Clearly sensing Hiashi Hyuga's killing intent, the few previously hesitant individuals became as quiet as cicadas in winter. They hurriedly bid farewell and withdrew from the blood-soaked corner, their receding footsteps chaotic and heavy.
Soon, the disordered footsteps faded, and the vast depths of the Forbidden Library once again fell into a viscous, dead silence.
"..."
Hizashi Hyuga stood still like a cold stone statue, but no one noticed his body trembling slightly.
In truth, he had always secretly looked after Neji; many in the Main House knew this, or rather, he had never hidden it from the start. In the eyes of others, this was out of guilt and compensation for his brother, Hiashi Hyuga, so much so that Hiashi himself turned a blind eye.
However, what no one knew was that the "Hiashi Hyuga" in their eyes had actually been replaced by Hizashi long ago, and his care for Neji was far more extensive than they imagined.
A few days ago, during Neji and Hinata's regular taijutsu practice, Neji found an excuse to leave for a while. Neji had been performing exceptionally well during this period. He had etched Hyuga Kawa's admonitions into his heart, deeply burying his resentment and anger. Aside from showing more effort, he seemed to have found peace, even remaining calm when facing Hinata Hyuga...
Thus, others didn't pay him much attention, and certainly no one would use their Byakugan to spy on the head of the clan's residence. Neji Hyuga was very careful, ensuring he wouldn't be discovered.
But Hizashi Hyuga, who had been secretly observing his son, saw Neji use the Clone Jutsu to sneak into his own room, searching for something with his Byakugan. Hizashi initially thought he was looking for Gentle Fist techniques, only to discover that this child was greedier than he thought; he was clearly searching for the unsealing technique for the Forbidden Library.
But Hizashi couldn't expose Neji. He merely assumed Neji wanted to secretly learn family secret techniques, so he allowed him to steal the unsealing technique.
However, now...
Hizashi Hyuga looked at the corpse on the ground, at the two empty, horrifying bloodied holes. His Byakugan, which could now mimic his brother's coldness, seemed to tremble slightly, perhaps due to the violent turmoil within its master.
"Neji... why..."
Hizashi had thought that his stubborn son, even if he couldn't let go of his hatred, could at least bury it deep, perhaps even transform it into motivation to work harder.
But, without a doubt, the one who killed Hyuga Kurotsuka was Neji!
Why?!
Was it because Hyuga Kurotsuka suddenly returned to the Forbidden Library while Neji was secretly learning secret techniques, forcing him to kill him?
No, that's impossible. With Hyuga Kurotsuka's abilities, if Neji wanted to hide, he wouldn't have been discovered at all.
So...
"Is it because of the hatred in his heart?"
"Did he embark on this bloody, insane, irreversible path because of hatred?"
At this thought, a torrent of emotions, mixed with chill and fear, felt like an invisible blunt hammer striking his ribs, smashing into Hizashi's chest and suffocating him. His hands beneath his wide sleeves clenched into fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms, relying on the sharp pain to barely maintain the cold, rigid lines of his face.
"What should I do, Neji..."
Hizashi Hyuga closed his eyes, his heart filled with painful torment.
But soon, in his ears, he seemed to hear the supremely mocking words of that distinguished person.
"They want you to obey, they belittle you to the extreme, they say this is right, they say this is your fate..."
"You want to struggle, to resist, but their faces change, they yell at you, they cut off your limbs, they lock you in a cage."
"They hit you, curse you, advise you, beg you, they say this is wrong, they say I am right, they say, I am doing this for your own good..."
Finally, Hizashi Hyuga thought of Hinata, and of Hinata's timid personality forged under Hiashi's distorted fatherly love and control.
Yes.
That's right.
Hizashi Hyuga's eyes slowly opened, his gaze now filled only with cold resolve.
Having reached this point, he had lost everything, including his name, and even surrendered his soul to a "demon." What was it all for?
Wasn't it to prevent Neji from following in his old footsteps, to free Neji from the shackles of the Hyuga clan, to let Neji live according to his own will?
Just as he had told Hiashi.
For the Branch House, right or wrong doesn't matter, life or death doesn't matter.
Being able to make one's own decisions is the most important thing.
Hizashi Hyuga would never, in the name of fatherly love, impede Neji from doing what he wanted.
Since Neji wanted to do it, then let him do it.
Regardless of the final outcome, whether good or bad, right or wrong, or even life or death.
No matter the cost, as a father, he would only choose to stand with Neji and bear it together.
At this thought, Hizashi Hyuga looked up, his gaze sweeping over the few elders, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
If anyone tried to obstruct Neji...
"Lord Hiashi."
A sudden voice interrupted Hizashi's thoughts. Turning to look, a Main House ninja approached, whispering, "The Third Hokage has sent Anbu to ask you and the elders to attend the memorial service."
Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's face. Hiashi Hyuga and the few elders also frowned. In the past, commemorating the fallen heroes of war was always voluntary. Why were they being directly summoned this time?
Time: Dusk.
The new green leaves on the trees trembled slightly in the wind, but could not dispel the pervasive sorrow in the air.
The setting sun, like blood, painted the sky a tragic orange-red, yet it could not illuminate the heavy gloom over the memorial stone cemetery.
A group of Konoha ninjas, regardless of rank, stood solemnly, dressed in dignified pure black mourning clothes, like a silent forest stretching into the twilight.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the very front, his grey hair trembling slightly in the wind, his face deeply etched with the vicissitudes of time, now adding another layer of weariness.
"Spirits, return... let this beacon of war cease..."
"We bear your will... protect our homeland..."
The ceremonial official softly chanted the lengthy requiem, his voice echoing in the empty square, low and slow, bringing comfort to the deceased.
As one name after another was read aloud, and one name after another was carved into the memorial stone, muffled sobs gradually spread through the crowd.
Hizashi Hyuga and Hiashi Hyuga, along with the other elders, stood in the crowd, still wondering what Hiruzen Sarutobi was up to.
But when they saw the figure standing behind Hiruzen Sarutobi in the front row, expressions of astonishment appeared on their faces simultaneously.
"Hyuga Kawa?"
Hiashi Hyuga first frowned, but soon, he also saw his daughter.
At this moment, she stood behind the person he most loathed.
Yes, his daughter.
Not only was she not standing with him, her father, she wasn't even in the Hyuga clan's ranks, but instead stood behind that Hyuga Kawa.
Creak!
Hiashi Hyuga's face twitched. He couldn't help but grit his teeth forcefully, producing a teeth-grinding sound.
Damn that Hyuga Kawa, that damned bastard!!