"Is... is that so? So... you knew all along."
Staring blankly at Yukina, Hizashi Hyuga swallowed hard after a long while, then said with an awkward smile.
"Yes. I also know that the previous clan head deliberately spared my life to stabilize the branch family's morale, leaving me as a contingency. If the branch family's resentment could not be dispelled, it would be redirected toward me, and I would eventually be executed to quell their anger. The previous clan head must have given you corresponding orders, right?"
Hearing that her brother had finally reacted, Yukina hesitated slightly before ultimately speaking those words.
"Is that so? Did Chiba tell you?"
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga choked up at first. Then, as if he had thought of something, he said with relief.
"But I know that neither you nor Hyuga Hiashi would be able to do it when the time truly came."
Hearing that, Yukina said nothing more. She merely spoke without the slightest hesitation, with absolute certainty.
"Yukina..."
Hearing those words, Hizashi Hyuga's heart tightened, and his pupils suddenly contracted. Looking at the girl who could not see yet still gazed at him with such trust, he murmured her name, unable to say anything else.
"By the way, if it were me, I could do it. You two are too soft-hearted. For the Hyuga Clan, for the village, you cannot go on like this."
Hearing his sister say this, Hizashi Hyuga did not shy away from the matter.
They cannot go on like this...
Those words nearly jolted Hizashi Hyuga to the core, and his heartbeat abruptly quickened.
When had Yukina grown to this extent?
At that moment, he seemed to realize something.
Could it be...
Father had done this, arranged that contingency... could it be... could it be...
As his thoughts