Hyuga Shin's second round of special training focused mainly on testing what the trainees had learned and planting the seeds of new ideas.
He hoped to light the way for Branch Family Members who were lost and uncertain.
But the time was simply too short, and the war had a huge impact on how far those ideas could spread!
When every day was a struggle to survive, who had time to worry about the foolish business of Main Family versus branch? Staying alive was what mattered most.
Just as someone on the verge of starving to death had no room for ideas, ideals, or faith, because hunger filled their every thought.
So Hyuga Shin's training focused primarily on staying alive on the battlefield, with passing on his ideas as a secondary goal.
The current conditions weren't suitable for spreading his ideals.
But there was no denying that anything able to take root and sprout under such circumstances would grow into a towering tree, ready to fight for ideals and faith in the future!
Hyuga Shin had absolute confidence in that!
He'd already made plans. Even if the seeds couldn't sprout on their own, he'd force them to!
It was only a matter of using less-than-honorable methods and waiting for the right time.
Just as Hyuga Shin had expected, the situation on the battlefield changed!
Danzo really was a ruthless bastard!
In less than half a month, he could no longer hold back. He escalated the war, unwilling to give Hyuga Shin more time to disrupt his and Hiruzen Sarutobi's plans.
Every clan member was sent to the battlefield.
He even sent word to Hyuga Main Family that Hyuga Shin was on the battlefield, just to cause trouble for him!
Since the village was founded, Hyuga Shin had been an unstable factor for the Hyuga Main Family. This was no secret to the Konoha High Command.
When Hyuga Hiko heard the news, he was so furious he wanted to rush to the battlefield and kill the old bastard himself!
The thing they'd feared had come to pass. The Main Family had always tried to downplay Hyuga Shin's existence and had done everything they could to stop the Branch Family from learning about him.
They all claimed he was just an ordinary member of the Hyuga Clan.
And Hyuga Shin had played along well enough, making no trouble for over thirty years.
Who would've thought he'd make such a huge move at the very end!
After conferring with his son, Hyuga Hiko, Hyuga Sōki sent word to Danzo, asking him to deal with Hyuga Shin and give him a dignified end. The Hyuga Clan would be most grateful!
As far as the Main Family was concerned, it was time for the old relic Hyuga Shin to take his final bow!
If he'd obediently waited to die, Hyuga Sōki and Hyuga Hiko wouldn't have bothered to act against him. He only had a few years left, anyway.
But Hyuga Shin just had to go looking for trouble! So they'd have no choice but to send him on his way early!
As for Hyuga Shin, he'd been able to guess what they'd do next as soon as he made his decision.
But he didn't care what these insects thought. A bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well—how could they know the might of a true immortal?
Over the next ten days, the fighting grew fiercer. Still, whenever he had a spare moment, Hizashi Hyuga came to seek guidance from Hyuga Shin, whose ideas had transformed him. Hyuga Shin was more than happy to keep nurturing him.
He even increased the dose of his inspirational speeches, because he knew he wouldn't be able to stay here much longer unless he was willing to reveal his true strength.
But that wasn't part of his plan.
Another day passed. As the war escalated, the proportion of shinobi deaths continued to climb.
Even the death rate among reconnaissance squads rose considerably. The Hyuga Clan was no exception!
After all, reconnaissance squads with Hyuga members had the lowest death rate on the battlefield! They had a natural advantage, and their missions didn't require them to engage in close combat.
But Hizashi had reported that two of the clan members who'd undergone special training had already died.
Compared to other squads, that was still a pretty good number.
Hyuga Shin guessed they'd probably been sacrificed. After all, that had been the point of sending them there.
At dusk, after a full day of missions, Hizashi Hyuga finally returned to camp.
After a quick meal, he dragged his exhausted body toward Hyuga Shin's tent.
He'd been coming here for over half a month now, and Hyuga Shin's guidance had given him a spiritual cleansing and comfort.
He was captivated by Hyuga Shin's insights into life. He also learned more about training in the clan's secret techniques, and was convinced by Hyuga Shin's analysis of the root causes of the clan's division.
"Elder Shin, sorry to trouble you!" Hizashi lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
"You're here, Hizashi. No need to stand on ceremony. Sit!" Hyuga Shin sat cross-legged on the ground and warmly beckoned him over.
"Sorry to bother you again today, Elder Shin!" Hizashi said apologetically.
"Don't worry about it! You're no bother. I'm fond of ambitious young people like you." Hyuga Shin praised him without reservation.
"Have you had any problems or questions with your training lately?" Hyuga Shin asked.
"No. You've taught me so much these past few weeks, Elder Shin. I've benefited immensely." Hizashi's gratitude was plain to see.
"Then what did you come to ask me today?"
"Elder Shin, you're learned and well-informed. Have you studied the Caged Bird?" Hizashi asked earnestly.
"You're asking about the Caged Bird. Is there something on your mind?"
"You said that in the Warring States Period, anyone strong enough could remove the restrictions of the Caged Bird. Could the Hyuga do that now?" Hizashi waited for Hyuga Shin's answer, looking hopeful.
"Ah! Haven't you already found the answer in your heart?" Hyuga Shin sighed, his face full of regret.
"Really? There really is no way?" Hizashi clenched his fists, his voice trembling, his face filled with frustration!
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely!"
"The Hyuga Clan has rotted from the roots up." Hyuga Shin spoke with a sigh.
"So we're supposed to be controlled by the Caged Bird generation after generation? What kind of future is that? What are we fighting so hard for?" Hizashi held back his anger and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Do you think the Caged Bird is what's holding you back, or is it fear and rules?"
"The rules you were taught from childhood have put a bridle on your thoughts, while fear of the Caged Bird has clouded your will and steadily worn it down."
"You want to fight against the injustice of fate, yet you submit to the Caged Bird."
"In the Warring States Period, a strong person had to be able to remove the Caged Bird to become truly strong. That was indeed a prerequisite."
"It still applies today!" Hyuga Shin coaxed Hizashi in a voice full of persuasion.
"But didn't you just disagree with what I said?" Hizashi looked confused.
"That's because, in my eyes, you don't understand what it means to be truly strong!"
"You're far too lacking in strength, vision, wisdom, character, and perspective!"
"The strong never submit to fate or rules. They shape their own destinies and make the rules themselves!"
"When you possess all that, even the Caged Bird won't be able to restrain you." Hyuga Shin immediately pointed out the key.
"Then what would you do if you were in our position, Elder Shin?" Hizashi pressed on. He wasn't one to give up until he got what he wanted.
He thought that even Hyuga Shin would be powerless in this situation.
That was exactly what Hyuga Shin liked about him.
"Fight for equality, and equality will endure. Seek equality through compromise, and equality will perish!"
"The best way to overcome fear is to face it!"
"If the rules stand in your way, then break them!"
"If a frog never leaps out of the well, it will never see how vast the world is!"
"Sometimes, necessary sacrifices are acceptable, too." Hyuga Shin spoke with an ulterior meaning. He was setting his trap again.
"Then what should I do, Elder Shin? Please teach me. I beg you!" Hizashi pondered Hyuga Shin's words.
"Don't submit to so-called fate. Dare to fight!"
"Forge the heart of a strong person within yourself. Set aside your compassion and weakness."
"Develop your own guiding principles, win the support of the majority, and dare to break free of the rules."
"The road ahead won't be smooth. Sometimes, the greatest obstacles are the people closest to you." Hyuga Shin continued to tempt him, worried he hadn't stoked the fire enough.
"That's enough for today, Hizashi! Think it over. What you gain is up to you."
"I may be leaving soon. Sign your name on this contract. I have something to leave you." Hyuga Shin took out a scroll and handed it to Hizashi.
"Are you leaving, Elder Shin?" Hizashi clearly felt a little down.
"I don't have much time left. I want to see more of the Shinobi World and leave something behind."
"This is a one-time Summoning Beast contract. I've already made the arrangements. You can retrieve what I leave behind after the war ends."
"And take this book, too. It contains my notes on training in the clan's secret techniques." Hyuga Shin spoke as if he were arranging his affairs before his death.
"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Shin. I'm deeply grateful!" Hizashi bowed low to express his thanks.
"All right. Go back and get some rest." Hyuga Shin patted Hizashi on the shoulder, as if caring for his own child.
"Thank you, Elder Shin. I'll take my leave!" Hizashi stood and bowed slightly before taking his leave.
"The seeds have been planted. It's time to move on to the next place. What a struggle!" Hyuga Shin couldn't help but sigh.
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