"..."
After hearing the solution offered by Hizashi Hyuga, the other Main Family Elder showed a brief glint in their eyes and began to consider its feasibility together. The more they thought about it, the more it seemed that this method could truly break the deadlock. At the very least, it offered a way out that did not immediately lead to war.
No matter whether the daimyo of Land of Lightning had misunderstood what Kumogakure wanted, the demand had been stated clearly as the "corpse" of the culprit. Even if Kumogakure later discovered that the corpse had no eyes, would they really dare to continue demanding the Byakugan in righteous terms. There was no such justification to stand on.
Even if Kumogakure wanted to start a war, it still needed a proper reason, and without one the daimyo of Land of Lightning would never agree. Without moral justification, it would damage Land of Lightning's standing in the Ninja World, and it would also hurt Kumogakure's economy as commissions within the village dried up. Fewer missions meant fewer means to survive.
Aside from a portion of commissions coming from civilians within Land of Lightning, most tasks came from small countries without ninja villages of their own. Unless a village was like Sunagakure, kneeling before the daimyo and living off his favor, cutting off funding would force them to dismiss their ninja. Mission commissions were the very foundation of a ninja village's existence.
It could only be said that the rules of the Ninja World were deeply warped. Ninja villages and nobles depended on each other while guarding against each other, and ninja brought killing and trouble to civilians who could only rely on ninja to solve their problems. Ninja who produced nothing themselves then had to rely on civilian commissions just to live.
The entire Ninja World existed in a strange and fragile balance. The elders of the Hyuga Main Family did not think this deeply, but they understood that Kumogakure could not start a war without a reason. That point alone made the proposal acceptable.
"Hiashi, it is time to face reality. Our ancestors preserved the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai in this same way," Hizashi Hyuga said solemnly.
He looked at the conflicted Hiashi Hyuga and continued, "For the sake of the Hyuga Clan, even brothers must be abandoned when necessary. This is the fate of the Hyuga Main Family, and also the destiny of the Hyuga Clan."
"..."
The room fell silent, so quiet that the faint hiss of burning candles could be heard. Melted wax flowed slowly, reflecting the nearby firelight. No one present spoke, all of them waiting for Hiashi to make his decision.
By Hizashi Hyuga's usual temperament, once he had decided to die in his brother's place, he would not have let Hiashi bear this role. He should have spoken up and ended it decisively. Yet now, his emotions were tangled as he watched his brother in silence, the words of that person echoing in his ears.
"It seems you are not ready yet. In that case, let us make a bet."
That person had laughed lightly, his tone teasing. "You have already chosen to be a father, so let us see whether Hiashi Hyuga will choose to be a brother, or continue to be a head of the Main Family who puts the so called greater good first."
It was because of those words that Hizashi Hyuga chose silence. Everything that had happened so far was unfolding exactly as that person had said it would. From Land of Lightning and Kumogakure to the leadership of Konoha, the Hyuga Main Family, and even himself, all of them seemed like pieces on that person's board.
They were moved and placed wherever they were meant to be. That kind of planning and control over human hearts only deepened Hizashi Hyuga's awe. He simply wanted to see whether, without that person's interference, his own death would truly be worth it.
"..."
The atmosphere in the reception hall sank lower and lower, making it hard to breathe. It felt as if each breath pulled in thick mud instead of air. Hiashi Hyuga's mind was in chaos, and he could not see through the calm expression on Hizashi Hyuga's face.
The conflict on his face slowly turned into pain. Fear of death, guilt toward Hizashi Hyuga, responsibility to the clan, reluctance to part from Hinata Hyuga, and anger toward Kumogakure all mixed together. He was not truly heartless, just as he was not heartless toward Hinata Hyuga, and his feelings for Hizashi Hyuga had always been there, buried under a hard exterior.
Countless emotions intertwined into a net that tightened around his heart. It was like a ball of tangled yarn with no loose end to grasp, squeezing until even the blood seemed to stop flowing.
"Hiashi!" Hizashi Hyuga barked in a low voice.
"I…" Hiashi Hyuga's body trembled violently as his chest heaved like a broken bellows. His voice was hoarse as he forced out the words, "I am the head of the Main Family. I…"
The rest would not come out. His body bent forward, his head hanging low as he dared not look at Hizashi Hyuga. A deep sense of powerlessness surged through him.
For the first time, he felt a sharp disgust toward himself. For the first time, he understood how heavy and ugly the word "destiny," which he had spoken so lightly before, truly was. At the same moment, a look of release appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's calm face.
When Hiashi spoke those words, all hesitation within him was cut away. He had lost. Hiashi Hyuga had lost as well.
"Brother."
Hizashi Hyuga even showed a faint smile as he looked at Hiashi Hyuga, who seemed bent so low he might sink into the ground. "I still have a few last words about Neji Hyuga and Ryuji. May I speak with you alone?"
Hiashi Hyuga trembled again before slowly nodding, and the others including Hizashi Hyuga had no reason to object. Ryuji Hyuga remained where he was, making no move, silently watching this so called great clan's ugly side. The two brothers entered a soundproof room, Hizashi Hyuga in front and Hiashi behind.
With a soft click, the sound of rain outside was suddenly cut off. Only heavy, uneven breathing remained in the room. Hiashi Hyuga, who had kept his head lowered, seemed to gather a bit of courage and looked up at Hizashi Hyuga.
"Hizashi Hyuga, I am sorry," he said after pressing his lips together. "Neji Hyuga and that child called Ryuji, I will take good care of them."
After he said this, Hizashi Hyuga slowly shook his head, the same relieved smile still on his face. "Lord Hiashi," he said, no longer calling him brother. "Do you know that even now, you are still arrogant."
"…" Hiashi Hyuga froze for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"In the plan Hizashi Hyuga mentioned, there was another choice that all of you ignored," Hizashi Hyuga said calmly. "If you truly had the resolve to die and the courage to pay for your impulse, you could have dug out your own eyes and then taken your own life. The result would have been the same, no loss of the Byakugan, and no war."
"But from beginning to end, you never even considered it. That is how arrogant you are."
Looking at Hizashi Hyuga's unnaturally calm expression, unease rose in Hiashi Hyuga's chest. He opened his mouth instinctively, wanting to say something. Then, in the next instant, it happened.
A dull tearing sound rang out. A blurred black shadow appeared behind him, and Hiashi Hyuga felt a sudden chill spread from his chest. All strength drained from his body at once, and he stiffly lowered his head to look.
A loosely clenched hand had pierced through his heart, emerging from his chest. There was no blood, only ripples like water spreading across his torso. Hiashi Hyuga's body went rigid, confusion filling his face.
What was this?