Lost in thought, he finally felt the dressing change end. Fresh, thick bandages with a strong medicinal smell were wrapped tightly around his arm. "Lord Ryuji, your injuries are very serious, so you must rest," the Medical Staff reminded him softly as they packed up. "If possible, it would be best to have someone take care of you."
From the glances they cast to the side, it was clear those words were meant more for Hyuga Aoi. They knew well that during the days Ryuji Hyuga had been back for treatment, no one from the Hyuga Clan or Root had come by. No one even asked about him.
Only a child named Neji Hyuga had visited him, and even that put the others to shame. The cold attitude shown by the Hyuga Clan was something even the Medical Staff could not stand. Behind the scenes, they had complained about the Hyuga Clan more than once.
"…" Feeling those sharp looks, Hyuga Aoi lowered her head.
After the Medical Staff left, the bitter smell of herbs slowly spread through the ward, overwhelming the heavy scent of flowers. Hyuga Aoi quietly returned to the chair by the bed and picked up the bowl of porridge again. It had cooled a little by now.
This time, her thoughts were calm and her body was not stiff at all. Her movements were natural, as if this were how it should be. Just as she brought the spoon to Ryuji Hyuga's mouth, there was another knock on the door.
Knock, knock. "Please come in," Ryuji Hyuga said.
As the door opened, a faint smell of sandalwood and old books drifted in before the person appeared. Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing a white Hokage Robe and the Hokage Hat, stepped into the room. The wrinkled face carried gentle concern, his gaze first landing on Ryuji Hyuga's right arm before slowly shifting to the space between him and Hyuga Aoi.
"It feels like I came at a bad time," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a light, hoarse laugh. He still walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Third Hokage…" Ryuji Hyuga tried to sit up, but the moment he moved, cold sweat broke out on his forehead as sharp pain shot through his right shoulder.
"Just lie still." Hiruzen Sarutobi used Shunshin to appear at his side and gently stopped him. His eyes lingered on Ryuji Hyuga's face, filled with a feeling he could not hide.
So perfect. As a Ninja of Konoha, this child was simply too perfect. To think that at his age, he would encounter someone like this again.
"Ryuji." With his emotions stirred, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked straight at him and asked in a low voice, "Do you have anything you want to say to all the Konoha Ninja?"
Ryuji Hyuga froze for a moment before he could answer. Then Hiruzen Sarutobi added, "In front of the memorial."
The ward was silent, broken only by the faint sound of wind brushing the curtain. "In front of the Memorial Stone, say a few words to everyone?"
Ryuji Hyuga seemed to pause his breathing for a moment, then lifted his head and met Hiruzen Sarutobi's clouded eyes. In those eyes appeared a rare seriousness, expectation, and Wang, and it was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke from reason more than impulse. It was not only because Ryuji Hyuga had secured victory against Kumogakure, but also because Hiruzen Sarutobi understood his true worth.
Konoha needed a "hero," just as it once had the Three Legendary Sannin and Minato. Hiruzen Sarutobi had long been troubled by the village's lack of successors, and Ryuji Hyuga appeared at exactly the right time to fill that gap. In strength, conduct, appearance, and talent, Ryuji Hyuga was enough in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes to rival Minato Namikaze.
The real value of a hero lay in how they stirred people's hearts, far beyond what their personal strength could achieve. No matter how strong a single Ninja was, unless they reached the level of Hashirama or Madara, they could not shape the fate of nations alone. When beings like the Five Kage and Jinchuriki did not appear on the battlefield, victory depended on morale and resolve.
Although the war with Kumogakure seemed to have paused, Hiruzen Sarutobi's instincts told him it was not truly over. If it had ended, then these acts could honor the fallen, but if someone still harbored ill intent, matters would return again.
After a long silence, Ryuji Hyuga seemed to sense Hiruzen Sarutobi's hope and gave a nearly imperceptible nod. "Yes," he said.
There was no stirring vow, only a simple motion and reply that carried great weight. "Good, good."
The wrinkles on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face eased slightly, and he did not offer further encouragement. He simply reached out with a weathered hand and gently rested it on Ryuji Hyuga's left shoulder.
"Then I will not disturb you here. Rest well and recover your strength. Tomorrow I will have ANBU come to escort you." With that, he smiled, withdrew his hand, and turned away, his figure fading into the light of the corridor.
The faint scent of licorice smoke lingered for a long time. In the quiet ward, Ryuji Hyuga remained in the same posture, sunlight falling across his face with one half touched by bright Wang and the other sunk in deeper shadow.
To speak before the Memorial Stone of Konoha, before so many Konoha Ninja? Ryuji Hyuga looked toward the blade resting against the wall, the one called "Greed," and his thoughts stirred as he gazed at the tightly closed eye on its guard. It truly was an unexpected gain.
The evening glow over Konoha looked like cooling embers, casting deep shadows over Hyuga Clan Head Residence. The kidnapping incident from Kumogakure that once shook the village had gradually been buried beneath ongoing frictions and clashes. As dusk fell, the air grew dim and still.
Wind chimes under the eaves rang softly in the evening breeze, yet they could not dispel the long standing chill within the residence. In the shadow of the corridor, Hizashi Hyuga gazed toward the distant Konoha Hospital, a plain white bandage still wrapped around his forehead.
To others, it hid the scar left by the Kumogakure Ninja. No one knew it was meant to conceal the ugly mark of the Caged Bird Seal.
Much time had passed since the "death of Hizashi Hyuga." The one who replaced his brother, Hizashi Hyuga, had grown ever more skilled at acting, to the point of passing as real. Still, it was not that no one noticed.
"Father, it is getting cold." The timid, soft voice came from behind.
At the sound, Hizashi Hyuga did not turn around, but the fingers of the left hand behind his back curled slightly. Hinata Hyuga held a cup of hot tea in both hands and carefully approached him, lifting her head to look at his back.
She remembered the time after Neji Hyuga's father died, when her father's presence was so cold it nearly froze her. Their exchanges were limited to icy commands and emotionless scrutiny. Yet at some point, something had begun to change.
She felt that beneath her father's cold exterior, there were faint traces of a Lie. In the Byakugan that once showed only "rules" and "duty," there now seemed to be a complexity she could not yet understand.
She had even noticed that he sometimes did not eat his fill, something she would never have dared imagine before. Just like now.
Holding her breath as if waiting a year, Hinata Hyuga finally saw the figure before her turn halfway. The dim light outlined his stern face, and his gaze paused briefly on the cup in her hands before he spoke in a tone less cold than before.
"Put it there." His voice was still low and distant, yet Hinata Hyuga's heart jumped as she sensed a trace of warmth.
That warmth was fleeting, like a brief touch of heat on ice, soon returning to hardness. Still, it made the small joy on Hinata Hyuga's face hard to suppress.
"Yes, Father." Her head lowered, her voice barely audible, yet carrying restrained delight.
She stepped forward carefully and set the cup on the low table. Instead of retreating at once, she gathered the greatest courage of her life and lifted her eyes quickly.
But when Hinata Hyuga met those deep, cold pool like Byakugan eyes that showed no ripple for her, the tiny joy was doused at once. She lowered her head again, hiding her dimmed gaze, and spoke softly.
"Father, I… I will go review my lessons." Then she fled down the corridor at a trot, her light footsteps soon fading from Hizashi Hyuga's hearing.
Watching her retreating back, Hizashi Hyuga understood more clearly just how stubborn his brother had been. What he once thought was her weak nature now seemed largely shaped by her father.
With a quiet sigh, he closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, only a colder than iron light remained in his Byakugan. All churning emotions were sealed away as he turned and left, his footsteps echoing alone in the empty corridor.
He stopped before what looked like an ordinary storage room and quickly formed several discreet hand signs. An unseen Sealing Technique was silently Remove.
The wooden door opened inward with a dull sound, revealing cold steps leading underground as damp air and mold rushed out. Hizashi Hyuga descended without hesitation, the door closing quietly behind him as the Sealing Technique activated again to block all prying eyes.