When Kiyo Hyuga was around thirteen or fourteen, she independently passed the jonin test. Even when severely injured and sent to the hospital, she refused help from the branch family guards to complete the mission. Her strong-willed nature first became known in the village when she was promoted to jonin.
In the following wars, Kiyo always volunteered to lead, honing herself through combat on the battlefield. Each time, she achieved military merits and led the branch family to earn great honors for the Hyuga clan.
Even during peacetime, she would take on highly dangerous missions.
She wasn't wrong when she said her strength was forged in battle. In terms of Gentle Fist mastery, she might not be any less skilled than Hiashi Hyuga. Although Hiashi was much older, that didn't mean he had more experience in Gentle Fist by a full decade.
In terms of battlefield experience, Hiashi had only participated in the Second Great Ninja War before becoming clan head, and even then, many branch family members protected him. His contributions were exaggerated and couldn't compare to Kiyo.
Before her weighted wristbands were exposed, Hiashi might've had a 20% chance of winning. After discovering the metal weights, he felt his chances dropped below 10%—even with the two elder advisors supporting him.
Moreover, Kiyo's statements at the clan assembly were already spreading among the branch family members, undoubtedly gaining her support. Even if Hiashi won the duel, unless the main family made concessions, they would risk alienating the branch family.
Outside, the ANBU monitoring the area noticed something unusual—many Hyuga ninja seemed to be gathering, heading in the same direction. But since ANBU couldn't enter Hyuga territory, they had no idea what was going on.
"Captain, what should we do now?"
An ANBU member asked the white-haired, masked Kakashi. The Hyuga clan seemed to be mobilizing forces. Unlike the Uchiha, they didn't usually call everyone together for a clan meeting, so this sudden gathering was suspicious. If something did happen and they didn't investigate, it would be negligence.
But entering the Hyuga, Inuzuka, or Aburame territories directly was nearly impossible—even for ANBU.
Kakashi climbed up high and, pointing to the Hokage Rock, said, "Grab your gear. We're heading there. Looks like the Hyuga are gathering at the training grounds behind."
With the advantage of elevation and equipment, they could observe Hyuga movements. By the time Kakashi and his team reached the Hokage Rock, over 300 people had already gathered at the training field.
An ANBU member, surprised, said, "Captain, are these all Hyuga ninja? As expected of Konoha's largest clan."
Kakashi also activated his Sharingan to observe and said, "The clan head is here, and so is that woman. Something's going on. Stay on high alert."
After the Uchiha incident, any unusual activity from the Hyuga would raise red flags. Even though Tsunade knew what Kiyo was planning, she couldn't just tell Kakashi casually.
Most of the branch family had arrived—excluding the necessary guards and patrols. Over 300 were gathered, mostly chunin, with over 50 jonin.
This kind of deep-rooted strength wasn't something a newly risen clan—backed only by a Hokage—could compare to.
The divisions among the branch families were stark. Kiyo's faction was fully prepared for battle, gathered behind her with over 100 members. Those who were neutral or from other lines stood scattered on the opposite side.
This stark contrast—united versus scattered—was clear.
Once everyone had arrived, Hiashi stepped forward and announced the agreement between him and Kiyo.
The other branch members were shocked.
Changing the clan head was a major event, and the more perceptive could tell something was going on with Kiyo's faction.
At the training grounds, after Hiashi's announcement, the Third Elder stepped aside and quietly asked Zosuke Hyuga, "You're of the main family too. Kiyo wants to eliminate the main family's privileges. Aren't you going to stop her?"
That "protecting the Byakugan" excuse only worked on the branch family. Even if a few Byakugan were lost, it didn't matter. The eyes had a lifespan, and unless the enemy bred them in large numbers, the bloodline wasn't in danger.
But Kiyo wanted to openly erase the divide between main and branch families. Her reforms would eventually eliminate the main family—and perhaps even the Caged Bird Seal.
"If you're not going to stop her, then just watch."
Zosuke smiled calmly and replied, "Kiyo is my proudest successor. I believe in her."
"If only she truly thought for the main family…" the elder muttered bitterly, turning his gaze to the training field. He hadn't fought in nearly a decade—now he could only hope in the clan head and the other two elders.
Kiyo, Hiashi, and the two main family elders stood on opposite sides of the field, near the edge of the Hokage Rock. The area was quite spacious.
Kiyo had even removed the weights on her legs. With a calm expression, she said, "I thought Uncle Hiashi would try something else. Didn't expect this. I take back what I said before—you do care for the clan."
"I just don't want the Uchiha's fate to repeat in our clan. My duty is to protect the main family. If I fail, then the Hyuga Clan will rightfully be yours—everything."
Hiashi assumed a Gentle Fist stance, the veins around his eyes bulging. Kiyo's did too, though she didn't take a stance.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm."
The two elders exchanged a look and, in perfect sync, unleashed a combined Vacuum Palm. They poured in large amounts of chakra, making the attack far stronger and wider than usual.
The powerful blast carved deep grooves in the ground. But before the attack even hit, Kiyo had vanished from sight.
"Where is she?!"
The elders tried to scan with the Byakugan, but before they could even move their gaze, Hiashi shouted, "Behind you!"
Behind?!
So fast!
They panicked, spotted Kiyo behind them, and twisted to counterattack, striking at her vital points.
But Kiyo had already seen through their move. She didn't attack immediately—if she had, they wouldn't have been able to turn around.
She raised her palms, chakra surging.
Boom!
The impact of their strikes created a loud thud and kicked up a cloud of dust.
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"
The elders, in perfect sync, launched their assault. In the Eight Trigrams domain, four hands struck at Kiyo's vital points like lightning.
Branch family members watching gasped. "The two elders really teamed up against the Fourth Elder? That's…"
Another jonin activated his Byakugan and frowned. "They're not holding back. If they hit her, her internal organs could be damaged. With their strength…"
"This is too much!"
Kiyo was more well-known than Hiashi within the clan. The two elders ganging up on her felt shameful.
The sound of clashing fists and palms continued. But what shocked everyone was that Kiyo didn't dodge at all. She blocked every blow at even greater speed.
Some sharp-eyed jonin even saw that Kiyo countered several times—so fast they couldn't keep count.
'Impossible. How could the two of us be losing to a junior…?'
Hit multiple times, the two elders were humiliated. In front of the whole clan, they couldn't lose.
The pace of their Gentle Fist accelerated, blurring into afterimages. But then they noticed Kiyo slowing slightly—finally showing a rare opening.
"Hah!"
With bulging veins, they struck at her heart and head, believing this was their chance.
For the clan. For the main family. This anomaly must die!
Their faces twisted with murderous intent. They already felt disgraced by Hyuga Mirai, and now Kiyo, influenced by her, was trying to overthrow their traditions. She had to go!
Kiyo's faction clenched their fists, nearly unable to hold back seeing her in danger.
Boom.
Suddenly, everything froze.
Kiyo accelerated at the last second, doubling her speed and striking the pressure points on their shoulders.
Pain in their chest and the sudden loss of strength made them forget to attack. They were stunned—how did the situation flip?
Why didn't their jutsu work?
"Wondering why your Vacuum Palm didn't activate? Even with the Byakugan, you couldn't see it…"
Kiyo calmly helped roll up their sleeves.
"I see… As expected of the Fourth Elder," murmured the sharp-eyed jonin, realizing what happened.
The elders had four or five pressure point marks on their arms. But without sealing the point on the shoulder, the others were meaningless.
Kiyo's final strike sealed their chakra paths, sending the Vacuum Palm back into their own bodies, injuring their organs.
Boom!
Another palm sent them flying. The branch family clearly saw that her strike had damaged their internal organs—they might not survive long.
Though some felt uneasy about internal strife, remembering how merciless the elders were moments ago stopped any objections. Even their loyal followers didn't dare move under the watchful Byakugan of Kiyo's faction.
Any action now could trigger full-blown civil conflict.
Their strength was now beneath even jonin. Kiyo ignored them and turned to Hiashi.
"I thought you'd attack with them."
Hiashi replied, "Even if I did, I wouldn't be your match. And a clan head shouldn't gang up on kin."
Then he charged.
His body was still in peak condition. While he lacked battlefield experience, his chakra and techniques were stronger than the two elders.
Hiashi's Gentle Fist style matched his character—rigid, by-the-book, powerful but predictable. For Kiyo, that made it easy to counter.
Speed, strength, chakra, technique—Kiyo surpassed him in all areas. At first, Hiashi managed to keep up, but once she got a read on him, she went all out.
One palm deflected both his hands, then a kick to the abdomen sent him flying over ten meters.
As he staggered to his feet in pain, Kiyo unleashed the Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm again. Her version, alone, was stronger than the elders combined.
"Rotation!"
Hiashi quickly spun, forming a several-meter-wide shield.
But her Vacuum Palm shattered his defense. He lost control and was blasted back dozens of meters.
Over a minute later, he finally got up, clutching his aching body.
Seeing her chakra-charged palm before him—one move away from crushing his skull—Hiashi sighed in defeat.
It was clear: he wasn't fit to be clan head.
"From now on, you are the head of the Hyuga clan, Kiyo."
(End of Chapter)