Sarutobi Hiruzen: Such a Loyal and Righteous Good Child

"Insolence!"

Hyuga Riwo cast a cold gaze at Hyuga Yunchuan, staring him down as he barked in a deep voice, "The Byakugan concerns the Hyuga Clan's foundation built over centuries. This is a choice that concerns the clan's fate. How dare you speak out of turn!"

"What a fine 'clan's fate.'"

Hyuga Yunchuan's gaze swept across every elder's face. The candlelight's faint gold and the shadows of black figures swayed within his pale eyes as he sneered, "Was my father being tortured to death by your Curse Mark also for the sake of the clan's fate?"

The several Main Branch Elders present nearly jolted in unison. Their hands resting on their knees subtly tensed as their peripheral vision instinctively turned toward the silent Sarutobi Hiruzen beside them.

If word of this got out, it would not sound good.

Some things weighed nothing until they were put on the scales; once weighed, even a thousand pounds could not measure them.

Hyuga Yunchuan's father had, after all, been a registered Jonin of Konoha. Thus, regarding the cause of his death, they had always publicly claimed that he had died protecting the Main Branch. This was also why Hyuga Yunchuan had been able to receive "benefits."

Now that Hyuga Yunchuan had suddenly brought it up before Sarutobi Hiruzen, the men felt as though their dirty secret had been exposed before an outsider, filling them with irritation.

"It is the Branch Family's duty to protect their masters. The Main Branch is the root of the Hyuga Clan. Your father died a worthy death!"

Hyuga Riwo's expression darkened terrifyingly. Feeling challenged, he no longer bothered to conceal the arrogance of one in power.

"A worthy death?" Hyuga Yunchuan said coldly. "My father, me, Lord Hizashi—we have the same blood flowing through our bodies as you do, yet we cannot even obtain the clan's inherited Ninjutsu no matter how we beg. But now that you need us to give our lives, you remember that we share the same roots?"

"Insolence!"

"Arrogance!"

Two hot-tempered Main Branch Elders rose furiously to their feet. If not for Sarutobi Hiruzen still being present, they would certainly have activated the Curse Mark and severely punished him already.

Facing their enraged rebukes, Hyuga Yunchuan held his head high and refused to yield even a step, though a flicker of calculation flashed deep in his eyes.

The reason he was putting on this act was, of course, not because he truly wanted to die. It was because he knew clearly that if the following plan proceeded smoothly, he would no longer be able to remain in the Hyuga Clan.

Even without today's performance, he would become someone the Main Branch feared. There was a high chance that he would somehow end up committing suicide.

He could, of course, undo the Caged Bird Cursed Seal, but he could not reveal that yet.

Therefore, what he needed to do was make the Hyuga Clan Main Family afraid to lay a hand on him.

He needed to find himself a new patron, one stronger than the Hyuga Clan Main Family. He needed a new stepping stone, one larger than the Hyuga Clan.

With that in mind, Hyuga Yunchuan glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat kneeling there in silence like a statue, seemingly deep in thought.

At that moment, a look of understanding flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's clouded eyes. His gaze lifted slightly and swept over Hyuga Yunchuan's grief-stricken face from behind Hizashi.

So he was indeed speaking up for his father and Hizashi?

This child truly was loyal and righteous, but his scheming was too shallow. He could not hide his emotions.

But was that not precisely the sort of subordinate those in power liked best?

What a pity, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly. If only he were a little stronger.

The Hyuga Clan's recent air of self-importance, along with the Uchiha Clan's increasingly dissatisfied attitude, had made the Hokage wary.

His control over these two great Konoha clans was still too weak. Thus, he had already considered promoting subordinates from within both clans. No matter what, he needed to plant a few nails in each of them, so that if either clan made any unusual moves in the future, he would not remain completely ignorant.

This was the almost instinctive vigilance of one in power.

After conducting various intelligence investigations and analyses within the Uchiha Clan, he had chosen Kagami Uchiha's descendant, Uchiha Shisui. Yet on the Hyuga Clan's side, he truly could not find a suitable candidate.

Members of the Main Branch could not possibly obey him, while members of the Branch Family did not dare resist the Main Branch.

The mentality of slavery had long since been branded deep into their souls along with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal. Most Branch Family members had already grown accustomed to the Main Branch's lofty superiority.

Now, Hyuga Yunchuan seemed more suitable than anyone else. He only seemed somewhat lacking in strength.

"Enough, Yunchuan. Don't say any more."

Hizashi Hyuga spoke neither too softly nor too harshly. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Yunchuan's reddened eyes and the grief and resentment on his face.

Hyuga Yunchuan had followed him here because he had come to return his Ninjutsu Scroll not long ago, and Hyuga Riwo had happened to be in the guest room as well.

At the time, Hyuga Riwo and Hizashi had been discussing having Hizashi die in Hiashi's place. With his greater combat experience, Hizashi had promptly noticed the hurried breathing outside the room.

After finding an excuse to send Hyuga Riwo away, he had stepped outside and discovered Hyuga Yunchuan standing beyond the guest room as if struck by lightning.

Fortunately, he had stopped Hyuga Yunchuan when the boy's face suddenly filled with rage. Otherwise, in his emotional agitation, the child would have surely barged in. He might even have recklessly attacked Hyuga Riwo in anger.

"Sigh."

Thinking of how Hyuga Yunchuan had broken down in emotional collapse back then, then seeing the resentment still unresolved on the child's face, Hizashi knew that the boy had truly regarded him as "family." He could not help but feel moved.

He had never expected that the concern he had shown this child some time ago would make this orphaned boy grow so attached to him. Upon hearing that he was going to die in another's place, the boy had been unable to conceal the resentment in his heart.

This child was simply too loyal and righteous. He did not know whether that was good or bad.

"Wait, wait a moment."

Hyuga Hiashi snapped back to his senses, seemingly realizing something. He hurriedly rose and said, "What do you mean by seeing him off on his final journey? What do you mean by someone about to die? You..."

Hyuga Riwo forcibly suppressed the anger rising from being offended. No longer looking at that boy who disgusted him so deeply, he said coldly, "We will hand over Hizashi's corpse as your substitute."

"Hizashi has already agreed."

Those words made Hyuga Hiashi stare at Hizashi in disbelief.

How could this be? How could Hizashi agree?

Did Hizashi not have nothing but hatred left for me, his older brother?

"But, but..." In his shock and confusion, Hyuga Hiashi began speaking without thinking. "What the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure want is not the Byakugan? After Hizashi dies, his Byakugan will be destroyed as well. If that is the case, the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure will not accept it."

"Judging by the Kumogakure ninja's attempt to abduct Hinata, Kumogakure was indeed planning that," Hyuga Riwo said, a shadow flashing through his eyes. "But the condition offered by the Land of Lightning was for us to 'hand over the corpse of the culprit, Hyuga Hiashi.'"

"As long as we pretend to accept that condition, then hand over Hizashi, who looks exactly like you, Kumogakure will have no legitimate reason to continue pressing us."

At those words, Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth but could not speak. He instinctively looked again at Hizashi, who had remained silent throughout.

Hizashi's expression was calm, as though he had completely accepted his fate.

But in truth, he was waiting.

Waiting for an answer. Waiting for a choice.

He was waiting to see whether his dear older brother would, as that person had said, make the same choice and give the same answer.