"..."
Seeing the black-robed figure appear and gently place a glowing orb into Hiashi's chest, Hizashi's pupils involuntarily contracted.
Especially seeing Hiashi completely helpless, his body rigid and immobile, only the fear in his Byakugan proving his consciousness—he couldn't help but feel a chilling dread towards this eerie method.
"Lord."
He bowed his head respectfully, pausing for a moment, licking his somewhat dry lips. "May I ask, my Lord… how do you intend to handle Hyūga Hiashi?"
The dark figure appearing here was, naturally, Hyūga Kumokawa, who had lain in wait long before. The one outside was merely a shadow clone.
The plan had proceeded without a hitch. Under the impact of countless complex emotions, Hiashi hadn't noticed him at all, easily allowing his heart to be 'pierced.'
"It seems you still can't bear to kill him?" Hyūga Kumokawa looked deeply at Hizashi.
"No, that's not it," Hizashi quickly shook his head, explaining. "I'm not yet familiar with Hiashi's behavioral habits. I'm worried my disguise might have flaws, which could affect your plan…"
Hyūga Kumokawa didn't mind how much selfishness was involved. He withdrew his hand from Hiashi's chest.
Ignoring Hizashi's suspicious gaze, he unwrapped the bandage from Hiashi's forehead, handing it to Hizashi, his tone calm. "Take off your forehead protector and give it to him. Use this bandage to cover your seal."
Hizashi finally noticed the scar on Hiashi's forehead. Countless guesses surged in his mind, giving rise to horror.
By now, the still-conscious Hiashi was gradually realizing what Hizashi and the black-robed figure behind him intended to do.
'This person… actually wants Hizashi to replace me?!'
Hiashi's pupils trembled. A bone-chilling cold nearly swallowed him whole.
'Since when did this start?
Who is this person? From Kumo? Or somewhere else?
Did they even account for that Kumo ninja's kunai scratching my forehead?!'
If that Kumo ninja hadn't wounded his forehead, he wouldn't have bandaged it. Then Hizashi couldn't have used this bandage to perfectly conceal his own Caged Bird seal…
The more Hiashi and Hizashi thought, the more fear they felt. Though for the latter, it was more lingering fear and relief, glad he had chosen the right path by recognizing the situation.
This was no longer just a conspiracy.
This was playing with them as if they were marionettes.
Everyone—including Kumogakure, Konoha's high command, the Hyūga clan—was being played in the palm of his hand.
"Don't worry. He will only enter a state of suspended animation."
Only after Hizashi fastened the forehead protector on Hiashi did Hyūga Kumokawa answer indifferently. "His consciousness is still thinking, but his body is no longer under his control. He has become my 'puppet.'"
Hearing this, Hizashi, who was currently using the bandage to cover his own seal, couldn't help but pause.
But he quickly thought of something else, and his heart couldn't help but shiver.
'Doesn't this mean… if I lose my value, this Lord before me could personally control Hiashi to replace me at any time?'
"But," Hizashi hesitated, "what about Kumogakure…"
"That's not your concern." Before he could finish, Hyūga Kumokawa interrupted. "You only need to play your role well."
With that, he extended two fingers. Chakra surged within him as he used the Chakra Scalpel to gouge out Hiashi's eyes.
Schlick.
Two bloodied Byakugan were excised. Hyūga Kumokawa placed them in his robe.
'That makes three Byakugan now, including the ones from the main family member I had Orochimaru kill earlier.'
However, the Caged Bird seal destroyed the brain nerves—specifically those connected to the Byakugan—not the eyes themselves. After activating the seal, the Byakugan would go blind, not vanish.
This was also why Higoi and the others were so confident Kumogakure wouldn't discover the deception too soon.
To avoid exposure, Hyūga Kumokawa took out a pair of blind branch family Byakugan from Orochimaru's stockpile and transplanted them into Hiashi.
Hizashi, witnessing the entire process from the side, felt his awe for Kumokawa's methods deepen. Yet, his gaze towards Hiashi also held a trace of pity.
'The proud main family clan head… now having his Byakugan gouged out, about to be replaced by a branch family member like me, ending up a puppet with no freedom…'
Thinking this, a hint of a morbid flush actually appeared on Hizashi's face.
'Aniue-sama… do you now understand the despair and pain of the branch family?'
Indeed, Hiashi was currently experiencing it all—the despair, powerlessness, regret, and pain of having his fate manipulated against his will.
Everything that had happened today, the mental shock on this clan head, had nearly broken him.
Especially upon hearing he would remain in this state, Hiashi was silently, frantically begging in his heart: Kill me.
He would rather have died at Kumo's hands than become this involuntary "puppet."
But it was no longer up to him.
From the moment he, as the main family clan head, decided to abandon Hyūga Hizashi, it was no longer within his power to regret.
Now, Hizashi was merely repeating what he had done to him.
"Lord."
At this moment, Hizashi suddenly knelt, pressing his forehead to the floor in a deep, reverent bow. His plain robes spread across the ground. He asked respectfully, "This humble one has been presumptuous, never daring to ask for your esteemed name…"
Unlike the past, forced to be respectful to the main family due to the seal, Hizashi's current prostration stemmed from genuine awe towards this Lord.
"A title?"
Hyūga Kumokawa's gaze lowered slightly, looking down at the kneeling Hizashi. He spoke slowly. "It has been long since I used my true name. Though, come to think of it, your Hyūga clan can be considered my kin."
Hearing this, Hizashi, his eyes constantly lowered to the ground, was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected this Lord to have origins with the Hyūga clan.
"My surname," Hyūga Kumokawa said softly, "is Ōtsutsuki."
A tremor that seemed to originate from the depths of his bloodline made Hizashi lower his head even further. Yet, his eyes flickered as he rapidly searched his memories.
'The Ōtsutsuki clan?
Did such a clan exist in the shinobi world?
Could it be some hidden, secluded clan?'
He harbored not a shred of doubt towards Hyūga Kumokawa's lie. He even assumed his own knowledge was lacking and decided to consult ancient texts once this matter concluded.
[Ding!]
[Your lie [Ōtsutsuki Descendant] has been judged as [Passing Off]. Hyūga Hizashi experiences emotional fluctuation, reaching the state of [Utter Conviction]. 1000 Fulfillment Points acquired.]
[Remaining Fulfillment Points: 11,651]
Hearing the system prompt in his mind, Hyūga Kumokawa involuntarily raised an eyebrow.
'As expected of the "Ōtsutsuki clan," I suppose?
Just borrowing the surname netted 1000 points.
It seems this lie still holds significant value.'
....
Click.
The door opened.
A numb-faced Hyūga Hizashi walked out, carrying the "corpse" of Hyūga Hiashi.
In his hand was a scroll. A white cloth covered Hiashi's body.
Of course, in the eyes of Higoi, Hiruzen, and the others, it was 'Hyūga Hiashi' carrying the corpse of 'Hyūga Hizashi.'
"Hiashi, have you destroyed the Byakugan with the seal?" The cautious Higoi still asked.
Hizashi gently placed Hiashi's "corpse" on the ground, bowing his head without answering Higoi's question. But Higoi assumed he was dazed from excessive grief.
He simply bent down and lifted the white cloth from the "corpse," prying open the eyelids to inspect the dim, clouded Byakugan. His tense, aged face finally relaxed slightly. He turned and nodded to the main family elders behind him.
Seeing this, everyone let out a sigh of relief.