In the reception room, Yechuan and Senju Touka met the newly appointed Hyuga Clan Head.

Yechuan, of course, had an impression of him.

He was a peer from the Ninja Academy, the young master of the Hyuga Main Family, and had been arrogant since childhood, often causing trouble for himself, Jiraiya, and their friends.

He didn't expect that after Hyuga Tazon's death, he would ascend to the position of Clan Head so quickly.

Meanwhile, in another room, Tsunade, Nami, Kotone, and Suzuka were gathered together.

"Hyuga Tokuma..."

When Hyuga Suzuka heard that name, a hint of undisguised disdain flashed in her pure white eyes.

"My father mentioned him when he was still alive."

"That guy was Hyuga Tazon's child in his old age, spoiled rotten since he was little, with an arrogant and overbearing personality. Although his talent is decent, his magnanimity..."

She seemed to recall something and suddenly said to the girls beside her:

"Sisters, please wait a moment."

Suzuka walked to the corner of the room, put on the paint black knuckle duster fused with the Dark-Dark Fruit, and with a thought, a nearly invisible black smoke emanated from the knuckle duster.

Like a thin veil, it completely isolated the space where they were from the outside world.

"What is this?"

Tsunade curiously looked at the black smoke.

"It's a new use for this weapon of mine," Suzuka explained.

"This layer of black smoke can perfectly block Chakra and sensory perception, and even my Byakugan can't see through it."

She did this, of course, to prevent Hyuga Tokuma's omnipresent Byakugan from detecting their presence.

Inside the reception room.

Hyuga Tokuma sat imperiously in the main seat, with two emotionless Hyūga Branch Family bodyguards standing behind him, both with the Caged Bird Curse Seal carved on their foreheads.

He looked at Senju Touka in front of him, then turned his gaze to the black-haired young man, Yechuan, who filled him with intense hatred.

"Senju Touka, Senju Yechuan."

Hyuga Tokuma's tone was full of condescending arrogance.

"For my father's death, your Senju Clan is largely to blame!"

"Hyuga Tazon colluded with the enemy on the battlefield, shaking military morale. According to Konoha's law, he deserved to be executed," Senju Touka responded coldly.

"Yechuan killed him to cleanse Konoha of its internal traitors. What crime is there in that?"

"Hmph! Don't give me those high-sounding excuses!"

Hyuga Tokuma shamelessly declared, "I don't care about any reasons! My father died, and your Senju must give us Hyuga an explanation! Provide sufficient compensation!"

"Compensation?"

"Exactly!"

Hyuga Tokuma made an outrageous demand.

"Ten thousand gold bars! Not one less, or our Hyuga Clan will never let this rest!"

Senju Touka was so angered by his shameless face that she laughed.

Hyuga Tokuma ignored her and continued, "Also! Our Hyūga Branch Family Ninja, Hyuga Suzuka, has been missing without a trace since she disappeared in the Land of Wind last time!"

"This matter must also be your Senju's doing behind the scenes! Hand her over quickly!"

He didn't know that Hyuga Suzuka, whom he was searching for, was at this very moment in another room of this residence, listening to his foolish ranting.

Nor did he know that the Caged Bird Curse Seal on Suzuka's forehead had long been removed, and even if he strained his Byakugan until it went blind, he would never be able to sense her.

"Are you done talking?" Yechuan finally spoke, his voice calm.

"If you're done, get out."

"You...!"

Hyuga Tokuma was completely enraged by Yechuan's dismissive attitude!

He slammed his hand on the table, stood up abruptly, and finally revealed his true purpose for coming here today!

"Very well! Senju Yechuan! Senju Touka! Since you refuse to drink a toast and insist on drinking a forfeit!"

He roared, "I, Hyuga Tokuma, in the name of the new Head of the Hyuga Clan, officially declare war on your Senju Clan!"

Yechuan understood immediately upon hearing this.

It seemed that the village's higher-ups were behind this, using this spoiled, simple-minded fool as a pawn to challenge the Senju Clan, thereby testing and depleting the Senju's strength.

Sarutobi and Danzo must have promised him many benefits.

"As you wish." Yechuan's reply was still those two words, calm and collected.

"You're asking for death!!!"

Hyuga Tokuma was completely furious!

He prided himself as the new Head of the Hyuga Clan, backed by the Hokage and the Advisor elders, possessing great strength and noble blood!

Yet this mere orphaned collateral member of the Senju dared to repeatedly ignore and insult him!

He no longer had any reservations!

He would personally eradicate this murderer of his father, right here, in front of Senju Touka!

He would let everyone see the might of Hyuga Tokuma!

"Gentle Fist!"

His Chakra erupted, and with a flash, he charged towards Yechuan! His hands became a blur of palms, striking directly at Yechuan's vital pressure points!

However, Yechuan didn't even stand up.

He simply sat there calmly, watching the charging Hyuga Tokuma.

Just as Hyuga Tokuma's palm strike was about to connect—

Flying Thunder God Technique!

Yechuan's figure instantly vanished from his original spot!

Hyuga Tokuma's attack missed, and he was greatly startled!

Before he could react, a sensation carrying the aura of death came from the back of his neck!

Yechuan's figure had appeared behind him at some point, and one hand gently pressed against the back of his neck!

"Too... slow..."

"Crack!"

A crisp sound of bone cracking echoed!

Hyuga Tokuma's pure white Byakugan instantly lost all its brilliance, and his body went limp, falling straight forward.

Instant kill!

"..."

"..."

The two Branch Family bodyguards standing behind Hyuga Tokuma were so terrified by Yechuan's decisive killing that they froze, not daring to move an inch!

Yechuan slowly stood up and walked in front of the two stunned Branch Family bodyguards.

"Your master is dead," he said calmly.

"Now, I give you a choice."

"Do you want to continue being dogs of the Main Family, forever bound by the Caged Bird Seal, and eventually die an unknown death like him?"

"Or..."

"Gain freedom?"

"I can help you remove the Caged Bird Seal from your foreheads."

"What?!"

The two Branch Family bodyguards, hearing this, looked at Yechuan in disbelief, as if struck by lightning!

Remove... the Caged Bird Seal?! How is that possible?!

That was an irremovable curse mark passed down by the Hyuga Clan for hundreds of years!

Just as they were wavering between belief and doubt, the door to the reception room slowly opened.

Tsunade, Nami, Kotone, and a figure that made their eyes nearly pop out, slowly walked in.

"Suzu... Miss Suzuka?!"

The two Branch Family bodyguards exclaimed in surprise, looking at their clanswoman who was supposed to be missing!

They were both elders of the Branch Family and naturally recognized Suzuka, an Anbu elite!

"...Is that Uncle Fukuyama, and Uncle Kenta?" Hyuga Suzuka also called out softly, looking at the two familiar faces in front of her.

"You... you're alright?! That's wonderful!"

Tears welled up in their eyes from excitement!

Then, their gazes instinctively fell upon Suzuka's forehead.

And then they froze completely.

Smooth as jade.

The Caged Bird Curse Seal was gone!!!

"This... this..."

They looked at Suzuka's smooth forehead, then at the black-haired young man beside her who was calmly watching them.

At this moment, they finally understood that Yechuan had not been lying when he spoke just now!