The sudden turn of events stunned even the Main Branch elder, who was standing at death's door.
"Ah!"
A tremendous wave of dizziness immediately swept through his mind, making him cry out in agony. Then, a sealed memory surfaced in his head.
He remembered a night several days ago, when Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Shinichi, and Uchiha Itachi had silently infiltrated the Main Branch Estate and ambushed him.
Uchiha Shinichi had subdued him, while Uchiha Itachi seemed to have used some technique on his left eye. Finally, Uchiha Shisui had cast a genjutsu to seal away his memory of the attack.
Just as he was about to lose consciousness, he vaguely remembered someone pushing open the door and entering.
At the time, when all hope had seemed lost, a glimmer of hope rose in his heart. He was in the Hyuga Clan's Main Branch Estate. So long as a clansman discovered them, no matter how strong the three Uchiha attackers were, they would have no choice but to flee in disgrace.
Yet just as that sliver of hope arose within him, he discovered in horror that the person who had entered was wearing the Hokage's robes!
"Was... was that Hyuga Kagami!?"
The Main Branch elder's terrified face was filled with shock as he recalled that memory.
He had every reason to be shocked. Even now, he could not believe what was happening before his eyes, nor could he understand it.
Hyuga Aoki, whom he believed should have been dead long enough for even his bones to rot, had appeared alive before him. What was more, he seemed to have escaped the Caged Bird Curse Mark, which should have been impossible to remove.
What shocked him even more was that Hyuga Kagami appeared to have known all along that Hyuga Aoki was