Seeing the Second Elder's actions, Kiyo Hyuga felt an inexplicable surge of anger.
They were all part of the same clan—so why did the Main Family continue to oppress the Branch Family? Hizashi had done nothing wrong. The Hyuga Clan had done nothing wrong. And yet, because of Kumo's shameless demands, an innocent person was expected to die.
For a fleeting moment, Kiyo was reminded of a night long ago—eavesdropping on her grandfather's concerns about Hyuga Mirai's talent, which led to his decision to suppress him. At the time, Kiyo had felt powerless to object. Her grandfather had only wanted to protect her, and though she had disagreed with his decision, she never had the right to question him.
Yet, she had often wondered—if she had been more resolute, if she had stepped forward that night and persuaded her grandfather to fully support Hyuga Mirai, would things have turned out differently?
Now, standing before the Second Elder, her patience snapped.
"This is the best solution," the elder stated coldly. "It is the duty of the Branch Family."
"Don't spew such nonsense!" Kiyo's voice was sharp. "Since when has it been the Branch Family's duty to stand idly by while our people are abducted by the enemy?"
Unlike before, Kiyo was no longer just an upstart—she had risen to a position of power. She had both the influence and the strength to challenge the elders. And ever since the passing of Hyuga Nichirin, the already strained relationship between her faction and the Second Elder's had only worsened. Even with the Clan Head's attempts at mediation, the rift had never healed.
"You call this nonsense?" The elder scoffed. "To preserve the purity of the Hyuga bloodline, the Branch Family must fulfill its role! Or have you forgotten? Konoha cannot afford another war!"
"Enough, Hyuga Souun." Kiyo's tone was ice-cold, her Byakugan activating as the veins near her temples bulged. The moment their eyes met, the elder involuntarily took a step back.
It wasn't just the intensity of her Byakugan's gaze—it was the sheer weight of authority she carried. Over time, Kiyo had earned the unwavering loyalty of the Branch Family under the Fourth Elder's faction. Her control over them had only solidified, and her very presence now exuded an undeniable dominance.
"If protecting our own is considered wrong, then why stop at Hizashi? Shouldn't I, as a Main Family elder, be offered up as well?" Her gaze sharpened. "After all, one of the Kumo envoys was killed by my hand, wasn't he?"
"You—!"
The elder's face twisted in rage. To be overwhelmed by someone so much younger than him—a mere girl—was beyond humiliating. And worse, he couldn't refute her logic.
Danzo suddenly stepped forward, his voice filled with disdain.
"Kiyo Hyuga, if you cannot grasp the importance of this matter, then perhaps you should stay silent. This is exactly why youthful arrogance leads to recklessness."
Kiyo shot him a glacial look.
Then, with perfect composure, she replied, "If Elder Danzo is so willing to sacrifice others for peace, then perhaps I should personally negotiate with Kumo."
She smiled—mocking, yet serene.
"I'm sure the Raikage would be more than satisfied if we exchanged your life and half of the Fourth Elder's wealth in return for peace."
"You dare—!" Danzo's voice rose in fury. His one visible eye locked onto her, dark and menacing.
A former student of the Second Hokage, a leader of Konoha's underground forces, a man known as the Shadow of the Shinobi World—and yet, here he was, being publicly ridiculed by a mere child.
Even with Kiyo's status as a Hyuga elder, this level of defiance was beyond outrageous.
And yet, Kiyo remained fearless.
For all of Root's infamy, they held no power over the Hyuga Clan.
The Hokage's orders could never be enforced upon her unless she chose to accept a mission.
The Branch Family received stipends directly from the Hyuga treasury, meaning they had no reason to serve Konoha's mission system.
Even if some Branch Family members did register as shinobi, their numbers were too insignificant to weaken the clan as a whole.
And if war broke out, the Third Hokage would be forced to negotiate with the Hyuga leadership before demanding soldiers.
Danzo's Root might hold power in the shadows, but against the Hyuga Clan, he was completely powerless.
If he dared to force the Branch Family into Root, then by morning, every covert operation his organization had ever conducted would be neatly documented and delivered to the Main Family.
"Enough!"
For the second time, Hiruzen intervened, his irritation palpable. He shot Danzo a warning glare—this had been a Hyuga matter from the start. Why had he needlessly inserted himself?
And worse—he had allowed himself to be outmaneuvered by a girl.
Danzo, for all his ruthlessness, had done nothing but create trouble.
Hiruzen sighed, rubbing his temples before adopting a pained expression—one of resignation and self-reproach.
"To sacrifice a fellow Konoha shinobi… is not the way of the Hokage."
He exhaled deeply, his voice heavy with emotion.
"I will find a way. I will do my utmost to resolve this without loss of life."
Kiyo stared at him, her expression unreadable.
Disgusting.
In that instant, she felt as though she had aged.
With her Byakugan, she could see the hypocrisy woven into the very fabric of politics.
Everything her grandfather had once taught her—everything she had been warned about—was now laid bare before her.
No one spoke out against the Hyuga Clan's predicament.
Not even Shikaku Nara, the most rational mind in the room.
Because no one cared.
And she wasn't wrong to object.
If Hizashi himself stepped forward—if he chose this fate willingly—then, and only then, could they claim to honor his sacrifice.
But if the Third Hokage or anyone else so much as hinted at forcing him… then they would be condemned for pressuring their own ally into death.
This was precisely why Hiruzen had been furious with Danzo.
The others had remained silent for a reason. Koharu and Homura had not spoken a word. Because they knew better.
Danzo, on the other hand, had opened his mouth and made a fool of himself.
Kiyo exhaled softly.
"So this is how it is," she murmured.
Her voice was calm, but her eyes burned with bitterness.
"After all we've done for peace… this is our reward?"
Seeing the expressions of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Konoha elders, Kiyo Hyuga finally began to understand.
She understood why Hyuga Mirai had defected. She understood the words Orochimaru had spoken to her that day.
This village.
This Hokage.
This so-called "Will of Fire."
"Hokage-sama."
"Lady Kiyo."
Hizashi Hyuga suddenly spoke. He had been present the entire time—listening when the Second Elder declared that he should be the one to die, hearing Kiyo Hyuga stand up in his defense.
They had rarely spoken before. Perhaps, in all this time, they had exchanged no more than a handful of words. Kiyo had not spoken for him personally—she had spoken for what was right.
And for that, Hizashi was grateful.
But he couldn't let her continue. He couldn't let this drag on any longer.
"For the peace of the village, it is only right that I make this sacrifice," Hizashi said firmly. "And I do so willingly. Thank you, Lady Kiyo, for speaking on my behalf."
There was no hesitation in his voice. The way he addressed her—not as a Branch Family member to the Main, but as an equal—was filled with nothing but sincerity.
With those words, the matter was sealed.
Kumo demanded an answer—a life to account for the loss of their envoys. At minimum, they had asked for the Hyuga Clan Head himself.
Hizashi's voluntary death meant Konoha could now present his body to Kumo and proceed with peace negotiations.
The perfect solution.
After all, it was only the death of one innocent man.
But Hizashi had already resigned himself to this fate the moment the Second Elder approached him.
A Branch Family member—what right did he have to claim innocence? His fate had been decided from the moment he was born.
"Hizashi…" Hiashi Hyuga's voice wavered. He wanted to stop him, but before he could even complete the sentence, Hizashi cut him off.
"Lord Hiashi, this is my decision. Please, do not try to stop me."
His tone was calm, unwavering.
"But before I die, I have one request. I hope that you will grant it."
Hiashi hesitated, unable to meet Hizashi's gaze. "What is it?"
"I want my son to become Lady Kiyo's disciple. Please, I entrust Neji to her."
Kiyo Hyuga spoke before Hiashi could respond.
"I accept." Her voice was steady. "Lord Hiashi, do you have any objections?"
She had no right to object anymore. Hizashi had made his choice.
Hiashi bowed his head slightly.
"Of course not, Hizashi."
His voice was distant. Neji was his nephew, a Branch Family child, and the Caged Bird Seal was in his hands. And yet, at this final moment, Hizashi had chosen to entrust his only son to someone else.
It was humiliating.
"Thank you, Lord Hiashi. Thank you, Lady Kiyo."
Hizashi smiled, then focused his chakra—severing his own heartstring.
It was an impossible feat for most, but the Hyuga Clan had complete control over their chakra pathways. Directing a lethal burst of chakra to his own heart was as effortless as striking down an enemy.
His body collapsed.
And as the life drained from him, the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead dissolved.
By the time it fully vanished, his Byakugan had been destroyed.
Even in death, his eyes—his clan's most coveted treasure—would remain out of reach.
With his corpse handed over, Kumo would have no choice but to accept the terms.
The crisis was resolved.
Everyone got what they wanted.
And yet, the room was unbearably heavy.
Kushina Uzumaki stood frozen, staring at Hizashi's lifeless body, unable to speak.
She had seen it all—the cause, the argument, the conclusion.
And because she understood everything, Konoha suddenly felt like a strange, unfamiliar place.
This…
This was the village Minato had died protecting?
When had it become this?
Even within the heavily guarded Hokage Tower, the safest place in the village, Kushina felt an overwhelming sense of unease.
"Hokage-sama."
Kiyo Hyuga's voice broke the silence.
But this time, she sounded detached—as if the fire and defiance she had displayed earlier had vanished completely.
Before Hiruzen could respond, she continued.
"I left the Academy earlier than most, and there's something from the textbooks I never quite understood. Perhaps you could enlighten me—"
She looked him straight in the eye.
"What exactly is the Will of Fire?"
The moment those words left her lips, Hiruzen's expression darkened.
Because no matter what he said, standing in front of Hizashi Hyuga's corpse, his answer would sound like a joke.
(End of Chapter)