Night fell.
Hyūga Kiyoshi chose to stay overnight at the Hyūga main family's estate.
After the summary meeting, many branch family members would remain.
Aside from preparing for tasks assigned by the main family, they would also exchange information with other branch members.
It was essentially a gathering to foster familiarity among them.
As for the main family, they rarely interacted much with the branch families.
Thus, Hyūga Kiyoshi's decision to stay wasn't particularly unusual.
However, unlike the main family members, who each had their own residences, the branch family members were housed in dormitories.
After all, land was limited. If every branch member were given a house, wouldn't that encroach on the living space of the main family?
Even though the main family wasn't particularly large.
Once branch members started families, they were no longer permitted to stay overnight at the main family's estate.
The six-person dormitory was actually quite spacious, with all the necessary amenities.
Noisy discussions could be heard from the neighboring rooms.
But their own room was eerily silent, with only the faint sound of breathing.
The six of them sat cross-legged in the common area, as if waiting for something.
Hyūga Kiyoshi spoke again.
"There's no turning back after this. Are you sure you want to help me?"
These were branch family members who shared his ideals.
Stealing the Byakugan stored by the Hyūga clan wouldn't be easy.
He couldn't do it alone.
These five were the most trustworthy allies he had. Even if they succeeded, they would no longer be able to remain in the Hyūga clan—or even Konoha.
"You're the one taking the biggest risk," a middle-aged Hyūga clansman said solemnly.
"Once this is over, we'll defect. But you will have to face the main family's wrath."
Hyūga Kiyoshi had arranged everything for the five of them. The only cost was that they could never return to Konoha.
He had even secured a place for them to go afterward.
The five were deeply moved.
"Lord Kin still needs my assistance. Your only task is to deliver the goods," Hyūga Kiyoshi said, shaking his head.
The five looked at him with complex expressions.
This young man—no, this man—was truly… indescribable.
He had taken the most dangerous role for himself.
"We swear on our lives—we will deliver them!"
They made this vow to Hyūga Kiyoshi, knowing full well the risks he was taking.
That said, this operation wasn't exactly safe for them either.
Hyūga Kiyoshi, however, was confident. He had left tracking marks on all of them. Even if he died, Lord Kin would be able to find them quickly.
Their destination, of course, was the Land of Rain.
And he was well aware that their trust wasn't in him, but in Uchiha Kin.
"I just want to know if my sister's eyes are in the main family's possession," said a boy only slightly older than Hyūga Kiyoshi, his voice heavy.
"My parents."
"My wife."
"My younger brother."
Each of the five had their own reasons. Their loved ones had been sent to the main family for treatment after severe injuries—only for their bodies to never be returned.
That was why they had made this choice.
The main family had hidden too much from them. If they had indeed been harvesting their Byakugan…
The hatred ran bone-deep.
"All the answers will come once we deliver the eyes," Hyūga Kiyoshi said.
"Lord Kin has promised that the eyes of our loved ones will remain untouched. The rest… will be the price of your future safety."
His words left the group in silence.
In a way, they were betraying the entire Hyūga clan.
But some truths were worth knowing, even at this cost.
Otherwise, they would never rest in peace.
The night deepened.
The lights in the room dimmed.
All six opened their eyes at once.
"Go!"
They rushed to the window and slipped out into the night.
The Hyūga main family's estate wasn't completely dark—torch-bearing servants patrolled the grounds.
Leading the way was the middle-aged Hyūga Sukui, guiding the group forward while avoiding the patrols.
Hyūga Kiyoshi knew the location of the Byakugan storage precisely because of Hyūga Sukui.
Years ago, Sukui's wife had been injured on a mission. At the time, Konoha had no hospital, so she was sent to the main family for treatment.
The next thing he knew, he was told she had died—yet her body was never returned.
For over a decade, he searched in vain for her remains. Instead, he discovered what seemed to be a hidden repository for Byakugan.
The group reached a secluded building.
"I once saw someone carrying containers of eyes into this place," Hyūga Sukui whispered, pointing.
They hid on the rooftop, observing the patrols below. This area was heavily guarded.
Three patrol teams crisscrossed the area.
"There's a thirty-second blind spot when they overlap," Hyūga Kiyoshi noted instantly.
The three teams' sightlines intersected in such a way that, for half a minute, no one would be looking directly at the building.
"Understood."
The others nodded.
Thirty seconds was more than enough. None of the six were untalented Hyūga shinobi.
"It's coming."
Hyūga Kiyoshi's gaze locked onto the patrols. The first team moved forward, the second rounded the corner, and the third turned away—
"Now!"
The six shot toward the building like shadows.
The second patrol passed by without noticing anything amiss. By the time the first team looped back, the infiltrators were already inside.
Inside, they controlled their breathing to avoid detection.
Before them was an entrance to a basement.
They opened it silently and descended into the darkness—until a faint light appeared ahead.
When they stepped into the chamber, the sight left them stunned.
The walls were lined with glass containers, each holding a pair of floating Byakugan.
"So… they really are here."
Their faces twisted with fury, as if they had finally unmasked their sworn enemies.
The sheer number of eyes made it obvious—these couldn't all belong to the main family. The main family wasn't large enough.
Only one member of each main family line could inherit the title; the rest were forced into the branch family.
Like Hyūga Hizashi.
The main family couldn't possibly have harvested this many eyes on their own.
The source was unmistakable. Their fists clenched, rage simmering. Among these eyes were undoubtedly those of their loved ones.
The main family had never even considered asking for their consent.
They had been kept in the dark all along.
"Bastards!" one of them spat.
"Who's there!?"
A furious shout echoed through the chamber. The six froze.
An elderly man blocked the exit, his gaze icy.
(End of Chapter)