"Kakuzu, I assure you, I mean no harm."
Sensing the shift in the room's atmosphere, Hyūga Tennin hastily offered an explanation. Kakuzu, seated on the floor, observed Tennin's back in silence. After several moments, the corners of Kakuzu's mouth turned up slightly, forming a faint smile.
Once, because of the side effects of Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu couldn't actively train to improve his strength. To avoid exposure, he had to hide his true capabilities as much as possible. But no secret remains hidden forever. Even without willingly revealing it, a high-intellect opponent could force his hand, exposing his trump cards.
Everyone has weaknesses. To reveal a weakness or a hidden ace isn't the end—it's how one defends their vulnerabilities and capitalizes on their strengths that defines survival. Such is the true essence of a shinobi.
Hyūga Tennin's words seemed to strike a chord with Kakuzu, who found himself unexpectedly at ease. The previously oppressive air in the room dissipated, replaced by a gentler atmosphere.
"Clan leader Hyūga, speak freely," Kakuzu said with a smile.
Hyūga Tennin's expression relaxed. In his fleeting moments of clarity, he stopped coughing, and his thoughts sharpened.
"Kakuzu-san, you've lived since the Warring States Period… Do you know the origins of the Hyūga clan?"
"I can't say I do," Kakuzu replied, his gaze shifting to the window. "But I'd wager your ancestor was someone extraordinary. After all, you possess the Byakugan, an exceptional kekkei genkai."
Kakuzu's thoughts drifted briefly. The one who dwelled on the moon had indeed been restless, leaving descendants both on the lunar surface and the Earth below.
"For twenty years, I scoured ancient texts and finally achieved an evolution of my Byakugan. I've named this state the Thousand-Eye Byakugan," Tennin said, his tone tinged with sorrow. "Yet, I can no longer witness the glory of our Hyūga clan with my own eyes."
Kakuzu fell silent, contemplating the words. He couldn't fault Tennin. To restore the glory of one's ancestors was no easy feat. Even Uchiha Madara, with Black Zetsu's manipulation, had spent decades successfully "returning to his roots."
Hyūga Tennin, without fully mastering this power, had forced his body to use it, pushing his life to the brink. Yet, Tennin's mind remained fixated on the Hyūga clan's history—the brutal era of conflict and the monumental achievement of founding the village.
In his final moments, Tennin chose to defend his clan and legacy with his life. He had served Konoha and his bloodline well.
Did he regret it? Of course. But in Kakuzu, Tennin saw a flicker of hope.
"Kakuzu-san, will you carry my will forward and let the world witness the brilliance of the Hyūga clan once again?"
Curiosity about the unknown, the pursuit of power, the longing to elevate one's lineage—you could explain Tennin's plea in any number of ways. Yet, it all stemmed from a single, unshakable desire.
It was akin to a dying master passing on their ultimate techniques, ensuring their life's work endured. The same way the monk entrusted Kakuzu with Earth Grudge Fear.
"Kakuzu-san," Tennin said after a moment, his voice weaker, "I have another question for you."
"Ask, Clan Leader Hyūga."
"Do you believe… the Hyūga clan will decline in the future?"
Kakuzu lowered his head, choosing silence once more.
A dying man deserves kindness in his final words. Kakuzu didn't want to lie, but he also didn't want to tell a painful truth.
The fate of the Hyūga clan's branch members was particularly harsh. They were born to protect others, often at the cost of their own lives.
Among Konoha's new generation, Hinata's fate had been kinder—no longer part of the Hyūga's main family but shielded as the Hokage's wife. Only a fool would dare harm her. But Neji… Neji's destiny had been cruel.
He had fought against fate, yet he couldn't escape its grasp, ultimately perishing in its embrace. Perhaps he had found peace in death, fulfilling his role. The disappearance of his forehead seal had been the heavens' final blessing.
The Caged Bird seal protected the Hyūga's kekkei genkai from outsiders. But it also shackled the clan, hindering their progress.
Kakuzu didn't voice these thoughts, but his silence was an answer in itself.
Hyūga Tennin closed his eyes slowly.
"Kakuzu, I have one final request," he said, his voice barely audible.
Kakuzu listened as Tennin recalled his son, Hyūga Ryūten. Not particularly strong but decent, a stickler for rules yet lacking adaptability.
A father's worry for his child—it's the oldest tale in the world.
"Clan Leader Hyūga, rest assured," Kakuzu said firmly. "The Hyūga clan will endure. I promise you."
Tennin's lips curled into a faint, peaceful smile.
He could finally rest in peace.
"Do it. Carry my will forward and let me witness the Hyūga clan's glorious future."
Kakuzu said nothing in response. Instead, he lowered his head in a solemn bow.
With a soft swish, the black tendrils of Earth Grudge Fear extended toward Hyūga Tennin, intertwining around him. Slowly but surely, Tennin's life force began to flow into Kakuzu.
Half an hour later, Kakuzu emerged from the tent.
Hyūga Ryūten, along with several other clan members, immediately rushed forward.
"Kakuzu-sama, my father—"
"Please accept my condolences," Kakuzu interrupted, his gaze steady as he looked at Ryūten. "No matter what happens, the living must face the future."
Ryūten swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. Without another word, he led the clan members into the tent. Inside, they found Hyūga Tennin seated cross-legged on the ground, his head bowed slightly. A faint smile graced his lips—he had passed away peacefully.
Moments later, the camp was filled with the sound of grief-stricken cries.
By nightfall, the Hyūga clan had prepared a coffin, carefully placing the old clan leader's body inside. For their esteemed elders, they refused to use sealing scrolls. To them, such a practice was a sign of disrespect. Instead, they would carry Hyūga Tennin's body back to Konoha themselves, back to their family home.
"Tobirama-sama, we will take our leave now. Please handle the matters here in our absence," Ryūten said, bowing deeply to Senju Tobirama.
Tobirama glanced at the darkening sky. "It's already late. Rest for the night, and I'll send you back tomorrow with Flying Thunder God Technique."
Ryūten shook his head. "Thank you for your kind offer, Tobirama-sama, but we must personally escort body. Our clan is waiting for us back home—we cannot afford any delays."
Tobirama nodded. He understood and respected the Hyūga clan's customs.
Ryūten then turned his attention to Kakuzu and bowed once more.
"Kakuzu-sama, I entrust my father's final wishes to you."
"You can rest assured. I will see it through," Kakuzu replied firmly.
Even now, Ryūten didn't know what his father had discussed with Kakuzu inside that tent. He was curious—anyone would be—but he was a member of the Hyūga clan. Their rules and traditions were absolute. As his father's heir, Ryūten would honor his dying wishes without question.
The ninja gathered at the camp's entrance, watching the Hyūga clan as they departed into the night. They stood silently until the clan's figures disappeared into the darkness.
Kakuzu snapped out of his thoughts, closed his eyes briefly, and then turned to Tobirama.
Tobirama, never one to avoid confrontation, met Kakuzu's gaze directly.
"Do you want to know what the Hyūga clan leader told me?" Kakuzu asked, a hint of mischief in his tone.
Since the moment Kakuzu had left the tent, Tobirama had been silently observing him. Someone as perceptive as Tobirama couldn't resist probing into a secret.
Tobirama didn't respond, simply waiting for Kakuzu to continue.
Kakuzu's lips curled into a sly smirk.
"I'm not telling you," he said, turning away.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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