"I don't know where Neji is. You can go ask Hyuga Hiashi!"
Neji's mother, though breathing heavily, still gritted her teeth and looked at the Eighth Elder with a cold, calm expression.
Neji was her only hope. She wouldn't say she didn't know where Neji was, and even if she did, there was no way she would tell.
She absolutely could not let it slip.
"Are you really sure?" Eighth Elder frowned, speaking slowly and clearly to Neji's mother, but his face grew darker by the moment.
Neji's mother shook her head. "I really don't know."
"Grandpa, she definitely knows!" Hyuga Sosuke grew more wild and fierce, his expression turning savage. Sitting in his wheelchair, his fingers began forming hand signs.
Again, he activated the Caged Bird Seal!
Hmph—
The woman underfoot began to hunch over. The intense pain made her twitch bit by bit, but she still didn't say anything about Neji.
"That's enough!" After a long while, Eighth Elder looked at Neji's mother who barely moved anymore. He then turned to Hyuga Sosuke and said,
"Grandpa, why are you stopping me? She must know where Neji is!"
Hyuga Sosuke's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at his grandfather, and you could see the madness burning in his gaze.
He wanted to force her to talk — force her to reveal Neji's whereabouts.
"She can't die yet. If Neji finds out she's dead, he probably won't come back!" Eighth Elder sighed softly.
"If that happens, we might never find him again."
The woman on the ground, barely alive, twitched her fingers slightly, feeling a flicker of unease inside.
Yes, if she died, would Neji ever return to Konoha?
Would her child finally be free forever?
"Grandpa, that's not right. Maybe others wouldn't come back, but Neji is different!"
Hyuga Sosuke was already consumed by his obsession, but his mind remained clear.
He added, "Neji loves his mother so much. Back then, when I said a few bad things about her, he endured the pain of the Caged Bird Seal and crippled me. If he knew his mother died because of him, he would definitely come back and fight for her!"
The more he spoke, the more twisted Hyuga Sosuke's expression became.
The Eighth Elder seemed to fall into deep thought, considering the feasibility of the plan. It wasn't impossible.
But,
This could only be a last resort. To the Eighth Elder, a living person was far more appealing to Neji!
Killing Neji's mother to attract his hatred was the worst choice.
It was better to keep her alive and torment her with caged bird seal every day until Neji appeared.
And so, the mother—who had once been ready to die—clenched her fists, reigniting her faith within her heart.
Yes,
She could not die.
She understood Neji's personality well. If she truly died, Neji might lose control of his anger and recklessly confront these people.
But they were branded with caged bird seal; there was no way they could stand against them!
Neji would only end up dead.
As long as she lived, Neji wouldn't return. He would become a Hyuga who had broken free from his cage. She had to hold on—hold on until Neji forgot about her!
Until he no longer acted so impulsively!
Outside the village, he could live a carefree life and never come back.
"Sosuke, your idea is only the final option. Compared to that, a living her has much more value!" the Eighth Elder said softly, comforting Hyuga Sosuke.
When it came to hating Neji, the Eighth Elder hated him even more than his own grandson. It was Neji who had turned their once obedient grandson into such a twisted, frenzied person!
Even his own son had gone missing. Only the older generation knew about this.
Damn it, the situation was getting more and more complicated.
"Then Grandpa, I want to torment her every day until Neji appears!" Hyuga Sosuke's face was fierce, still unwilling to relent.
"Alright, Grandpa agrees to your request!" The Eighth Elder nodded. "We will torment her every day until Hyuga Neji appears!"
He kicked Neji's mother away beneath his feet. "You better make Neji show up soon, or I'll make sure you suffer worse than death!"
He spoke, then pushed Hyūga Sōsuke as he turned to leave, followed by several other Hyūga clan members.
Neji's mother watched their retreating backs, a weary smile rising on her face. "This pain, I will bear it alone."
Outside the courtyard, Hyūga Hiashi's heart tightened when he learned that the Eighth Elder had taken his grandson to find Neji's mother. He had a bad feeling.
Just as he arrived, Hiashi saw the Eighth Elder walking out from the courtyard. His expression darkened immediately. Had the Eighth Elder stopped listening to his orders?
Looking at the Eighth Elder, Hiashi said, "Eighth Elder, you…"
The Eighth Elder glanced at him coldly and replied, "The people inside aren't dead yet. I'm already showing you some respect, Clan Leader!"
With that, the Eighth Elder said no more and stepped aside from Hiashi.
"This is bad…" Hiashi's heart filled with an ominous feeling. He ignored the Elder and hurried inside.
The moment he entered the courtyard, he saw Neji's mother collapsed weakly on the ground.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered softly.
Hiashi immediately lifted her onto the bed and examined the injuries caused by the caged bird's attack on her soul. He then went to the medical facility and called the most skilled soul healer for treatment.
Once Neji's mother had recovered somewhat, Hiashi frowned and said, "Don't worry. I will make sure you get justice."
"Neji isn't here, but I will send someone to take care of you!"
After saying this, Hyuga Hiashi was about to get up and go find Eighth Elder.
But just as he moved, Neji's mother gently grabbed his wrist. Although her grip was light, Hiashi stopped and turned to look at this strong woman.
"Cough, cough." Neji's mother coughed twice, her eyes filled with a quiet plea as she looked at Hiashi. "You absolutely must not let Neji know about this!"
Even at that moment, the mother was still thinking of her child.
"I understand." Hiashi had the same thought when he went to the Konoha hospital to find medical ninjas.
The Uchiha clan's heir, Uchiha Genya had a close relationship with Neji. If the Uchiha hospital learned the cause of Neji's mother's injury, it might easily reach Neji's ears.
In his opinion, it was better if he handled this matter personally.
Knowing Neji's personality, if he found out about this, who knew what kind of trouble would follow.
"That's good, that's good." Hearing this, Neji's mother relaxed little by little, finally letting her hands fall.
She then slipped into a deep sleep.
Hiashi left with a dark expression.
At the Uchiha hospital, in a luxurious ward, was the room where Uchiha Sosuke was being treated.
Even though Sosuke had mostly recovered and could care for himself, he was still convalescing in this hospital.
Bang!
At that moment, the door was violently thrown open.
****
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