[Ding!]
[Your lie has been judged as [duplicitous][affected pretense][substitution][secret swap]. Hyūga Higo, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the others have experienced intense emotional upheaval, reaching the level of [complete belief]. You have gained 3000 Realization Points.]
[Remaining Realization Points: 14,651]
The system notification rang in Hyūga Kumokawa's mind, yet he stayed rooted in place, his face a perfect mask of grief.
"Then send the body to the Land of Lightning."
Hyūga Higo turned to the silent Sarutobi Hiruzen and spoke with careful respect. "Sandaime-sama, we'll have to trouble you with arranging an escort."
"Don't worry."
Sarutobi Hiruzen caught the subtle shift in Higo's tone and knew the Hyūga clan had finally been brought to heel. Outwardly, however, he let out a heavy sigh. "Konoha will remember the Hyūga clan's sacrifice. I swear Hizashi's death will not be in vain."
He was about to take the body and leave when a voice stopped him.
"Lord… Sandaime-sama."
Hyūga Kumokawa stepped forward, eyes rimmed with red. He drew a deep breath and said respectfully, "Please allow me to join the team escorting Lord Hizashi to the Land of Lightning."
His firm words echoed through the reception room, pulling every gaze toward him.
The main house elders sat up straighter, leaning away from the candlelight so their aged faces slipped half into shadow. Cold eyes watched the disobedient boy.
"Hyūga Kumokawa! You—"
Hyūga Higo's temper flared and his voice rose, ready to remind the boy of his place.
But the first refusal came from the last person anyone expected.
"No!"
The moment Kumokawa made his request, Hyūga Hizashi—who had been kneeling silently beside the "corpse"—jerked his head up and spoke without thinking.
That lord had promised to bring Hiashi back, but who knew what he planned to do on the road?
If Kumokawa joined the escort, what if something unexpected happened?
To everyone else, the outburst looked strange.
The others turned toward "Hiashi" with surprised expressions, startled by the unusually strong reaction.
Only then did Hizashi remember he was now "Hyūga Hiashi." Facing their stares, a cold sweat broke across his back. He hardened his voice to match Hiashi's usual cold tone. "You're too weak."
Higo and the rest paused, then recalled how Hizashi had pulled Hiashi aside right before "dying" to leave final instructions about caring for Neji and Kumokawa.
"Hmph. Even with Hiashi watching over him, so what," Higo thought darkly, shooting Kumokawa a venomous glance. "Sooner or later I'll send this brat to join his dead father!"
Hyūga Neji was Hizashi's son, so he couldn't touch him yet. But Kumokawa? Killing the boy quietly wouldn't cause Hiashi to make too much noise.
The next words, however, left Higo stunned.
"Let him go."
The speaker wasn't Kumokawa—it was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Sandaime-sama, this…" Several people, including Hizashi, looked at him in shock.
"Hizashi was probably the last family this child had left."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, his kind eyes resting on Kumokawa. His voice was gentle. "Even if we refused, you'd find some way to follow anyway, wouldn't you?"
Meeting the Third Hokage's perceptive gaze, Kumokawa nearly smiled. Instead he reddened his eyes further and bowed deeply. "Thank you… Thank you, Sandaime-sama. Truly, thank you. I only want to see Lord Hizashi off on his final journey."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, satisfied, then turned to the conflicted Hyūga members with a reassuring tone. "Don't worry. I'll have the ANBU escort the body. Looking after this child will be no trouble at all."
In truth, he simply wanted the ANBU to watch Kumokawa's behavior along the way and decide whether the boy was worthy of becoming that "nail" inside the Hyūga clan.
"…"
Silence settled over the room. The main house elders exchanged quick glances in the candlelight but said nothing. Their silence became agreement.
Hyūga Higo's face darkened. He could see the Third Hokage's clear fondness for Kumokawa, and the realization left him seething.
If the boy truly became one of the Third's subordinates, it would be far harder to deal with him.
He still couldn't understand what was so special about this kid. First Hizashi, then his own foolish eldest daughter, then Hiashi, and now even the Third valued the damn boy!
Kumokawa tilted his head slightly, watching Higo grind his teeth in the distance. He wondered when the old man's blood pressure would finally make his vessels burst. Maybe a few more taunts would push him into a fatal stroke?
He set the entertaining thought aside.
A stroke would be far too merciful a death for this old bastard…
BANG!!
A sudden crash shattered the quiet. A cold gust swept in from the doorway. Everyone frowned and turned toward the sound.
A small figure stood at the entrance, black hair soaked and dripping, chest heaving.
His eyes locked instantly onto the white-cloth-covered "corpse." He froze, mouth open as if struck by lightning.
"Finally."
Where no one could see, the corners of Hyūga Kumokawa's mouth curved upward—a cold, mocking smile.
"Neji?"
Hizashi's expression changed the moment he recognized the boy.
How had Neji gotten here?
Hyūga Neji walked forward like a living corpse, legs buckling as he dropped to his knees beside the body.
"Your father sacrificed himself for the Hyūga clan," Hyūga Higo said, trying to soften his tone. "To fulfill his duty as a branch member and uphold loyalty is his—"
As if the words had finally confirmed everything, Neji—who had kept his head lowered—stiffened. His body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Grief on his young face slowly gave way to rage while Higo continued his condescending lecture.
But just as Neji lifted his head, a warm hand pressed gently on top of it.
"Don't speak recklessly like that. That would only reveal your weakness."
Hyūga Kumokawa's voice was soft. "Right now, you only need to calm down."
"…"
Neji kept his head bowed, tears pouring onto the floor like a broken dam. His trembling body slowly stilled. The others breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
But where no one could see, beneath Neji's lowered face, the anger had twisted into something fierce and savage.
Everyone else thought Kumokawa was simply comforting the boy. Yet Neji, feeling the warmth of that hand, understood the true meaning hidden in the words.
You're too weak.
No matter what you say right now, it won't change anything.
Calm yourself. Hide the hatred in your heart. Don't let anyone notice.
Then remember all of this. Burn it into your bones.
And destroy everything.
Just like the figure from your dream.
***
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