pale blue—his half-evolved Tenseigan gleamed.

"You can't stop me," he said coldly. "You're not strong enough."

He let out a fraction of the chakra he'd absorbed from a hundred ninja. The oppressive force froze the ANBU in place.

He turned to Kakashi. "So? Do I have permission to leave?"

Kakashi exhaled slowly, unwilling to pit his team against Gakuya. "Yeah. You can go."

Gakuya smiled faintly, his aura fading as he waved goodbye.

"Kakashi, maybe lay off Jiraiya's books a bit. They're not good for your health. And the Sharingan? Might be time to seal it. It's not doing you any favors."

"Sakumo reached Kage-level with just his blade. Don't throw that away."

"Yamato—honestly, I don't think you're cut out for ninja work. Consider going into real estate in the Land of Fire. With your Three-Room One-Living Room Technique, you might get rich and earn Konoha some revenue."

"Akumu—retire. Find a wife. You're getting older, and your odds aren't improving."

Then, with a leap and a pull from the gravitational force of his evolving eye, Gakuya soared into the sky.

Kakashi's expression remained unchanged, his deadpan stare fixed on Gakuya's departing figure. Maybe this was for the best—for both of them.

At least Gakuya could rest easy now, revenge fulfilled. Unlike him.

Yamato and Akumu grumbled under their breath, cursing Gakuya for dumping more trouble on them again.

But one ANBU suddenly looked up, alarmed.

"Wait—that direction… that's the Uchiha District!"

"What?!"

"Report to the Hokage, now!"

...

(Small disclaimer from the author: Don't worry, Neji will be rescued by Gakuya. He won't be brainwashed by Konoha. I really didn't plan that far ahead back then...)(T＿T)

...

Outside the Hyuga Compound

Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi stood just beyond the boundary.

Without warning, one of Gakuya's shadow clones appeared before them in a flash.

"Big Brother!" Neji shouted, running toward him in excitement.

Gakuya didn't respond. In an instant, he moved behind Neji, placing both hands on the girls' necks—sealing cursed marks onto Hinata and Hanabi.

"Hinata! Hanabi!"

Neji froze. "What did you just do?!"

"Hehehe… I need their eyes. Their bloodline," Gakuya said coldly, dropping the unconscious girls.

"What?!"

"You're still too naive, Neji. You don't need the answers right now. Focus on growing stronger. When the time comes, seek the truth for yourself."

His eyes flashed—deep, celestial blue like the galaxy.

"I'll come for you in a few years. For now, endure."

And just like that, Gakuya vanished.

Neji ran to the place his brother had just been, shouting after him. "What's the truth?!"

But only silence remained.

Neji rushed toward the now-empty Hyuga estate.

Gakuya wasn't ready to tell him everything yet—for many reasons.

First, Gakuya's journey would be dangerous. It was safer for Neji to stay in Konoha.

Second, Neji's worldview was already shattering. Too many truths too fast could break him.

Third… some truths need to be discovered, not told.

Once the time was right, Gakuya would reveal it all.

Until then, Konoha wouldn't dare touch Neji—not as long as Gakuya lived.

When the dust settled, he'd bring Neji back.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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