Because their earlier requests for support had gone unanswered, Shikaku had dispatched an ANBU to investigate the Hyuga clan directly.
The report he brought back sent a chill through every Konoha elder present.
Reality was far worse than their earlier suspicion that the Hyuga had sided with the Uchiha and simply refused to help.
Once they confirmed that the Nine-Tails had been subdued and the Hokage was still alive, Shikaku and the other advisors had felt a brief sense of relief.
That at least meant the Uchiha rebellion was nearing its end.
But what followed struck them like a meteorite.
The Hyuga clan had been massacred.
Shikaku and two senior advisors went to the Hyuga main house to verify it with their own eyes.
The scene was horrific.
The Hyuga, who should have been gathered for a clan meeting, were nothing but corpses.
Only Neji and Hinata sat in the middle of the carnage, staring blankly.
"He's been imprisoned for at least a month," Koharu murmured, voice shaking as she watched Hiashi Hyuga's body being carried out.
The chains had bitten into his skin, leaving rust marks along his limbs. Even without being beheaded, the accumulated metal toxins in his body would have killed him before long.
This meant the Hyuga massacre had begun at least a month ago—yet no one in Konoha had noticed.
Someone had quietly wiped out one of Konoha's top clans right under everyone's noses.
The Hyuga weren't like the Uchiha. They had no history of rebellion and had always maintained good relations with the village. Their Byakugan made them one of the best sensory clans in the world, essentially serving as Konoha's "eyes." They had long been active on the front lines, contributing greatly to the village.
Now, they had been erased overnight.
To advisors like Homura and Koharu, this was nothing short of catastrophic.
"The wounds are all recent. The culprit left not long ago," Homura said, clenching his fists and shaking his head.
"Half a month ago, I visited Hiashi. I didn't notice anything wrong—just thought his movements were a bit stiff and disrespectful…" His expression twisted. "Looking back, I must have been under a genjutsu without even realizing it."
"Hiashi… he was asking for help…"
He let out a long sigh.
Since becoming Konoha's advisors, Homura and Koharu had never been this shaken.
Losing the Uchiha could be framed as cutting out a hidden danger.
It weakened Konoha, yes, but if handled properly, that sacrifice was still considered "worth it."
Losing the Hyuga, however, was like suddenly going blind.
It was an irreplaceable loss.
Losing both the Uchiha and the Hyuga at once was like cutting off an arm to stop the spread of gangrene—painful but necessary to survive.
But discovering the Hyuga had already been destroyed while they were in the middle of cutting off the "infected" Uchiha arm…
It felt like realizing the healthy arm had already been severed long ago.
If they had known the Hyuga's true situation earlier, the advisors believed they might have handled the Uchiha differently—maybe even saved that arm.
But now, the Uchiha rebellion, marked by the summoning of the Nine-Tails, was nearly over.
There was no going back.
"…A war is about to start," Koharu said suddenly.
The three of them stood quietly in the courtyard.
Only the evening wind and the chirping cicadas broke the silence.
The surrounding trees were lush.
A child's kite was tangled in the branches, and a woman's corpse, suspended by the kite string, swayed gently like a macabre swing.
Shikaku looked away from the body, forcing himself to think clearly.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on the looming war. They first had to find the culprit—and prevent this from happening again.
He analyzed aloud:
"The expressions and postures of the dead suggest the attacker was someone familiar."
"All of the wounds are killing blows. The swordsmanship is excellent, and there's chakra residue everywhere. The culprit didn't even bother to hide it."
"Should we inform the other clans to be on guard?"
"Though I doubt the murderer will stay in Konoha much longer."
Koharu shook her head.
"There's no need to be subtle. It's obvious this was done by someone from within the village."
"As for the other clans, there's no need to raise an alarm for now. Homura and I will visit them in person."
The Uchiha rebellion wasn't yet fully resolved.
The Hyuga massacre had to be kept secret to maintain stability. If they warned the other clans too openly, they might spread panic and chaos across Konoha.
The advisors themselves would quietly check whether other clans had been targeted.
Surely, they wouldn't fall for the same genjutsu twice… right?
"How many Hyuga clan members are still alive?" Homura asked.
"We'll have to cross-check the records and confirm the identities of the deceased. It'll take time," Shikaku replied. He paused, then added, "But excluding the branch members who never possessed the Byakugan… I'd estimate fewer than ten survivors."
A clan of hundreds, reduced to fewer than ten…
Koharu and Homura fell silent.
"Yamanaka Inoichi is already on his way," Shikaku continued. "Unlike the earlier incidents with just a few dead branch members, this time there are many fresh bodies. The culprit couldn't have cleaned up everything. We should be able to pull information directly."
Inoichi could extract memories from the dead, as long as they hadn't been gone too long.
"I recommend we detain all surviving Hyuga," Shikaku said. "Whether it's to protect them… or to clear their names, it has to be done."
"Do you have any suspects?" Homura asked.
"Yes."
Shikaku glanced at the vacant-eyed Neiki sitting off to the side and nodded.
"Then proceed as you suggest," Koharu said weakly.
"Understood."
With their authorization, Shikaku signaled an ANBU over and began issuing orders.
"Inform all Konoha shinobi that any Hyuga they encounter are to be escorted to the interrogation unit."
"Notify Kakashi and the other elite squads: once they're done with the Uchiha, they are to locate Hyuga Neiki."
"If he resists—bring back the body."
"And…" Shikaku hesitated for a moment. "Tell them to be careful. This Neiki… might be more dangerous than Fugaku."
Neiki was the only Hyuga still active on the battlefield, making him the prime suspect.
…
Hearing that all-too-familiar name, Neji, sitting quietly in the corner, lifted his head, wanting to speak—but Shikaku placed a hand on his shoulder, signaling him to remain silent.
The advisors knew about Neiki.
They'd already concluded that he was highly suspicious.
But what they didn't know… was that Neiki and Neji were brothers.
Shikaku, however, believed Neji was innocent.
The advisors, in their anger, might not share that view.
For now, it was better not to stir that hornet's nest.
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