A War That Could Not Be Stopped

The atmosphere within the Hyuga Clan Grounds was utterly grave.

All the elders of the Hyuga Main Branch had gathered, and as both the Clan Head and the "murderer," Hyuga Hiashi had naturally come as well.

In addition, the Third Hokage was present, along with several ANBU hidden in the shadows.

Out of the corner of his eye, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the Root members concealed in the dark, his heart sinking. What exactly is Danzo up to?

For a Radical Faction member like Danzo, this was the perfect opportunity to persuade the Hyuga Clan. He might even have been able to pull them into his own camp.

Yet he was actually absent?

"Cloud Village has been pressing us harder and harder lately. We can't delay any longer."

Hiashi was the first to speak, breaking the silence in the residence. Yet the cold sweat beading on his forehead showed that he was far less calm than he appeared.

He swept his gaze around the room and said, "If sacrificing me can prevent a war, then..."

"Wait, Hiashi."

The Grand Elder interrupted him before he could finish. His expression turned grave. "Don't make such a rash decision yet. The Byakugan is not merely the foundation of the Hyuga Clan—it is also part of Leaf Village's very strength."

Sarutobi silently nodded, tightening his grip around his smoking pipe as his craving for tobacco flared again.

Neither the Main House nor Konoha High-Ranking Officials would allow a complete Byakugan to fall into outsiders' hands.

"But there is no other choice now."

Hiashi did not understand what they were still hesitating over. He frowned deeply and said in a heavier tone, "We, who are supposed to fulfill our responsibilities, cannot drag the village into the abyss of a hopeless war!"

"I know all that, so..."

Bang!

Before the Grand Elder could finish, Hizashi Hyuga pushed the door open and walked straight in.

"That is precisely why the Branch Family exists."

The Grand Elder frowned, clearly displeased by his rude behavior.

Still, he said, "We will hand over Hizashi's corpse as your substitute. Hizashi has already agreed to this."

Although Hizashi was also the leader of the Branch Family and a fairly powerful jonin,

compared to Hiashi, the Main House Clan Head, Hizashi's value was not worth mentioning at all.

Besides, dying for the Main House had always been Hizashi's fate as a member of the Branch Family.

"Hizashi..."

Hiashi looked at the face identical to his own, at his resolute expression and the determination in his eyes.

So this is your choice?

I'm sorry, but I can't accept it.

"Phew..."

Hiashi let out a long breath and said, "What those people want is the Byakugan's power and secrets. Once Hizashi dies, his Byakugan will be sealed. Kumogakure will never accept that!"

"Their condition was for us to hand over the murderer's corpse, so give them the murderer's corpse!"

"But, but..."

A bead of cold sweat slowly slid down Hiashi's forehead. "What happened today is no ordinary matter. We cannot settle it so simply..."

Just moments ago, he had wanted to resolve the incident quickly and had willingly offered his own life. Yet now that Hizashi was involved, he had become hesitant and indecisive.

The other Main House elders exchanged glances, then all began urging him, "Hiashi, it is time for you to make a decision."

"This is how the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai has been protected throughout the generations. Even brothers must be ruthlessly cast aside."

"This is the different fate of the Main House and the Branch Family, and the destiny of being born into the Hyuga Clan."

As the Hokage, Sarutobi merely gripped his smoking pipe and remained silent.

But silence itself was the clearest attitude.

This truly was the best possible outcome.

It could avoid war without sacrificing the Hyuga Clan's Clan Head. Most importantly, it would keep the Byakugan out of Kumogakure's hands, leaving them with nothing to say.

Hiashi's heart was filled with conflict, but Hizashi stepped forward and came to stand before him.

"What has happened to the usually strong-willed Lord Hiashi this time?"

When he said this, there was only amusement and relief in his voice.

Whatever the cause, this incident had begun with the Main House Clan Head.

Yet there was no anger or resentment on Hizashi's face.

Before Hiashi could say anything,

Bang!

Under everyone's shocked stares, Hizashi struck Hiashi's abdomen with his palm.

"This!!"

Hiashi's acupoint had been hit. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

"Hizashi, don't you resent the Main House... then why..."

"I do resent the Main House. Even now, I still resent it."

Hizashi shook his head, ignoring the elders' ugly expressions as he said, "But precisely because of that, I do not see you as a member of the Main House. I am protecting you with my life as my elder brother."

"Then what about Neji?"

Hiashi trembled as he forced himself upright, still refusing to give up as he questioned him.

At the mention of Neji, Hizashi froze for a moment. A bitter smile appeared on his lips. "In Neji's eyes, I have always been weak and pathetic. That is why I understand my own will all the more clearly."

He took out a scroll from his clothes and handed it to a Branch Family guard nearby. "I hope you can give this letter to Neji. Let him know that I am not dying to protect the Main House. I chose to die according to my own will, to protect my brother, my family, and the village."

Wait!

To protect my brother, my family, and the village...

Hizashi suddenly froze, a chill rising in his heart.

That masked person said my death was near, and that I would become a scapegoat.

He was actually right?

No, perhaps all of this had been within his expectations.

Who exactly was that terrifying person?

"Third Hokage, you must..."

Bang!

Hizashi had just been about to warn Hiruzen Sarutobi to be careful of the person wearing the Three-Eyed Fox Mask.

A masked ninja dressed in ANBU attire suddenly burst in, interrupting him.

However, judging by his incomparably cold and sinister aura, he was clearly not an ANBU member, but a member of Root.

"Lord Hokage, according to frontline intelligence, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki has appeared on the battlefield and launched a solo attack on our forces stationed in Moon Valley. Nearly a hundred ninja have already been killed!"

"What?!"

Everyone present changed expression dramatically, unable to believe their ears.

Had Kumogakure gone mad? How could they attack Leaf Village's forces at a time like this?

They had clearly told the Cloud Envoy Delegation that they would hand over the "murderer's" corpse tomorrow.

Before they had even received the "corpse," they had started fighting outright?

And they had directly deployed the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki!

It was like two armies going to war, without firing a single shot or engaging in close combat, and the other side simply threw a nuclear bomb at them without any regard for the rules.

"They have neither justification nor cause. Have those brutes gone mad?"

"And the Cloud envoys are still in Leaf Village. How dare they start a war outright?"

"Is a Jinchuriki something they can deploy whenever they please?!"

The once solemn residence now became as noisy as a marketplace.

The Hyuga elders, who had once valued etiquette above all else, had now turned into housewives haggling in a market.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

A figure leaning on a cane slowly made his way to Sarutobi's side.

The newcomer was Shimura Danzō.

A faint smile actually appeared on his stiff face. "Hiruzen, shall we go?"

Sarutobi's brows drew tightly together.

"Was this you again, Danzo?!"