Unchangeable Solidified Thoughts
Hyūga Hizashi had calmly accepted the demand to die in place of his twin brother, Hyūga Hiashi. Now he sat quietly on the tatami mat, waiting for his son, Neji, to awaken.
When Hyūga Neji opened his eyes, he suddenly sat up. Seeing his father sitting beside him, his face went pale with dread.
"Father, you can't go!" Neji's voice cracked, his eyes burning red with unshed tears. "The Hyūga Clan isn't worth your sacrifice!"
Hizashi sighed, his tone calm yet resolute.
"Neji, this is my choice. I have no regrets, and I harbor no resentment."
Neji's tears overflowed as he choked out, "Father…" He had no words left—no way to persuade him.
At that moment, a snake slithered from Neji's sleeve and coiled upon the table.
Hizashi raised his brows in surprise. "Are you… Chi Yu?"
The snake opened its mouth, and Chi Yu's voice echoed from within.
"That's right. I'm sharing my senses through this snake. Hizashi, if you die, you'll never see Neji's future. Are you truly willing to give up your life for the Hyūga Clan and miss your child's growth?
"As long as you give the word, I'll help you. I can remove the Caged Bird seal, help you leave Konoha, and welcome you into my organization. You're Neji's father. Neji is my disciple. You once said yourself that I'm like a second father to him. I don't want you to die such a meaningless death."
But Hizashi's answer was unwavering.
"Chi Yu, no matter what you or Neji say, my decision will not change. From the beginning until the end, it will remain the same."
Chi Yu was silent for a long moment before speaking again.
"Why? Your loyalty to the Hyūga Clan is too blind. If you were truly so loyal, you wouldn't have let Neji become my disciple. There must be another reason."
Hizashi fell silent, his gaze drifting to his son, whose tears would not stop. Guilt filled his expression.
Chi Yu's voice hardened. "Tell him, Hizashi. Neji deserves to know. If he's about to lose his father, at least give him an explanation."
Hizashi exhaled a deep sigh.
"I didn't want Neji to bear this burden. That's why I've kept silent. But… you're right. He should know.
"I am not only Neji's father. I am also the head of the Branch Family. If I fled—if I escaped the Caged Bird seal and defected—then every Branch Family member would pay the price. The Main House would tighten its grip on them, and life would become unbearable.
"I have already been willful once by entrusting Neji to you. Because of that, the Branch Family is already under pressure. I cannot act selfishly again.
"If my death can ease their situation, then I will gladly accept it. This is my duty as head of the Branch Family. But I did not want Neji to know, because once he knows, he will feel bound by the same responsibility. I wanted him to be free."
Neji froze, stunned. He had never imagined that his father's refusal to accept help was for the sake of the Branch Family's future.
Even Chi Yu fell into silence. He had never expected Hizashi's reasoning. Having no sense of "clan," Chi Yu had not considered that Hizashi's loyalty was not to the Main House but to the Branch Family he led.
After a pause, Chi Yu asked, "Then what if I freed the other Branch Family members willing to leave with you? Would you take them away?"
Hizashi shook his head.
"No. That's impossible. The Hyūga Clan's survival rests not only on the Caged Bird seal, but also on something far more binding—our ideology.
"Even if Branch members resent the Main House, they cannot bring themselves to abandon the clan. In their hearts, betraying the Hyūga is unthinkable. Before Branch or Main, we are all Hyūga. That sense of belonging is both our strength and our weakness.
"If they learned the seal could be removed, they would not leave with me—they would see me as a traitor. As their head, I cannot abandon them, even if they condemn me.
"This is my duty, Chi Yu. And it is why I will not burden Neji with this knowledge. I want my son to be free, unbound by our cursed fate. That is why I chose silence."
Chi Yu had no response. Hizashi's resolve was absolute. This was his choice—to die not for the Main House, but for the Branch Family, as their leader.
Neji opened his mouth, but no words came. His father's decision crushed him, leaving only bitter sorrow.
Hizashi reached out, gently ruffling Neji's hair.
"I'm sorry, Neji. I know this is painful, but this is something I must do. You must live without the weight of my choices. From here on, follow your teacher. Train hard. Become a great shinobi—one strong enough to soar freely, without chains.
"That is my dream. I want you to live it for me. Promise me, Neji."
Neji sobbed, unable to form words.
"Promise me!" Hizashi urged, gripping his son's shoulders, his eyes fierce.
At last, through tears, Neji forced the words out.
"I… I promise you, Father!"
Hizashi smiled faintly and turned toward the snake.
"Then I leave Neji in your care, Chi Yu. The best decision I ever made was entrusting my son to you."
He bowed deeply.
Chi Yu's voice softened. "I will train him with everything I have. You can rest easy."
"Thank you, Chi Yu."
Chi Yu gave his final words before releasing the connection.
"Neji, I'll come for you tomorrow. You'll live with me for now. Goodbye, Hizashi."
The snake went still, and the voice was gone.
…
Meanwhile, at the Hyūga compound, the elders had already dispatched a messenger to the Hokage.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi received word that the Hyūga Clan had convinced Hizashi to take Hiashi's place, he immediately left for the Hyūga residence.
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