Hyūga Mirror thrust out his palms several times in quick succession—two opponents were instantly sent flying. His body twisted midair with astounding agility, narrowly evading the barrage of incoming attacks.
A surge of powerful chakra exploded from his body. With both palms extended, several chaotic blasts of chakra rippled outward in all directions.
The surrounding attackers were all driven back at once.
Mirror lunged forward like an arrow, charging straight at Hyūga Hirohito.
Just as Mirror's fist was about to land on him, Hirohito showed no hint of panic. The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smirk as he formed a hand seal with one hand—then a sharp cry of agony echoed through the air.
Hyūga Mirror collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing violently, his mouth twisting in unbearable pain.
Hirohito said coldly, "Hyūga Mirror, how dare you forget your duty as a branch member and raise your hand against one of the main family. That's a grave offense—you must have a death wish."
Damn, it's the Hyūga Cursed Seal!
The sudden turn of events shocked Uchiha Yuan and the others.
Mirror lay trembling on the ground, sweat pouring from his body at a frightening pace. The pain inflicted by the cursed seal was unimaginable.
Yet even so, he bit down on his lip hard and refused to utter a single word of pleading.
Seeing that only made Hirohito angrier.
He felt as if his dignity as a member of the main family had been insulted and thus increased the power of the curse.
"Mirror, hurry and beg Young Master Hirohito for mercy!" one of Mirror's companions shouted anxiously.
"Young Master Hirohito, please spare him—Mirror already knows his mistake!" another pleaded, kneeling before Hirohito.
All around them, the other branch family students stared at Mirror's suffering in horror. Their gazes toward Hirohito grew even more reverent and fearful.
"Silence!" a young man from the Hyūga main family beside Hirohito snapped coldly. "For a branch member to strike at the main family is an unforgivable crime. He deserves punishment!"
Swish!
Hirohito's vision blurred—someone appeared before him like a phantom and swung a fist straight at his chest.
The punch landed squarely.
Bang!
Hirohito was sent crashing to the ground, and the cursed seal's activation broke off instantly.
"Who dares—!" he shouted furiously, springing back to his feet.
Before him now stood Uchiha Yuan, his cold gaze fixed upon Hirohito. Beside him were Senju Gen and Hatake Seikō, who were helping the weakened Mirror back to his feet.
"Uchiha and Senju, huh? What an unexpected pairing," Hirohito sneered, eyes flicking across the clan crests on their clothing.
"What, you two plan to meddle in our affairs? This is a matter of the Hyūga Clan—main family disciplining branch family. It's not something outsiders have the right to interfere in."
Mirror, limp in their arms, slowly turned his gaze toward Senju Gen and Hatake Seikō. His voice was weak. "Senju Gen, Hatake Seikō… why are you here?"
"We just happened to be passing by," Senju Gen replied.
"Don't speak," Hatake Seikō said softly. "You're in no condition to talk."
Mirror's eyes shifted forward to Uchiha Yuan, who stood with arms crossed, expression proud and unyielding.
Yuan gave a cold snort. "Right now, there's no Uchiha, no Senju, no Hyūga here—only Hyūga Mirror's classmates."
"As his classmates, we won't just stand by and watch him be bullied."
"Hyūga brat, I heard everything you said earlier. I'm the Uchiha Yuan you look down on so much. Since Mirror couldn't defeat me, let's see if you, a main family prodigy, can."
Hirohito's expression darkened. From that one punch earlier, he already knew Yuan wasn't weak.
As a main family heir raised under elite tutelage, Hirohito's eye for strength was sharp. He exchanged a glance with the two main family youths beside him, then said coldly, "Very well—let me see what you've got."
Four Palms of the Empty Sky!
Hirohito's palms struck forward—four invisible blasts of force shot toward Yuan.
Yuan's twin fists shot out like dragons, clashing head-on with the unseen strikes.
Boom!
A muffled explosion—air rippled outward as the palm force dispersed into a gust of wind.
Almost at the same instant, Hirohito closed the gap, darting right up to Yuan.
Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
A flurry of blows burst forth, the air ringing with the rapid-fire sound of palm strikes.
After a few breaths, the assault stopped. Hirohito leapt backward, veins bulging around his eyes—his Byakugan fully activated as he fixed his gaze on Yuan.
The ground beneath Yuan's feet suddenly cracked apart.
Then his figure flickered—and vanished.
Body Flicker Technique!
Hirohito's heart tightened. His Byakugan scanned in every direction before he spun and thrust his palm out hard.
Boom!
The air roared. Yuan's fist met his palm directly.
Hirohito's face twisted, and he staggered back several steps. His robe sleeve was torn apart by the invisible shockwave.
"Hirohito!"
One of the main family students rushed forward to steady him.
Another shouted, "Everyone, together!"
They all charged toward Uchiha Yuan.
Seeing Yuan surrounded, Senju Gen sprang from the ground, flipping midair and landing beside him. His fists flashed out, striking one Hyūga student after another.
He moved like a whirlwind—punches, palms, and kicks flowing together in perfect rhythm. Within moments, the Hyūga students around him were all sprawled on the ground.
Then he turned—and froze for a moment in surprise.
Yuan hadn't moved at all. In front of him lay a neat pile of unconscious Hyūga students, stacked like cordwood.
Hirohito's expression was dark and ugly. He had seen it clearly: Yuan's hands had barely moved, and yet every attacker had been sent flying in a blur, landing in a tidy heap.
Yuan gave a mocking smile. "So this is the strength of the Hyūga main family? Pathetic. Seems you're not so high and mighty after all."
The veins at the corners of Hirohito's eyes bulged as rage burned in his chest.
After a long silence, he turned on his heel and left.
"Hey," Senju Gen called after him, "Hyūga Mirror is our classmate. I don't want to see you bullying him again."
Hirohito only snorted coldly and strode away without looking back.
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