"Going to the front lines?!"
Hyuga Satoru froze. His father's sudden declaration caught him completely off guard. For a moment, his mind went blank.
"What do you mean, Father? You're going to the battlefield?" he asked, frowning in confusion. "Why? Has something happened? Has the situation grown so dire that even our Hyuga Clan must take the field personally?"
It didn't make sense.
Yes, the world was still technically within the scope of the Third Shinobi World War—but by now, the overall situation had stabilized. The conflicts that remained were small-scale skirmishes—minor border clashes and probes meant only to consolidate territory. Compared to the height of the war, these were little more than localized flare-ups.
Back when the fighting was at its fiercest, even the Hyuga Main Branch had been deployed to the front lines—but now, such measures were unnecessary. Neither the current battles nor the existing threats were enough to shake Konoha, let alone endanger the Hyuga Clan's foundation.
So why now? Why this order?
"This doesn't add up," Satoru muttered.
Hiashi didn't answer immediately. His expression was calm, but his tone was final. "You don't need to concern yourself with the details," he said evenly. "I called you here simply to inform you. While I'm gone, listen to your granduncle's teachings and keep training. Do not slack off."
He clearly had no intention of explaining further. To Hiashi, Satoru was still a child—even if mature for his age, there were some matters he couldn't possibly intervene in.
But Satoru already had a suspicion.
"…Is this because of Lord Orochimaru?"
The room went quiet. Several Hyuga elders exchanged wary looks.
Seeing their reaction, Satoru knew he'd struck the mark. He bowed slightly, his voice calm but resolute. "I saw your conversation with him, Father. I'm sorry for eavesdropping."
Though the act itself was improper, Satoru's position within the clan shielded him from reproach. And, as he expected, Hiashi didn't scold him—only sighed and nodded, acknowledging the truth in his son's words.
Elder Hyuga Shin, who had been silent until now, spoke gravely.
"In the past few years, nearly two hundred of our clan's shinobi have fallen on the battlefield."
He paused, letting the weight of that number sink in before continuing.
"When compared to the casualty reports of other clans, our losses are… disproportionate. Even among Konoha's noble families, none have suffered such a heavy toll."
"Other clans have lost similar numbers, yes—but we, the Hyuga, are a bloodline limit family. To put it bluntly, ordinary shinobi shouldn't even pose a threat to us. Our Byakugan users are invaluable to reconnaissance and strategy units—they're always assigned protective detail. For us to lose this many… it's unnatural."
Shin's eyes narrowed. "Orochimaru's arrival today wasn't a coincidence. You saw what he said, Satoru. You understand, don't you?"
"…You believe Lord Orochimaru is deliberately targeting the Hyuga," Satoru murmured.
"Exactly," Shin confirmed grimly. "He's using our casualties as leverage—to pressure us into supporting his and Danzo's political faction."
"That's why your father will be leading a select guard to the front," another elder added. "Not as a combatant—but as a supervisor, to monitor Orochimaru's orders firsthand."
The number "two hundred" echoed in Satoru's mind.
To most, it might not sound like much—but he knew how devastating it truly was.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War of his past life, all five great nations and the Iron Country together had only managed to muster around eighty thousand troops. Even then, each village contributed roughly thirteen to fifteen thousand shinobi.
Konoha, being the strongest, could field about fifteen thousand at its peak.
Three thousand of those had been under the Sarutobi Clan's direct banner.
But that was during peacetime mobilization. Now, after years of brutal conflict, Konoha could likely rally no more than seven thousand active ninja—and that number included everyone: clan members, civilians, ANBU, and so on.
For the Hyuga alone to have lost nearly two hundred warriors in just two years… that was catastrophic.
Even at full strength, the Hyuga Clan's entire military force barely reached four thousand. Post-war attrition had already reduced that number to perhaps fifteen hundred. Losing another two hundred was a crippling blow.
Such losses couldn't continue. If the branch families were bled dry, even the Main Family wouldn't survive for long.
Yet, with Orochimaru's political standing, the Hyuga couldn't simply request his removal.
He was one of the Legendary Sannin, a man whose influence in Konoha rivaled the village elders themselves. With the backing of Danzo and the Council, his authority on the front lines was untouchable.
Replacing him would require someone like the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, or the Fourth Hokage himself to take command—and none of them could simply drop their current duties on the Hyuga's word.
Thus, the clan had chosen a subtler approach.
Rather than challenge Orochimaru directly, they would dispatch a supervising commander to "oversee" the front lines under the pretext of auditing operations.
That person could only be Hiashi.
His rank, strength, and political weight made him the obvious choice. Elder Shin, though respected, was past his prime. If things turned ugly, Hiashi had the skill and power to fight his way out.
After all, this was the man who had once escaped an entire encirclement led by Toneri's faction—a feat few in the Hyuga could match.
Hiashi and Shin both understood what this truly meant.
The Hyuga Clan had been dragged—unwittingly—into the power struggle among Konoha's highest echelons. The debate over the Jinchuriki's safety had split the leadership, and the Hyuga, neutral for now, were being forced to pick a side.
If they didn't act, others would assume they were weak—easy to manipulate.
"Father…" Satoru murmured, deep in thought.
Seeing his son's furrowed brows, Hiashi's expression softened. He assumed Satoru was simply worried for him.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "I'm not going there to fight. I'll have an elite escort at all times. With our clan's finest by my side, I'll be perfectly safe."
He gave a faint, reassuring smile. "It won't be long, either. The war is nearly burned out—none of the villages, not even Kirigakure, have the strength to prolong it."
But Satoru couldn't share his father's confidence.
A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. Deep down, he knew—the world around him was shifting in ways it shouldn't.
His very existence had changed things. Minato and Kushina's fate, the stability of the village, even the political balance—all of it was drifting from what he remembered.
The butterfly's wings had already begun to stir the winds of chaos.
And as his father spoke those calm, comforting words, Satoru could only think—
Why does that sound like a flag being raised?
............….
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