Aoran's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a ray of dawn cutting through the darkness in the room.
Hizashi's eyes seemed to gradually light up.
He and Hayato looked at Aoran simultaneously: "Aoran, do you have a plan?"
Aoran pondered for a moment, then said, "Uncle Hizashi, I have a collaborator, Orochimaru."
"It was I who suggested to him earlier that he leave Konoha..."
Hizashi's eyes brightened even more. Although Orochimaru had only recently left Konoha, he was not lacking in ability.
The young Aoran's influence was clearly not as great as Orochimaru's.
Although Hizashi was surprised that Aoran had partnered with Orochimaru, he was still uncertain about today's events and asked hesitantly:
"How exactly will Orochimaru help me?"
"As for how to help Uncle Hizashi, you need to explain how the Caged Bird Curse Seal is activated, what its activation conditions are, and how far its range extends."
"This is crucial for our subsequent plan."
Hizashi was already on a death countdown. After only a moment of hesitation, he began to tell Aoran everything he knew about the Caged Bird Seal.
"The Caged Bird Curse Seal is a jutsu that all adult Main Family members know, but the Caged Bird Seal has different levels..."
"...So with the Caged Bird Seal, it's useless no matter where you escape to."
Aoran sorted through the intelligence he received from Hizashi.
The Caged Bird Curse Seal is divided into two types: a punishment curse and a death curse.
All adult Main Family members know the punishment curse, but only the Hyuga Clan Head Hiashi and three other elders know the death curse.
Regardless of the curse used, there are conditions: you must mentally outline the image of the Branch Family member to cast the curse.
The Caged Bird Seal ignores distance; no matter where one flees, they will be cursed to death.
When facing a person, it can be activated almost instantly, but if the person is not present, it takes a few seconds to mentally outline their image.
This was the first time Aoran had learned the details of the Caged Bird Curse Seal.
No wonder no one from the Hyuga Clan's Branch Family ever escaped; turns out they couldn't.
Hizashi's emotions were very low when he mentioned the intelligence about mentally outlining a person's image in a few seconds.
Clearly, obtaining this information came at a cost.
Aoran didn't ask further. When he first started planning, he had already hypothesized the activation conditions of the Caged Bird Curse Seal, and now it seemed largely accurate.
"So... if the Main Family believes you're dead, Uncle, will they still continuously try to use the curse seal?"
Aoran's words greatly surprised Hizashi: "Feigning death?"
"That won't work. After a Branch Family member dies, their Byakugan turns into crystals. The body cannot be faked."
Aoran narrowed his eyes slightly and said with confidence, "I have a way for that."
Hizashi's spirits lifted, and Hayato, beside him, also looked excited.
"What's your plan!?"
Aoran didn't answer Hayato directly but said:
"Uncle Hizashi, don't worry. I've discussed with Orochimaru before how to fake death when the Caged Bird Seal is involved."
"This method is completely feasible."
"Uncle Hizashi, you know how dangerous the Ninja World is. Even if you successfully fake your death this time, you won't be able to appear in public again."
"You've seen how dirty and hypocritical the Main Family is. If you don't make some preparations, the Branch Family will still be deceived after you're gone."
"Of course, Neji is the same."
Hizashi nodded with a grim face, showing his agreement with Aoran's words.
In his eyes, there was an unending hatred for the Main Family.
Despite suffering such a huge blow, Hizashi quickly regained his composure.
"Since Aoran has made preparations, I will listen to everything you say."
Although Hizashi wasn't confident, at this point, he was treating a dead horse as if it were alive.
He looked at Hayato with deep meaning: "Hayato, I have a dangerous mission for you. If you can do it well, you will become the savior of the entire Branch Family."
Hayato, now knowing Hizashi had a chance to live, didn't care what Aoran said. He slapped his chest and immediately agreed:
"I'm not afraid of danger!"
...The next day.
After Hyuga Hinata's birthday, all Hyuga Branch Family members who had taken leave were expected to cancel their leave.
Some were preparing to go to the mission center to accept missions.
Most of them had no idea what happened last night.
Early this morning, news spread rapidly at an astonishing speed.
"How could something like this happen!?"
"Damn Kumogakure, how could they be so shameless!?"
The news, like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, caused huge ripples within the Branch Family, with reactions varying.
Their first reaction was anger.
After all, Kumogakure and the Hyuga Clan were already sworn enemies, and now they had done such a thing.
"So what did the Third Hokage say...?"
"Kumogakure is pressing too hard; the Hokage has no choice..."
"Clan Head Hiashi has decided to take responsibility with his own death to protect the clan and appease Kumogakure's anger..."
"The Clan Head... is actually going to sacrifice himself?"
Many in the Branch Family were stunned.
Most Branch Family members' first reaction was shock. They couldn't imagine that the high and mighty Main Family Head would be forced to this point.
A chill, like that of a fox mourning the death of a rabbit, began to spread.
Some Branch Family members were moved by this "sacrifice" and felt a fleeting sense of sympathy and admiration for Hiashi.
"The Clan Head... would actually go this far for us?"
More experienced Branch Family ninja, however, expressed deep skepticism.
"Would the Main Family be so kind? Sacrificing themselves to protect us? That's not like them."
More and more people were discussing, but the Main Family's scheme was successful; at least the target of anger began to blur.
Most Branch Family members were both angry at Kumogakure's treachery and dissatisfied with the Konoha Leadership's weakness and coercion.
The Main Family successfully shifted some of the Branch Family's resentment towards themselves onto external parties.
Some numb Branch Family members sadly believed:
"This must be fate. Someone always has to sacrifice themselves; it's just the Main Family's turn this time."
They passively accepted this "fact."
The entire Branch Family area was shrouded in an atmosphere of suppression, confusion, and whispers.
Some also went to Hizashi's residence to inquire about him.
At this moment, the Second Elder and Third Elder arrived.
Hizashi, who hadn't slept all night, naturally looked unwell.
Although he knew what the Second Elder and Third Elder's intentions were, he had to pretend not to know at this time.
The Third Elder spoke as soon as he arrived: "Hizashi, you know about what happened last night, right?"
Hizashi's expression was also somewhat indignant: "I just received the news."
"Kumogakure is truly despicable; this is clearly a trap aimed at our Hyuga Clan!"
"Konoha actually isn't backing us up and is even threatening us!"
"To actually coerce my brother like this!"
...