"Outrageous!"
Hizashi Hyuga looked over with cold eyes and fixed Ryuji Hyuga in a hard stare as he scolded him in a low voice. "Byakugan concerns the century long foundation of the Hyuga Clan. This is a choice about the fate of the clan. How dare you speak out of turn!"
"So this is the fate of the clan."
Ryuji Hyuga swept his gaze across the face of every elder present, the pale pupils reflecting candlelight and dark shadows as he let out a cold laugh. "Was my father being tortured to death by your Curse Seal also for the sake of the clan's fate?"
Several Main Family Elder present stiffened almost at once, their hands tightening slightly on their thighs as their eyes flicked toward the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi at the side. This kind of matter sounded ugly no matter how it was explained. Some things seemed light when left unspoken, but once placed on the scale they became unbearably heavy.
Ryuji Hyuga's father had been a registered Jonin of Konoha, so the clan had always told outsiders that his death came from protecting the Main Family. That was also why Ryuji Hyuga had been allowed to receive certain benefits. Now that Ryuji Hyuga said it out loud in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, several elders felt the anger of having an ugly truth exposed before an outsider.
"A Branch Family protecting his master is his duty. The Main Family are the Hyuga Clan's Root. Your father died where he should have died!"
Hizashi Hyuga's expression darkened to a frightening degree as he felt openly challenged, the arrogance of authority no longer concealed.
"Died where he should have?" Ryuji Hyuga said coldly. "Me, my father, and Lord Hizashi Hyuga have the same blood flowing in our bodies as you, yet we cannot even obtain the clan's inherited Ninjutsu. Now you want us to die, and only then you remember that we share the same origin as the Root?"
"Outrageous!"
"Arrogant!"
Two hot tempered Main Family Elder rose in anger, and if not for Hiruzen Sarutobi being present, they would already have activated the Curse Seal to punish him. Facing their furious shouts, Ryuji Hyuga held his ground without retreating, though his eyes flickered with hidden calculation. He was acting this scene not because he wanted to die, but because he knew that if his next plan succeeded, he would no longer be able to remain within the Hyuga Clan.
Even without today's outburst, he would have become someone the Main Family feared, and most likely would have been quietly eliminated. He could undo the Caged Bird Seal, but he could not reveal that yet. What he needed was to make the Hyuga Main Family afraid to touch him.
He needed a new patron, one stronger than the Hyuga Main Family, and a new platform larger than the Hyuga Clan. Thinking of this, Ryuji Hyuga glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat kneeling like a stone statue, silent as if deep in thought. At that moment, a trace of understanding passed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's clouded eyes as his gaze lifted slightly and swept over Ryuji Hyuga's grief stricken face behind Hizashi Hyuga.
So it was for his father and for Hizashi Hyuga that he spoke. This child was indeed someone who valued bonds deeply, just too straightforward to hide his feelings. Yet this was exactly the kind of subordinate those in power preferred.
"It's just a pity," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. "If only his strength were greater."
The recent arrogance of the Hyuga Clan and the growing dissatisfaction of the Uchiha Clan had made this Hokage wary. His control over these two major clans of Konoha was still too weak, and he was already considering promoting people from within them. No matter what, he needed to drive a few Root nails into both clans so he would not be blind if they moved in the future.
This was almost instinctive caution for someone in power. On the Uchiha Clan side, after gathering and analyzing intelligence, he had chosen Uchiha Shisui, a descendant of Uchiha Kagami. On the Hyuga Clan side, however, there had been no suitable candidate.
Those of the Main Family would never obey him, and those of the Branch Family did not dare resist the Main Family. Obedience had long been carved into their souls along with the Caged Bird Seal, and most of the Branch Family were already used to the lofty position of the Main Family. Now that he looked at it, Ryuji Hyuga seemed quite suitable, though his strength still felt lacking.
"Enough, Ryuji. Stop talking."
Hizashi Hyuga spoke calmly, his peripheral vision catching Ryuji Hyuga's reddened eyes and the grief and resentment on his face. Ryuji Hyuga had followed because he had come earlier to return a Ninjutsu scroll, and Hizashi Hyuga happened to be in the guest room at the time. Hizashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga had been discussing letting Hizashi Hyuga die in Hiashi's place, and Hizashi Hyuga, with his greater combat experience, had noticed the hurried breathing outside the room.
He had found an excuse to send Hizashi Hyuga away before stepping out, only to see Ryuji Hyuga standing outside as if struck by lightning. Fortunately, he had stopped Ryuji Hyuga when his face twisted with anger, or the boy would have rushed in and might even have dared to strike at Hizashi Hyuga. Thinking of how Ryuji Hyuga had lost control then, and seeing his lingering resentment now, Hizashi Hyuga felt a stir in his heart.
He had not expected that his care in recent days would make this orphaned child grow so close, unable to hide his anger upon hearing that he would die in his place. This child valued bonds too deeply, and it was hard to say whether that was good or bad.
"Wait, hold on."
Hiashi Hyuga came back to his senses, as if realizing something, and quickly stood up. "What do you mean by a final journey, by someone about to die? You…"
Hizashi Hyuga forcibly suppressed the anger he felt at being offended and no longer looked at the boy he found utterly repulsive. He said coldly, "We will hand over Hizashi Hyuga's body as your substitute."
"Hizashi Hyuga has already agreed."
Those words made Hiashi Hyuga stare at Hizashi Hyuga in disbelief. How could this be, how could Hizashi Hyuga agree? Had he not been left with nothing but hatred for me as his brother?
"But, but…" In his shock, Hiashi Hyuga spoke without thinking. "What Land of Lightning and Kumogakure want is the Byakugan. After Hizashi Hyuga dies, the Byakugan will be destroyed as well. If that is the case, Land of Lightning and Kumogakure will not accept it."
"From the attempt by the Kumogakure Ninja to abduct Hinata Hyuga, it is clear that Kumogakure did plan that," Hizashi Hyuga said, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. "But the condition set by Land of Lightning was for us to 'hand over the corpse of the murderer Hiashi Hyuga.'"
"As long as we pretend to accept this condition and then hand over Hizashi Hyuga, who looks just like you, Kumogakure will have no legitimate reason to keep pressing us."
Hearing this, Hiashi Hyuga opened his mouth but could not speak, and instinctively looked toward the silent Hizashi Hyuga. Hizashi Hyuga's expression was calm, as if he had already accepted his fate. In truth, he was waiting.
He was waiting for an answer, waiting for a choice. He was waiting to see whether his good brother would make the same choice and give the same answer as that lord had said.