"Insolence!"
Hyūga Higoi's gaze turned cold and sinister, fixed intently on Hyūga Kumokawa as he reprimanded him in a low, heavy voice. "The Byakugan is the foundation of the Hyūga clan's century-old legacy. This is a decision concerning the clan's fate. How dare you presume to comment!"
"What a grand 'clan fate.'"
Hyūga Kumokawa's eyes swept over each elder's face. His white pupils reflected the candlelight's pale gold and the swaying black shadows. He sneered. "Was my father being tortured to death by your seal also 'concerning the clan's fate'?"
The several main family elders present jolted almost instantly. Their hands resting on their laps tensed slightly. Their peripheral vision instinctively darted towards the silent Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Frankly, this matter didn't sound good when spoken aloud.
Some things weigh nothing on the scale; others weigh a thousand pounds and still tip it over.
Hyūga Kumokawa's father was, after all, a registered Jōnin of Konoha. Therefore, regarding the cause of his death, they had always publicly claimed he died protecting the main family. Hyūga Kumokawa himself had only enjoyed "welfare benefits" because of this official story.
Now, with Kumokawa suddenly stating it outright in front of Hiruzen, they felt the annoyance of having their dirty laundry exposed before an outsider.
"The branch family protecting the main is their duty! The main family is the root of the Hyūga clan! Your father died a worthy death!"
Higoi's expression was terrifyingly grim. He felt provoked. The arrogance of one in power was now undisguised.
"A worthy death?" Hyūga Kumokawa's voice was icy. "My father, Lord Hizashi, me… our blood is the same as yours. Yet we can't even obtain the clan's inherited techniques when we seek them. Now that you need us to fill in with our lives, you suddenly remember we share the same roots?"
"Insolent!"
"Arrogant!"
Two hot-tempered main family elders rose in anger. If not for scruples regarding Hiruzen's presence, they would have already activated the seal to punish him severely.
Facing their utterly enraged reprimands, Hyūga Kumokawa stood his ground, neck stiff, not retreating a step. Yet deep within his eyes, a flicker of calculation gleamed.
He was acting out this scene, of course, not because he had a death wish. It was because he knew very well that if the upcoming plan proceeded smoothly, he could no longer stay within the Hyūga clan.
Even without today's performance, he would become an object of main family suspicion, very likely to 'mysteriously commit suicide.'
He could, of course, break the Caged Bird seal, but he couldn't expose that yet.
Therefore, what he needed to do was make the Hyūga main family dare not act against him.
He needed to find a new patron, one stronger than the Hyūga main family. He needed a new springboard, one larger than the Hyūga clan.
With this thought, Hyūga Kumokawa glanced at Hiruzen, who sit silently like a stone statue, seemingly lost in thought, uttering not a word.
At that moment, a flicker of understanding passed through the murky depths of Hiruzen's eyes. His gaze lifted slightly, sweeping over the sorrowful face of Hyūga Kumokawa standing behind Hizashi.
'As expected, speaking out for his father and Hizashi?
This child is truly one who values emotion and loyalty. Just too shallow in depth, unable to conceal his emotions.
But isn't that precisely the kind of subordinate those in power prefer?'
'It is just a pity,' Hiruzen sighed inwardly. 'If only his strength were a bit greater.'
Recently, the Hyūga clan's arrogant posturing and the Uchiha clan's increasingly dissatisfied attitude had also stirred a sense of apprehension in this Hokage.
His control over these two major Konoha clans was still too weak. He had already considered the idea of promoting subordinates from within these clans. Regardless, he needed to plant a few nails within them to prevent being completely in the dark should either clan show signs of unrest in the future.
It was an almost instinctual sense of wariness for those in high positions.
Regarding the Uchiha clan, through various intelligence analyses, he had already selected Uchiha Shisui, a descendant of Uchiha Kagami. But for the Hyūga clan, he truly couldn't find a suitable candidate.
Main family members wouldn't obey him. Branch family members didn't dare resist the main family.
Servility had long been etched into their souls alongside the Caged Bird seal. Most branch members were already accustomed to the main family's lofty status.
Now, it seemed Hyūga Kumokawa was quite suitable. Just his strength still felt somewhat lacking.
"Alright, Kumokawa. That's enough."
Hyūga Hizashi spoke, his tone neither light nor heavy. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Kumokawa's red-rimmed eyes and the expression of sorrow and resentment etched onto the boy's face.
Hizashi knew exactly why the boy was so emotional.
Earlier that evening, Kumokawa had come to Hizashi's quarters to return the jutsu scrolls he had borrowed. By a cruel twist of fate, he had arrived at the exact moment Elder Higoi was inside, discussing the plan for Hizashi to die in Hiashi's place.
Hizashi, more experienced and alert, had detected the ragged, panicked breathing outside the door just in time.
He had managed to find an excuse to send Higoi away, stepping out to find Hyūga Kumokawa standing there, looking as if he had been struck by lightning.
Fortunately, Hizashi had intercepted the boy then. Otherwise, in his state of emotional collapse, Kumokawa might have stormed into the room and audaciously lashed out at Higoi right then and there.
Sigh.
Recalling the boy's shattered demeanor back then, and seeing the indignation still burning on his face now, Hizashi felt a profound movement in his heart.
He realized that Kumokawa truly viewed him as "family."
He hadn't expected that his small acts of concern recently would make this orphaned child grow so close to him. Upon hearing that Hizashi was to be sacrificed, the boy couldn't even conceal his resentment towards the clan elders.
This child placed far too much weight on emotion and loyalty. Who knew if that was a strength or a weakness.
"Wait, hold on."
Hiashi snapped back to reality, seeming to realize something, quickly rising. "What do you mean 'last journey'? What 'dying man'? You two…"
Higoi forcibly suppressed the anger from being offended, no longer looking at the brat he detested, and spoke coldly. "We will hand over Hizashi's corpse as your substitute."
"Hizashi has already agreed."
This sentence made Hiashi stare at Hizashi in disbelief.
'How could this be? How could Hizashi agree?
Doesn't Hizashi only feel hatred towards me, his brother?'
"But… but…" Startled and doubtful, Hiashi's words stumbled. "The Land of Lightning and Kumogakure want the Byakugan, don't they? After Hizashi's death, the Byakugan will be destroyed. If that's the case, the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure won't accept it."
"Judging by the Kumo ninja's attempt to kidnap Hinata, Kumogakure's intention is indeed that." A flash of shadow passed through Higoi's eyes. "But the condition set by the Land of Lightning is for us to 'hand over the murderer Hyūga Hiashi's corpse.'"
"As long as we pretend to accept this condition and hand over Hizashi, who looks identical to you, Kumogakure will have no legitimate reason to continue being aggressive."
At these words, Hiashi's mouth opened and closed without sound. He instinctively looked again at the silent Hizashi.
Hizashi's expression was calm, as if he had thoroughly accepted his fate.
But in reality, he was waiting.
Waiting for an answer. Waiting for a choice.
He was waiting to see if his good brother would give the same choice and answer as that person had predicted.