At the lively welcoming ceremony, the villagers of Konoha, much like those from the Hidden Cloud, were genuinely excited about the alliance between the two villages.
From their perspective, as long as peace continued, it was the best possible outcome.
Standing high above the crowd, Uchiha Yun observed his surroundings closely to guard against any attempt to sabotage the event.
On the bustling street, three Cloud shinobi were waving to the cheering villagers. The one leading them had one eye wrapped in bandages; it was him!
Yun locked eyes with the man. Amidst the noise and people, his gaze wouldn't be noticed.
From Yun's memory, this man's behavior was bizarre to say the least.
He would later sneak alone into the Hyuga compound to kidnap a young heiress from the main family, only to be discovered by Hyuga Hiashi on his way out. Most absurd of all?
As an envoy of the Hidden Cloud, he should at least be somewhat powerful, but Hiashi had killed him with only three empty-palmed strikes. Instantly.
And yet, the smug smile on the man's face now looked like that of someone on a suicide mission, like a Root shinobi, determined to complete a deadly assignment.
Swish!
Kakashi suddenly appeared beside Yun and asked, "Everything's gone smoothly. Have you noticed anything, Yun?"
Yun shook his head lightly. "Nothing abnormal. But for such a public event, not a single member of the Hyuga clan showed up."
Kakashi replied, "I heard they've got something important going on at the compound today, so they weren't assigned any duties."
At the far end of the street, just like the three-man team in Hidden Cloud, Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze accepted the alliance treaty from the Cloud envoy…
Then stamped it with the Hokage's seal.
The surrounding crowd erupted in cheers, as if war had finally faded from their lives.
Watching from atop a water tank, Yun sighed. 'A thief with a death wish wouldn't bring peace.'
'This plot by the Hidden Cloud was an open conspiracy. No matter who made the move, the culprit would die by Hyuga Gentle Fist.'
Meanwhile, inside the Hyuga compound…
Neji, just branded with the Caged Bird Seal, was staring at the timidly approaching Hinata in the distance.
"She's really cute, Father."
Beside him, Hizashi looked down at his son's forehead. His previously relaxed hands clenched tightly on his knees, veins bulging with tension.
"She is… someone you'll need to protect with your life. That is your destiny… Neji."
The young Neji didn't yet grasp the pain behind his father's words. Instead, he nodded earnestly, "Yes! I'll protect Lady Hinata with my life."
Hizashi's heart surged with emotion.
If only Neji had been born to the main family, his fate would be completely different. Such talent, shackled by a branded destiny, all because of birth order by mere minutes…
His fists trembled. The bloodline curse burned into his son's flesh was a cruel reminder of the Hyuga clan's rigid traditions.
Much later…
The lengthy rituals finally ended, and Hiashi asked Hizashi and Neji to stay behind.
Inside the training room, the three-year-old Hinata began her daily drills with Hiashi, but her performance clearly left him disappointed.
This only broke Hizashi further.
'All this pain, just because of a few minutes' difference in birth? Neji, who was far more gifted, had to suffer a cursed fate, while Hinata, with barely passable talent, was to inherit the clan?'
His chakra flared subconsciously, leaking killing intent. Hiashi instantly sensed it.
"Hmph?!"
Forming a quick seal, Hiashi rushed to shield Hinata.
"Aaghh!!"
A scream echoed through the hall as Hizashi collapsed, writhing in pain from the triggered Caged Bird curse.
"Father!"
Neji panicked, helplessly watching his father suffer while looking pleadingly at his uncle.
Moments later, Hiashi withdrew his hand. "Go home… Today's incident won't be mentioned again."
Hizashi said nothing, simply bowed his head, grabbed Neji, and left in silence.
Bang.
As the door closed, Hiashi let out a long sigh.
He had orchestrated this entire event, leaving Hizashi and Neji behind, highlighting Hinata's poor performance, to make a point.
Rumors of a genius born to the branch family had grown louder each year since Neji's birth.
But no matter how talented, tradition would not allow an exception. Even the clan head's own brother was not exempt.
Only by experiencing such pain could Hizashi be made to understand: in the Hyuga clan, fate was absolute.
Two nights later…
Swish!
A shadowy figure leapt into the Hyuga compound, heading straight for Hinata's room.
From a hidden vantage point, Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, his Sharingan spinning.
He'd waited two days, just as Yun predicted; the enemy's target was the Hyuga clan, specifically the Byakugan.
Tap.
Just as Kakashi was about to leap down, a hand rested on his shoulder.
"It's pointless. If you intervene, Lord Fourth will be dragged into this as well."
Turning, Kakashi found Yun quietly standing behind him. "I need to know why," he said.
Uchiha Yun gestured toward two other hidden figures: "He came under the pretense of diplomacy. No one could stop him. Inside his body, he used a secret technique to mimic injuries caused by Gentle Fist."
"He's come prepared to die. No matter who stops him, it will look like a Hyuga killed him. The other two will use this to frame Hyuga Hiashi."
"Use your Sharingan and look, his chakra meridians have been partially severed since two days ago."
At that moment, the shadowy figure dashed out of the Hyuga compound, a limp, unconscious Hinata under his arm.
Hiashi, having been alerted by a falling pebble, was already waiting.
"Who are you?! How dare you attack the Hyuga clan in Konoha?!"
The masked assailant said nothing, his eyes full of resolve as he charged forward.
Swish!
Hiashi struck with a single palm, Gentle Fist.
The Cloud ninja coughed blood and collapsed, dead.
'That weak?
Hiashi frowned, picked up Hinata, and tore off the man's mask.
Smack!
Hiashi staggered back in shock, his face darkening instantly.
'A Hidden Cloud envoy?'
The realization struck like thunder. A trap had been set, and it was aimed straight at the Hyuga clan.
All for the Byakugan…
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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