"…"
When the black robed figure appeared and lightly extended his palm to place a sphere of light into Hiashi's chest, Hizashi Hyuga's pupils shrank. He could clearly see that Hiashi Hyuga had no ability to resist at all, his entire body frozen in place and unable to move. Only the fear in those Byakugan eyes proved he was still conscious, which made the method itself feel chilling.
"My lord."
He lowered his head respectfully and paused, licking his dry lips before asking, "May I ask, my lord, how do you plan to deal with Hiashi Hyuga next?"
The shadow standing here was naturally the already prepared Ryuji Hyuga, while the one outside had only been a Shadow Clone. The plan had gone forward with some danger but no real trouble, and under the impact of countless emotions, Hiashi Hyuga had not noticed him at all. His heart had been taken with ease.
"It seems you still cannot bring yourself to kill him?" Ryuji Hyuga looked deeply at Hizashi Hyuga.
"No, that is not it." Hizashi Hyuga shook his head quickly and explained, "I am not familiar enough with Hiashi Hyuga's habits, so I am worried my disguise might slip. If that affects your plan…"
Ryuji Hyuga did not care whether there was personal motive in his words and withdrew his hand from Hiashi Hyuga's chest. Ignoring Hizashi Hyuga's uncertain gaze, he untied the bandages on Hiashi Hyuga's forehead. He handed them to Hizashi Hyuga and said calmly, "Take off your Forehead Protector and give it to him, then use the bandages to cover your Curse Seal."
Only then did Hizashi Hyuga notice the scar on Hiashi's forehead, and countless guesses rose in his mind, filling him with alarm. At the same time, Hiashi Hyuga, whose consciousness still remained, gradually realized what Hizashi Hyuga and the black robed man behind him intended to do. They actually planned to have Hizashi Hyuga replace him.
Hiashi Hyuga's pupils trembled slightly, and a deep cold almost swallowed him whole. When had this started, exactly. Who was this person, someone from Kumogakure or something else entirely?
Had even the moment when that Kumogakure Ninja used a Kunai to cut his forehead been part of the plan. If that Kumogakure Ninja had not cut his forehead, he would not have wrapped it in bandages, and Hizashi Hyuga would not have been able to use those bandages to perfectly hide the Caged Bird Seal on his own forehead.
The more Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga thought about it, the more fear grew, though for the latter it was mixed with lingering dread and relief. He felt relieved that he had recognized reality early and chosen the right path. This was no longer a scheme but a complete manipulation, treating them like puppets on strings.
Everyone, including Kumogakure, Konoha Leadership, and Hyuga Clan, was being played in his hands.
"Do not worry, he will only enter a state of false death."
After Hizashi Hyuga tied the Forehead Protector onto Hiashi's head, Ryuji Hyuga finally answered in an even tone. "His consciousness is still thinking, but his body is no longer under his control. He has already become my puppet."
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga, who was lifting the bandages to cover his Curse Seal, froze for a moment. He quickly realized something and felt a chill in his heart. Did that mean that if he lost his value, this man could personally control Hiashi Hyuga to replace him at any time?
"But…" Hizashi Hyuga hesitated. "What about Kumogakure…"
"That is not something you need to worry about," Ryuji Hyuga interrupted before he could finish. "You only need to play your role well."
With that, he extended two fingers bearing the mark of Root, his Chakra surging as he used Chakra Scalpel to gouge out Hiashi's eyes. There was a dull, wet sound as the two blood soaked Byakugan were removed and stored against his body.
With this, combined with the eyes taken earlier through a scheme that used Orochimaru to kill a member of the Main Family, Ryuji Hyuga now possessed three Byakugan. The Caged Bird Seal destroyed brain nerves connected to the eyes, not the Branch Family's Byakugan directly. After activating the Curse Seal, the Byakugan would go blind but would not disappear.
This was why people like Hizashi Hyuga were so confident that Kumogakure would not discover the truth too early. To avoid exposure, Ryuji Hyuga took stock left behind by Orochimaru and replaced Hiashi's eyes with a pair of blind Branch Family Byakugan. Hizashi Hyuga witnessed the entire process, feeling greater awe toward Ryuji Hyuga's methods while also showing a trace of pity toward Hiashi.
As the proud head of the Main Family, Hiashi had his Byakugan dug out and would be replaced by a Branch Family like him, then reduced to a puppet without freedom. Thinking of this, a sickly flush appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's face.
Brother, can you now truly understand the despair and pain of the Branch Family.
In truth, Hiashi Hyuga was indeed feeling it at this moment, the despair, helplessness, regret, and pain of having his fate controlled. Everything that happened today struck his mind so heavily that it nearly broke him. Especially after hearing that he would remain in this state, Hiashi silently begged in his heart to be killed.
He would rather have died at the hands of Kumogakure than become a puppet without choice. But it was no longer up to him. From the moment he chose, as head of the Main Family, to abandon Hizashi Hyuga, there had been no room for regret.
Now Hizashi Hyuga was only repeating what he had done to himself.
"My lord."
At this moment, Hizashi Hyuga suddenly knelt down, pressing his forehead to the ground in a deep bow as his plain robes spread across the floor. He asked respectfully, "I beg your pardon, but I have not yet asked for your honored name."
Unlike the forced respect he once showed to the Main Family under the Curse Seal, this kneeling Hizashi Hyuga felt genuine awe toward this man.
"My name?" Ryuji Hyuga lowered his gaze slightly and looked down at him. "I have not used my true name for a long time, but speaking of it, your Hyuga Clan could be considered my kin."
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga froze, not expecting this man to have ties to the Hyuga Clan.
"My family name," Ryuji Hyuga said softly, "is Otsutsuki."
A stirring that seemed to come from deep within his blood made Hizashi Hyuga lower his head even further, though his thoughts raced. Otsutsuki Clan? Was there such a clan in the Ninja World?
Could it be some hidden group that never revealed itself. He had no doubt at all about Ryuji Hyuga's words and instead thought his own knowledge was lacking, planning to search ancient records after this was over.
A system notification sounded in Ryuji Hyuga's mind, and he raised his brows slightly. Just borrowing the name of the Otsutsuki Clan alone had earned him a large reward. It seemed this lie still held great value.
The door clicked open.
With a numb expression, Hizashi Hyuga came out carrying Hiashi Hyuga's "corpse." He held a scroll in his hand, and Hiashi's body was covered with a white cloth. Of course, in the eyes of Hizashi Hyuga and Hiruzen Sarutobi, it was "Hiashi Hyuga" carrying the corpse of "Hizashi Hyuga."
"Hiashi, did you destroy the Byakugan with the Curse Seal?" The cautious Hizashi Hyuga still asked.
Hizashi Hyuga gently set Hiashi's "corpse" on the ground and lowered his head without answering, which Hizashi Hyuga took as grief. He bent down, lifted the white cloth, and pried open the eyelids to check the dull Byakugan. Only then did the tight lines on his aged face ease slightly as he nodded to the Main Family Elder behind him.
Seeing this, everyone finally let out a breath.