4, A Path Through the Clouds

The door to the secret chamber opened, and light suddenly streamed into the cool, dim room.

The air was filled with the scent of wood. Before Shin's eyes stood rows upon rows of wooden boxes, neatly arranged on shelves.

The boxes were exquisitely crafted in a uniform style. Each was tied with a red cord, the other end bearing a tag with a name written on it.

It was clear that few people came here. A thin layer of dust had settled over the shelves.

These were the Byakugan accumulated and preserved by the Hyuga Clan over generations.

Hizashi Hyuga slowly stepped forward, stopped before a row of shelves, selected one box from among the many, carefully checked the name tag, and casually handed it to Shin.

Shin accepted it with both hands and glanced at it. The tag bore the name "Hyuga Shinsuke."

"Hyuga Shinsuke distinguished himself during the Second Great Ninja War. His Byakugan helped us secure many victories on the Land of Wind battlefield. Unfortunately, he was injured by an enemy puppet master in one battle and poisoned with a lethal toxin. By the time he was sent back to the village, the poison had already seeped into his bones. Even Lady Tsunade could do nothing." Hizashi Hyuga recounted the story and fate of this Hyuga elder.

Shin opened the wooden box. Inside was a glass container filled with transparent liquid, with a sealing talisman attached to its surface. A pair of white eyeballs floated within.

The eyes were pale and hollow, without the slightest trace of life. Staring at them for too long made his skin crawl for no reason.

Hizashi Hyuga handed over another wooden box, and Shin returned the one in his hands to its original place.

The name tag on this box read "Hyuga Hideya."

"Hyuga Hideya was also an exceptionally outstanding ninja in the clan. He once served as the Third Hokage's guard and accompanied the Hokage through countless battles, large and small. Those battles left him riddled with injuries and illness. He passed away from sickness four years ago, and the Hokage personally attended his funeral to pay his respects." Hizashi continued recounting the story of this eye's former owner as though he knew every detail by heart.

"These two pairs of eyes are both compatible with you. Once the clan and the hospital have discussed and made their decision, they will notify you. When the time comes, do not forget to pay your respects before the Memorial Stone."

Shin nodded. "I understand."

Hizashi added, "If the spirits of these two elders in heaven knew of your deeds on the front lines, they would surely be comforted to entrust their eyes to you."

Shin said, "It is my honor to inherit the eyes of my elders."

Hizashi seemed quite pleased by those words. "The owners of the Byakugan stored here were all pillars of both the village and the clan. I hope you will not betray their aspirations in the future."

Shin's gaze swept across the entire dim chamber as he asked, "Will Hizashi-sama's Byakugan be kept here someday as well?"

Hizashi's expression paused slightly. He answered calmly, "That depends on whether I die on the battlefield or at home."

If a member of the Branch Family died on the battlefield, their eyes would be destroyed by the Caged Bird Seal. Only if they died at home could their eyes be removed.

The Byakugan displayed here had all been personally removed by the Main Branch.

Their stories might sound heroic and glorious, but Shin felt little reverence for them. He only found them tragic.

These people had made tremendous contributions to Konoha and sacrificed their lives, yet before death, their own clansmen would dig out their eyes and seal them away in boxes that might never see daylight again. What irony.

Besides the shelves displaying the wooden boxes, there was also a table at the far end of the secret chamber. Fewer than ten boxes sat atop it.

"Those are the eyes of the Main Branch." Hizashi seemed to notice Shin's gaze and spoke.

No wonder they were treated so specially. Set apart from the boxes on the shelves, they were like monarchs ruling over their subjects.

So that was it. Shin studied them for a moment before suddenly asking Hizashi, "Hizashi-sama, what is the difference between the eyes of the Main Branch and those of us in the Branch Family?"

His question was met only with silence. Hizashi Hyuga did not answer at once. He too was looking at the wooden boxes on the table.

Even after becoming ownerless objects, the Main Branch still had to stand above the Branch Family.

"The Byakugan in this room are no different when they are not inside a person's body," Hizashi said calmly.

What made them different was the Caged Bird Seal. The abilities of the Byakugan belonging to those branded with the seal were restricted. This was also one of the Main Branch's methods for ensuring the Branch Family could not surpass them.

When they emerged from the dim secret chamber, the sunlight outside seemed slightly dazzling.

Shin narrowed his eyes as he followed beside Hizashi. A Hyuga clansman had been waiting at the entrance the entire time, and upon seeing them emerge, he took the initiative to greet Hizashi.

"Hizashi-sama."

Shin remembered this man. He was a jonin from the clan, though Shin had not expected him to be in charge of this secret chamber.

"Barring any surprises, the surgery should begin in about a week. During this time, there is no need for you to worry or overthink things."

After leaving the secret chamber, Hizashi said to Shin, "If you keep letting your thoughts run wild, your emotions will affect those around you who care about you."

He was clearly hinting at something, and Shin naturally understood. He immediately stated, "I understand, Hizashi-sama. Thank you for today."

Hizashi nodded. "It is nothing. It was not an unreasonable request. Outsiders cannot enter that room, but there are naturally fewer restrictions for members of our own clan."

"Also, the intelligence you brought back from the front lines is of great importance to our village. The Hokage specifically commended you for it. After the surgery, Lord Hiashi will take you to meet the Hokage."

"That was not my achievement alone."

"I understand, and the Hokage understands as well. The comrades who sacrificed themselves are heroes, but the comrades who survived are even more precious. Those were the Hokage's words. Remember them well."

"I will."

Those words were truly well said. If the old Shin had heard them, he likely would have been moved to tears.

The Third Great Ninja War was still ongoing. The success of the Kannabi Bridge Mission had disrupted the Stone Ninja's logistical supplies, shattering their hopes of pushing deeper into battle against Konoha. It had also given the exhausted Konoha, worn down by relentless warfare, a brief chance to catch its breath.

But it was only a chance to catch its breath. Konoha was already stretched to its limits, unable to cope with battlefields on every front or attend to both beginning and end. Its finances had collapsed, and it relied entirely on support from the nation.

That was why every victory was crucial, while the consequences of every defeat were extraordinarily brutal.

This was also why Namikaze Minato's reputation in Konoha now overshadowed even the Three Sannin. He was the hero who saved Konoha, leading the village to victory time and time again amid such dire circumstances, like parting the clouds to reveal the sun.

Konoha needed such a hero now as well.

After Hizashi departed, Shin remained where he was. His gaze passed through the courtyard and settled from afar on the secret chamber, whose door had already been tightly shut.

Unfortunately, a hero like Minato could save the village, but he could not save himself.

Shin needed to find another way as well—a path no one had ever walked.

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