In the backyard, Hyūga Hizashi, who was monitoring a child practicing Gentle Fist, looked puzzled and frowned as he glanced toward the entrance.
Through his Byakugan, he could see a few people standing at the entrance. He could vaguely hear someone calling his name.
Who had come looking for him?
And how did they enter his home without permission?
The child practicing Gentle Fist seemed to have noticed the commotion at the entrance as well. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked determined. A headband covered his forehead.
That child was Hyūga Neji, Hizashi's son.
"Father, is someone here?" Hyūga Neji blinked and looked at his father, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Let's go and see!" Hizashi gently ruffled Neji's hair and led him toward the front yard. At this moment, neither father nor son sensed any danger.
They walked along, talking and laughing, enjoying a warm father-son moment.
When they reached the front yard, they saw several elders standing there, exuding an imposing aura. Lying on the ground was a woman, her cheeks swollen, and there were traces of blood at the corner of her mouth.
"Mother, Mother, are you okay?" Neji immediately ran over and helped the woman up, his face full of worry.
{I checked, and Neji's mother doesn't appear in the series. She likely died in battle or from illness. I lean towards the idea that she passed away from grief from Hizashi's death.}
While asking, Neji glared angrily at the Hyūga clan elders who had intruded, his eyes burning with rage.
If Neji were strong enough, he would have wanted to cut down anyone who dared to harm his mother!
"Elders, what is the meaning of this?" Hizashi's expression tightened when he saw his wife had been hurt. Though anger simmered inside him, he did not let it show.
Because of the Caged Bird Seal, if the elders sensed his anger, they would punish him!
As a branch member, he could not show any hostility toward the main family.
{In the manga, there is a scene where Neji and Hinata are sparring, and Hizashi is unhappy with Hinata's skills. Hiashi, the head of the clan, activates the curse mark immediately.}
"Hizashi, are you displeased with our actions?" The head elder looked at him, enunciating each word.
"That's not it!" Hyuga Hizashi shook his head and looked at the elders, who had come to confront him. "I'm just curious why you all have come to my home. As far as I know, I haven't done anything wrong lately."
As a member of the branch family, Hizashi had resigned himself to a life of following the orders of the main family.
"You haven't done anything wrong, but there's something we need you to do!" One of the elders spoke, unfazed by the look of humiliation on Hizashi's face. "Come with us quickly!"
"Hizashi, the time has come for you to make a sacrifice for the family!"
"This is your greatest purpose as a member of the branch family!"
The others echoed this sentiment, their expressions indifferent as they looked at him. To them, a branch family member didn't amount to much, even if he was the younger brother of the current clan head.
"What do you need me to do?" Hizashi sensed that something bad was about to happen, so he asked with a hint of caution on his face.
"It's not that big of a task; we just need your body," the head elder said, showing a trace of pity for the first time.
"Last night, a Cloud Village ninja was killed, and now Cloud has issued an ultimatum. If they don't see the clan head's corpse, they'll go to war with Konoha. But there's no way we can let anything happen to the clan head."
"However, you look similar to the clan head, so for the sake of peace and Konoha's future, we have no choice but to ask this of you."
The head elder explained the situation, and with every word, Hizashi felt his heart sink deeper and deeper.
"You want me to kill myself, to protect Konoha?" Hizashi looked at the elders, who acted as if this was the most natural thing in the world. His body felt colder and colder.
He was willing to sacrifice for the family, but to die under such unjust circumstances was something he couldn't agree to.
"We can only ask you to make this sacrifice," the head elder nodded at Hizashi, his tone calm. There was also a hint of displeasure on his face, as if Hizashi's questioning was inappropriate.
"Now that you understand the situation, come with us," the elder said. "This is the most meaningful thing you can do for the family."
"Once you give your life for the clan, we will take care of your wife and child."
The elders of the Hyuga clan began to pressure Hizashi, but their last statement was a clear threat aimed at his family.
Hizashi's expression darkened.
"Elders, Hizashi is Neji's father, and Neji is still young. He can't grow up without his father. Please, let me take Hizashi's place!"
Neji's mother, who had been silently listening to the conversation, could no longer contain her emotions after hearing they wanted Hizashi to sacrifice himself.
"Get out of the way! This is not a place for a mere woman to speak. I, as the elder, am talking to Hiashi Hyuga!" The hot-tempered Fourth Elder of the Hyuga clan kicked Neji's mother away. He glanced at Hiashi with a hint of anger, signaling him to hurry up.
A woman like her had no sense and was wasting their time from the moment they entered.
"How dare you hit my mother! I'll kill you!" Neji, seeing his injured mother, immediately activated his Byakugan. With his small fists clenched, he charged at the Fourth Elder.
"Hmph, a member of the Branch Family daring to attack an elder? You shall be punished!" The Fourth Elder snorted coldly, forming a hand sign.
A wave of mental energy surged!
Neji, who had been rushing forward in anger, suddenly froze. His pupils shrank as he clutched his head and fell to his knees.
The intense pain was too much for the young child to bear, and he began to roll on the ground.
In the distance, Neji's mother also seemed to feel the pain. Although her brow was tightly furrowed, she tried not to make a sound, afraid that her son and husband would worry. But her twisted expression clearly showed that she was enduring immense agony.
{If we're talking about a clan that truly deserves to be wiped out, I personally think it's the Hyuga clan. They are the epitome of a Main Family and Branch Family system, where the Caged Bird seal can control the life and death of any Branch Family member. It's clear from how Hiashi used the Caged Bird seal on Hizashi—this shows the Main Family's attitude towards the Branch Family.}
"Neji! My wife!" Hizashi Hyuga, seeing his child and wife enduring such unbearable pain, quickly stepped forward, trying to lift Neji up.
But the severe pain made it impossible for Neji to control his expression. He looked up, clutching his head, pleading, "Father, it hurts... it hurts."
Hizashi knew all too well how excruciating this pain was, as it attacked the very soul. Even if someone wanted to lose consciousness, the pain would not let them, forcing them to endure it.
"You..." Seeing his wife and child in such agony, Hizashi's desire to resist surged. His Byakugan activated instantly, and he prepared to confront the Elders.
How dare they harm his wife and child? Unforgivable!
But just as he made his move, the Grand Elder began to form hand signs. A wave of intense pain struck Hizashi, clouding his senses.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to endure the pain, and in a flash, he appeared before the Grand Elder.
With a swift punch, he struck.
No one expected Hizashi to fight back, and the Grand Elder was unable to dodge in time.
The punch sent the Grand Elder flying.
"How dare you, Hizashi Hyuga..."
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