Chapter 16: Menma: Don't Make a Sound, Okay?
Hyūga Clan Grounds, the Great Elder's residence.
Hyūga Hizashi walked steadily into the courtyard, coming face-to-face with a frowning Hyūga Hiashi.
Hiashi paused, then asked coolly: "What are you doing here?"
His tone held none of the warmth expected when addressing his twin brother.
Once upon a time, they were like any other close brothers, respectful and harmonious.
But ever since Hizashi was branded with the [Caged Bird] Cursed Seal, ever since Hizashi was punished by a main family elder using the [Caged Bird] for his rashness, rolling on the ground screaming in agony...
"Now, besides the ties of blood, Hizashi probably only feels hatred for me, right?"
Hiashi recalled his younger brother's killing intent towards his niece Hinata just days ago, feeling even more distressed.
He was the head of the Hyūga clan, but the clan was by no means his alone to command.
On the contrary, he needed to serve as an example, discard all useless emotions, and place the clan's interests above all else.
This caused the two brothers to drift further and further apart on different paths.
"I have matters to discuss with the main family elders."
However, facing his brother's coldness, Hizashi wore a smile.
Looking closely, one could even discern a hint of relief and determination.
Seeing his strange expression, Hiashi's frown deepened. He then snorted lightly: "Do as you please. But remember your duty as a member of the branch family."
His tone was harsh, sounding like a threat and a command.
Hizashi certainly understood his brother's meaning.
He was warning him not to vent his resentment towards the main family onto the innocent Hinata, and certainly not to express his dissatisfaction and hatred in front of the main family elders.
But Hizashi's smile remained unchanged as he nodded and replied: "Apologies. It won't happen again."
Blatantly showing killing intent towards the main family heir... If I weren't his brother, if it had been another elder, I might have already been killed by the curse seal.
Previously, I was blinded by hatred, but calming down now...
"Still as gentle as ever, brother."
Unfortunately, stagnation and conservative self-isolation cannot change the Hyūga. On the contrary, it will only lead the Hyūga to ruin.
Unsure what thought struck him, Hizashi paused, then suddenly began humming the folk song:
"Bamboo cage, bamboo cage eye~ Little bird in the cage~ When can you come out?"
"On the night of dawn~ The crane and turtle slipped~ Who is the one behind?"
That masked person was right. This is my time of death.
And my death will ignite the flame of yearning for freedom in the hearts of the branch family.
"...What?"
Ignoring Hiashi's astonished expression, Hizashi continued humming the song and walked right past him.
Hiashi snapped back to reality, turning to watch the retreating figure gradually swallowed by the shadows, a sudden ominous premonition rising in his heart.
"Hizashi, what on earth are you planning..."
...
The five great nations of the ninja world are the Land of Fire, Land of Wind, Land of Water, Land of Lightning, and Land of Earth.
The borders of these five behemoths do not directly touch; numerous smaller nations are sandwiched between them.
In every Shinobi World War, the heaviest losses are not suffered by the five great nations that initiate the wars, but by the small nations caught in the middle.
No great nation cares about their feelings. The only reason they haven't been annexed is to serve as buffer zones between the great powers, and if necessary, as battlegrounds for the great powers' struggles.
Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning lie several small countries like the Land of Hot Water, Land of Moon, and Land of Rice Fields. Furthermore, only one land corridor connects the two countries.
From the First to the Second Hokage's time, during past Shinobi World Wars, the foreign policy strategy of 'befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones' was a common choice for both nations. The Land of Fire and Land of Lightning were relatively good allies.
However, ever since the Gold and Silver Brothers killed the Second Raikage and the Second Hokage, enmity arose between the two countries. And as the Land of Lightning's military strength grew daily, their wolfish ambitions also began to swell.
This recent Hyūga incident was the Cloud Village's probe directed at Konoha.
At the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire, on a valley shaped like a knife's edge spanning the two countries...
This was the Valley of the Moon. Nearly a thousand Konoha ninja were already stationed here, having established their defensive line and stronghold.
Simultaneously, several patrol squads were dispatched daily to patrol the border, preventing ninja from other countries from infiltrating the Land of Fire.
The Cloud had also established a defensive line and stronghold. The two armies faced off directly, the atmosphere heavy with suppression.
Skirmishes and casualties frequently occurred between the patrol squads of both sides.
Judging by their appearance, they seemed eager to immediately charge into the enemy's position and teach them a painful lesson.
But the actual situation...
"So restrained?"
A figure suddenly appeared in the Valley of the Moon.
Looking at the1 two sides, tense yet highly restrained, his tone was full of amusement: "Just talking without fighting won't do. Why don't I give you a little push?"
The newcomer was Uzumaki Menma, wearing the three-eyed fox mask.
He had long anticipated the reactions of both the Cloud and Konoha, knowing that this seemingly imminent war was actually just a bubble.
It only needed a gentle poke to burst completely.
Konoha, unless absolutely forced, would definitely not agree to start another war.
And the Cloud also needed a legitimate reason to launch a war; they were unwilling to bear the stigma of being warmongers.
Although it was the truth, it would cause the number of mission requests their village received to decrease.
-- No one wants to commission a forceful and domineering power, let alone an unreasonable bandit force.
Once the Konoha leadership discovered the loophole in the Cloud Village's conditions, this war would fizzle out.
"However, what I need isn't a beautiful ending bought by someone's death."
Ten kilometers away from the Valley of the Moon.
A five-man patrol squad wearing Konoha forehead protectors was rushing through the forest.
The leader suddenly stopped, flinging a shuriken directly into the depths of the woods.
"Who's there! Come out!"
The other Konoha ninja also halted, expressions wary, gripping their weapons tightly.
Rustle rustle rustle~
The depths of the forest were an abyss of darkness; nothing unusual appeared.
An eerie silence fell over the scene. A gust of wind blew past, only the rustling of leaves could be heard.
Seeing this, one Konoha ninja hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Captain..."
But the instant he spoke...
Screeeech!
Following an ear-piercing screech, a barely visible figure flashed past.
And the captain who had been standing before them remained in his original posture, but the head above his neck was gone.
Splurt!
Before the others could react, blood spurted like a fountain from the headless corpse, splattering directly onto the remaining four Konoha ninja.
"Ene—"
One of the ninja reacted, just about to send a signal.
A black shadow flashed past like a ghost, a hand instantly clamping down on his jaw, thumb and forefinger pinching his cheeks.
Crack!
"Don't make a sound, okay?"
A gentle voice tinged with laughter sounded beside his ear.
The ninja whose jaw had been broken trembled as he turned his head.
His three teammates were already lying on the ground, life status unknown, while the black shadow's other hand held a severed head.
A head with a stern expression, hauntingly familiar.