The Pain of a Pierced Heart, Realizing the Loss

"What are you all good for!"

"A living person just vanishes into thin air!"

Hyuga Main Family Shrine.

Several servants knelt on the ground, not daring to even draw a full breath.

The clan head, Hiashi Hyuga, was in a state of utter turmoil.

"Clan Head..."

"The Third Hokage and Danzō have arrived..."

Hearing this, Hiashi hurried off to receive them.

"Hiashi..."

"Konoha has truly done its best for your Hyuga clan today..."

As soon as he entered the room, Hiruzen Sarutobi got straight to the point.

"My apologies, Third Hokage. What are the Cloud Village's demands now?"

Hiashi waved his hand, and the clansmen in the shrine immediately dispersed.

Within the entire hall, only Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Hiashi Hyuga remained.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag of his pipe and remained silent.

Behind him, Danzō narrowed his eyes and suddenly revealed a smile.

"Don't be nervous."

"It is merely a matter of handing Hizashi over to the Cloud Village to be dealt with."

As expected.

Hiashi Hyuga let out a sigh of relief.

As the head of the Main Family, he represented the entire Hyuga clan.

If the other side had demanded that he be the one to take responsibility, the entire Hyuga clan would have been thrown into chaos...

"This is also something the Third Hokage considered for your sake; after all, you are the clan head."

Danzō's words made Hiashi's heart brighten instantly.

He had served Konoha for many years, yet he had always been kept at arm's length.

Could it be that the Hyuga clan was finally going to be valued by Konoha?

Just then, two Root ninja suddenly appeared at Danzō's side.

After whispering intelligence into Danzō's ear, Danzō waved his hand to signal them to withdraw.

"Hiashi, there are some things I must emphasize..."

"Only by looking far enough ahead can one realize their true value..."

With that, Danzō turned and left.

"By the way, Hiruzen..."

"Go to the Hokage Building and appease those high-ranking officials from the Cloud Village first..."

"I will personally deliver Hizashi shortly..."

Upon learning that Danzō had already located Hizashi, Hiashi arranged for his subordinates to go and apprehend him.

The wind was strong in Konoha tonight.

The wind chimes under the eaves rang out incessantly.

Dark clouds filled the sky, obscuring the moonlight.

It looked like a heavy rain was coming...

Sitting by the window, Itachi was still waiting for Chuan Yu.

Suddenly, a figure caught Itachi's eye.

Thunder rumbled across the heavens.

Large trees were instantly bent over by the gale.

The air gradually began to grow damp...

The moment the first drop of rain hit the ground...

The downpour began to fall...

"It's too late..."

"Please keep this secret for me..."

"Thank you..."

Under the eaves, Hizashi bowed deeply to Itachi.

The rain grew heavier.

Itachi extended his right hand beyond the eaves.

"Thank you for looking after Chuan Yu before..."

Itachi spoke indifferently, his eyes fixed on the rainwater gathering in his palm.

If water remained clean because it had never been tainted from the start.

Then perhaps it would never see the dawn in this lifetime...

Swish, swish, swish...

Several figures landed in front of Itachi's courtyard.

Turning his head, he saw members of Root and the Hyuga Main Family had arrived.

"There is one more thing..."

Before being led away, Hizashi turned around.

His face was suddenly filled with regret.

"Don't let Neji know..."

Tears welled up and spilled over, but the rain was too heavy...

No one knew he was crying...

"Hizashi..."

"I'm sorry..."

As Hizashi walked past Hiashi, Hiashi suddenly spoke up.

Yet, there was no expression on his face.

It was as if Hizashi was simply meant to bear this responsibility for the Main Family.

"Heh..."

"Big brother..."

"This is the first time since we were children that you've said..."

"I'm sorry..."

Looking up at the pitch-black sky, Hizashi suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was hoarse and tragic, carrying too much unwillingness.

He had not yet waited for Neji to grow up...

Most importantly, tomorrow...

He had promised Neji he would pick him up after school...

To take him...

To the playground he had never visited before...

Yes...

He had been harsh to Neji since he was small...

All just to make him grow up like a genius...

His lonely silhouette was the final image.

When Chuan Yu returned and saw this scene, his heart ultimately softened.

He gritted his teeth and drew the long blade from his back without hesitation.

But Itachi stopped him...

Perhaps Chuan Yu's strength had been a facade all along.

Because in front of Hizashi, he did not want to appear too pathetic.

"It would have been better if I had killed him back then..."

Watching the back of Hizashi as he returned with his clansmen, Chuan Yu's tears suddenly flowed like a broken string.

Hizashi was perhaps the only person Chuan Yu still had a connection to within the Hyuga.

From this moment on, Chuan Yu completely severed his ties with the Hyuga family.

Hokage Building.

The high-ranking officials of the Cloud Village, who had been waiting for a long time, were overjoyed to see Hizashi brought in.

In truth, everyone knew.

The Cloud Village's goal was merely the Byakugan of the Hyuga family.

But how could the Hyuga family ever let them succeed?

After all, Hizashi's forehead bore the mark of the Caged Bird.

"Then, I shall hand the person over to you now. I trust our treaty remains in effect..."

Danzō walked over and said indifferently.

"Of course, no problem! This is absolute proof of Konoha's sincerity!"

A high-ranking official from the Cloud Village was beside himself with excitement, having long been impatient to take Hizashi back for a thorough study.

They walked out of the Hokage Building.

All the Cloud Village ninjas gathered together.

Now, they were going to take Hizashi away from here.

At the top of the Hokage Rock.

Chuan Yu sat crouched there, watching Hizashi go the entire time.

Noticing Chuan Yu's gaze, Hizashi suddenly responded with a warm, faint smile.

What is the ninja world...

Friendship...

Affection...

Family...

Which of these do you truly care about...

Chuan Yu could not even tell if what he felt for Hizashi was friendship or family.

He only felt as if a sharp pain had been carved into his heart...

A heart-wrenching pain...

Is it pity...

No, no, no...

It is a tragedy...

Just a sudden ray of sunlight...

That had once illuminated his inner world...

The momentarily peaceful world seemed to freeze in an instant.

The mark on Hizashi's forehead suddenly appeared...

Looking at Chuan Yu's figure, he revealed his final smile...

Fresh blood stained the entire sky.

Under the eyes of everyone...

Hizashi's head was blown apart directly by the Caged Bird seal...

Blood sprayed onto every ninja from the Cloud Village.

Turning back in terror, they were all stunned into silence.

"Ugh... ugh..."

Some could no longer hold back and began to vomit.

This scene was deeply etched into Chuan Yu's mind.

The bell tolling that assaulted his mind appeared once more...

The pain in his left eye was ten times worse than last time...

Clutching the clothes over his chest, Chuan Yu suddenly felt his breathing become labored.

"Why..."

"Why! Why! Why!"

"Does slaughter really decide everything?!"

This time, the feeling of heartache permeated every cell and bone in his body.

Chuan Yu screamed in agony.

His hidden Byakugan suddenly appeared, beyond his control...

At this moment, his body felt as if it were riddled with holes...

And that kind of pain was something that could never be described or forgotten...

[The pain that pierces the heart leads to the realization of loss.]

[Ding! Host has grasped the true meaning of the Mangekyo!]

[Ding! The Three-Tomoe Sharingan has been overwritten by the true meaning! It will remain so until it evolves into the Mangekyo Sharingan!]

[Hidden rage detected within the host! Please, let it burn! Motivation is ready!]

[Ding! Your five-element chakra refuses to be outdone! It has now forcibly broken through!]

[Ding! Your five-element chakra proficiency has been upgraded from Mastery to Integration!]

Indeed...

A heart-wrenching pain...

It was because of that final moment of softness.

Because I placed Hizashi in the position of family...

That smile...

That retreating figure...

It still deeply stings Chuan Yu's heart even now...

At this moment.

Crows circled in the sky, returning once more.

The left eye that opened revealed a patterned mark...

"Mangekyo Sharingan..."

"I have done it..."