"How dare you attack the elder, Hyuga Hizashi! You're asking for trouble!"
As the elder was knocked back, coughing up blood, the others glared angrily at Hizashi.
They quickly formed hand signs, activating the Caged Bird Cursed Seal mark.
Intense pain made Hizashi's Byakugan turn blood-red, but his eyes remained wide open, like a machine without feelings. He walked step by step toward another elder.
It was one thing to bully him, but attacking his wife and child was unforgivable.
"How dare you lay a hand on an elder? This is a serious crime! If you want your wife and child to live, you'd better stop! I can't guarantee what might happen to them!" an elder from the Hyuga clan shouted, fear evident in his voice.
Hizashi had completely lost it. He had pushed the Caged Bird Cursed Seal to its limits, and it was impressive that he was still standing. Most people would have perished by now.
They were genuinely afraid; if the curse didn't kill Hizashi, he might turn the tables on them!
At the same time, the elders were curious about what kind of willpower could allow a person to endure the Caged Bird Cursed Seal for so long without collapsing.
Under the threat of death, they could only use Hizashi's wife and child as leverage!
"Neji, my wife!"
Sure enough, when Hizashi heard his wife and child mentioned, there was a brief pause in his blood-red Byakugan. A sliver of resolve returned to him.
He could still hear the anguished cries of his family, filled with pain and despair.
Helplessness and despair exploded within him.
He realized that for the sake of his family, he could not continue fighting.
If he persisted, they would surely retaliate against his wife and child after his death.
Hizashi slowly relaxed his clenched fist. He conceded, kneeling upright on the ground: "Please, elders, spare my wife and child. I, Hyuga Hizashi, will obey your orders!"
"Good. As long as you agree to our terms, we will treat your wife and daughter well!" The elders finally breathed a sigh of relief, their tone softening, fearful that Hizashi might erupt again.
However, the elder who lay on the ground, bleeding, wore a cold expression on his aged face.
"Since you've agreed, let's go!" The fourth elder urged Hizashi to meet with the clan leader.
"I want to say a few words to my wife and child first!" Hizashi stood up again, a determined look in his eyes. He gestured for them to go ahead.
Several Hyuga elders knew that Hizashi was preparing to leave instructions for after his departure, so they didn't want to rush him.
They exchanged glances and stepped out of the house, but they didn't go too far. If Hizashi tried anything funny, they would notice immediately.
After the elders left, Hizashi staggered over to Neji and his mother, helping the two of them up.
At that moment, Neji and his mother looked dazed. The intense pain from the cursed seal still left them confused. Seeing this, Hizashi clenched his fist again.
"Hizashi, you can't go! Neji is still young; he can't be without you!" Neji's mother was the first to regain her senses. She looked at her husband and quickly grasped his hand, tears streaming down her face as she begged him not to leave.
But Hizashi couldn't meet her eyes. "If I don't go, they will retaliate against both of you. I don't want Neji to live in humiliation for the rest of his life. After I leave, I'll ask my brother to watch over you. He'll help you because of his guilt towards me!"
Hizashi understood his brother Hiashi's character well. If he died in Hiashi's place, Hiashi would surely take care of his wife and son.
"But…" Neji's mother wanted to say something more, but the words stuck in her throat.
For Neji's sake, they had no choice.
"Father, Mother…" Neji slowly came back to himself, repeating their names. His gestures were heart-wrenching.
"Neji, I'm here! Father is here!" Hizashi hugged Neji, wanting to imprint his son's essence deeply in his memory.
Neji opened his eyes and looked at his father. "Father, please don't leave me. Don't leave, okay?" His childish voice was filled with desperation.
Hizashi held Neji tightly, tears flowing uncontrollably. But when he released Neji, his expression returned to normal. He didn't want his son to see his weakness.
"Hizashi, it's time to go!" The elder group seemed impatient, urging him from behind the door, though they didn't dare to enter.
Hizashi ruffled Neji's hair and turned to leave.
"Father…" Neji grabbed Hiashi's hand, not wanting to let go.
"Neji, you've grown up. From now on, you need to take care of your mother. Don't let her get hurt!" Hizashi gently ruffled his son's hair, his tone soft.
"Done!"
Hyuga Hizashi didn't dare stay here any longer; he feared that if he lingered, he wouldn't want to leave.
He forcibly pulled away from Neji's small hand and left the compound.
Behind him, Neji's youthful but determined voice echoed, "Father, I will take good care of Mother!"
As Hizashi walked away, he paused for a moment but didn't stop. A complex smile appeared on his lips—bitter, relieved, unwilling, resolute, and enlightened.
Moments later, the compound was left with just the mother and child embracing each other.
Afternoon
Konoha received the news that Hyuga Hizashi had sacrificed himself for the peace of the village and committed suicide!
At that moment, Neji's mother fainted upon hearing the news. Neji helped her onto the bed, his small hand tightly gripping hers, lost in thought.
Soon after, the peace talks between Kumogakure and Konoha progressed smoothly due to Hizashi's death, leading both nations to sign a treaty and return to peace.
The entire village celebrated this long-awaited peace. Some began to praise the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, but no one remembered that it was Hyuga Hizashi who sacrificed himself for peace. Even the Hyuga clan rarely recalled Hizashi's contributions.
After the departure of the Kumogakure ninja, Hyuga Hiashi held a solemn funeral for his brother Hizashi!
Neji's mother, too ill to attend, was absent. Only little Neji, dressed in white, stood before the tombstone, staring at his father's picture without saying a word.
Both the main family and the branch family placed white flowers at the grave before leaving. However, the members of the main family wore disdainful expressions because, in their eyes, it was an honor for the branch family to sacrifice for the main family.
The branch family members felt a sense of shared sorrow, akin to mourning a dead rabbit or a fox.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, only Hyuga Hiashi and Neji remained. Observing Neji, who lingered by the tombstone, Hiashi knew it was time to give the child a moment alone with his father. He sighed, "Neji, come find me if you need anything!"
At the End
Only Hyuga Neji remained alone in front of the tombstone.
Loneliness and desolation surrounded him! Yet, this young boy was stubborn.
"I've been standing here all day. Aren't you hungry?" As the sun began to set, a child about Neji's age approached. His bright, Dual Pupil eyes shone brightly as he continued speaking, "Want to be my friend? If you become my friend, I'll treat you to something delicious!"
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