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Because the Hyuga clan is a proud one, we've always followed the Hokage's orders—we couldn't take personal revenge."
"But this time… it truly brought justice and relief," said Hyuga Hiashi.
On the side, Neji finally stepped forward.
"I'm very grateful that justice was done for my father."
"However…"
"There's one thing I hope you can agree to," Neji said. "I wish for you to use Edo Tensei to bring my father back."
"…"
So, Hizashi's name had finally been cleared—and now Neji hoped his father could witness this with his own eyes.
Though they had already considered the Hyuga clan's situation back during the Cloud incident, Hizashi's body had not been left in the Cloud Village. It made sense—the Cloud wanted a Hyuga's body, but received Hizashi's instead. And when a Branch Member died, their Byakugan would self-destruct, so the body was useless to the Cloud. They ended up returning it to the Hyuga clan.
So the body had likely been buried properly in the clan's cemetery.
"About the Edo Tensei… it's doable…"
He agreed, though reluctantly—he had originally planned to spend the day out with a girl, only to end up dealing with this kind of thing. It was a little awkward.
However—
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: ????
The Third Raikage finally realized what was going on.
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: Son… is what they're saying true?
[Fourth Raikage - A]: …
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Yes.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Just yesterday, Uchiha Madara suddenly attacked the Cloud Village. Killer Bee and I were both fed to the Ten Tails.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Then… Kitahara Kaede disguised himself as Senju Hashirama and staged a battle against "Uchiha Madara." The sheer pressure and spectacle terrified the Cloud shinobi into surrendering.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Out of 14,000 shinobi, over a thousand died, 800 surrendered to Konoha. As for the remaining ten thousand… their chakra was absorbed and they were returned as ordinary civilians.
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …What about the Eight Tails? And the Two Tails?
[Fourth Raikage - A]: The Two Tails' jinchūriki was on a mission, and the Eight Tails—Killer Bee—was eaten by the Ten Tails. The Eight Tails was nearly roasted alive, but has now recovered somewhat and returned to Konoha.
[Fourth Raikage - A]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: You… all of you!
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: Did I fall into a genjutsu!?
[Fourth Raikage - A]: Father… I wish it were a genjutsu too… but this pain is real.
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: So… let me get this straight. That boy Kitahara Kaede pretended to be Senju Hashirama, and you all got so scared you let him absorb your chakra?
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: How do I even react to this?
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: He did impersonate Senju Hashirama… but his power is even stronger than Hashirama's.
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: …
[Cloud's Fourth to Fall - Third Raikage]: So Konoha has birthed another Hashirama. Are they trying to wipe out my Cloud?
[Senju Tobirama]: Wake up. Your Cloud is already wiped out.
Tobirama felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Because back when he was gone, under the Third's reign, Konoha was bullied by other villages—especially the Cloud. They even tried to abduct people during peace treaty signings. Minato had even said his wife was nearly kidnapped.
All of that… was because others thought Konoha had no one left to fear.
But now?
Now it was like squashing a fly—
The Cloud was gone.
It felt… wonderful.
The fall of the Cloud ultimately benefited Konoha. The strongest of the Five Great Nations had been toppled—not weakened, but utterly erased.
That was the big picture.
But for the Hyuga clan—who had always loyally followed Konoha's lead—the more immediate victory was the erasure of the ones who had humiliated them.
Which led to this moment.
"Forbidden Technique: Reanimation Jutsu!"
Kitahara Kaede arrived at the Hyuga compound. With members of both the Main and Branch Families watching, he used Senju Tobirama's forbidden technique—Edo Tensei.
He began forming hand signs.
"Aaah—!"
With the sacrifice's scream, the white papery layer of the jutsu peeled away, revealing a man with the Byakugan and a green symbol on his forehead.
His posture was straight. His appearance resembled the Hyuga clan—but he looked younger.
Because this was Hyuga Hizashi—Hiashi's twin brother, born just a few minutes after him, and thus designated as the younger sibling.
Due to the Main-Branch system, Hizashi had been placed into the Branch Family at birth. He lived his whole life serving as its leader, living for the sake of his brother Hiashi.
Though his talent was somewhat inferior to Hiashi's, his own son—Neji—was a once-in-two-decades prodigy of the clan.
But because of the caste system, Neji was also considered part of the Branch Family, destined to live under the Caged Bird Seal and serve the Main Family.
He was even denied access to advanced Hyuga techniques—like Rotation and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
This pained Hizashi greatly.
His own status had stifled his son's potential, and he often regretted that Neji had been born into the Branch Family.
Eventually, a supposed peace treaty was signed between the Cloud and Konoha. The Cloud came to the Hyuga compound and attempted a kidnapping, leading to Hiashi killing their agent.
The elders insisted that the clan could not afford to hand over the Main Family's head. It would be a disgrace.
Though Hiashi remained silent, Hizashi made the choice on his own.
He wrote a farewell letter—and took his own life.
He let Hiashi live, taking the fall himself.
But it wasn't about obeying the clan elders.
It was a brother's act of devotion—and a father's act of love, knowing that Hiashi would never again treat Neji as "just Branch."
And now, this man—who had made such a choice—was momentarily confused.
Wasn't he supposed to be dead?
Everyone around him looked familiar… just older.
"Calm down, Hizashi. You've been revived using Second Lord's Edo Tensei," said Hiashi, stepping forward.
"…Hizashi."
"A genjutsu…?"
He muttered to himself.
[Minato Namikaze]: That's Hyuga Hizashi.
[Minato Namikaze]: I saw him during the Chūnin Exams.
[Senju Tobirama]: …Minato, that was how many years ago?
[Senju Tobirama]: Why does every person revived or added to the group start off with, 'Is this a genjutsu?'
[Tobirama Achievement - Izuna]: Isn't that just proof of how legendary the Uchiha genjutsu arts are?
[Senju Tobirama]: Not necessarily.
[Senju Tobirama]: I found out while organizing Konoha ninja records that Special Jōnin Kurenai Yuhi actually has outstanding talent in genjutsu.
[Senju Tobirama]: On a scale of 1 to 10, she's a full 10.
[Tobirama Achievement - Izuna]: …Hmph!
"So that's how it is…"
Hizashi finally accepted that he wasn't in a genjutsu.
And besides… if he were dead, could he still fall for genjutsu?
"Father—!"
Neji was pushed forward.
Not that he needed to be pushed—he would've stepped up himself.
For years, he'd resented the Main Family over his father's death. He was chosen to spar with Hinata and saw how she lacked talent. He grew even more bitter, thinking the clan was corrupt—he wanted revenge.
But three years ago… Dark Hinata appeared, and even the regular Hinata's talent skyrocketed.
Neji lost his sense of superiority.
But Hiashi took him in.
Taught him the techniques forbidden to Branch Members—like the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
He even demonstrated Rotation for him, and Neji learned it.
Still, Neji always thought this was just Hiashi's guilt talking—and deep down, the hatred remained.
But now…
That hatred was gone.
Because in the end—he had only ever wanted his father.
He didn't want to be alone. He just wanted his father back.
And now… he had him.
"…" Hyuga Hiashi.
"Let's leave them alone."
"Everyone else, let's step back," Hiashi said.
The other clan members nodded and withdrew.
Everyone understood—the incident six years ago with the Cloud's attempted kidnapping, and Hizashi's sacrifice… this was a moment for father and son.
No one wanted to interrupt.
"…Oh."
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