"So that's what happened!"
All the people of Konoha finally understood what exactly happened that day.
Hyuga Hizashi, why he sacrificed himself for the Village.
Turns out he damn well sacrificed himself for you!
Inuzuka Tsume: "Damn it!"
Inuzuka Tsume: "I knew there was a reason why things ended up like that!"
Inuzuka Tsume: "So it was you, Old Monkey, manipulating things behind the scenes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's bottom line was refreshed once again.
The Konoha Ninja were already numb to it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was suffering immense inner turmoil.
At this moment, he sat at the top of the viewing platform, feeling as if he were being roasted by fire.
Orochimaru's playful gaze and mocking smile.
Made him feel somewhat angry and humiliated.
He couldn't run away even if he tried.
Uchiha Izuna: Tobirama, do you have anything else to say?
Senju Tobirama: I'm telling you... *beep*—
Muted for ten minutes.
A good hand played into a bad one.
Kakashi looked at the black-framed large screen, his thoughts drifting far away.
Hatake Sakumo's smile appeared in his mind.
"Father... were the events of that year really just as they seemed?"
Kakashi still didn't know that his father was waiting for him in the spiritual space connecting the Pure Land World and the Ninja World.
Whether Sakumo Hatake was too sensitive is irrelevant for now, but the moment Kakashi, like the others, started blaming his own father, that was the final straw that broke Sakumo Hatake.
['I see, that falcon was used for sending messages.']
['No one has come to monitor me for the past few days, not even once.']
['It must be because of the death of that Cloud Village Envoy.']
['How will that Old Thing solve this?']
['The book Shikamaru gave me mentioned that the death of an envoy could very likely become a reason for two nations to start a war.']
['They must be heading to the Hyuga place.']
[Hiruzen Sarutobi left with a few Anbu Ninja.]
[No one noticed the young Naruto playing in the corner.]
[Because Ino and the other two needed to train, and Sakura continued school, young Naruto had been 'wandering' around this area during this time.]
[He finally had a 'harvest'.]
[He didn't follow them, but took a detour straight home.]
[Following them would make him too easy to spot.]
[At the same time, the Hyuga Clan.]
[The day of the Konoha Celebration was the day Neji was subjected to the Caged Bird Seal, and also Hinata's birthday, and the day Hyuga Neji was brought to live within the clan.]
[Hyuga Dojo.]
["Your footwork is too messy." Hyuga Hiashi looked at the swaying young girl in front of him and couldn't help but frown.]
[The death of the Cloud Village Envoy gave him a vague, bad premonition.]
[He had been rigorously training young Hinata these past few days.]
[Although he felt a pang of reluctance inside, thinking of the worst possible outcome, Hyuga Hiashi put on a mask of cold blood.]
["Yes~!"]
[After Hinata stood firm, she assumed the starting stance again and attacked Hyuga Hiashi.]
[To the side, Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Neji, father and son, were kneeling.]
[Neji's forehead was wrapped with a bandage, concealing the mark of the Caged Bird Seal.]
[Watching the girl attacking in the arena, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted.]
["Neji, listen carefully."]
["You were born to protect Lady Hinata, and to protect the abilities of the Hyuga Clan."]
[Hyuga Hizashi said in a deep voice.]
["Yes~ Father~!" Neji replied without the slightest hesitation.]
[Hearing this, Hyuga Hizashi couldn't help but look at his son, and seeing the smile on his face, Hyuga Hizashi's expression changed slightly.]
[Looking at the flustered Hinata in the arena, in terms of talent, she was completely inferior to Neji.]
[His hands couldn't help but tremble, and he slowly lowered his head.]
[The blood vessels around his eyes slightly bulged.]
[Why did his son, who was so outstanding, have to be branded with the Caged Bird Seal?!]
["Hm?!"]
[The moment the Byakugan was activated, Hyuga Hiashi immediately sensed it.]
[He stopped moving, then quickly stepped forward to shield Hinata, forming a hand sign with one hand.]
["Ah—!!!"]
[The Caged Bird Seal under Hyuga Hizashi's forehead protector activated.]
[Hyuga Hizashi clutched his head, letting out a miserable scream.]
[His killing intent was not directed at Hinata, but at the injustice of the Hyuga.]
["Father!" Neji froze, then quickly rushed forward to check on him.]
[He saw that the Caged Bird Seal mark on Hyuga Hizashi's forehead was emitting a faint green light.]
[At this moment, Hyuga Neji seemed to realize something.]
["Go back, I will forgive you, you scoundrel, but only for today. You must never forget your destiny."]
[With that said, Hyuga Hiashi left, taking the worried Hinata with him.]
[Watching their retreating figures, and then looking down at his father in pain.]
[Tears streamed down Neji's cheeks, and he clenched his teeth.]
[The boy who was smiling moments before had just witnessed the cruelty of the Hyuga.]
Looking at the scene on the black-framed large screen.
Neji closed his eyes.
The Hyuga story, narrated by the black-framed large screen.
Had greater impact than if he told it himself.
And the effect was better.
"A captured bird, if smart enough, will use its beak to open the cage door, because it hasn't given up hope of soaring freely in the sky."
"Show me you can open it."
Shiranui Genma was stunned.
"What difference is there between you and that ugly Third Hokage, and those people who curse and abuse Naruto?"
Shiranui Genma was left speechless by the retort.
Inoichi Yamanaka, who was nearby, also stopped what he was doing.
He sighed.
This was someone else's family matter, and as a clan head, he had no standing to comment.
Naruto rubbed his backside and quickly broke free from Inoichi Yamanaka's restraint.
The scene continued.
[Night fell.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi had the Anbu Ninja wait outside.]
[He entered the Hyuga Dojo alone.]
[Candles were lit in the dojo, and Hiruzen Sarutobi knelt at the head seat, facing four Hyuga Elders and the two Hyuga Hiashi brothers.]
[The forehead protector of the Cloud Village Envoy was placed in front of them.]
["The envoy is dead."]
["The letter from Kumogakure demanded many things."]
["Including... the life of the killer."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.]
[After the Nine-Tails Rampage, Konoha could no longer afford a major war. To avoid this conflict, they could only strike a secret deal with Hidden Cloud Village.]
[Furthermore, this incident had escalated to the level of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning had made demands, and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was waiting for Konoha's reply.]
[The dojo fell into an eerie silence.]
["For Konoha... No, I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen!" Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again.]
["There is no other way. If the life of just one person can save the entire Village..."]
[Hyuga Hiashi spoke.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi slightly bowed his head.]
["Wait, Hiashi, don't decide so rashly!"]
["The Hyuga Clan's Bloodline Limit is this Village's trump card!"]
["It is the duty of the Main Branch to protect it."]
[Hyuga Hiashi's father interrupted Hyuga Hiashi.]
["But we, who should be fulfilling our duty, are instead dragging the Village into the abyss of desperate war." A fine layer of cold sweat appeared on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead.]
This scene was too much for Uchiha Izuna.
Uchiha Izuna: Huh?!
Uchiha Izuna: The Hyuga are Konoha's strongest clan?
Uchiha Izuna: Although the Hyuga are certainly not weak, don't forget, you have the Senju and Uchiha ahead of you.
Uchiha Fugaku: Second Ancestor, the Senju have merged into Konoha, so officially, it's us.
Uchiha Izuna: Oh, then I understand. These Hyuga little brats are truly foolish; they probably don't even know what being praised to death means.
[The father and son talked a lot.]
[In the end, the father of the two brothers made the decision directly.]
["Let Hizashi's body be disguised as yours and handed over to Kumogakure."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi personally sought them out and explained the reasons; what he said during that time is imaginable.]
[As the one who killed the Cloud Village Envoy, Hyuga Hiashi had long anticipated this scene.]
["I agree." Hyuga Hizashi said expressionlessly.]
[The two were identical twins; even if Kumogakure got him, they couldn't pry into the Byakugan's secrets.]
[However, the Hyuga brothers' father's words were somewhat ridiculous.]
[If they handed him over, what else could Kumogakure say?]
[If they truly dared to start a war, why would they need so many reasons?]
[The envoy's death was one reason, but handing over an identical yet useless corpse—why couldn't that also be a reason for war?]
[Finally, the two brothers performed a show of 'brotherly love' in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, which served to preserve the Hyuga's last bit of dignity.]
[However, when Hyuga Hizashi bravely faced death for the sake of his son and his older brother, the Hyuga's last shred of covering was gone, so what dignity was left?]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi silently watched this scene.]
[Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi left.]
[Those few Anbu Ninja were also put to use.]
[Hyuga Hizashi's corpse was carried away.]
[It was as if Hiruzen Sarutobi had already known the outcome before he even arrived.]
Neji watched all of this, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.
He looked up at the arena stands.
But he did not see Hyuga Hiashi's figure.
He guessed that Hyuga Hiashi was waiting for him in the waiting room.
Perhaps to prostrate himself and beg for forgiveness?
And then what?
Neji looked up at the black-framed large screen.
"Perhaps in that world... the future Hyuga will no longer have the Caged Bird Seal."
Clearly, Neji suddenly realized that the moment he was struck down by the Nine-Tailed, he seemed to have brainwashed himself.
However, looking at Naruto not far away, he still couldn't force himself to believe that this Naruto could break destiny.
Neji didn't know that in the future, he, like his father, would become a sacrificial substitute, only the target would change from Hyuga Hiashi to Hyuga Hinata, but they were both from the Main Branch.
Hmm... the Caged Bird Seal still existed in the end.
Senju Tobirama truly couldn't stand it anymore.
Senju Tobirama: My older brother and I, in our capacity as the First and Second Hokage of Konoha, announce!
Senju Tobirama: Starting now, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado, along with the clans behind them!
Senju Tobirama: Are all hereby expelled from Konoha!!
Senju Tobirama: Anyone who resists or disobeys shall be listed as a rogue ninja!
Danzo Shimura: "Teacher Tobirama, you should calm down. Don't forget, you are just a dead person!"
Danzo Shimura: "Hiruzen is the Hokage! Right now in Konoha, what Hiruzen says goes!"