In the aftermath of the battle, the Hyuga clan's head, Hiashi, stood watching Neji's silent retreat. The match had brought to the surface many old wounds—wounds that had festered for years. Hiashi glanced at the arena, then turned his gaze towards Hinata, his eldest daughter. She had watched the fight, silently rooting for Naruto, but also with concern for her cousin.
Hiashi exhaled deeply. It was time to reveal the truth.
He approached Neji, who stood alone, deep in thought, still trying to process his defeat at the hands of Naruto. Neji noticed his uncle approaching, but his usual hostility was nowhere to be seen. After the battle and Naruto's words, things felt... different.
"Neji," Hiashi began, his voice solemn but carrying a weight that had long been unspoken. "There is something you need to know about your father."
Neji's eyes narrowed. He had heard all of this before, or at least, he thought he had. "What more could you say? I know my father died for you, for the Main Branch. It was his destiny."
Hiashi shook his head, a rare sadness in his eyes. "No, Neji. That is not the full story. Your father chose his fate, but it was not because of destiny or obligation. He did it out of love—for you."
Neji's brow furrowed, the words confusing him. He had lived so long under the belief that his father's death was forced, that his fate had been sealed by the traditions of the Hyuga clan.
Hiashi sighed, preparing to lay bare the truth. "It was not I who ordered your father to die. He made the decision himself, to protect not just the clan but to protect you. His death wasn't about the Main or Branch families. It was about his own will. He wanted you to grow up without the chains of hatred."
Neji's eyes widened, stunned by the revelation. His father's death had been a choice? For years, he had lived with bitterness, blaming the Main Branch, but now… Now everything felt different. He clenched his fists, unsure of how to process the truth.
Hiashi placed a hand on Neji's shoulder. "Your father wanted you to know this. I've waited too long to tell you, but now you must decide your own path. One not dictated by fate."
---
Meanwhile: Ino's Confrontation
Up in the stands, Ino had been unable to shake what she had witnessed earlier between her sensei Kurenai, and Hyuk. The image of Kurenai's hand, lingering far too long on Hyuk's crotch, replayed in her mind. She needed answers. And she needed them now.
She found Hyuk sitting calmly, his usual indifferent demeanor present as if nothing unusual had happened. Ino's brow furrowed as she approached him, determined to confront him.
"Hyuk!" she called out, her voice sharp. Hyuk turned to face her, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice calm, but there was a faint trace of amusement in his eyes.
Ino crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "What the hell is going on between you and my sensei? I saw her earlier... she was touching your crotch."
Hyuk's face remained unreadable, but he gave a light chuckle, clearly unfazed by the accusation. "Oh, that? You're mistaken, Ino. There was some dirt on my pants, and she was just nice enough to help me remove it. Multiple times, actually."
Ino's expression shifted from anger to disbelief. "You expect me to believe that?! Dirt? On your crotch? And she just... kept helping you?"
Hyuk shrugged, his tone still casual. "What can I say? Kurenai's a kind person. Always willing to help out when she can."
Ino's frustration grew, but the way Hyuk brushed it off so easily made her question if she was reading too much into it. But the memory of what she saw—Kurenai's hand, the way she looked at him—still gnawed at her.
"Fine," she muttered, not entirely convinced but unable to press further. "But I'm watching you."
Hyuk smirked as Ino walked away, shaking her head in frustration. He leaned back in his seat, enjoying the chaos swirling around him, his eyes drifting back to the arena where the next round was soon to begin.