[Ding!]
[Your lie has been judged as [Duplicity] [Deceitful Pretence] [Substituting One for Another] [Palming Off the Defective]. Hyuga Hyugo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others experienced intense emotional fluctuations, reaching the level of [Complete Conviction]. You have earned 3000 Reality Points.]
[Remaining Reality Points: 14651]
The system notification sounded in Hyuga Arata's mind, but he remained standing still, his expression unchanged, maintaining a look of grief.
"Then deliver the corpse to the Land of Lightning."
Hyugo looked towards Hiruzen, who had remained silent throughout, and spoke respectfully, "Lord Third, we would trouble you to arrange an escort."
"Rest assured."
Noticing the shift in Hyugo's attitude, Hiruzen knew in his heart that the Hyuga clan had been effectively chastened this time. Outwardly, however, he heaved a deep sigh. "Konoha will remember the Hyuga clan's sense of duty. I will not let Hizashi's sacrifice be in vain."
Having said this, he was about to leave with the corpse when a voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Lord... Lord Third."
Arata, his eyes slightly reddened, stepped forward. He exhaled deeply and said respectfully, "Please allow me to join the team escorting Lord Hizashi to the Land of Lightning."
His words echoed in the room, drawing the involuntary gazes of those present.
Several elders of the main branch subtly straightened up, avoiding the candlelight and letting half of their aged faces sink into shadow, their cold eyes watching the unruly youth.
"Hyuga Arata! You..."
Hyugo was clearly getting emotional, raising his voice to rebuke the boy and remind him of his place.
But before he could finish, the first to refuse came from an unexpected quarter.
"No!"
Hearing Arata's request, Hyuga Hizashi, who had been kneeling silently before the "corpse," suddenly looked up and blurted out involuntarily.
That Lord had said he would bring Hizashi back. Who knew what might happen during the escort?
If Arata joined the escort, what if something went wrong?
However, to the others, this reaction seemed somewhat abnormal.
The people present turned to look at him with surprised expressions, staring at the overly reactive "Hiashi."
It was then that Hizashi realized his mistake. He was now "Hiashi." Meeting everyone's gaze, a cold sweat broke out on his back. Imitating Hizashi's tone, he said coldly and stiffly, "You are too weak."
Hyugo and the others were momentarily taken aback, but they soon recalled that Hizashi had called Hiashi away before his death, presumably to leave a will, asking Hiashi to take care of Neji and Arata.
'So what if Hiashi protects him?' Hyugo glanced at Arata, thinking to himself darkly, 'Sooner or later, I'll reunite this brat with his dead father!'
Neji was Hizashi's son, untouchable for now. But killing Arata would be easy enough. As long as it wasn't done publicly, Hiashi wouldn't make too big a fuss.
However, the next words that reached his ears left Hyuga Hyugo stunned.
"Let him go."
The speaker was not Arata, but Hiruzen, standing to the side.
"Lord Third, this..." Several people, including "Hiashi", cast doubtful glances.
"Hizashi must be the last family this child has left in his heart."
Hiruzen sighed, his kind gaze falling upon Arata as he spoke gently, "Even if we didn't allow you to join the escort, you would surely find some way to follow, wouldn't you?"
Meeting Hiruzen's gaze, which seemed to see right through him, Arata almost failed to suppress a smile. Outwardly, however, his eyes reddened, and he bowed deeply in gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, Lord Third. Truly, thank you. I only wish to see Lord Hizashi off on his final journey."
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction, then looked at the conflicted Hyuga members and reassured them, "Don't worry. I will dispatch Anbu to escort Hizashi's body. Looking after this child will be no problem."
In truth, he simply wanted the Anbu ninjas to observe Arata's behavior during the journey and assess whether he was qualified to become that "wedge."
"..."
The room fell silent. The main house elders exchanged glances silently in the candlelight. No one spoke, and ultimately, the silence became tacit consent.
Hyugo's expression was very grim. He could naturally see Hiruzen's fondness for Hyuga Arata and felt increasingly frustrated.
If Arata truly became a subordinate of the Third Hokage, it would indeed be difficult for him to make a move against that detestable brat.
He really couldn't understand what was so good about this boy. First, Hiashi, then his own disobedient eldest daughter, then Hizashi, and now even the Third Hokage valued this cursed brat!
Arata tilted his head slightly, watching Hyugo gnashing his teeth in the distance, wondering when the old bastard's cardiovascular system would burst from high pressure. 'Maybe a few more taunts from him could induce a fatal cerebral hemorrhage?'
Still, he abandoned this seemingly interesting idea.
'Dying from a cerebral hemorrhage would be too easy for this old bastard...'
Bam!!
A sudden loud noise shattered the room's tranquility. Chilling wind blew in from outside. Frowning, everyone turned towards the source of the sound.
A small figure stood in the doorway, soaked black hair dripping rain, chest heaving violently.
The newcomer's eyes immediately fell upon the cloth-draped "corpse." As if struck by lightning, he stood frozen, mouth wide open.
"Finally here."
In a place no one noticed, the corner of Arata's mouth curled upwards.
It was like a cold smile, like a sneer.
"Neji?"
Finally recognizing the newcomer's face, Hizashi's expression shifted slightly.
'How did Neji get here?'
Neji, as if in a trance, walked stiffly forward. His legs gave way, and he knelt beside the "corpse."
"Your father sacrificed himself for the Hyuga clan," Hyugo said, softening his tone as much as possible. "To be able, as a branch house head, to fulfill loyalty and righteousness, was his..."
As if finally confirming something, Neji, his head bowed, stiffened suddenly, his body trembling uncontrollably.
The grief on his young face was gradually replaced by anger, while Hyugo continued his lofty, droning speech.
But just as Neji was about to look up, a warm hand pressed down on his head.
"Do not speak rashly. Doing that would only reveal your weakness."
Arata's voice was very soft. "For now, you just need to calm down."
"..."
Neji kept his head bowed low. Tears fell to the ground like a bursting dam, but his trembling body gradually steadied. Seeing this, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But where no one could see, on Neji's bowed, youthful face, his anger had twisted into a ferocious grimace.
The others only thought Arata was comforting him. But Neji, feeling the warmth and gentleness of that hand, inexplicably understood the true meaning behind those words.
You are too weak.
Right now, nothing you say will change anything.
You need to calm down now. Hide the hatred in your heart. Let no one discover it.
Then, remember all of this. Engrave it in your bones. And then, destroy everything.
Just like that figure in the dream.