Chapter 43: You are blameless. You need not die

"You people of Konoha must give us Kumogakure an explanation!"

"We demand you hand over the murderer by noon today!"

"Otherwise, be prepared to face the wrath of Kumogakure!"

"Hokage, do you wish to plunge us back into war?!"

Confronted with the Kumogakure delegation's fierce intimidation, Sarutobi Hiruzen humbled himself, bowing and scraping, offering excuses. Only with great difficulty did he manage to send those harbingers of doom away—then he urgently gathered everyone once more for discussion.

At once, Hiruzen turned his sights on Hyūga Hiashi.

"Hiashi, you should understand by now…

"For the sake of the village, for peace, for the greater good—

"I have no choice but to implore you to make a sacrifice…

"I know it's asking far too much of you, that it's the hardest decision. But as… as Hokage, I… I have no other way…

"Call me weak, call me useless, but everything I do is for the sake of the village…"

Hiashi's face went ashen, utterly devoid of color.

He never could have imagined: The Hyūga Clan had devoted itself to Konoha since the village's founding, generation upon generation shedding blood in its defense—only to end up like this…

"Hokage-sama, are you truly… telling me to give up my life?"

"If it were for war, risking my life on the battlefield to protect the village, I, Hyūga Hiashi, would never even flinch!

"But to die in place of a depraved bastard who tried to kidnap my daughter—? I… can't accept that!"

Hiruzen's expression darkened.

"So you want war with Kumogakure, then?

"If war erupts, won't the Hyūga clan be on the frontlines?

"Won't Hyūga shinobi bleed and die all the same?

"And won't the entire village's ninja and civilians suffer unimaginable pain?"

Hiashi's face flushed red. "These… they're two separate things!

"The Hyūga clan would rather die on the battlefield than throw away our lives for such trash, for nothing."

"Enough!"

In a rare outburst, Sarutobi Hiruzen snapped in front of everyone—immediately sending a chill through them. But then he reverted to his usual air of kind benevolence, even feigning a look of humble despair.

"Hiashi… Please, as your Hokage, I beg of you…

"Let me bear all the blame. All the slander…

"But for the sake of the village, I… I'm begging you…"

He even made as if to kneel, and Hiashi hastily caught hold of him.

"Hokage-sama, you… you—!"

Without a doubt, he was pushing Hiashi into a dead end.

"I… I understand," Hiashi finally said in a voice devoid of spirit, resigning himself to that outcome:

Death.

And not a glorious death in battle, but a meaningless one, steeped in humiliation. Yet he had no other way out.

"I will give Kumogakure's delegation an 'explanation.'"

His shoulders sagged, Hiashi departed in a daze. Hiruzen watched his retreating figure, shedding a tear as though in sorrow…

"Hiashi… you… you're a hero sacrificing yourself for the village—just like the Fourth Hokage!"

Hiashi ignored him, walking off like an empty husk. The rest of them exchanged uneasy looks, said nothing, and left with their heads hung low—no one even said goodbye to the Hokage.

All of them harbored resentment, anger, and humiliation, which Sarutobi Hiruzen sensed full well. Yet he merely gazed upon it silently with a faint, cold sneer.

As long as his goals were attained, what was infamy to him…?

History is always written by the victors.

…

Hyūga Hiashi found himself unable to properly say farewell to his wife and child. How could he face his family, face his entire clan…?

But thinking of them, he unclenched his fists yet again.

If dying alone could save all his relatives, all his kin…

Then so be it.

Still, his wife and clansmen, seeing his face, guessed what it meant. They surrounded him, weeping uncontrollably. Even three-year-old Hinata, sensing it somehow, silently sobbed, tears rolling down her cheeks in grief.

Hiashi gently stroked his wife's hair. Then he knelt down and wiped Hinata's tears.

"I'm leaving…"

Clenching his teeth in a forced smile, he spoke those final words. At once, the lamentations grew louder.

But then—

A figure suddenly appeared outside the clan head's residence.

"Onii-san, you are not going to go off to die for nothing."

The newcomer was Hiashi's twin brother, Hyūga Hizashi.

"Hizashi? You… why are you here—?"

Hiashi turned pale at the realization.

Hizashi smiled slightly: "I've come to die in your place."

Those present were stunned speechless.

"What?! Stop spouting nonsense! This has nothing to do with you!"

"As a branch family member, isn't sacrificing myself to protect the main house my destiny?"

Hizashi let out a wry laugh, but then shook his head: "No… I'm not doing this because I'm in the branch family.

"I'm doing it so I can protect my older brother."

"Hizashi, you—!"

"Onii-san, you're the clan head. If you die, the Hyūga clan will weaken—whether main or branch family, we'd all lose. That includes Neji as well…"

Mentioning his son made Hizashi's eyes fill with sadness.

"Onii-san, we're twins. Even our clan members can't really tell us apart, let alone outsiders. So only if I die in your place can the problem be truly solved.

"Think of it as the best choice for everyone."

Hiashi, logically, knew his brother was right. But emotionally, he refused to accept it. The Hyūga's main-branch system might be corrupt, but they were twin brothers with the same mother, who grew up alongside each other—could they have no bond?

Blood is thicker than water, an undeniable truth.

"Hizashi… I—"

"No need for words. I've already said goodbye to Neji. My mind's made up. This is…

"The last thing I can do for you and for the whole Hyūga clan.

"Please, Onii-san, take care of Neji once I'm gone…"

With that, Hizashi turned resolutely to leave.

"Hizashi!"

Hiashi finally couldn't help but run after him.

…

By midday, in the place they had agreed upon—the plaza in front of the Hokage's building—

Kumogakure's envoy of thirteen shinobi lined up, waiting for Konoha to hand over Hyūga Hiashi.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha's top officials also gathered there in wait.

Finally, "Hyūga Hiashi" arrived…

Every Konoha ninja present felt only shame and pity—a sense of tragedy at sacrificing their own. But they had no power to intervene.

Hiruzen, likewise, wore an expression of helpless sorrow, lowering his head as if he couldn't bear to watch.

"Hyūga Hiashi" wore a faint smile.

"I'm here, Kumogakure envoys. I alone take responsibility for killing your ninja head.

"I'll trade my life for his, in hopes that my death preserves peace between Konoha and Kumo!"

He raised a kunai toward his heart. If a branch member of the Hyūga died, the Caged Bird seal on his forehead would be triggered, destroying both the Byakugan and his brain, ensuring no theft of the eyes.

Seeing all this, the Konoha ninjas felt unimaginable anger and shame. From a distance, hidden from view, the real Hiashi clenched his mouth shut to stifle any outcry.

"Hizashi…"

In that moment, he felt boundless hate and despair.

As for the Kumo envoys, each one bore a smug grin. Two clashing emotions swirled in the air: an anger that could spark war, and a gloating sense of triumph.

But just as that kunai was about to pierce his heart…

SLAP!

A figure shot forth like lightning—its speed beyond imagination—seizing hold of Hizashi's wrist in an iron grip!

"You are blameless. You need not die.

"The ones who deserve death…

"…are them."

That person's crimson Sharingan gaze swept coldly over the Kumo envoys, making them all shiver in shock!

~~~

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