"Neji-nii, what are you doing here?"
Hinata Hyuga had just opened the door when she saw Neji standing outside. She gasped softly and quickly ran up to him, her voice full of excitement.
Her father had been worried about Neji all last night, afraid that he was too stubborn.
But now, those worries seemed unnecessary. Neji coming here meant he had finally made up his mind.
"I want to see the clan leader," Neji said slowly, his voice heavy, as if he had thought it through for a long time.
Hinata nodded and led him into the courtyard. The clan leader’s residence was grand—much more luxurious than the place Neji stayed.
At that moment, Hiashi Hyuga stepped out from inside the house. Seeing Neji here, he let out a relieved sigh.
At least Neji wasn’t so stubborn anymore. He had come to understand.
"You came," Hiashi said to Neji with satisfaction. "Looks like you’ve thought it through. For now, stay away for a while. When the Eighth Elder and the main family calm down, you can come back and apologize."
But then, Hiashi’s tone turned a bit disappointed. "You were too impulsive. Challenging the main family is a serious offense."
He spoke each word firmly, showing his displeasure.
In short, as a member of the branch family, daring to harm someone from the main family was taboo.
If it wasn’t for Hiashi holding back the furious Eighth Elder, Neji might have died by now.
"I understand," Neji said calmly, listening seriously. He nodded lightly. "I will leave for a while."
"That’s good. It’s better for both you and your mother," Hiashi replied, nodding in approval.
Hyūga Neji’s expression grew serious as he said, "There is one favor I hope you can help me with."
"What favor?" Hyūga Hiashi looked surprised. Neji had come to say goodbye, hadn’t he? And now he had a request?
"I hope you can watch over my mother while I’m away. Please don’t let her suffer any harm."
Right now, Neji’s biggest worry was his mother.
He feared that after he left Konoha, the main branch of the clan might take out their anger on her.
If that happened, he would rather not leave at all.
"I see." Hiashi looked at Neji thoughtfully. Though his own younger brother had died early, Neji truly cared for his mother.
Though feeling moved, Hiashi gave a cold snort, "If you had known this would happen, you shouldn’t have been so impulsive back then!"
After the scolding, he firmly promised, "Don’t worry. The main branch will know their limits. They won’t harm your mother."
Hiashi had confidence in their clan members.
"Thank you," Neji said, then turned to leave.
"You haven’t eaten yet, right? Come inside and have something," Hiashi called out again as Neji moved to go.
"No, it’s better if I leave now. That way I won’t cause trouble for the clan." Neji said simply, without looking back, and left.
Watching Neji’s retreating figure, Hiashi shook his head with a bitter smile, "Such a stubborn boy. But if he keeps this up, he’ll only hurt himself."
He felt both helpless and deeply concerned.
But although he was the clan leader, the Hyuga clan was not his to command alone.
Everything he did had to protect the interests of the main family.
Yet when had the main family ever truly respected the branch family?
This was an eternal conflict.
There were some things the branch family had to accept.
He hoped this experience would help him face reality.
With these thoughts weighing on him, Hyuga Neji quietly left Konoha.
At the Uchiha Hospital — whether Sarutobi Hiruzen admitted it or not — this place had become the best, most advanced hospital in Konoha.
Hyuga Sosuke was being treated here.
At this moment, the Eight Elders and Sosuke’s parents stood silently, their faces grave as they watched Sosuke lie unconscious.
"Doctor, when will my grandson wake up?" The eighth elder’s worn face was full of worry.
Since his grandson fell into the coma, he hadn’t rested.
His eyes were bloodshot, but beneath it all was anger — anger toward Hyuga Neji.
"It’s hard to say," the doctor replied carefully.
"His coma is mainly due to mental trauma. He will wake when he’s ready. That could be days, or even a month."
"As for the damage to his chakra pathways, it will likely take about a year of careful recuperation before he fully recovers."
"Hyuga Neji!" The elder’s fists clenched tightly as he listened to the doctor.
After the doctor left, the elder’s anger burst out and he punched the hospital wall.
The building trembled.
The doctor quickly returned and faced the furious elder.
"Do not damage hospital property or you will face severe punishment."
Without another word, the doctor turned and left.
At Uchiha Hospital, no one dared cause trouble — neither ninjas nor civilians.
This was the power the Uchiha clan held now.
The hospital had earned the people’s trust and respect.
Only the elder remained inside, his expression cold and unreadable.
The oppressive atmosphere returned to the hospital room.
After a long silence, the door slowly opened.
A young member of the Hyuga clan carefully stepped inside.
Seeing the Eighth Elder sitting silently and gloomily, he spoke in a low voice, "Just as Eighth Elder expected, Hyuga Neji went to see the clan leader this morning, then left Konoha!"
At these words, Eighth Elder slammed his hand on the table and stood up sharply. "Hmph, just as I thought. Hyuga Hiashi always favored his younger brother’s bloodline, letting Neji escape!"
His face was filled with anger and dissatisfaction.
This was his resentment toward Hyuga Hiashi.
Since Hiashi belonged to the main family, he should have been loyal to it, but this time, Hiashi chose to side with the branch family instead. What did that leave for the main family?
"Father, what should we do now? Sōsuke is badly injured—we can’t just let that brat off so easily!" Hyuga Sōsuke’s mother stepped forward, looking at Eighth Elder.
"I want Hyuga Neji to die without a place to rest his body!"
"Don’t worry..." Eighth Elder nodded, then looked toward his son. "Chōryū, you’re Jonin now. Take some men and go. I imagine you’re eager to act."
Hyuga Chōryū nodded. "Since the clan leader won’t help us, we’ll settle this ourselves. I will make Neji pay for all the pain Sōsuke suffered. He will experience even greater suffering."
A cruel smile appeared on his face. The cage bird was ready to be activated. He intended to make Hyuga Neji’s life worse than death.
"Remember, this must be done quietly. Don’t let the clan leader find out."
After exchanging a few words, Chōryū left the hospital room, his face twisted with ferocity.
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