Qinglan Family.
The sky was darkening. After Aoran returned home, he didn't knock on the door but jumped straight in from outside.
"Brother, you're back!"
Karin, wearing pajamas and fuzzy slippers, pattered out.
Aoran used his free hand to stroke Karin's hair, then held up the spoils of the day.
"These are today's spoils."
The bags were filled with dishes that required more effort or ingredients that were harder to find, all packed up and brought back by Aoran.
"Wow, so many delicious things!"
Karin's eyes lit up when she saw the food.
Back when she was in Hidden Grass Village, she often didn't have enough to eat, leaving her pale and thin, and she harbored a lasting fear of hunger.
Now, her greatest happiness was eating until she was full, and her favorite thing was snacking.
However, since she possessed the Uzumaki physique, Aoran wasn't too strict about her diet.
If you can eat it, eat it all.
"Take these. I have some clan matters to attend to, so I'll be heading out soon and won't be back tonight. I can continue teaching you to read tomorrow."
Aoran handed the packed food to Karin and gave his instructions.
Karin pouted, unhappy, and asked, "Then, when will Brother come back?"
Aoran pinched Karin's chubby cheek: "Either tomorrow or the day after."
"I'll be within the clan compound, but Uncle Hizashi needs my help with something. I'll return as soon as I finish handling it."
"Alright, I understand. Come back soon, Brother."
Karin rubbed her round head against Aoran's chest a couple of times, showing reluctance to part.
Aoran smiled: "I won't go inside. I'll just grab what I need and leave."
With that, he leaped from below straight up to the second floor and entered the room.
Karin placed the items on the table and ran up to the second floor, but Aoran had already left... Aoran's path to Hizashi's residence was unobstructed, as Hizashi had already informed the guards beforehand.
However, two guards did give him a slightly strange look.
Inside the room, Hizashi was lying unconscious, his face deathly pale. Aoran (Shadow Clone), Neji, and Hayato were all nearby.
He opened the door, and the Shadow Clone dissolved into smoke and vanished.
Hayato and Neji merely glanced at Aoran, not asking where he had been.
Seeing Neji's haggard appearance, Aoran spoke:
"Neji, you should go back and rest first. We can handle things here."
Hayato also realized the situation:
"Neji, you don't need to worry too much. Lord Hizashi only suffered mental trauma; he'll be fine after a night's rest."
"If you keep going without eating or drinking, your body won't be able to handle it."
Little Neji knelt beside Hizashi. He wasn't actually here just because he was worried about Hizashi.
Rather, the words Aoran had spoken to him were too shocking.
Subconsciously, he wanted to stay close to those he felt affinity with.
Hearing Hayato's voice now, Neji lifted his head, looking somewhat lost.
Aoran patted Neji's shoulder nearby:
"Only by taking care of your body can you secure your future. Go back, eat something, and get some sleep. Hayato and I are here."
Neji swayed slightly, indeed feeling hungry and weak. He slowly stood up:
"Brother Aoran, please call me when Father wakes up."
Aoran nodded, saying nothing more.
Neji bowed to Hayato, then reluctantly withdrew.
At this moment, Aoran activated his Byakugan and looked outside.
He only knew that Kumogakure's ninja leader would come to steal Hinata tonight.
But the exact time was unknown.
Therefore, he had to first confirm Hinata's location for monitoring purposes.
Soon, he located Little Hinata, who was still sound asleep, within his field of vision.
Seeing that she had not yet been kidnapped, Aoran felt slightly relieved.
Hayato, looking gloomy, noticed the burn marks on the Caged Bird Curse Seal on Hizashi's forehead.
His eyes were filled with hatred; clearly, he utterly detested this thing.
Seemingly too suppressed, Hayato looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Aoran comforted him: "Brother Yuren, you can tell me whatever you want to say."
Hayato shook his head, his tone laced with relief: "It's a good thing you didn't awaken the Byakugan."
"We of the Branch Family also have many geniuses."
"Back then, Yingren was an extremely outstanding reconnaissance officer..."
Aoran was currently using Transformation Jutsu, so Hayato didn't know he possessed a Byakugan.
Although these were all old stories, Aoran listened attentively.
Hayato recounted the life stories of some of the talented young people who had once existed in the Branch Family.
Some were humiliated by the Main Family, leading to shattered mental states, and some took the blame when the Main Family made mistakes.
Some were injured, some were crippled, some died, and some wished they were dead.
Rather than communicating with Aoran, Hayato was venting his inner resentment.
But Aoran could also discern the deepest sense of helplessness in his words.
"Then, Brother Yuren, what do you think the final outcome for the Branch Family will be?"
Aoran's eyes moved as he saw what was happening outside, and he asked Hayato a question.
Hayato's eyes were somewhat hollow and confused, as he usually didn't like to think deeply.
"I don't know..."
Aoran's expression changed slightly, and he said with a cold laugh: "Where there is oppression, there is resistance."
"If they don't know how to resist, the Branch Family only has one path: destruction."
Hayato suddenly woke up, looking at Aoran with horror: "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Hoo..."
At this moment, a heavy sigh was heard—Hizashi had woken up.
"Lord Hizashi, you're awake!"
Hizashi opened his eyes, looking utterly exhausted. He glanced at Hayato and nodded.
Then he turned his gaze to Aoran: "Aoran, you see things much more clearly than I imagined."
Hyuga Hayato nearby asked, puzzled: "Lord Hizashi, what are you talking about?"
Aoran didn't answer but directly released the Transformation Jutsu.
Hayato stared at Aoran's single Byakugan, completely stunned.
He had truly never seen a Hyuga Clan member like this.
Moreover, Aoran had not been branded with the Caged Bird Seal, meaning Aoran was currently free.
For a moment, Hayato felt a degree of envy toward Aoran.
Aoran kept his Byakugan active, looking into the distance, his expression seemingly regretful:
"Instead of sighing over this, shouldn't we think about how to get through this Calamity?"
Hizashi also activated his Byakugan, first looking at Aoran, then following Aoran's gaze.
At this time, there was hardly anyone outside except the Patrol Teams.
But he instantly saw Hiashi holding Hinata, and a Kumogakure corpse lying on the ground.
Aoran's voice rang out beside Hizashi's ear:
"Kumogakure's purpose in coming to Konoha this time is not simple. Hiashi has already fallen into Kumogakure's Open Conspiracy."
...