Wielding the Blade Against Oneself

"Your Uncle Hizashi gave his life to save your father's, hehe." Uchiha Jie's clone chuckled, whispering the Hyuga Clan's secrets from the past to Hyuga Hinata.

"When you were kidnapped back then, your father, Hyuga Hiashi, pursued them personally. In his rage, he killed the Cloud Ninja who took you with a single palm strike, preserving your Byakugan and bringing you home."

"Even though the Cloud Ninja were in the wrong first, the Konoha higher-ups feared conflict with the Cloud Village. They were afraid your father's impulsive actions would reignite the war between the two ninja villages. Konoha couldn't afford another war at that time."

"The Cloud Ninja knew this; they were intentionally provoking Konoha."

"In the end, they presented a condition: a life for a life. The one who kidnapped you was killed by your father, so they demanded your father's life."

"'But…' Hyuga Hinata put down her empty bowl, her voice trembling slightly."

"'But your father is still alive and well, yet you haven't seen your Uncle Hizashi since then, have you?'"

Hinata lowered her head. Even at her young age, hearing Uchiha Jie's words, she realized what had truly happened back then. Her father was fine, but Uncle Hizashi...

"'Why?' she asked."

"'You should think about why you have so many guards when you go out, why you have so many sparring partners when you train, why everyone in the Hyuga family greets you with a smile, acting subserviently, not like a person.'"

"'Because you are from the Main Family, while your Uncle Hizashi, Brother Neji, Sister Yue, your guards, and your nannies are all from the Branch Family.'"

"'Your father must have told you what that means, right?' Uchiha Jie asked."

However, Hinata just shook her head. She was still young, a student at the Ninja Academy. Although her father always told her how to work hard as a member of the Main Family, to train diligently, and to mind her image.

She learned various etiquette and how to become a qualified ninja.

But she hadn't truly understood what Main Family and Branch Family meant. After Uchiha Jie's words, she seemed to grasp some of it, yet it remained somewhat unclear.

"'It means that only one of you, you or Hyuga Hanabi, can be from the Main Family,' Uchiha Jie said with a smile. 'And those who become Branch Family members, hehe, their lives are entirely in the hands of the Main Family.'"

"'Don't look at how you lost to your sister now. If you can become the next head of the Main Family, you only need to slightly channel your chakra, and she will die right before your eyes.'"

"'No, I won't…' Hinata shook her head vigorously. 'I won't let Hanabi die. I will protect her well!'"

"'And Sister Yue, and Father, Brother Neji, Brother Chio, Brother Toshio, Auntie Megumi, once I become a ninja, I will protect them all well!'"

"'Protect them? Hahahaha!' Uchiha Jie's Shadow Clone burst into laughter. He turned his head, looking through the car window at Hyuga Hinata inside, and asked, 'Then tell me, how did Hyuga Hizashi die?'"

"'He... Father...'"

Hyuga Hinata became incoherent for a moment. Her father had never told her these things. Her father and his brother, she and her sister.

They were all part of the clan, even a family, yet there seemed to be strange relationships and peculiar barriers between them.

But she just wanted everyone to live happily and healthily.

"'Alright, get some rest. Your little brain can't comprehend such complex matters yet,' Uchiha Jie's main body opened his eyes at some unknown time, staring directly at Hyuga Hinata."

"'You only need to know one thing now: if I take you away from the Hyuga family, your father won't have to worry about what happened between him and Hyuga Hizashi happening to you.'"

"'This is a great thing for both you and your sister, Hyuga Hanabi.'"

As he spoke, he took a large sleeping bag from a scroll, filled it with warm air using Wind Release, and placed it in the carriage, letting Hinata lie down inside.

"'If you want to protect them, you need to sleep early so you can wake up early tomorrow to start training.'"

Watching Hinata fall into a deep sleep, Uchiha Jie couldn't help but sigh. The innocent young lady of the Main Family was truly like a blank piece of paper, naive and clueless.

She had no concept of the Main Family and Branch Family. All she thought about was her family not getting hurt – not just Hyuga Hiashi, but also Hanabi, Neji, Yue, and even others.

However, this was just the maiden's dream. In reality, someone had already been hurt.

"'Alright, your punishment as brothers is over,' Hyuga Yue frowned, looking at Hyuga Toshio and Hyuga Chio, who were covered in bloodstains and looked like they had turned into bloody messes. 'With this level of punishment, the Clan Head should have nothing more to say.'"

"'Sister Yue, it's our fault for not keeping a close eye on the young lady.'"

Hyuga Toshio helped his brother, and his brother supported him. Even as ninjas, being whipped to this bloody state meant they would need at least a week in bed before they could stand properly.

Yet, they were still standing, heads bowed, constantly apologizing to Hyuga Yue.

"'Alright, go rest. You won't be needed by the Clan Head for now,' Hyuga Yue waved her hand, letting two other Branch Family members escort the brothers back to their quarters."

And she herself still had to face Hyuga Hiashi.

"'Clan Head.'"

"'Yue, any new information from the Hokage?'"

Hyuga Hiashi, who had just put Hyuga Hanabi to sleep, had a grim expression. Only in his own home could he muster some of the Clan Head's demeanor. He stared intently at Hyuga Yue with his Byakugan.

"'The Hokage has dispatched Hatake Kakashi,' Hyuga Yue replied, still appearing calm and composed. Kakashi of the Sharingan had quite a reputation both inside and outside the village, being one of the most prominent and strongest among the new generation of ninjas. Sending him now was the best choice."

"'What about Chio and Toshio?' Hyuga Hiashi continued to ask."

"'They won't be able to get up for months.'"

Hyuga Yue gritted her teeth, reaching for the ninja sword at her waist. These two brothers had not lost their lives due to Hyuga Hinata's kidnapping, so she too had to pay a price.

The gleaming blade plunged towards her abdomen, not fast, but not slow either. Just as the tip touched her clothes, Hyuga Hiashi made his move.

The blade didn't pierce deeply, only grazing the edge of her abdomen, leaving a wound of moderate size. Blood stained her white clothing. Hyuga Yue still held the ninja sword, keeping it pointed inward.

"'You still have to teach Hanabi tomorrow morning,' Hyuga Hiashi said calmly."