The streets and alleys of Konoha were brimming with celebration for two reasons. First, the Land of Lightning and Konoha had finally signed a peace treaty. Second, Konoha's second most powerful clan—the Hyuga clan—had officially split apart.
For the ordinary citizens and lower-ranking shinobi, this was major gossip.
Outside the Hokage building, the envoy from the Land of Lightning could only endure with a stifled face. After all, Konoha had declared that the Hyuga clan's division stemmed from the Land of Lightning's unauthorized intrusion. The fact that Konoha wasn't demanding further reparations was already merciful.
With the village's border defenses mobilized—and even Orochimaru personally appearing at the front—the Raikage had no choice but to sign the treaty hastily. Neither Konoha nor Kumogakure wanted war, even though the other villages would have loved to see these two major powers clash.
In the midst of the village's jubilation, there was one place steeped in sorrow—the Hyuga clan compound.
Inside a solemn, ancient house, the elites of the Hyuga main family gathered. Beyond the doors, members of the clan knelt in silent vigil.
On the bed lay the Grand Elder, who only yesterday had furiously berated the Third Hokage at the council. Now, he was a shadow of his former self.
The face that had burned with righteous anger just the day before was now gaunt and sallow. A weak, raspy cough echoed in the room.
"Grand Elder!"
The assembled Hyuga members gazed sorrowfully at the aging figure. This man, who had stood tall since the founding of the village and endured three ninja wars, now seemed so frail it was almost unbelievable.
The Grand Elder, lying weakly on the sickbed, slowly opened his eyes. He regarded the gathered main family members with a faint, sorrowful smile.
"Everyone... I am afraid... my time has come. I have failed our ancestors... allowing the Hyuga to fall to this state."
"Grand Elder, please don't say that!"
"Sniff... Grand Elder, you'll recover!"
Soft sobs filled the room as some tried to comfort him. Then, summoning his last strength, the Grand Elder slowly sat up, his gaze locking onto Hyuga Hiashi.
"Hiashi," he rasped. "The division of the Hyuga clan is not your fault. Don't blame yourself. I may not last much longer... I'm leaving you with a terrible burden."
Hiashi, kneeling beside him, lowered his head. "Grand Elder, I swear I will restore the Hyuga clan's honor!"
A hoarse chuckle escaped the Grand Elder. His body seemed to regain a shred of its former aura, causing the servants to hurriedly retreat.
"The Caged Bird Curse... it divided us into main and branch families, sowing the seeds of hatred. Even if it vanished today, future conflicts would still arise if someone found a way to break it."
He paused, taking a shallow, wheezing breath.
"But... I'm relieved." His cloudy eyes filled with tears. "I have spent countless sleepless nights... terrified that if the Caged Bird Curse disappeared, the Hyuga would slaughter each other... rivers of blood flowing from our own hands."
"But now... the nightmare came true. The curse is gone... but there's been no bloodshed."
He stared deeply at the assembled clan members.
"Remember this! Since the Caged Bird Curse has disappeared, end the hatred between the main and branch families in this generation! Don't pass it down!"
"We are all Hyuga! Main family! Branch family! Brothers!"
Hearing the Grand Elder's desperate plea, Hiashi's heart ached. Supporting the Grand Elder's frail frame, he vowed, "Grand Elder, I will not repeat our mistakes. I will revive the Hyuga clan."
The Grand Elder's hands gripped Hiashi's sleeve tightly as he rasped, "And remember! The division wasn't caused by the branch family! The true villain... was Shimura Danzo!"
"If you hate the branch family... how many of us will be left after a war?" His voice grew fierce again. "If you continue to hate your own brothers, you are the true criminal of the Hyuga! Our enemy... is Danzo!"
His roar shook the walls, his hatred so deep it seemed to seep into the air itself.
Just then, a voice came from outside.
"Clan Head! Hyuga Hizashi has arrived!"
"What?!" Shock and anger flared across the room. Many turned hostile gazes toward the door.
"Shut up!" the Grand Elder snapped, mustering his last reserves of strength. His imposing aura silenced the room.
"I invited Hizashi! Let him in!"
In the heavy, oppressive atmosphere, Hyuga Hizashi entered. Under countless hostile gazes—filled with anger, frustration, helplessness—Hizashi remained calm as he walked forward and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Grand Elder."
Surprisingly, the Grand Elder's face showed no anger. Instead, he smiled gently.
"Hizashi, good... come closer."
Weakly, Hizashi approached the bedside, standing opposite Hiashi.
The Grand Elder took Hizashi's hand and placed it together with Hiashi's.
"Hiashi, Hizashi... beyond main and branch families, remember—you are brothers by blood. Let the animosity die with our generation."
Under the Grand Elder's hopeful gaze, both brothers, deeply moved, nodded solemnly.
"Heh... good..." the Grand Elder chuckled, coughing weakly. "Though the Hyuga split under my watch... we are still family."
Trembling, he pulled a scroll from his chest and handed it to Hizashi.
"This is the main family's Gentle Fist secret technique. From today... it belongs to the branch family too. We all share Hyuga blood. Don't shame our name."
"Grand Elder!"
Some main family members shouted in disbelief and fury. But the Grand Elder ignored them.
With his final strength, he pulled an emblem from his chest—the symbol of authority—and placed it in Hiashi's hands.
"Hiashi... I leave the Hyuga's future to you. I return all authority to the clan head."
Tears welled in Hizashi's eyes as he clutched the scroll to his chest. Hiashi knelt, his face grave.
At the very end, the Grand Elder whispered into Hiashi's ear:
"The Hyuga must not fall into civil war. You have done well... But remember... without absolute strength, never strike against the branch family."
Thus, it became clear. The aging tiger was not as forgiving as he appeared. If it were possible to wipe out the branch family without devastating losses, he would have chosen that path. But facing the reality of mutual destruction, he had instead opted for peace—and warned future generations to wait patiently until strength was absolute.
The Grand Elder, who shouldered the blame for the Hyuga clan's split and redirected hatred toward Shimura Danzo, closed his eyes for the last time, leaning against Hiashi's shoulder.
Hyuga Hizashi departed under the heavy, bitter gazes of the main family, carrying the scroll of the Gentle Fist technique with him.
Meanwhile, at the Hokage's Office.
"The elder of the Hyuga clan has passed away," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, gazing out the window toward the Hyuga compound, exhaling a slow puff of smoke.
"Another old friend gone," he murmured, loneliness flashing through his eyes.
Turning to the exhausted Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, he sighed, "You two have worked hard."
The two councilors—who had been busy negotiating with the Land of Lightning's envoys—simply shook their heads.
Koharu frowned. "Danzo went too far this time, meddling in clan affairs. He already caused resentment by extracting ninjas from the great families. This nearly led to a civil war."
Homura nodded. "Exactly. If this had gone poorly, we might have lost an entire clan."
Hiruzen agreed grimly. "Danzo was too reckless. We must reprimand him."
With no outsiders present, the old comrades spoke frankly.
"But..." Koharu said, her brows furrowed. "Now that it's done, what will you do with the Hyuga branch family?"
Homura added, "The division weakens the Hyuga and gives the village another tool. Super clans are powerful, but they're dangerous too."
Indeed, in Konoha, few clans stood truly above the village itself—only the Uchiha and Hyuga.
They even enforced their own clan laws within their territories.
"Danzo's actions were risky," Hiruzen said. "But now, the branch family could serve another purpose—especially among the Uchiha."
Homura and Koharu both nodded.
"In that case," Koharu concluded, "Danzo will have to take the blame."
Lowering his Hokage hat, Hiruzen murmured, "Indeed. Since the branch family has already been deployed by Root into Uchiha territory... we'll rely on Danzo for now."
Danzo, it seemed, would be forced to bear yet another burden—for the village's sake.
Read advanced chapters on patreon // -- // patreon.com/Neon007