Chapter 7: The Last Words of Hyūga Hizashi
"I did not die to protect the Main Family! I died to protect my brother and my village!"
"Though Neji is my son, he has betrayed his clan, his village, and his country. His crimes are unforgivable. He must be eliminated as soon as possible."
A, the Fourth Raikage, contemplated for a moment before handing the letter in his hands to his aide, Dodai. His expression was stern.
"Dodai, what do you make of this?"
Dodai took the letter and scanned it, his brow furrowing. "Hyūga Hizashi was pushed forward as a scapegoat, but it seems he bears no hatred for the Main Family?!"
"Instead, all his hatred is directed at his son, Neji, for defecting from Konoha. For the bond between father and son to be so weak... the Hyūga clan is truly a strange one."
The Raikage shook his head. "Dodai, what the eye sees is not always the truth."
Dodai raised an eyebrow. "Raikage-sama, are you suggesting there's something wrong with Hizashi's last words?"
A nodded. "Whether Hizashi sacrificed himself willingly is unknown. Whether these words truly came from his mouth is also unknown. But from a practical standpoint, a testament like this is of great benefit to the Hyūga clan and to Konoha. Therefore, the possibility that it was fabricated is very high."
"That does make sense!" Dodai's expression shifted, a sharp glint in his eye.
Hyūga Hizashi was the head of the Branch Family and held considerable prestige among its members. For such a man to be senselessly sacrificed, anyone with a shred of dignity would find it unbearable. So, to preserve the honor of the Hyūga clan, the Main Family likely forged his last words, tying Hizashi's death to the life of his brother, Hiashi, and the interests of the village.
As for the second statement, it most likely had the hand of the Hokage's faction behind it.
There were only two possible futures for Neji. One was to be rescued or eliminated by Konoha. The other was to remain in Kumogakure, either as a breeding stud or as a Kumo shinobi.
While Konoha was a sick tiger, it still possessed the largest number of elite shinobi in the world. Rescuing Neji would be difficult, but not impossible. However, given the Hyūga clan's rigid moral code, even if Neji were brought back, merely keeping his life would be a luxury, let alone having any kind of future. As for dispatching elite ANBU to eliminate him, that would be a much simpler and more direct solution.
If Dodai were in Konoha's position, he would definitely choose to kill Neji. For Konoha, trading a comrade for peace was a great shame. Killing Neji would be the most reliable way to wash away this dark chapter of their history with blood. The public has a short memory. In a decade or so, who would even remember this father and son?
With Hizashi's purported last words, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have all the justification he needed to eliminate Hyūga Neji.
Assuming both statements were forgeries, the motives were clear.
But what if... what if the words were genuine?
Dodai couldn't be sure. But one thing was certain: if those words truly came from Hyūga Hizashi, then the man was beyond saving and utterly undeserving of sympathy.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Dodai looked at the Raikage. "Raikage-sama, what do you intend to do with Neji?"
A didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Dodai, what do you think I should do?"
A gleam of cunning shone in Dodai's single eye. "Our objective in capturing a Hyūga child was to acquire the Byakugan bloodline. Therefore, I suggest we raise Neji and use him as a stud. In twenty years, Kumogakure will have its own large and powerful Byakugan clan."
A nodded. "The lowest risk for the highest reward. Your idea is sound."
"Then, Raikage-sama, you agree?" Dodai asked.
The Raikage shook his head. "No. I refuse."
Dodai's face showed a hint of confusion. A had always been an excellent leader who listened to the counsel of his subordinates. It was rare for him to flatly reject their advice.
"Why?" Dodai asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Samui mentioned that the boy gave up a chance to return to Konoha and came to us of his own free will," A explained. "If I were to treat him as a mere breeding stud, what would the world say? That Kumogakure has no magnanimity for those who seek refuge with us?"
"Is that the only reason?!" Dodai's expression stiffened for a moment, but it quickly melted into a smile. This was why he followed A with such unwavering loyalty. He was moved by the Raikage's breadth of character.
"No, that is only one reason."
"Oh?" Dodai raised an eyebrow.
"Before we make any decisions, let's meet the boy."
A said no more, instead summoning an ANBU operative.
"Samui, Lord Raikage has summoned Neji!"
A dark figure appeared outside the window, speaking softly to the well-endowed kunoichi.
"Understood." Samui's eyes narrowed.
After a moment of thought, she put the food she was holding into the refrigerator, then took Neji's small hand and led him out of the residence toward the Raikage's office.
They walked in silence for a time.
"The scenery in Kumo is quite special, isn't it, Neji?" Samui finally said, rubbing her sore shoulder to break the silence.
"Yes, it's very special," Neji replied softly, his eyes taking in the sheer mountain peaks that pierced the clouds on either side of the stone steps.
Then, silence fell between them once more.
The strange and magnificent sight of the mountain peaks was a novelty for Neji, who had lived on the plains in both of his lives. But truthfully, at this moment, he was in no mood to appreciate the view. He was too busy contemplating how the Fourth Raikage would deal with him, and what he could do to improve his own situation.
Samui glanced down at the pensive boy, a brow arched. After spending several days with him, she felt she had a good grasp of his temperament. Though he was only four, he had the maturity of someone much older, and talking with him often felt like conversing with a peer.
Looking at the worry on his face, Samui hesitated for a long moment before saying, "Neji, from what I know of Lord Raikage, I'm sure he'll make proper arrangements for you... and if... if the worst should happen, I'll take care of you."
"Thank you, Onee-san," Neji said, his eyes downcast.
The Yotsuki clan had lived on the high plateaus of the Land of Lightning for centuries, renowned throughout the shinobi world for their strength and unity. A was a quintessential member of this clan. He was fiercely loyal to his own people. Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was deferential to outsiders but iron-fisted with his own.
The problem was, simply being in Kumogakure didn't make him one of their own.
Kumo had gone to great lengths to acquire the Byakugan for one reason: to propagate the bloodline on their own soil. The worst-case scenario was being used as a stud. Unless it was absolutely necessary—or unless he had a change of heart one day—Neji had no desire for that fate.
If he could make the Raikage see that his value was greater than that of a simple breeding horse, perhaps he could secure a better position for himself. And so, Neji prepared to paint a very grand picture for A.
"The Raikage's office is just ahead," Samui said. "Don't overthink things. Just prepare to meet him."
There were some things Samui left unsaid. Whatever the outcome, Neji could not change it. And if you can't change your fate, you might as well lie back and enjoy it. The women of Kumogakure weren't so bad. Besides, if he didn't like them, they could always go and steal some from other villages.