Hizashi: Hyuga Hiashi, You Are Too Arrogant

"..."

Hearing Hyuga Riwo's proposed solution, the other Main Branch Elders' eyes flickered as they all began considering its feasibility.

It seemed this method really could break the deadlock.

Whether or not the Land of Lightning's Daimyo had misunderstood Kumogakure's demands, they had made it very clear that they wanted the murderer's "corpse."

Even if Kumogakure discovered that the "corpse" had no eyes, would they dare to continue demanding the Byakugan with righteous indignation?

There was no such logic.

Even if Kumogakure wanted to start a war, they needed a legitimate reason. Without one, the Land of Lightning's Daimyo would never agree.

If they could not claim the moral high ground, it would affect both the Land of Lightning's reputation in the Ninja World and Kumogakure's economic situation. The number of commissions received by the village would plummet.

Aside from some commissions from the people within the Land of Lightning, the rest came from civilians in smaller countries without hidden villages.

Unless they were like Sunagakure, kneeling at the Daimyo's feet like dogs, with no choice but to dismiss shinobi once the Daimyo cut off their funding, commissions were the very foundation upon which a hidden village stood.

All that could be said was that the Ninja World's rules were truly distorted. Hidden villages and nobles depended on each other while also guarding against each other. Shinobi brought slaughter and trouble to the people, while the people could only hire shinobi to resolve that trouble. Shinobi, who produced nothing themselves, needed the people's commissions to survive.

The entire Ninja World existed in a strange and fragile balance.

Although the Hyuga Clan Main Family's elders could not think that deeply, they also knew Kumogakure needed a reason to start a war.

"Hiashi, it is time to face reality. This was how our ancestors preserved the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai until today."

Hyuga Riwo looked at the conflicted Hyuga Hiashi and said in a deep voice, "For the sake of the Hyuga Clan, even brothers must be ruthlessly abandoned. This is the fate of the Hyuga Clan Main Family, and the destiny of the Hyuga Clan!"

"..."

It was so quiet that the faint hiss of burning candle flames could be heard. Melted wax flowed silently, reflecting the nearby firelight.

No one present spoke. They all silently waited for Hiashi to make his decision.

Given Hizashi Hyuga's former personality, since he had already decided to die in his elder brother's place, he would not have made Hiashi bear the burden of being the villain. At this moment, he should have spoken up and made the final decision.

Yet now, his feelings were complicated. He stared silently at his elder brother, while the words left behind by that person before departing seemed to echo in his ears.

"Looks like you are not ready yet. In that case, let us make a bet."

That person chuckled, his tone teasing. "You have chosen to become a father, so let us bet on whether Hyuga Hiashi will choose to be an elder brother, or choose to continue being a Main Branch head who puts 'the bigger picture first.'"

It was because of those words that Hizashi Hyuga chose silence.

Everything that had happened so far was developing exactly as that person had said.

The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, Konoha's higher-ups, the Hyuga Clan Main Family, even himself...

It was as if they were all chess pieces in that person's hand, moved and placed wherever they were meant to be.

That ability to scheme and manipulate people's hearts made Hizashi Hyuga revere him even more.

Now, he merely wanted to see whether, if things followed their original course without that person's intervention, his death would truly be worthwhile.

"..."

The atmosphere in the reception hall grew heavier and heavier, making it feel as though everyone were drawing breath from a swamp, their lungs filling with thick mud.

Hyuga Hiashi's mind was a mess. He looked at Hizashi Hyuga's calm expression, yet could not see through his thoughts. The conflict on his face gradually turned into pain.

Fear of death, guilt toward Hizashi, responsibility toward the clan, reluctance to part with Hinata, anger toward Kumogakure...

He was not truly cold and heartless. Just as he cared for Hinata, he had feelings for Hizashi. It was simply that those feelings had been buried deeply beneath his hard, cold exterior.

At this moment, countless emotions intertwined into a great net, like a tangled ball of yarn with no end to grasp, tightening around his heart until the blood in his body seemed to stop flowing.

"Hiashi!" Hyuga Riwo barked.

"I..."

Hyuga Hiashi's body suddenly trembled. His chest heaved violently, like a broken bellows, and he said hoarsely, "I... I am the Main Branch head. I..."

He could not say the rest. His entire body hunched over, and he lowered his head, unable to look at Hizashi. A profound sense of helplessness surged through him.

For the first time, he loathed himself so deeply. For the first time, he understood just how heavy and disgusting the casually spoken word "destiny" truly was.

At the same time, a trace of relief appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's calm face.

After Hiashi said those words, all hesitation and indecision in his heart were severed.

He had lost.

Hyuga Hiashi had lost as well.

"Elder Brother."

Hizashi Hyuga even smiled faintly. Looking at Hyuga Hiashi, whose hunched form seemed ready to humble itself into the dirt, he said, "I have a few final words concerning the two children, Neji and Yunchuan. May I speak to you alone?"

Hyuga Hiashi's body trembled again before he slowly nodded. Naturally, Hyuga Riwo and the others had no reason to stop them.

Hyuga Yunchuan merely stood where he was without making any move, watching this so-called great clan's "ugly" side.

Click.

Hizashi entered first, with Hiashi following behind, as the two walked into another soundproof room.

The sound of rain outside was abruptly cut off, leaving only their ragged, heavy breathing.

Hyuga Hiashi, who had kept his head lowered all this time, seemed to regain a trace of courage. He looked up at Hizashi Hyuga standing before him, pursed his lips, and said, "Hizashi, I am sorry. I will definitely help you take care of Neji and that child named Yunchuan."

Yet after he said this, Hizashi Hyuga slowly shook his head, still wearing that relieved smile.

"Hiashi."

Hizashi no longer addressed him as elder brother, instead using the respectful form of address from the past. In a calm tone, he said, "Do you know that even now, you are still arrogant?"

"..." Hyuga Hiashi froze. "What?"

"Actually, there is another choice in the method Hyuga Riwo mentioned, one all of you ignored."

Ignoring Hiashi's shock, Hizashi Hyuga slowly said, "If you truly had the resolve to die, if you truly had the courage to pay the price for your impulsiveness, you could have gouged out your own eyes and then killed yourself. The result would have been the same. The Byakugan would not be lost, and no war would be provoked."

"But from beginning to end, you never even considered it. That is how arrogant you are."

Looking at Hizashi Hyuga's unnaturally calm expression, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly felt a sense of unease. He instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But in the next moment—

Squelch!

A blurry black shadow appeared behind him, and Hyuga Hiashi suddenly felt a chill in his chest.

All the strength in his body seemed to be drained away in an instant. He stiffly lowered his head and looked toward the source of that chill.

A loosely clenched hand had pierced through his chest. No blood flowed from his chest; instead, ripples like water spread across it.

Hyuga Hiashi's body stiffened, and a trace of bewilderment appeared on his face.

What... was this?