Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

"..."

Upon hearing Hyuga Higo's solution, the other few Main House elders' eyes flickered, and they all simultaneously began to consider the feasibility of this method. It seemed this approach could truly break the deadlock.

Regardless of whether the Land of Lightning's Daimyō misunderstood what the Hidden Cloud Village truly sought, they had made it very clear that they wanted the "culprit's corpse." Even if the Hidden Cloud Village discovered the "corpse" had no eyes, so what? Would they dare to righteously demand the Byakugan? There was no such logic.

Even if the Hidden Cloud Village wanted to start a war, they needed a legitimate reason. Without one, the Land of Lightning's Daimyō would not agree. If they couldn't stand on the moral high ground, it would, firstly, affect the Land of Lightning's reputation in the ninja world, and secondly, impact the Hidden Cloud Village's economic situation, leading to very few mission requests.

Apart from a portion coming from the domestic population of the Land of Lightning, the remaining mission requests came from the populations of smaller nations without ninja villages.

Unless a village prostrated itself before its Daimyō like the Hidden Sand Village, where the Daimyō cutting off funds would force them to dismiss ninjas, mission requests could be said to be the very foundation of a ninja village's existence.

One could only say that the rules of the ninja world were truly distorted. Ninja villages and nobles coexisted yet were wary of each other.

Ninjas brought death and trouble to the populace, yet the populace could only rely on ninjas to resolve those troubles. Ninjas, who did not engage in production, needed the populace's requests to survive. The entire ninja world was in a strange yet fragile balance.

The Hyuga Main House elders, though not thinking as deeply, also knew that the Hidden Cloud Village needed a reason to start a war.

"Hiashi, it's time to face reality. Our ancestors preserved the Hyuga clan's bloodline limit to this day in the same way." Hyuga Higo looked at the conflicted Hyuga Hiashi and said solemnly, "For the sake of the Hyuga clan, even brothers must be cruelly abandoned. This is the destiny of the Hyuga Main House, and the fate of the Hyuga clan!"

"..."

It was quiet. So quiet one could hear the faint sizzling of the burning candles and the quiet flow of melting wax, reflecting the nearby flames. No one present spoke, all silently awaiting Hiashi's decision.

In truth, with Hyuga Hizashi's former personality, having already decided to die in his brother's place, he wouldn't have let Hiashi play the villain. He should have interjected now to finalize the decision. However, at this moment, his heart was complex. He watched his brother without a word, as if the words left by that person before leaving echoed in his ears.

"It seems you aren't ready yet. In that case, let's make a bet."

That person chuckled softly, their tone laced with amusement. "You've chosen to be a father. So let's bet: will Hyuga Hiashi choose to be a brother, or will he choose to continue being a Main House head who prioritizes 'the greater good'?"

It was because of those words that Hyuga Hizashi chose to remain silent. Everything that had happened so far seemed to be unfolding exactly as that person had foretold.

The Land of Lightning, the Hidden Cloud Village, Konoha's higher-ups, the Hyuga Main House, and even himself… It was as if they were all pawns in that person's hand, moved and placed wherever they were destined to be.

This ability to strategize and manipulate people's hearts made Hyuga Hizashi respect them even more. He simply wanted to see now if, according to the original course of events, without that person's interference, his death would truly be worth it.

"..."

The atmosphere in the entire reception hall dropped further and further, making it feel like trying to gasp for air in a muddy swamp, with only thick, viscous mud filling one's lungs. Hyuga Hiashi felt his mind in chaos.

He looked at Hyuga Hizashi's calm expression but couldn't fathom his thoughts. The conflicted look on his face gradually turned into pain.

Fear of death, guilt towards Hizashi, responsibility to the clan, reluctance to part with Hinata, anger towards the Hidden Cloud… He wasn't truly cold-hearted. Just as he treated Hinata, he had feelings for Hizashi; it was just that these feelings were deeply hidden beneath his stern exterior.

At this moment, countless emotions intertwined into a large net, like a tangled ball of yarn with no loose end, binding his heart tightly, halting the blood flow within his body.

"Hiashi!" Hyuga Higo growled.

"I…"

Hyuga Hiashi's body trembled abruptly, his chest heaving violently, like a broken bellows. His voice was hoarse. "I, I am the Main House head, I…"

He couldn't say anything more. His entire body hunched over, his head lowered, not daring to look at Hizashi. A deep sense of powerlessness surged into his heart. For the first time, he felt such self-loathing. For the first time, he realized how heavy and sickening the light words "destiny" that he had so often uttered truly were.

At the same time, a look of relief appeared on Hyuga Hizashi's calm face. After Hiashi spoke those words, all hesitation and doubt were severed in his heart.

He had lost. Hyuga Hiashi had lost as well.

"Brother-sama."

Hyuga Hizashi even managed a smile. He looked at Hyuga Hiashi's hunched figure, who seemed to be humbled into the dirt, and said, "I have a few final words regarding Neji and Kawa, these two children. Can I speak with you alone?"

Hyuga Hiashi's body trembled again, then he slowly nodded. Hyuga Higo and the others naturally had no reason to object. Hyuga Kawa simply stood in place, making no moves, observing this so-called great clan's "ugly" side.

Click.

With Hizashi in front and Hiashi behind, they entered another soundproof room. The sound of rain outside was abruptly cut off. Only ragged, heavy breathing could be heard.

Hyuga Hiashi, who had kept his head lowered, seemed to regain a shred of courage. He looked up at Hyuga Hizashi, who stood before him, and pursed his lips. "Hizashi, I'm sorry. Neji and that child named Kawa, I will definitely take good care of them for you."

But after he said these words, he saw Hyuga Hizashi slowly shake his head, a relieved smile still on his face.

"Lord Hiashi."

Hizashi no longer addressed him as brother, but used the respectful address of old. His voice was calm. "Do you know, even now, you are still arrogant."

"..." Hyuga Hiashi froze. "What?"

"Actually, among the solutions Hyuga Higo mentioned, there was one choice you all ignored."

Ignoring his astonishment, Hyuga Hizashi slowly began. "If you truly had the resolve to die, truly had the courage to pay the price for your impulsiveness, you could have dug out your own eyes before committing suicide.

That way, the effect would be the same: the Byakugan wouldn't be lost, and war wouldn't be provoked."

"But, from beginning to end, you never thought of that. So arrogant."

Looking at Hyuga Hizashi's eerily calm expression, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly felt a wave of unease. He instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But the next moment.

Pfft!

A blurry black shadow appeared behind him. Hyuga Hiashi felt a sudden chill in his chest. All the strength in his body seemed to be drained away in an instant. He stiffly and slowly lowered his gaze to the source of the cold.

He saw a vaguely cupped hand emerging from his chest. There was no blood on his chest, yet ripples like water spread across it. Hyuga Hiashi's body stiffened, and a look of bewildered confusion appeared on his face.

What is this?

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