Visiting the *Dead

Izuna's thoughts were suddenly pulled back to that afternoon when his social anxiety flared up.

At that time, he and Brother Ban were passing by the Commercial Street when they saw a musician playing a dejected Biwa by the roadside.

He was a music major, and his hands itched whenever he saw an instrument. On a whim, he grabbed the Biwa and played a couple of notes.

Since you've already played the instrument, you can't just play without singing, right?

The lyrics were put together on the spot, the melody was copied, and as for the names called out... he just randomly picked whoever came up with the name, stuffing in anyone he knew or didn't know, just for the sake of making it lively.

Kasuga happened to be standing at the edge of the crowd, and he casually dragged her in.

He always thought that singing in the street was just an incredibly embarrassing and socially awkward experience, never expecting there to be a sequel.

Takayuki continued, her tone filled with gratitude: "Your actions were quite embarrassing—"

Izuna's lips twitched. Well, even his friends and parents knew; his social career was truly over, with absolutely no chance of recovery.

"--But that day was the first time Kasuga had received so many tasks." Takayuki's voice revealed genuine joy. "The clan asked Kasuga to contact you, and he gladly accepted. This was the first time he had accepted an arrangement from the Main Family!"

"My wife and I were overjoyed, thinking that our child had finally come to his senses and was willing to mend relations with the Main Family. Later, when Mr. Sōsuke came to visit us, he did not show any resistance."

"We thought at the time, if this incident could give Kasuga some recognition within the Main Family and prevent her from being sent to do unpaid and exhausting tasks, that would be wonderful. We hoped she wouldn't die alone out there one day because she couldn't keep up with the demands."

"But I never expected that you would want to directly reform the Hyuga Clan."

That day, Izuna unexpectedly ended up in their home, where he was also encountered by Sousuke, the head of the main family who had come to visit and test him.

At the time, although he was allowed to contact Uchiha Izuna, it was limited to observation and surveillance. If the main branch of the Main Family discovered that he had any other dealings with the Uchiha, he would Kasuga suffer a lot.

Unexpectedly, Izuna boldly pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the Byakugan and even proposed a solution.

Takayuki and Kasuga overheard most of what was going on through the paper door.

Every word Izuna said reached their ears, initially causing confusion, but then transforming into a possibility they had never dared to consider.

Kasuga's expression remained indifferent, but Takayuki noticed that his son's fingers, which were resting on his lap, had clenched tightly, and his knuckles were slightly white.

That evening, upon returning home, Kasuga ate an extra bowl of rice, something she never did before. After finishing, she put down her chopsticks and said to Takayuki, "Father, Izuna said wasn't just a fantasy."

Takayuki knew this, but he still scolded Kasuga and told him to shut up.

However, Kasuga didn't seem to care at all; a hint of excitement could be seen on his otherwise poker face.

After that, Kasuga would occasionally take the initiative to chat with Takayuki.

His tone was still cold as he spoke, but there was a light in his eyes.

Every time Takayuki saw him like this, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him, a mixture of relief and fear.

The relief came from the fact that her son finally had a reason to live, but the fear stemmed from the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird Seal, which would not allow them to reach the end.

But it is, after all, hope.

At that time, the disgruntled members of the Branch Family discussed privately several times how to break the deadlock. They were always cautious, choosing to hold their gatherings late at night and changing the location repeatedly.

Because their youngest daughter, who had separated from the Branch Family, had made an appearance in the Capital City and gained fame among the Daimyo's Wife.

The Main Family would not allow the Branch Family to slip out of control in any way. Even though they knew they couldn't touch the young girl or truly exterminate the Branch Family, they still kept the Branch Family under the strictest surveillance.

Even those Branch Family know that the Main Family's eyes and ears are everywhere, and the excruciating pain from the Caged Bird Seal is enough to make anyone who dares to cross the line kneel down and beg for mercy.

Therefore, their discussion was limited to "what if one day".

If one day a genius emerges within the Hyuga to lead the reforms, or if external pressure becomes too great to break the deadlock from the outside, then...

If, if.

But no one dared to say it out loud, because saying it meant death.

However, none of them expected that when Izuna visited the Hyuga Clan Compound the next time, he would clear all the checkpoints in one go.

That incident where one man single-handedly fought against the entire Hyuga clan brought about earth-shattering changes to the Hyuga Clan.

The Main Family no longer pressured the Branch Families, not because they didn't want to, but because they dared not.

Izuna's performance that day made them realize one thing completely.

Hyuga's prized Gentle Fist is utterly ineffective against true powerhouses; it must be changed to become more effective.

Izuna was pressuring them, and Hashirama Senju tacitly agreed to it.

Although the Hokage candidate was a kind-hearted person, he was still a leader. His failure to stop Izuna, and his half-hearted acceptance of his actions, was a warning to the Hyuga.

If the Hyuga continues to fight amongst themselves after this lesson, and continues to use the Caged Bird Seal to suppress the branch Branch Family, Hashirama will definitely not stand idly by.

The Main Family knew that rather than having him personally intervene and reorganize them, it was better for them to take the initiative to change.

Those disobedient members of the Main Family were suppressed in an instant, and the lackeys who had been tamed in the Branch Families were also dismissed from their posts.

A marginalized figure like Kasuga, who harbored hatred towards the Main Family, was seated at the table and became the person in charge.

Those few days in Kasuga were so much fun.

At his first clan meeting, he took the initiative to speak, proposing to form a Gentle Fist reform group to study how to maximize the long-range perception advantage of the Byakugan.

Sōsuke actually agreed.

When Kasuga told Takayuki about this, a rare smile appeared on his usually indifferent face, revealing a touch of youthful spirit.

Takayuki looked at him and vaguely felt that his beloved son from the past had returned.

That evening, Kasuga's mother cooked two extra dishes, and the family of three sat down at the low table to eat. Kasuga began to talk about the reform group's plan, but suddenly stopped halfway through and looked at his father.

He said, "I'm officially joining Izuna's Production Crew."

"He did a lot of preparation to join your Theatre Troupe," Takayuki said. "He borrowed the script of 'The Tale of the Tale of the Heike' from Tetsuya, practiced his lines, acted, and even practiced his smile in front of the mirror."

As Izuna listened, he couldn't help but laugh, because he simply couldn't imagine how Kasuga could possibly smile.

That must be very strange.

So... Kasuga said she wanted to join the Production Crew, she wasn't joking.

He was serious; that was his pledge of allegiance.

It turns out that my words and actions have quietly changed someone's life in ways I never noticed.

Kasuga I casually sang his name, he received a mission from the Main Family; because of my nonsense about ranged attacks in the Hyuga Clan Compound, he found a direction to strive for; because of my impulsive declaration that I would take on the entire clan single-handedly, he truly saw the dawn of reform.

But these changes had only just begun; he had finally seen hope, only to die just like that.

Izuna could initially view the matter from an outsider's perspective, but listening to his parents talk about it, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

When Izuna left Kasuga's house, his steps were much slower than when he arrived.

Kasuga's parents stood at the door watching him go. He turned back, waved, forced a smile, and then turned and walked away into the alley.

Mokushō had caught up with him at some point, and surprisingly, he didn't say a word, just quietly Earth Flow half a step behind him, his Geta tapping out a crisp rhythm on the stone pavement.

Then he visited more than a dozen other companies.

Each family is located in a different clan territory, deep in a different alley, and in front of a different threshold.

Tobirama wrote down the list for him very clearly, specifying which family, which street, and which household.

He knocked on doors one by one according to the list. Every time a door opened, someone recognized him and gave him an expression that left him unsure how to respond.

A relieved smile.

It was as if his arrival itself was a comfort, as if his standing at the door saying, "I've come to inquire about his belongings and last wishes," was such a remarkable thing.

An old woman from the Yamanaka Clan took his hand and said that her son had played a minor role in the Theatre Troupe, without even a name, but every time he came back from rehearsal, he would excitedly talk about what new moves Lord Izuna had taught him that day.

She said the child had always wanted to thank you in person, and now that you're here, he'll be very happy.

Izuna listened, a polite smile played on his lips, but in his heart he was thinking that he didn't even remember Izuna's face.

A young wife from the Akimichi Clan, holding her one-year-old child, said that her husband was hit by Isshiki blow while covering the wounded, and before he died, he smiled and told his comrades, "Now we can rest."

She accepted the fruit and then said she would bring her children to the Memorial Service so they could see the place their father had protected.

They were all very kind to him, even though they were dying for him in a sense, they were grateful to him.

Even the Senju Clan family members only gave him a cold snort when he introduced himself, then offered directions and poured tea as usual; no one said anything unpleasant to him.

No one slammed the door in front of him, no one questioned "What are you doing here?", and no one blocked him at the door and treated him with a blood debt Roster from the Warring States Period.

He thought to himself jokingly, "Luckily, that Isshiki killed me, otherwise I wouldn't know how to repay their kindness in sparing my life."

After making the witty remark, he couldn't bear the sadness and decided to be more serious and tell fewer hellish jokes.

Then he arrived at Asari's house, or rather, Asari's cousin's house.

When he inquired, the Senju Clan members told him that Asari had no direct relatives; his brothers, sisters, and parents had all died on the battlefield during the Warring States Period.

The person who handled the funeral arrangements was his only surviving distant cousin, a middle-aged man who lived on the edge of the Senju Clan Compound.

His cousin treated him terribly.

From the moment Izuna introduced himself, his face fell.

He stood impatiently at the door, showing no intention of letting him in, his voice cold and harsh. "Say what you have to say here."

Izuna stood in front of the door, showing no displeasure despite the other person's cold expression.

He bowed slightly and calmly stated his name and purpose of visit.

After hearing this, the cousin remained silent for a long time.

He didn't invite Izuna in, but he also didn't just go inside and slam the door shut.

He simply looked at Izuna with an expression that was hard to decipher—whether it was indifference or weariness—before speaking.

"Asari's parents died when he was eight years old, killed by your Uchiha clan."

"His Big Brother was six years older than him. He had already gone to the battlefield and chased the murderer for three days. All he came back with was a Kunai."

"His sister got married and was supposed to be off the battlefield, but fate still struck; she died in an ambush. The murderer was Hyuga."

"His wife was in the midst of a battle when she gave birth, and both she and her unborn child died."

My cousin paused here, as if he was extremely angry, and then let out a cold laugh.

"He was the only one left in Asari's faction, and now he's gone too."

Izuna stood there, listening to the man finish reading Asari's death Roster, feeling utterly helpless.

He recalled Asari's taciturn demeanor on Production Crew, and how Asahi calmly said he disliked the Uchiha during his self-introduction.

His Secret Technique CG was unremarkable; it was just a demonstration of a Water Release.

Therefore, he naturally assumed that it was just a prejudice left over from the Warring States Period, merely an old grudge between families.

He had no idea how big a mistake he had made.

Asari's parents died at the hands of his clansmen, Asari brother died in revenge, his sister was killed Hyuga Asari, and Asari child didn't even have time to leave a name.

He dared to stroll around in front of Asari, smiling as he assigned tasks, directing people to do this and that, and occasionally throwing in a witty remark to liven up the atmosphere.

Asari listened silently, worked silently, and didn't utter a sound.

Uchiha Izuna, why didn't you ask me more questions back then, such as "Why do you hate the Uchiha?"

Asking the question at least gives the other person a place to vent, even if it's just to let them get some relief.

He simply accepted the label "Asari hates the Uchiha" as a matter of course, and then maintained a lukewarm distance from the other party in a businesslike manner.

I deserve to die.

His cousin pursed his lips at him, turned around and went into the house. Then he took out Asari's belongings and added, "Asari didn't have any wishes. If he did, it was that he wanted Konoha to stay there."

"The last time he came to my house for dinner, he said that although those Uchiha were annoying, they were actually quite capable. He said that the leader was young but had a lot of ideas, and that he could probably cause even bigger trouble in the future."

He doesn't dislike you.

My cousin's voice suddenly choked up as he said this.

Sadness finally showed on his face. "He's never been a talkative person since he was little, but he's very perceptive. He remembers who's good to him and who's not, and he's never been prejudiced against anyone... He's a good kid."

Izuna opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But looking at the man's expression, he slowly pursed his lips.

He had no right to say anything at this time; Asari's cousin didn't need his comfort or his apology.

To him, I was merely someone who came to collect his belongings and last wishes, nothing more.

"Regarding the Memorial Service," Izuna began, his voice a half-tone lower than usual, "Would you like to attend?"

The man nodded. "Of course, I'll go."

When Izuna emerged from the Senju Clan Compound, it was already quite dark.

He stood at the alley entrance for a moment, then folded the list in his hand again and tucked it into his sleeve.

Mokushō followed behind him, and when they reached a secluded spot, he spoke.

Should we learn how to Transcendence?