Endure Him for Now

Hizashi Hyuga's voice rang through the hall, firm and forceful.

The Main Branch elders exchanged glances. Their heated accusations gradually died down.

Indeed, no one had seen Hizashi Hyuga kill anyone with their own eyes, and there was no direct evidence proving he had anything to do with Hyuga Akira's death.

Hyuga Gen's face turned from pale to flushed and back again. He opened his mouth, but found himself at a loss for words.

Just then, Hyuga Hiashi, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

"Enough."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a basin of ice water, instantly dousing all the clamor in the hall.

Hyuga Hiashi rose and slowly descended the steps, stopping in front of Hizashi Hyuga.

The brothers met each other's gaze.

"Since there's no evidence or witness to prove that Hyuga Akira was murdered, there's no point in pursuing the matter any further."

Hizashi Hyuga's pupils contracted slightly, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.

"But," Hyuga Hiashi continued, sweeping his gaze over all the Main Branch elders present, "since everyone wants Hizashi to answer for this, I think we should do the following..."

"Starting today, Hizashi will remain confined to his home for three months. He may not leave the clan grounds without my permission."

Hizashi Hyuga lowered his head and replied respectfully, "Yes."

"That's all. You're dismissed." Hyuga Hiashi turned around, his back to everyone. "Elder Zhao's funeral will be overseen by Elder Gen. Keep everything simple."

Hyuga Gen remained where he was, giving Hyuga Hiashi a long, searching look before nodding in agreement.

"I know who killed my brother Zhao!"

Back home, after a long silence, Hyuga Gen suddenly spoke to Hyuga Takashi and another Main Branch elder.

"Elder Gen, what do you mean?" Hyuga Takashi asked, confused.

"At the meeting, I couldn't figure out why Hizashi Hyuga dared to kill my brother Zhao. But if he had someone backing him, then it all makes sense."

The other Main Branch elder ventured, "You mean... Hiashi?"

Hyuga Gen nodded.

"That's right. It was him. Without his help, my brother Zhao wouldn't have died without a trace!"

"But..." Hyuga Takashi's mouth fell open. "That's unbelievable. Why would Lord Hiashi kill Elder Zhao?"

"I can't figure out why either. That's why I didn't confront him just now..."

Hyuga Takashi's pupils contracted slightly as memories of the seemingly ordinary interactions between Hyuga Akira and Hyuga Hiashi over the years flashed through his mind.

After Elder Zhao returned from the Southern Border, Hyuga Hiashi had indeed sent people with tonics several times and even visited him once. At the time, everyone had thought it was the clan head showing consideration for a meritorious elder. But now that he thought about it...

"Could it be because of Ah Hong?" Hyuga Takashi suddenly said, lowering his voice. "Something happened to that kid while Elder Zhao was in the Southern Border, and his Byakugan was stolen... Could that be why?"

Hyuga Gen frowned deeply.

"It's possible. That child Ah Hong may have an unknown background, but everyone has seen how much Hiashi has valued him over the years. My brother Zhao failed to protect him in the Southern Border. Hiashi didn't say anything after he came back, but in his heart... Hmph! Perhaps he'd already decided to kill him!"

The other Main Branch elder frowned. "But even so, that's no reason to kill someone. The Byakugan was taken by Kirigakure. Elder Zhao didn't do it."

"That's the point." Hyuga Gen's gaze grew dark. "Perhaps something happened in the Southern Border that we don't know about..."

After some thought, Hyuga Gen added, "For Hiashi to take such drastic action, my brother Zhao must have done something to anger him. I suspect it had something to do with Ah Hong."

Hyuga Takashi spoke with difficulty. "Lord Hiashi really does value Ah Hong... But that doesn't prove anything. We have no evidence either."

"Evidence?" Hyuga Gen scoffed. "Look at how things went today. He easily protected Hizashi and left us with nothing to say. Three months of confinement? Hah. It's just for show."

"If that's true, what do we do?" the other Main Branch elder asked. "Do we fight Hiashi?"

Hyuga Takashi gave a bitter smile. "The Branch Family won't listen to us. How could we possibly take him on?"

Hyuga Gen fell silent for a long while, gazing out the window at the sun slowly sinking below the horizon.

"We'll just have to endure him for now..."

Those words weighed on all three of them like a stone.

Hyuga Takashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found it impossible to speak.

Of the three, he was the least qualified to challenge Hyuga Hiashi. After all, Hyuga Hiashi had chosen him to inherit Hyuga Akira's "legacy."

His authority in the clan came from Hyuga Hiashi. Now he was supposed to turn against him... Could a person fight himself with both hands?

Outside Konoha, at the entrance to a secluded laboratory.

After giving Kakashi a few instructions, Sarutobi Hiruzen led his people into the laboratory. In the distance, Obito and Black Zetsu watched.

Ever since the Nine-Tails Incident, Obito had been recovering from his injuries while keeping an eye on Nagato and Konan in Amegakure and actively involving himself in their affairs.

After all this time, Hanzo the Salamander had been killed, and Nagato and Konan had taken control of all Amegakure. Once he confirmed that the Akatsuki's base was secure, Obito finally turned his attention back to Konoha.

He hadn't known what he was missing. The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha hadn't deteriorated as he'd imagined. If anything, they seemed to be going through a honeymoon period.

Obito couldn't stand this.

He saw the Uchiha Clan as an obstacle that had to be eliminated. As long as they remained, his plans would be at risk!

Of course, besides the Uchiha Clan, Konoha as a whole was also a major headache for him...

"Should we help Orochimaru?" Black Zetsu asked beside him.

"No need. I know that Third Hokage. He's too softhearted to kill Orochimaru. But... Orochimaru will probably get a harsh reprimand."

"Oh?" Black Zetsu gave a sinister chuckle. "So, when a child misbehaves, they get spanked?"

As they spoke, an explosion suddenly sounded in the distance. A moment later, the forest rustled.

"Looks like you were right," Black Zetsu said. "The Third Hokage really is softhearted... So, should we step in?"

Obito shook his head.

"Let's wait and see. We'll step in to help once he's in bad enough shape. Have Nagato and the others get ready. The Akatsuki is about to welcome a new member."

"Will he agree to join the organization?"

"He's clever. He'll know how to read the situation... Keep watch here. I'm going to take a look around Konoha."

With that, Obito vanished.

The setting sun cast its last light as Itachi knelt in the training ground. He slowly spread the five kunai in his hands apart, then leaped and threw them.

"Thunk, thunk, thunk..."

Five successive impacts rang out as all five kunai struck the bull's-eye perfectly.

"Clap, clap, clap."

Someone applauded.

"Your skills keep improving."

A gentle voice came from behind him.

Itachi didn't turn around. He simply replied softly, "Shisui, you're late today."