"You must give the Cloud Village an explanation!"
"You will hand over the murderer before noon today!"
"Otherwise, prepare to face the wrath of the Cloud Village!"
"Hokage-sama—do you intend to start another war?!"
Facing the aggressive accusations of the Cloud Village delegation, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only smile awkwardly, bowing and scraping in submission.
After finally sending those harbingers of death away, he immediately reconvened everyone.
And this time—
His spearhead was aimed directly at Hyūga Hiashi.
"Hiashi… you should understand by now…"
"For the sake of the village. For peace. For the greater good…"
"I can only ask you to make this sacrifice…"
"I know this is unfair. I know this is cruel. But I… as Hokage… I truly have no other choice…"
"Even if I am weak… even if I am incompetent… everything I do is for the village!"
Hyūga Hiashi's face turned deathly pale.
He had never imagined that generations of loyalty—countless sacrifices, endless bloodshed in defense of the village—would lead to this outcome.
"Hokage-sama… are you truly asking me to go and die?"
"If it were for the village, dying on the battlefield, I would never hesitate!"
"But to die for that kind of lunatic criminal?!"
"I… cannot accept this!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression hardened.
"Then do you wish to provoke war with the Cloud Village?"
"If war breaks out, will the Hyūga clan not fight?"
"Will your clansmen not die?"
"Will the entire village not suffer unimaginable pain?!"
Hiashi flushed red.
"These are not the same thing!"
"The Hyūga clan would rather die in battle than die meaninglessly for a monster!"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen erupted in anger—rarely seen in public.
The room fell into deadly silence.
Then, almost instantly, he returned to his usual gentle expression.
Even worse—
He looked desperate.
"Hiashi… even if this Hokage begs you…"
"Let me bear all the infamy… all the sins…"
"For the village… I beg you…"
He even made as if to kneel, forcing Hiashi to grab him in shock.
"Hokage-sama… you—"
This was coercion.
Pure and absolute.
"I… understand…"
Hiashi's spirit shattered.
He accepted his fate.
Death.
A meaningless, humiliating death.
"I will give the Cloud Village an answer."
With those words, he left—his soul already gone.
Hiruzen watched his back, wiping away tears as he sighed.
"Hiashi… you are a hero who sacrificed himself for the village."
"Just like the Fourth Hokage…"
Hiashi did not look back.
No one said farewell.
Everyone left in silence.
Their resentment, shame, and fury were obvious—but Hiruzen merely smiled faintly.
As long as the goal is achieved, what does infamy matter?
History is written by the victors.
Hiashi could not bring himself to say goodbye to his wife or daughter.
Yet thinking of them—
His clenched fist slowly loosened.
If my death can save them… then so be it.
But his wife and clansmen saw his expression and understood instantly.
Wails filled the residence.
Even three-year-old Hinata, sensing something terrible, cried silently—large tears rolling down her cheeks.
Hiashi gently stroked his wife's hair, then knelt and wiped Hinata's tears.
"I'm leaving…"
He forced a smile.
At that moment—
A figure appeared at the gate.
"Brother. You will not die in vain."
It was his twin brother—
Hyūga Hizashi.
"Hizashi?! Why are you here—"
Hiashi's face changed drastically.
Hizashi smiled calmly.
"I came… to die in your place."
Everyone froze.
"What?!"
"Nonsense! This has nothing to do with you!"
"As a branch member, protecting the main house isn't my fate!"
Hizashi laughed bitterly.
"No. I'm not dying because of that."
"I'm dying to protect my brother."
"You—!"
"If you die, the Hyūga clan will decline."
"Main house or branch—none will survive."
"Not even Neji."
Mentioning his son, sorrow filled Hizashi's eyes.
"We are twins. No one can tell us apart."
"Only I can die in your place."
"It is the only choice."
Hiashi knew it was logical.
But emotionally—
He could never accept it.
"Brother… I—"
"I've already said goodbye to Neji."
"This is the last thing I can do… for you… for the clan."
"Please… take care of Neji."
With that, Hyūga Hizashi turned and left.
"Hizashi!"
Hiashi chased after him.
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