"Hiashi Young Master."
On Monday morning, just after dawn—around six o'clock—Ayane arrived right on time to call Hiashi to wake up.
Subtle sounds came from the room, and soon, Hiashi emerged from inside.
He didn't glance at Ayane, simply walked past her without a word.
For him, whether this maid survived in the end was always an unknown.
To the Main Family, the lives of Branch Family members weren't particularly important.
But only a very few in the Branch Family would resist; most were used to being ruled.
And this habit would be etched deep in their bones and souls, passed down generation after generation.
They rejoiced with the Main Family's joy, angered with their rage, mourned with their sorrow.
Ayane naturally understood Hiashi's coldness; she just obeyed the duties a maid should, quietly following him.
There must be many eyes watching her from around.
She could feel it.
In the shadows, in silent cracks, her every move was being monitored.
Becoming the maid of the Hyuga Main Family's Young Master was not a happy matter.
But that watchful scrutiny, called monitoring, was something Ayane could not resist.
"Hiashi-sama."
After passing through several courtyards, Ayane continued walking behind Hiashi. Nearing the practice field, a slightly younger boy came walking from the end of the corridor.
He looked much like Hiashi as well.
Upon seeing Hiashi, he lowered his head and called out, though his tone sounded gritted, and his fists clenched tight.
"Hizashi, as a ninja, you must always restrain your emotions. Looking like that is truly disgraceful. Have you forgotten your duties as Branch Family?"
Hiashi stopped, looked at Hizashi coldly, and spoke strictly, rebuking him as an elder brother.
"Yes."
He seemed to regain his calm, his fists relaxing, but Ayane knew well the anger, dissatisfaction—or hatred—of this Branch Family ninja.
Hyuga Hizashi.
That was this boy's name.
Just like Hiashi, both sons of the current Hyuga Clan Leader; difference being, Hizashi was born a little later, so he was Branch Family, while Hiashi was Main Family.
He must die for Hiashi; all his honors and disgraces now were not for himself but for Hiashi, the brother he once respected and loved most.
That former respect and affection was now likely replaced with animosity and hatred.
If not for being the Clan Leader's son, flaunting murderous intent like this toward the next Hyuga Clan Leader would have meant being dragged off to some deserted corner and curse-killed.
Sometimes, even within the Branch Family, status differed.
Encountering Hizashi was but a minor detour, not something Ayane paid much attention to.
When they reached the practice field, an outstanding Hyuga Jonin was already there, waiting for Hiashi to begin his morning training.
Due to her status as maid, Ayane was specially permitted to stay here.
Since being assigned as Hiashi's maid, Ayane's position was somewhat higher than ordinary Branch Family members.
Hiashi trained in the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, paired with Byakugan—immense power.
Ayane hadn't learned all of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, only mastered the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms.
On one hand, Main Family wanted Branch Family members strong, but didn't want them mastering all of the Hyuga Family's secret techniques.
Because if a Branch Family member surpassed Main Family in secret techniques, it would be humiliating for them.
And making the Main Family lose face meant certain punishment for Branch Family members.
If Branch Family members performed well, they'd be allowed to learn Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
However, a move called "Eight Trigrams Palm: Revolving Heaven," was an Absolute Defense technique reserved only for the Main Family.
As Hiashi's maid, there wasn't much for Ayane to do, since she still had to attend school during the day, so often wasn't by his side.
Hiashi didn't particularly care; Ayane was just another Branch Family member destined for death at some unknown time, never asking or caring about her.
She, like those previous dead Branch Family maids, was merely an expendable tool at his side.
That's how his Clan Leader father raised him.
The Main Family was the Hyuga Clan's root—so long as the root remained, whether the branches withered or flourished did not matter.
◎
Konoha Year 32, October.
Hakushi had already spent half a year in the first Medical Ninja experimental class. His grades weren't stellar, but as one of the village's inaugural Medical Ninjas, no matter how ordinary, the subsidies were generous.
After graduating sixth grade, he'd report for frontline duty as a full-fledged Medical Ninja.
Just as Hakushi was thinking this, suddenly, news arrived—
The war was over.
Yes, the war was over.
Konoha victorious, Hidden Rain Village defeated.
After bestowing the three Konoha Jonin with the title "Konoha Sannin," Hidden Rain Village Leader Hanzou of the Salamander admitted Konoha's victory, thus ending the three-to-four-year war between Hidden Rain and Konoha Village.
And the so-called "Konoha Sannin" were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—three Konoha Jonin.
The trio were disciples of Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
They brought Konoha glory for winning the war in the Land of Rain, showered in honor.
So most people in the village were sunk in a spirit of joy.
Hakushi was glad too, after graduation he finally wouldn't need to go to war and join the Ninja Realm conflict.
The Sannin returned with many Konoha Ninjas, countless waited at the village entrance.
Hakushi was among them, nondescript in the crowd.
At that moment, he saw the so-called Konoha Sannin.
A man with a deadly aura, strangely beautiful, with straight, black, long hair.
A woman with light blonde hair, smiling, a busty female ninja.
Hmm… Wait, how come there were only two of the Sannin?
Hakushi remembered it as the Konoha Sannin, so why did only two return? Where was the third?
Could it be that, at the moment the war ended, the last one just happened to die?
Hakushi couldn't help but speculate in his heart.
But now, no one seemed to care why only two Sannin came back—everyone cared about the joy and relief of war's end.
Though later, there would still be funerals to attend.
Intense joys and sorrows... Such was the aftermath of war.
Konoha Tomb Park.
After the adults left, Hakushi lingered here in black attire.
The atmosphere of the funeral was bleak, yet the weather was good—clear skies for miles.
Not every funeral day was rainy and overcast.
Ruri wore black mourning clothes, her black hair loose, standing before the gravestones inscribed with Uchiha Ninja names, solemnly placing white chrysanthemums in front of each dead soul to offer prayers.
This war, according to Ruri, had cost the Uchiha Clan three Jonin, eleven Chunin, nine Genin, plus more than ten heavily wounded and disabled, unable to live as ninjas anymore.
"It's over."
Hakushi came quietly over to Ruri and said.
Ruri's face showed little grief; she'd grown used to life-and-death partings among her clan.
Every year, clan corpses were sent back from the front.
She had also witnessed disabled and ruined Uchiha Ninjas fall into despair and collapse.
Ruri put down the last bunch of white chrysanthemums, quietly saying, "How could it be over. Wars can lack motive, but must have purpose, must bring profit. As long as humanity exists, war will never end."
As if she foresaw new battlefields soon to come.
So bleak... but not really; for there was no trace of bleakness on Ruri's face, just stating fact.
Hakushi paused slightly, wanting to say something.
"Don't worry, I'm not so fragile as to need comfort. Born in battle, die in battle—that is our Uchiha fate."
Ruri would never pray for peace unreasonably.
Compared with such things, increasing her own strength was the most meaningful thing now.
If someday the Uchiha lost that strong will to survive through power, perhaps that would be the moment of extinction...