At Yunchuan Hyuga's request, Hizashi Hyuga, who had been kneeling silently before the "corpse," suddenly looked up and blurted it out. That person had said he would bring Hiashi Hyuga back, and no one knew what might happen during the escort. If Yunchuan joined and something went wrong, the risk was too great.
To the others, however, the reaction seemed excessive. Several pairs of eyes turned in surprise toward the overly agitated "Hiashi Hyuga." Only then did Hizashi Hyuga realize he was supposed to be "Hiashi Hyuga" now, and cold sweat broke out across his back. Facing their gazes, he forced a stiff imitation of Hiashi Hyuga's tone and said, "You are too weak."
The others froze for a moment, then recalled how Hizashi Hyuga had called Hiashi Hyuga away before his death. It was easy to assume he had left final words, asking Hiashi Hyuga to look after Neji Hyuga and Yunchuan Hyuga.
"Hmph, so what if Hiashi Hyuga protects him." Hizashi Hyuga shot a dark look at Yunchuan Hyuga and thought to himself that one day this brat would join his dead father. Neji Hyuga was Hizashi Hyuga's son and could not be touched for now, but killing Yunchuan Hyuga would be easy as long as it was not done in public.
The next words he heard, however, left Hizashi Hyuga stunned. "Let him go."
The speaker was not Yunchuan Hyuga, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been standing nearby. "Third Hokage, this…" Several people, including Hizashi Hyuga, looked over in disbelief.
"Hizashi Hyuga was likely the last family this child had in his heart." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and looked at Yunchuan Hyuga with gentle eyes. "Even if we did not allow you to join the escort, you would still find a way to follow, wouldn't you?"
Meeting the gaze that seemed to see straight through him, Yunchuan Hyuga nearly laughed. Instead, he let his eyes redden and bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, Third Hokage. Truly, thank you. I just want to see Hizashi Hyuga off on his final journey."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and turned to the conflicted members of the Hyuga. "Do not worry. I will have ANBU escort Hizashi Hyuga's body. They can look after this child as well."
In truth, he simply wanted the ANBU to observe Yunchuan Hyuga along the way and judge whether he was qualified to become one of Root's nails. The room fell into silence, and the Main Family Elders exchanged brief glances in the candlelight without speaking, letting the quiet become consent.
Hizashi Hyuga's expression was ugly, and he could clearly see Hiruzen Sarutobi's fondness for Yunchuan Hyuga. If this boy truly became a subordinate of the Third Hokage, it would be difficult to act against him in the future.
He could not understand what was so special about this brat. First Hizashi Hyuga, then his own foolish eldest daughter, then Hiashi Hyuga, and now even the Third valued him. Yunchuan Hyuga tilted his head slightly and glanced at Hizashi Hyuga gnashing his teeth in the distance, idly wondering when the old man's blood pressure might finally burst.
He abandoned the thought just as quickly. Dying from a brain hemorrhage would be far too easy for someone like that.
A sudden crash shattered the calm, and a cold wind rushed in through the door. Everyone frowned and turned toward the sound. A short figure stood in the doorway, black hair soaked and dripping with rain, chest heaving as he gasped for breath.
The newcomer's eyes locked onto the white-covered "corpse," and he froze as if struck. "Finally here," Yunchuan Hyuga thought, the corner of his mouth lifting where no one noticed.
"Neji Hyuga?" Recognizing the face, Hizashi Hyuga's expression changed slightly. Why had Neji Hyuga come?
Neji Hyuga walked forward like a puppet, his legs giving out as he knelt beside the "body." "Your father died for the Hyuga Clan," Hizashi Hyuga said, forcing his tone to soften. "To fulfill loyalty as the head of the Branch Family, it was his—"
As if something finally became certain, Neji Hyuga's lowered head stiffened, his body trembling beyond his control. The sorrow on his young face was slowly replaced by anger, while Hizashi Hyuga continued speaking from his lofty position.
Just as Neji Hyuga was about to raise his head, a warm hand pressed gently on his hair. "Do not speak recklessly," Yunchuan Hyuga said softly. "That only shows your weakness. For now, all you need to do is calm down."
Neji Hyuga kept his head lowered, tears falling freely onto the floor. His shaking gradually eased, and the others quietly let out breaths of relief.
What none of them could see was the twisted fury on the young face hidden from view. To the rest, Yunchuan Hyuga was simply offering comfort, but Neji Hyuga felt the warmth of that hand and heard the true meaning beneath the words.
You are too weak. Nothing you say now will change anything. Calm yourself, hide your hatred, and let no one see it. Remember all of this, carve it into your bones, and one day destroy everything, just like the figure from your dreams.
The night rain over Konoha felt especially bleak. Water fell like silver gray, damp threads that spread into a net and clung to the buildings. Villagers in raincoats hurried through the streets, their steps quick and uneasy as if bad weather was still gathering.
Cold streetlights lined the roads one after another, pale circles like moons floating in the dark. They pushed out a narrow path that seemed to lead straight into endless blackness. At the quiet edge of the village, thick shadows lay hidden beneath the ground.
Inside Root Base, several small figures fought each other in a sealed room, while Danzo Shimura watched without expression. The sounds were muted by the walls, and nothing on his face suggested interest or mercy. He stood still, observing as if it were routine.
"Danzo-sama."
A Root ninja appeared behind him, knelt on one knee, and offered a scroll with both hands. "This is the outcome discussed by Third Hokage and the Hyuga Clan."
Danzo Shimura withdrew his gaze and took the scroll, glancing over it before his brows tightened. He let out a low snort, his tone sharp with mockery. "So that Hiruzen really compromised again. And the Hyuga Clan are ruthless enough to think of letting Hizashi Hyuga die in place of Hiashi Hyuga."
The Root ninja beside him lowered his head slightly, a trace of displeasure passing across his face beneath the dark cloak. Many people saw Danzo Shimura as a shady figure who could not stand in the light, yet among other forces he was known as Konoha's true "Darkness of Shinobi." That title meant his power had already formed a faction, and many ninja accepted his aggressive beliefs by choice rather than being forced into Root.
Where the sun was bright, the shadows were deep and wide. Beneath Konoha's shadow, the tree of Root took root in darkness, removing obstacles to the village by any means necessary. In that sense, Danzo Shimura had a kind of pull, and the ninja of Root were radical and openly dissatisfied with the weakness of Third Hokage.
In their view, if the Third truly made up his mind and used the Forbidden Technique within the Book of Seals, along with all the village clans, no village in the Ninja World could stand against them. Instead, the village now endured hit after hit, winning wars that led to nothing. War in the Ninja World never truly ended, and each ceasefire was only preparation for the next.