[Hyuga Territory]
When Neji returned, the clan was full of people dressed in mourning clothes.
His heart tightened; he hurried to Sota's office.
But the person sitting inside wasn't Sota.
"Neji, you're back."
Aoto's face showed visible exhaustion.
He hadn't rested much up to now, he'd been busy with clan affairs nonstop.
Neji stared blankly at Aoto, who was sitting in Sota's seat.
It meant…
"Aoto-senpai, where is Lord Sota?", Neji asked again, unwilling to give up.
Aoto's expression darkened. He took out a letter and handed it to Neji.
Neji took a deep breath, trembling, and opened the letter.
[Neji, if you read this then know I am gone.]
[Actually, after our branch family's lord Hizashi was killed by the main family, Koshin-sama realized that if things continued like this, our branch would forever be oppressed slaves.]
[In order to truly be free, Elder Koshin, while outwardly submitting to the main family, began secretly planning a plot to resist the main family.]
[This plan was called 'New Bud'…]
[Unfortunately, two years ago the main family once again used you and our branch's lives as threats, forcing Elder Koshin to take the blame.]
Neji's hands slowly clenched, 'Is this the truth behind Elder Koshin's death?'
[After Elder Koshin died, I took over the New Bud plan…]
[This mission is nine deaths to one life, but if it succeeds...]
[You among the New Buds will truly break open the ground.]
[Uchiha Rengoku's strength is unfathomable, and his intelligence surpasses others.]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen is not his match; the next Hokage will surely be Rengoku.]
[When you read this letter, it means the New Dawn plan has already succeeded.]
[But with the plan's success, the Hyuga clan's power will be greatly weakened, and we will have to rely on Konoha.]
[I have spent a long time researching Uchiha Rengoku's character.]
[As long as we obediently serve him, our Hyuga clan can develop better than before.]
[After I die, Hyuga Asahi, Hyuga Kei, Hyuga Aoto, Hyuga Ryu, Hyuga Teru, whoever survives may take my place.]
[You are the only heir of the branch head, talented and outstanding.]
[In the future the Hyuga will enter a brand-new chapter; do not be bound by past matters.]
[We will no longer be oppressed by the main family, nor chained as caged birds.]
[We will be free.]
Neji's hands trembled as he put down the letter. His eyes burned as he looked at Aoto.
"Aoto-senpai, how did Lord Sota and the others die?"
Where there are caged birds, coups are always cruel.
Aoto sighed, "Sota and those few had been close to the main family for years, all in preparation for this day."
"At the clan meeting everyone had no weapons. They strapped detonation talismans to their bodies so they could die together with Hiashi, Sarumito, Kenji, and Hisashi."
"Of the four, except for Motou, the others were completely destroyed…"
Aoto faltered and could not continue.
Neji naturally felt the cruelty of it; tears fell at once.
"Sota-senpai…", Neji whispered.
———
[Land of Fire]
Obito and Black Zetsu and the others, along with Moryo, Hiruko, had not yet left Fire Country's borders.
News from Konoha arrived.
"What, Konoha split?"
Obito, Zetsu, and Hiruko were stunned by this suddenly falling pie from the sky.
"Hiss, that's exciting," Tobi said, thrilled. Such interesting developments were rare.
The village had expelled its own Hokage.
This was the first time since the era of shinobi villages began.
"Doesn't that mean Konoha's strength will plummet?", Obito began to get excited.
Hiruko also gloatingly said, "Now that this intelligence is out, I bet Iwagakure and Kumogakure will be tempted to act."
Zetsu added, "Under these circumstances, Sunagakure will also join the fun."
After all, Sunagakure was poor and always dreamed of the green lands of the Land of Fire.
With endless yellow sand, little water and few resources, although large in area it was the poorest.
Only Moryo remained silent.
"Moryo, weren't you looking for the priestess? Now Konoha has split; the Uchiha won't have so many defensive forces there," Tobi said.
Moryo replied, "My current strength is too weak. Without a physical body I can't contend with the Uchiha."
Obito looked at Moryo in confusion, "Wasn't your body sealed by the priestess?"
This created a dead loop.
Without a body his power is weak and he can't beat the priestess; without the priestess unsealing him he can't regain a body.
"The priestess is now under Uchiha protection, so I can't move."
"If the priestess weren't protected by the Uchiha…"
Obito's interest was piqued, "What do you plan to do?"
He knew Moryo had some cunning. After all, a monster that had lived many years would.
Moryo grinned evilly, "Since the priestess is still alive, she must care about her people."
"My stone golem army still waits in the palace to be awakened."
"If the Land of Demons is besieged, the priestess will have to return."
Obito's eyes brightened. This plan could chop off one of Rengoku's arms.
After all, the priestess's sealing techniques were powerful.
Now in Konoha's situation, it was obvious Uchiha Rengoku could not return to the country together with Miroku.
Obito glanced at Zetsu out of the corner of his eye, then pretended interest and said:
"Fine. I'll go with you to the Land of Demons."
"Hiruko, what about you?"
Hiruko thought for a moment, feeling this time he lost either because of poor luck or poor combat experience.
Besides, he hadn't brought his people.
"I'll return to Mount Sumeru first to rest and gather my forces."
"And see how the other villages react."
Zetsu was still thinking about Nagato and the others; but if Nagato didn't appear, striking Konoha first was fine.
Whether Konoha fell or not, Nagato couldn't hide forever.
As soon as Nagato came out of the Uchiha territory, he could regain the Rinnegan.
"I'll scout Konoha intelligence; if anything, contact me," Zetsu said, then, with Tobi, sank into the earth.
Hiruko returned to Mount Sumeru.
Obito sensed it was clear of people and asked Moryo, "Your Yomi body has a huge hole in the chest, how can it still function?"
Moryo proudly said, "This Yomi has repaired itself using the dark medical techniques I taught it."
"It can infuse black energy into its organs; even if the heart is pierced it's still fine."
Obito frowned, "I also learned dark medical techniques from Yomi, but I didn't get such a strong effect."
"HAHAHAHA!", Moryo appraised Obito up and down, seeming to ponder something.
He replied dryly, "Since it's dark medical technique, it must be powered by dark energy."
"Otherwise dark medical technique wouldn't be so strong."
Obito nodded thoughtfully.
"Let's go."
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