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

[Ding!]

[Your lie has been judged as [Duplicity] [Artful Deceit] [Substituting One for Another] [A Cunning Switch], Hyuga Higo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others experienced intense emotional fluctuations, reaching the degree of [Firm Belief], obtaining 3000 Reality Points.]

[Remaining Reality Points: 14651]

The system prompt echoed in Hyuga Kawa's mind, but he remained standing still, his expression sorrowful.

"Then let's send the body to the Land of Lightning."

Hyuga Higo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained silent throughout, and said respectfully, "Third Hokage, I'll trouble you to send people to escort it."

"Don't worry."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, keenly aware of Hyuga Higo's shift in attitude, knew in his heart that the Hyuga clan had been chastised this time. On the surface, however, he sighed deeply. "Konoha will remember the Hyuga clan's great righteousness. I will not let Hizashi's sacrifice be in vain."

With that, he was about to leave with the body, but at that moment, a voice suddenly reached his ears.

"Grandfather Third… Third Hokage."

Hyuga Kawa, his eyes slightly red, stepped forward, exhaled deeply, and respectfully said, "Please allow me to join the escort team to the Land of Lightning to send off Lord Hizashi."

His resounding words echoed in the reception hall, causing the few people present to instinctively look over. Several Main House elders straightened slightly, moving away from the candlelight to conceal half of their aged faces in shadow, their cold gazes observing the unruly youth.

"Hyuga Kawa! You…"

Hyuga Higo was clearly losing his temper. He raised his voice, intending to scold the boy for his impertinence. But before he could finish, the first person to object was another unexpected individual.

"No!"

Hearing Hyuga Kawa's request, Hyuga Hizashi, who had been kneeling silently before the "corpse," suddenly looked up and blurted out instinctively. That Lord had said he would bring Hiashi back, and he didn't know what he would do during the escort. If Kawa joined the escort team, what if something went wrong?

However, to the others, his reaction seemed abnormal. The few people present turned their heads in surprise, looking at the overly agitated "Hiashi." Hizashi then realized he was now "Hyuga Hiashi." Facing everyone's gaze, he broke out in a cold sweat and, imitating Hiashi's tone, said stiffly, "You are too weak."

Hyuga Higo and the others paused, but then quickly remembered that Hizashi had called Hiashi away before his death, likely to leave his will and ask Hiashi to look after Neji and Kawa for him.

"Hmph, what if Hiashi protects him?" Hyuga Higo cast a grim look at Hyuga Kawa, thinking, Sooner or later, I'll make this brat reunite with his dead father! Hyuga Neji was Hyuga Hizashi's son; he couldn't touch him right now. But Hyuga Kawa could be killed without much fuss. As long as it wasn't done publicly, Hiashi wouldn't make too much of a scene with him.

However, the next sentence that reached Hyuga Higo's ears made his face fill with astonishment.

"Let him go."

The speaker was not Hyuga Kawa, but Hiruzen Sarutobi, who stood to the side.

"Third Hokage, this…" several people, including Hyuga Hizashi, looked over with surprised eyes.

"Hizashi is probably the last family this child has," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, his kind gaze falling on Kawa, his tone gentle. "Even if we don't let you join the escort team, you'll find a way to follow, won't you?"

Meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's seemingly all-knowing gaze, Hyuga Kawa almost couldn't help but laugh. On the surface, however, his eyes reddened, and he bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, Third Hokage. Truly, thank you. I just want to send Lord Hizashi off one last time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction, then looked at the Hyuga clan members with their complex expressions and reassured them, "Don't worry, I will send Anbu to escort Hizashi's body. Taking care of this child will be no problem."

In truth, he merely wanted the Anbu ninjas to observe Hyuga Kawa's performance along the way and see if he was worthy of becoming that "nail."

"..."

Silence fell over the room. Several Main House elders exchanged silent glances in the candlelight, none speaking, until this silence became a tacit agreement. Hyuga Higo's face was grim. He could naturally see Hiruzen Sarutobi's fondness for Hyuga Kawa, and for a moment, he felt quite exasperated. If Hyuga Kawa truly became a subordinate of the Third Hokage, he wouldn't be able to easily target this cursed brat anymore. He simply couldn't understand what was so special about this brat. First Hizashi, then his own undutiful eldest daughter, then Hiashi, and now even the Third Hokage valued this cursed brat!

Hyuga Kawa slightly tilted his head, watching Hyuga Higo secretly gritting his teeth in the distance. He wondered when this old fossil's high blood pressure would finally cause his cerebrovascular system to burst. Perhaps a few more taunts could force him into a fatal cerebral hemorrhage? However, he abandoned this seemingly interesting thought. Dying from a cerebral hemorrhage was too easy a death for this old man…

Bang!!

A sudden loud noise broke the room's stillness. A chilling wind blew in from the opened door. Everyone frowned and turned towards the sound. They saw a small figure standing in the doorway, wet black hair dripping with rain, his chest still heaving violently. The newcomer immediately spotted the "corpse" covered by the white cloth. His entire body froze like he'd been struck by lightning, his mouth agape.

"He's finally here."

In a place no one noticed, a smirk formed on Hyuga Kawa's lips. It was like a cold laugh, like mockery.

"Neji?"

Finally recognizing the newcomer's face, Hizashi's expression subtly changed. How did Neji get here?

Hyuga Neji walked stiffly, like a zombie, then his legs gave out, and he knelt beside the "corpse."

"Your father sacrificed himself for the Hyuga clan," Hyuga Higo tried to soften his tone. "To uphold loyalty and righteousness as a Branch House head, it is his…"

As if finally confirming something, the head-bowed Hyuga Neji suddenly stiffened, his body trembling uncontrollably. The grief on his face was replaced by anger, bit by bit, while Hyuga Higo continued to prattle on from his high perch.

But just as Neji was about to raise his head, a warm hand rested upon it.

"Do not easily speak wild words. That will only reveal your weakness."

Hyuga Kawa's voice was light. He slowly said, "Now, you just need to calm down."

"..."

Hyuga Neji still kept his head lowered, tears continuously falling to the ground like a broken dam. However, his slightly trembling body gradually calmed, and everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But, where no one could see, on Hyuga Neji's lowered, young face, the anger had twisted into a savage expression. Others only thought Hyuga Kawa was comforting him, but Hyuga Neji, feeling the warmth and gentleness of that hand, inexplicably heard the true meaning within those words.

You are too weak.

No matter what you say now, nothing will change.

You need to calm down now, hide the hatred in your heart, and don't let anyone find out.

Then, remember all of this. Etch it into your bones, and then destroy everything.

Just like that figure in the dream.