Hyuga Kei felt he had already done his part.
In the end, he had chosen to offer Shisui a clue, a subtle nudge, not out of kindness, but to divert Shisui's attention elsewhere and get him to stop hovering around.
After all, no matter how brightly the sun shines, there will always be shadows that hide beneath its light. That's something no one can change.
Still, a part of Kei was curious:
Once Shisui saw that the light wasn't as pure as he believed, would he cling to the illusion, or finally awaken to the truth?
Deep down, Kei already knew the answer.
He spent the next few days reflecting on the skills he'd recently obtained, Phantom Body Flicker Technique and Human Experimentation Theory (Incomplete). While he hadn't had a chance to test them yet, he wasn't in a rush. Opportunities always came eventually.
That night, he drifted into sleep.
And when he opened his eyes again, it was a new day.
Kei was mentally preparing to open the clinic when a figure appeared at the edge of the courtyard, shattering his moment of peace.
"Hyuga Kei," the man said, "The clan head wishes to see you."
"I understand," Kei replied calmly.
The night's storm had finally paused at dawn, but even as he followed the messenger with slow, steady steps and cane in hand, Kei felt the weather hadn't truly improved.
Sometimes, the aftermath of rain brought not rainbows… but wreckage.
He crossed an invisible threshold and stepped into the Main Family's estate.
The beauty of the place, still inaccessible to his eyes, was not lost on his other senses as he entered the grand meeting hall.
Inside, silence reigned. Kei sensed several figures seated in deliberate positions, waiting.
Eyes turned toward him, all eventually lingering on his clouded, grey eyes.
Kei stepped into the center of the hall.
"Clan Head. Elders."
The Hyuga clan was one of Konoha's noblest bloodlines, and its internal hierarchy was strict and unyielding. There was little room for deviation between Main and Branch families.
Hyuga Hiashi gave a subtle nod.
"How are your eyes? Any discomfort?"
"I still can't see," Kei replied simply. "The doctors say it's unlikely that will change."
Hiashi tapped the wooden table lightly with his fingers.
"Living without the ability to see the light must be difficult."
His words paused, but his pale Byakugan remained focused on the boy before him, on the clouded eyes and that faint mark etched into his forehead.
"But don't worry. The clan will do everything it can to help you recover."
Kei's lips curved into a polite, practiced smile.
"Thank you, Clan Head, for your concern."
What he didn't say was…
Living without light hadn't been that difficult. In fact, it had its perks.
"You're welcome." Hiashi stood up.
"Since you're here, let's perform a check-up. It would be a blessing if something had improved."
"How thoughtful," Kei replied, tone flat. "I didn't realize so many people were still concerned about my condition after all this time."
With a touch of sarcasm in his voice, he set his cane aside and lay on the wooden platform that had clearly been prepared in advance.
As someone approached to begin the examination, Kei removed his forehead protector and tossed it aside without being asked.
The gesture earned silent nods from a few elders. All eyes locked onto him, especially the pale-blue Caged Bird seal on his forehead.
Time passed slowly. To Kei, the process dragged.
He felt not only medical instruments but also a faint chakra probe focusing specifically on his seal.
It was subtle, disguised as a casual brush while checking his eyes, but Kei sensed it clearly,
They were testing the Caged Bird Seal.
Not once, not twice, three times in total they tried to confirm its condition before finally ending the exam.
After a brief silence, Hiashi glanced at the examining elder, who shook his head slightly.
Hiashi sighed.
"Kei, I'm afraid your condition shows no signs of improvement for now."
"I'm used to it."
"If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. The clan will provide support," Hiashi added.
"You'll also be expected to return for monthly evaluations. I'll have someone escort you."
Kei inhaled quietly. He didn't respond, but the meaning behind Hiashi's words couldn't be clearer.
Yes, the clan was concerned about him, but not necessarily for the sake of his well-being.
What they were really concerned about… was the potential impact of his condition.
Especially if that impact involved the integrity of the clan's core weapon, the Caged Bird Seal.
Trying not to show his irritation, Kei listened to the hollow words of sympathy, then curled his lips into another thin smile.
Hiashi noticed.
"Something wrong? Are you unwell?"
"No, nothing serious," Kei replied with a calm smile. "I must've eaten something off this morning. Just a little queasy."
"If there's nothing else, Clan Head, I'd like to excuse myself. I don't want to be a burden."
Seeing no deceit in his expression, Hiashi nodded and gave a few parting words before allowing him to leave.
Cane in hand, Kei turned and began walking out of the hall.
"Kei, wait."
Just as he was about to cross the threshold, an elderly voice called after him.
He stopped and turned slightly, lips curling again.
"Great Elder."
Hyuga Taihiro stood with his hands behind his back.
"No need to be so formal. You kids… I watched you all grow up. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed."
The tone was friendly, but Kei dared not take it at face value.
Taihiro was from the Main Family, and his seniority was unquestioned, even Hiashi treated him with the utmost respect.
According to the host's memories, Taihiro had always worn a single-eyed eyepatch. No one in the clan ever talked about it. In fact, discussing it was strictly forbidden.
Now, Taihiro's gaze settled quietly on Kei's face, particularly on his blind eyes and the glowing mark across his forehead.
"Don't think too much of it," the elder said. "Even if your sight never returns, the clan will always be behind you. If you need help, come to me."
"Thank you, Great Elder. I appreciate the clan's care."
"Without your eyes, daily life must be difficult. I'll assign someone to assist you."
Before Kei could decline, Taihiro added,
"She won't interfere much, just to ensure your safety. And perhaps…"
His voice lowered meaningfully.
"You're not a child anymore. Maybe it's time you start thinking about certain things."
Kei gripped his cane a little tighter.
"There's really no need. I've already troubled the clan enough."
"This is what the clan is meant to do," Taihiro said firmly.
Then he pulled something from his sleeve and handed it toward Kei.
"It's a little chilly today. Don't catch a cold, falling sick on top of this wouldn't be good."
Kei tilted his head slightly, sensing the familiar shape of a forehead protector being offered to him.
Taihiro's expression remained gentle, watchful.
"…Thank you. I'll be more careful."
Kei took the protector and tied it back around his head.
Taihiro nodded. His tone softened.
"What happened wasn't your fault. There's still time. Don't overthink it, just live your life."
He even reached out to gently pat Kei on the shoulder like a kind grandfather.
Kei remained calm.
"Great Elder… I don't know how to repay your kindness."
"There's no need. We're family." Taihiro sighed wistfully.
"By the way, I heard you opened some kind of psychology clinic? It's doing quite well?"
Kei nodded.
"I had no choice. I'm no longer suited for missions."
"That's a good thing. The clan supports it."
Taihiro paused.
"Although… I've heard that Uchiha Shisui has been visiting you often. Are you two close?"
Kei silently cursed Shisui's talent for attracting trouble.
Because of him, this was already the third wave of people coming to probe.
Still, considering the current state of the Uchiha clan, he wasn't surprised.
"We're not close," Kei said. "He's just concerned about the relationship between his clan and the village, and sought emotional support."
"The relationship between clans and the village…" Taihiro's eyes flickered. He was silent for a moment.
"What do you think of the Hyuga clan's position in the village today?"
Kei feigned innocence.
"I'm just a blind man. I wouldn't know these things."
"It's fine. Just speak freely. A man who can interest Shisui must have some insight."
Realizing Taihiro was truly curious, Kei masked his true thoughts and sighed.
"Well then… I'll say a few things. Please don't take offense if I'm wrong."
"Go ahead," Taihiro said. "Even if it's wrong, I won't mind."
Kei nodded.
"I believe our clan is like the lead bird flying at the head of the flock. We are one of the few among many. We're admired, yes, but also exposed to the most pressure."
Taihiro's once-relaxed expression subtly tightened.
"Continue."
"I may be overthinking," Kei said humbly.
"But I've always believed that whether it's a person or a clan, being too outstanding might not be a good thing."
"There's an old proverb I once heard:
'The tree that stands out in the forest… is the first to be cut down.'"
As the first raindrops began to fall again, Kei turned to 'look' at the elder.
"Great Elder, a storm is coming. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
He stepped beyond the walls of the Main Family's estate.
The smile on his face vanished.
He had wanted nothing more than to quietly run his little clinic.
But since others refused to leave him alone…
Then they shouldn't blame him when he finally strikes back.
After all…
His words had never been simple.
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>