The room fell into a heavy silence. Hiashi Hyūga's pale eyes bore into Menma, the boy's gazed remained unblinking, his mind already calculating. Hizashi sat beside his brother, arms folded, his expression guarded but attentive.
The twin pillars of the Hyūga clan studied the small boy seated before them, searching for cracks, for childish ignorance, anything that would disprove the weight of his words.
But Menma did not fidget. He did not avert his gaze. He sat straight-backed, composed, far too calm for a child his age, sitting before powerful figures of Konoha's most powerful clans.
With the Third Hokage and Fugaku Uchiha present, Hiashi knew one thing for certain.
They could not dismiss Menma outright. Especially after the event's with Danzo and the Root. With the threat of war looming over the leaf with the cloud village. Hiashi had to do something before his brother was sacrificed in his place.
At last, Hiashi spoke. "Very well," he said evenly. "You asked what has already occurred. Then I will answer, but understand this clearly Menma. What you hear must never leave this room."
Menma inclined his head. His voice was steady, respectful. "I understand, Lord Hyūga."
Hizashi exhaled quietly and began. The story condense, made easy for a child to understand. The Cloud Village ninja had arrived to the leaf village under the banner of peace. A diplomatic mission meant to finalize a peace treaty. The cloud and the leaf had be in conflict on and off before and after the third Shinobi World War . The ninja's smiles bright but practiced. Their words were respectful. But their intent had been anything but peaceful.
One of their shinobi had infiltrated the Hyūga compound in the dead of night, slipping past guards, and had been caught fleeing the inner grounds, with Hiashi's daughter in his arms. Hiashi had intercepted him. The confrontation was brief and the ninja died in the conflict.
The Cloud shinobi had died at Hiashi's hand. Menma listened without interruption, his expression unchanged. Inside, his thoughts aligned perfectly with the memories he carried from his past life.
There were no deviation or anomalies in his story. Which means the leaf is in a tight spot. To be more specific, Hiashi Hygua is in a tough spot.
Hizashi continued, his jaw tightening.
"The Cloud immediately demanded compensation. They claim their shinobi was murdered during a peace negotiation. They threaten war if the matter is not resolved. They wanted my life as compensation."
Menma nodded slowly. He already knew the conclusion they were circling. They were gonna sacrifice Hizashi. Since he was a member of the Branch family.
Then Menma spoke.
"Your current solution," he said calmly, "is to sacrifice Lord Hizashi in place of Lord Hiashi. His death will satisfy the Cloud since you both are twins, and the Byakugan will be sealed upon death, preventing them from stealing it. Which was their original plan"
The temperature in the room dropped. Hiashi's eyes sharpened. Hizashi stiffened. "How did you know that?"
Menma continued, unflinching. "It will prevent war. But it will also deepen the divide between the Main House and the Branch House. Lord Hizashi's son will grow to resent the Main House. He will become a prodigy, a genius in the family, and that resentment will shape him."
A Hyūga elder slammed his palm against the floor.
"Enough," the elder snapped. "I do not believe in these so-called prophetic dreams or vision. But even if the boy is correct, his words only confirm the obvious. The Branch House exists for this purpose. The Caged Bird Seal ensures obedience. We will protect the Main branch and the Byakugan. "
Menma's fingers curled slightly. A glint of anger surged, but he buried it deep. His mind reeled as he thought. Enjoy this while you can, he thought coldly. That stupid seal will fall. I will make sure of it.
Aloud, Menma turned and asked Hiruzen, his tone deceptively calm, "Why did you trust the Cloud Village's outreach after decades of hostility—especially after what they did to the last Uzumaki jinchūriki?"
All eyes turned toward Hiruzen. The Hokage did not answer immediately.
That silence told Menma everything. Then at last, Hiruzen spoke. "You would not understand, Menma. These are matters of politics. As bright as you are I doubt you can see that far ahead."
Menma met his gaze then spoke.
"It's because, the village fears another great war," Menma said evenly. "The Cloud's military strength, their Raikage, their jinchūriki. The cost would be catastrophic. You believe preserving peace among the Five Great Nations outweighs justice in this case. That is why you are willing to concede."
The room froze. Fugaku's eyes flicked toward Menma, astonishment by Menma's insight. He hide it carefully behind his stoic mask.
Then Fugaku spoke. "So," he said slowly, "you believe there is another way Menma?"
A Hyūga elder scoffed. "Impossible. Any alternative risks war."
Menma inhaled once.
"I do have ideas, but they are risky. But it's better then doing nothing and sacrificing a innocent life. " Menma cut through the noise with a single sentence.
"Remove the Caged Bird Seal from Lord Hizashi's son. Adopt him into the Main Branch House. Name him a potential successor incase Lord Hiashi Hyuga children die. That is the least you can do."
Menma continued.
"You could also sneak into the village and do to them what they did to you. Holding political hostages, but that plan has a lot of risk's. Or send a elite team lead by the Sanin and elite Jonin to send a message. Again these are worse case scenarios."
The elders erupted.
"You dare you little brat—"
"A child of the branch becoming a main—"
"Unsealing a Branch member—"
The room exploded. Hizashi's breath caught with the thought of his son being free. Hiashi's eyes widened despite himself.
Menma sat quietly. He had no other idea's on what he could have done to prevent a war. If Orochimaru wasn't outed and gone from the village. He would have used him to the Edo Tensei, and with the ninja under there control, have him infiltrate the cloud village, and blow up the heads of state.
But that might cause some more issues, but it will give the leaf village more time.
The elders continued to shout in outrage.
"Madness!"
"Unthinkable!"
"Lord Hiashi may yet have more children and to speak of them dying..."
Menma turned his gaze, not to the elders, but to Hiashi and his wife.
He extended his unusual chakra senses fully. He refined his focus to the lady Hyuga. No faint traces of chakra
Menma opened his eyes. " By next years time Lord Hyuga. Your wife will be with child," he said calmly. "It will be a girl. But the birth will have complications, it will result in the death of your wife."
Gasps rippled through the room.
Hiashi's wife eyes, instinctively placing a hand over her stomach. Slowly, she nodded.
Menma's voice hardened.
" If you act she will die not long after childbirth due to complications. Secure a highly trained medical ninja. If you can get Lady Tsunade you will taken care of. Or her attendant Shizune will suffice if Lady Tsunade cannot be reached. It's not a guarantee, but the likeliness of your wife living will increase."
Silence.
Hiashi closed his eyes for a brief moment, then took his wife's hand.
Hiashi nodded once.
Hiashi turned back to Menma. "What else?"
Menma's expression was cold.
"That is all I can offer you Lord Hyuga. If I knew before hand I would have warned you all."
Fugaku and Hiruzen remained quiet. The meeting ended shortly after. No decisions were announced, but something had shifted.
Later that night, deep within the Hyūga compound, Hiashi and Hizashi sat alone, sharing a quiet drink. No elders or main or branch house politics. Just two brothers .They spoke honestly. For the first time in years.
"Can you do it Hiashi." Hizashi asked staring at the sky along his brother.
Hiashi looked down at his drink. His eyes sad and longing. "I don't want you to do this. Your my brother, you shouldn't have to die for my actions."
Hizashi just smiled and said. "This is my choice, and I want to go out on my own terms. Just promise me you will take care of Neji. Regardless of what the others say, and regardless of what father says."
Elsewhere, Menma sat cross-legged in his apartment, palms resting against the massive stone that housed Sun Wu kong's dormant form. Chakra flowed steadily from him into the rock.
The events of the day weighed heavily on him. He knew he couldn't save everyone, he thought. But he can change the direction of event's. Even if it's just a little.
A faint pulse answered him from within the stone.
Menma smirked. "Yeah… I know. I'm over thinking. I guess even in this life I can't help it."
At the Hokage Mansion, tensions ran high. "The Cloud demands an answer," Koharu snapped. "They want blood. Those savages just want the Byakugan "
"We will have to wait for the Hyūga's response,"
Hiruzen replied calmly.
A knock echoed through the chamber.
"Enter."
An elderly Hyūga stepped inside, father to both Hiashi and Hizashi.
His expression was rigid. Controlled. "The Hyūga clan has reached a decision," he said.
The room stilled. Fugaku's eyes narrowing from the decision he heard.