[Ding!]
[Your deceit has been judged as: Two-faced, Pretentious Evasion, Substitution Scapegoat, Bait-and-Switch. Hyūga Hiashi, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and others experienced intense emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of [Utterly Convinced]. Acquired 3000 Fulfillment Points.]
[Remaining Fulfillment Points: 14,651]
The system's notification chimed in Hyūga Kumokawa's mind, yet he remained rooted to the spot, his expression one of profound sorrow, unmoving.
"Then send the body to the Land of Lightning," the person everyone believed to be Hyūga Hiashi said, turning to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had remained silent throughout. His tone was respectful. "Lord Third, I must trouble you to arrange an escort."
"Of course."
Sharply aware of the shift in the Hyūga Clan Head's attitude, Hiruzen understood the clan had been thoroughly chastened this time. Outwardly, he let out a deep, weary sigh. "Konoha will remember the Hyūga clan's righteousness. I swear Hizashi's sacrifice will not be in vain."
With that, he prepared to leave with the body. But at that moment, a voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Lord... Lord Third."
Hyūga Kumokawa, his eyes slightly reddened, stepped forward. He took a deep, steadying breath and spoke with deference. "Please, allow me to join the escort that will take Lord Hizashi to the Land of Lightning."
His firm, resonant words hung in the air of the reception hall, drawing the gazes of everyone present.
Several of the main family elders subtly straightened in their seats, shifting away from the candlelight to let shadows fall across half their aged faces. Their cold, watchful eyes scrutinized this unruly youth.
"Hyūga Kumokawa! You..."
Hyūga Higoi's temper flared, his voice rising as he moved to reprimand the boy for forgetting his place.
But before the elder could finish, the first refusal came from an entirely unexpected quarter.
"No!"
Hearing Kumokawa's request, the man posing as Hyūga Hiashi—in reality, Hyūga Hizashi—jerked his head up and blurted out the denial before he could stop himself.
'That man said he'd bring the real Hiashi back later. Who knows what might happen on the journey? If Kumokawa joins the escort and something goes wrong...'
To the others, however, his reaction seemed oddly intense.
The gathered men turned to him with surprised, questioning looks, taken aback by the Clan Head's over-the-top response.
Only then did Hizashi remember—he was 'Hyūga Hiashi' now. A cold sweat broke out under their collective gaze. He forced himself to mimic his brother's typically stern, dismissive tone. "You're far too weak."
Higoi and the other elders were momentarily stunned, but quickly recalled that before his apparent death, Hizashi had asked for a private word with his brother. They naturally assumed it was to entrust the care of Neji and Kumokawa to the Clan Head.
'Hmph, so what if Hiashi protects him now,' Higoi thought, shooting Kumokawa a venomous glance. 'Sooner or later, I'll send this brat to join his dead father.'
Neji was Hizashi's trueborn son, untouchable for now. But Kumokawa? He could be killed without much consequence. As long as it wasn't done publicly, the Clan Head wouldn't dare make too big a fuss over it.
However, the next words to reach their ears caused the elders' expressions to freeze in stunned disbelief.
"Let him go."
The speaker wasn't Hyūga Kumokawa, but Sarutobi Hiruzen, who stood to the side.
"Lord Third, this is..." Doubtful glances were cast towards the Hokage.
"Hizashi was likely the last true family this child had left in his heart," Hiruzen said with a sigh. His gaze turned kindly towards Kumokawa, his tone gentle. "Even if we forbid you from joining the official escort, you'd find a way to follow along anyway, wouldn't you?"
Meeting Hiruzen's penetrating look, Kumokawa almost cracked a smile. Instead, he managed to redden his eyes further and offered a deep, grateful bow. "Thank you... Thank you, Lord Third. Truly, thank you. I just... I just want to see Lord Hizashi off on his final journey."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, then looked towards the conflicted Hyūgas, offering reassurance. "Don't worry. I will have an ANBU team escort the body. Looking after one child along the way won't be a problem."
In truth, he simply wanted his ANBU to observe Hyūga Kumokawa's behavior during the trip, to see if the boy had the makings of that potential "nail" he could use within the clan.
"..."
The room fell silent. The main family elders exchanged fleeting glances in the candlelight, none speaking. Their collective silence eventually became tacit consent.
Higoi's face was dark. He could clearly see Hiruzen's favor towards Kumokawa, and it chafed. If Hyūga Kumokawa truly became a tool of the Third Hokage, it would indeed become much harder for the elders to lay a hand on the wretched brat.
He couldn't fathom what was so special about the boy. First Hizashi, then the foolish main family daughter Aoi, then the Clan Head, and now even the Third Hokage saw value in him!
Hyūga Kumokawa tilted his head slightly, observing the distant, gritting-teeth figure of the elder. He mused on when the old bastard's cardiovascular system might explode under the pressure. Perhaps a few more well-aimed barbs could trigger a fatal stroke?
Yet, he dismissed the amusing thought.
'A stroke... that would be far too easy a death for that old monster.'
BANG!!
A sudden, violent crash shattered the room's uneasy calm. A bitingly cold wind swept in from outside. Everyone frowned, turning sharply towards the source of the noise.
The figure standing in the doorway was short and slight, soaked black hair dripping rainwater, chest heaving with ragged breaths.
His eyes instantly found the white cloth-covered "corpse." The sight struck him like a physical blow, rooting him to the spot, his mouth agape.
"Finally here."
In a corner unnoticed by the others, a faint, cold smile touched Hyūga Kumokawa's lips. It held a hint of mockery, a sliver of scorn.
"Neji?"
Finally recognizing the newcomer, Hizashi's expression faltered slightly.
Why is Neji here?
Hyūga Neji moved forward like a puppet, his steps wooden. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees beside the "body."
"Your father sacrificed himself for the Hyūga clan," Hizashi—forced to speak as Hiashi—said, striving for a gentler tone to mask his own pain. "To fulfill his duty as head of the branch family with such loyalty is his..."
As if finally confirming the terrible truth, Neji, his head still bowed, went rigid. His body began to tremble uncontrollably.
The grief etched on his young face was slowly being consumed by a rising tide of rage. And still, the man he believed to be his uncle droned on from his place of lofty indifference.
But just as Neji was about to lift his head, a warm hand settled firmly upon it.
"Don't speak rashly," Hyūga Kumokawa's voice was quiet, measured. "That only reveals your weakness. Right now, all you need to do is be still."
"..."
Hyūga Neji remained with his head bowed. Tears streamed down, splashing silently onto the floor. Yet, the faint trembling in his shoulders gradually subsided. The onlookers let out subtle sighs of relief.
However, hidden from all their eyes, the anger on Neji's downturned, youthful face had twisted into something raw and ferocious.
The others believed Kumokawa was offering comfort. But Neji, feeling the warmth and steady pressure of that hand, heard the true meaning beneath the words.
'You are too weak.
Nothing you say now will change anything.
You must be still. Hide the hatred in your heart. Let no one see it.
Then, remember all of this. Burn it into your bones. And one day, tear it all down.
Just... like that figure from the dream.'