The Tragedy of the Hyuga Clan

The Tragedy of the Hyuga Clan

After arriving at the Main House's rear courtyard, Hizashi Hyuga recalled the decision made during the meeting just moments ago by the Third Hokage and the Konoha leadership. The Hyuga Clan elders had also agreed with the outcome.

Though his older brother, as clan head, found it difficult to accept, this was the only way to resolve the conflict between the Cloud Shinobi and Konoha.

Most importantly...

He was not choosing to sacrifice his life for the Main House. He was voluntarily sacrificing himself to protect Neji, his brother, his family, and even Konoha.

And now, all he wanted was to see Neji one last time before facing death without hesitation.

"Neji... There are so many birds flying today. They look so carefree..."

Hizashi Hyuga raised his head toward the clear blue sky, yet he felt a long-lost sense of peace and freedom in his heart.

That was right...

Ever since he had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal as a child and became part of the Branch House, he had been taught that he must live for the Main House wherever he went.

Especially after watching Neji grow up and reveal talent beyond anyone's reach.

More than once, he had hated and cursed the Main House in his heart.

But at least this time, it was a choice he had made himself.

A free choice.

"Hah..."

Hizashi Hyuga took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

Perhaps it was only an illusion, but as he stood on this land, even the air he breathed felt so fresh, filled with the scent of freedom.

"Neji?"

However, when he found Neji, he discovered that his son had assumed an attacking stance.

Standing before him was another boy with black hair and black eyes.

Clearly, he was not a member of the Hyuga Clan.

"Haah!"

Neji did not believe Xu Fan at all.

Not long ago, his little sister Hinata had been abducted by Kumogakure Shinobi.

Now that he saw a stranger, perhaps this person had snuck in here as well.

Xu Fan looked at least six or seven years older than Hinata. How could they possibly have been in the same class?

More importantly, when Lady Hinata had seen Xu Fan, she had immediately chosen to run away.

A liar.

Neji rushed forward and struck at Xu Fan's face with his palm, intending to subdue him.

It had to be said that Neji's movements were crisp and decisive, without the slightest opening anywhere on his body.

Watching from afar, Hizashi felt a pang of heartache every time he saw Neji display his talent.

Why...

Why had Neji not been born into the Main House?

Why did there have to be a distinction between the Main House and the Branch House?

Why did there have to be a brand, a Caged Bird Seal?

Neji's talent clearly surpassed everyone else's. At his age, no one among his peers could even come close!

There was no equal before Neji Hyuga!

Yet Hinata, the young lady of the Main House, was...

Hizashi Hyuga even felt that his eyes could foresee the future.

Once conflict broke out in the shinobi world again, Neji Hyuga would undoubtedly achieve great deeds in war and become a hero of Konoha.

But...

Why?

Why did he have to be from the Branch House?

Hizashi Hyuga's hands involuntarily clenched into fists. He had originally intended to see Neji one last time and tell him that he had chosen to die of his own accord.

But now, as he watched Neji's figure, his heart was filled with a tumult of emotions.

If possible, how he wished he could watch Neji grow up with his own eyes.

Watch the Caged Bird Seal become a thing of the past.

"Hm?"

What Hizashi Hyuga had not expected was that although Neji's angle, speed, and strength were all flawless, his opponent merely tilted his head slightly and avoided the attack.

That was not as simple as it looked.

Besides their overwhelming taijutsu, the Byakugan, their innate Dojutsu, was the true specialty of their clan.

Easily predicting an enemy's movements before striking with precision—that was the Hyuga Clan.

After his first strike failed, Neji decisively predicted Xu Fan's next movement and continued his assault.

Yet even without a Dojutsu like the Byakugan, Xu Fan could clearly see through Neji's attack patterns.

Although Neji at this point had no rivals among his peers and possessed the assistance of the Byakugan...

His strength was still above Neji's.

Seeing Neji readjust his attack, Xu Fan simply remained where he stood, gathering Chakra in his chest to enhance his defense.

Bang!

Neji's palm struck Xu Fan squarely, but he felt an immense force rebound against him. A deafening boom exploded beside his ears, and that force sent him flying.

With both feet leaving the ground, Neji flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing to the ground with a thud more than ten meters away.

Xu Fan looked over and saw that Hizashi Hyuga had appeared there at some point. Neji had landed right at his feet.

Hizashi Hyuga's face was filled with shock.

Even with the Byakugan, Hizashi had failed to catch Xu Fan's movements.

From his perspective, Xu Fan had only tilted his head to evade Neji's first move, then remained standing in place.

Immediately afterward, Neji, who had gone all out, was sent flying instead.

Had Xu Fan moved too quickly for him to follow?

But was that possible?

Even without activating the Byakugan, his dynamic vision in his normal state far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Most astonishing of all, Neji Hyuga was an exceptional genius within the Hyuga Clan. Even across all of Konoha, the word genius would not be an exaggeration for him.

Even if Xu Fan looked somewhat older than Neji, he should not have been able to defeat a genius.

Yet the truth was that Xu Fan had not only defeated Neji—he had not even made a single move!

I haven't even used any strength, and you're already down!

"F-Father..."

Neji lay on the ground, just about to get up when he saw his father, instantly falling into an awkward predicament.

Had Father seen that just now?

Neji clenched his fists, filled only with unwillingness. At the same time, he activated the Byakugan, preparing to start over.

Yet a question lingered in Neji's mind.

How exactly had Xu Fan sent him flying?

How had he done it?

But just as Neji was preparing to continue his attack, Hinata, who had run away, returned with a servant.

Even so, faced with Xu Fan and Neji, Hinata still hid behind the door, not daring to step forward.

"Stop!"

Seeing this, the maid shouted to stop them while jogging over with a baby girl in her arms.

After noticing Hizashi Hyuga, the maid hurriedly explained the situation, saying that Xu Fan was not an intruder.

"Natsu Hyuga and Hanabi?"

Xu Fan looked at the maid standing between him and Neji and recognized her at once.

She was a maid of the Hyuga Main Family, and at this time, she was responsible for looking after two-year-old Hanabi.

It seemed Hinata had run to find her earlier and explained the situation.

At that thought, Xu Fan instinctively glanced at Hinata, only to see her shrink farther behind the door. At most, she mustered the courage to give him a small nod.

Xu Fan could not help drawing in a sharp breath, and could only complain inwardly, Hinata at this age is way too shy.

Thanks to Ye Hancheng, Ren Qiuming, SLIver, Nanshou, and Banzhan Liliu for their support and tips~