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 Yunchuan. May I speak with you alone?"
Hiashi Hyuga trembled again before slowly nodding, and the others, including Yunchuan Hyuga, had no reason to object. Yunchuan 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 Yunchuan, 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?
"..."
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 Yunchuan 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?" Yunchuan 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..."
Yunchuan 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 Caged Bird 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?