The Pitiful Byakugan Girl

The fifty-fourth year of Leaf Village was drawing to a close, yet the entire Shinobi World was still in turmoil.

First, the leader of the Cloud Envoy Delegation had died in Leaf Village, and the culprit had turned out to be none other than Hyuga Hiashi, Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan.

Cloud Village demanded that the Hyuga Clan hand over its Clan Head, and Leaf Village had actually agreed to this unreasonable demand.

If that had been all, it would merely have exposed Leaf Village's hollow strength and Cloud Village's shameless ambitions.

But the changes that followed shocked every force in the Shinobi World.

Kumogakure's Eight-Tails Jinchuriki appeared on the front lines and directly wiped out Leaf Village's hundred-man force stationed in Moon Valley.

Public opinion, which had previously condemned Cloud Village, instantly reversed and turned directly against Leaf Village.

The Fourth Shinobi World War was only a thought away.

Yet less than three hours after the incident, Cloud Village withdrew its troops at lightning speed and, to this day, had not offered any response.

But the intelligence operatives of every nation were no fools.

The terrifying battle tremors and thunderous roars had been clearly witnessed by the surrounding small and great nations alike. Their echoes had lingered for a long time, refusing to fade.

The deep forest and its surroundings had suffered devastating damage. The ground had been torn up across a radius of hundreds of kilometers, leaving horrific traces of destruction everywhere.

The intelligence operatives had also detected the savage aura unique to Tailed Beast Chakra, along with traces of extremely powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu.

There was no doubt that someone had fought the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

And judging from Cloud Village's silent decision to withdraw, the outcome of that battle was likely...

For a time, all the major powers realized that a new and unknown powerhouse had emerged in the Shinobi World.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface, an undercurrent was beginning to surge.

Hyuga Clan Residence.

Hyuga Hiashi stepped out onto the corridor, followed by a conflicted-looking Hizashi Hyuga.

The jonin meeting, which normally might not be held even once in several months, had been convened four times in just a few days.

However, this one ended after only an hour. Hiashi agreed to send three Branch Family jonin into the ANBU, which could be considered an explanation for the Konoha High-Ranking Officials.

"How do you feel?"

Without slowing his pace, Hiashi suddenly asked.

Hizashi, walking behind him, paused before replying with a bitter smile, "A little... relieved, I suppose."

Though he had already made up his mind, no one who could live truly wished to die.

Especially since Neji was still young.

If he died, Neji would very likely be blinded by hatred.

But in the end, whether it was voluntary or forced—

In the eyes of the Konoha High-Ranking Officials and the Main House, his life had always been nothing more than a tool to prevent war and protect the Main House.

Thus, even as he felt fortunate to have survived, Hizashi thought of Neji and felt a deep sorrow rise from within.

"Too lowly. The lives of the Branch Family are too lowly."

Once branded with the Caged Bird, they could no longer be regarded as complete "people."

And Neji would have to bear such a fate for the rest of his life...

"Then live on while holding onto today's relief."

At those words, Hiashi merely nodded expressionlessly and said coldly, "I forgive your earlier offense against me. But do not let there be a next time."

He himself had never wanted to meet Cloud Village's unreasonable demands, much less sacrifice Hizashi in his place.

Since the Warring States era, the Hyuga Clan had never suffered such humiliation.

Unfortunately, the times had changed.

This was no longer the chaotic Warring States era.

In this age of one village, one nation, the Hyuga Clan found it difficult to defy the orders of the Konoha High-Ranking Officials, much less resist the will of the entire village.

Otherwise, their clan would surely find itself unable to move an inch in Leaf Village in the future, becoming the target of endless suppression.

Before the interests of the clan, personal interests were not worth mentioning.

Likewise, before the interests of a village, the interests of a clan were equally insignificant.

Hiashi and Hizashi passed through the corridor and reached a corner.

Suddenly, a small, thin figure appeared before them.

The other party froze for a moment, then came to his senses. A strange glint flashed through his eyes, but he immediately lowered his head and bowed respectfully.

"Clan Head, Father."

Hiashi's brows furrowed slightly. "Neji? Isn't this the time for your sparring session with Hinata? Where are you going?"

Neji had already been branded with the Caged Bird. For the rest of his life, he would be Hinata's attendant.

Before leaving, Hiashi had arranged for the two of them to spar. Yet the direction Neji was heading seemed to be the Branch Family quarters.

But faced with Hiashi's almost questioning tone, Neji answered calmly, "Lady Hinata told me that she isn't feeling well, so today's sparring session has been postponed for now."

"Not feeling well?"

Hiashi's frown deepened at Neji's words.

He did not recall Hinata being so frail.

Was she pretending to be sick? Or was it...

"Then today's sparring session is canceled."

Hiashi nodded with furrowed brows, then turned to Hizashi. "Hizashi, go back with Neji. I'll go check on Hinata."

Hizashi nodded expressionlessly and led Neji away from the Main House territory.

As Hiashi watched the silent backs of the father and son, his gaze grew profound.

He had keenly noticed the change and abnormality in Hizashi's emotions.

"Hizashi, I hope you do not lose the most basic rationality of a shinobi. This is not something you can change alone."

As evening fell, a bamboo grove in Leaf Village was unusually noisy.

A group of snot-nosed brats played and frolicked there.

A little girl with short hair ran through the grove with her head lowered, wiping away tears.

"Ow!"

The girl failed to notice the children ahead and crashed straight into one of the chubby brats, knocking him back a step.

"I'm sorry."

The little girl wiped her tears, climbed to her feet, and still politely apologized.

Her chubby little face and delicate features, paired with her tearful expression, made her look so pitiful that anyone who saw her should have felt their heart ache.

But clearly, this group of snot-nosed little brats had no such awareness.

Bang!

"Ha ha ha! Look, everyone! Her eyes are white!"

The chubby brat shoved the girl to the ground, then pointed at her eyes and laughed. "She looks like a monster!"

"She really does! A white-eyed monster!"

"Is she a monster too, just like that thing?"

The other brats began shouting and jeering as well. Some even picked up stones from the ground, intending to throw them at the girl.

Their vicious words and twisted smiles stood in stark contrast to their childish faces.

At an age when they should have been innocent and kind, they instead seemed like little demons.

The little girl looked as though she had been frightened silly. A mist of tears immediately clouded her pale blue eyes, making her seem even more pitiful.

Yet one of the brats, seeing this, not only failed to stop but brazenly raised the stone in his hand high.

Then, laughing, he hurled it straight at the girl's eye.

Bang!

The girl raised both hands before her face and squeezed her eyes shut, yet the painful blow never came.

All she heard was a dull thud, followed by a gentle, magnetic voice at her ear.

"Why don't you fight back?"