Beyond the spectators' seats and the arena itself, the exam grounds naturally had a dedicated ward for treatment and rest.
Neji was carried there by two medical-nin.
On the surface, Konoha looked unchanged; in truth, undercurrents had already begun to surge.
Shinobi were posted everywhere—openly and in the shadows.
The Chunin Exams venue most of all.
Not only were crowds of civilians gathered here; both Konoha's Hokage and Suna's Kazekage were on-site. Naturally, far more covert guards had been deployed.
After Hayate's death, with Kakashi's intel and Jiraiya's warning, Hiruzen would hardly leave things to chance.
And the exam stadium was the likeliest place for trouble. Too many civilians—any incident would force Konoha to divert shinobi to protect them.
So before the finals began, Hiruzen had quietly ordered the Hyuga clan to monitor the arena.
For surveillance and intelligence, the Byakugan (White Eye), with its piercing insight, was second to none.
Inside a special room within the arena—
Several Hyuga shinobi watched the grounds, their Byakugan constantly sweeping.
"Huh?"
One Byakugan user let out a puzzled sound.
"What is it, Mashiro? Something off on your end?"
Another Hyuga glanced over and asked.
"N-no… probably saw it wrong."
Hyuga Mashiro checked again, then shook his head.
The other Hyuga nodded, then addressed the room in a firm whisper: "Until the exams conclude, I'm counting on everyone."
"Yes!"
All answered in unison.
Down a long corridor—
"Yuto-sama, I found him."
Ranmaru's eyes, usually slate-gray, had turned a glowing crimson. He peered toward a point down the hall, face bright with excitement.
Yuto nodded lightly and asked, almost offhand, "How many Hyuga did you spot?"
"Yuto-sama means the people with white eyes? A lot."
"But Ranmaru's ability can make them unable to see us—while I can still see them."
Pleased with himself, Ranmaru flashed a tiny, smug grin.
"You're amazing, Ranmaru."
Yuto's smile was warm as he ruffled the boy's hair.
Ranmaru's kekkei genkai (bloodline limit) perfectly countered the Byakugan. Unless they ran headlong into someone's direct line of sight, the two of them simply didn't exist within those pale pupils.
In a room like a small infirmary—
Two medical-nin eased Neji onto a bed and began their checks.
A moment later, both exhaled in relief.
"Mostly external injuries. No internal damage. Rest for a while and you'll recover," one said softly.
"But your chakra is nearly depleted. Your body's weak right now—no high-intensity movement for the time being," the other added.
Neji said nothing. Now and then, confusion and unwillingness flickered through his gaze.
Click.
The door to the ward opened.
Hiashi entered, face calm.
"Hiashi-sama!"
The two medical-nin bowed at once.
As the Hyuga clan head, Hiashi held considerable weight in Konoha.
"Sorry. I'd like a moment alone," Hiashi said, polite in wording but leaving no room for discussion.
"Y-yes."
They traded a look, nodded, and stepped out.
When the door shut again, Hiashi approached Neji and, after a brief silence, said, "I came to tell you what happened that day."
Neji struggled up, anger flashing across his face. "Father died taking your place. What could you possibly have to tell me now?!"
Unmoved, Hiashi drew a scroll from his robes, walked to the bedside, and placed it in Neji's hands. "This records the whole truth."
Neji stared at the scroll—especially the handwriting on its face—and faltered.
He unrolled it, skimming the contents.
"I didn't die because the branch protects the main," a young voice recited suddenly from outside the door. "I died protecting my brother and the village."
Neji froze—the exact words on the page had just been spoken aloud.
"Who's there?!"
Hiashi's face hardened as he spun toward the door, voice cracking like a whip.
Click.
The door swung inward.
Yuto and Ranmaru stepped in with easy smiles.
"Even once is enough—I want to defy the Hyuga's fate."
"To choose my own fate. That's all."
Ranmaru's crimson eyes were fixed on the scroll in Neji's hands as he repeated the lines in his small voice.
Shock crossed Hiashi's face. Everything the child said matched the scroll's text.
No one else in the clan had ever seen that record. No one but him should know those words.
There was only one explanation.
Byakugan.
With Byakugan's penetration, one could see through the scroll and read its contents.
Hiashi's gaze chilled as he swept it over Yuto and Ranmaru, pausing on their eyes.
The Byakugan's traits were distinctive. One glance, and he dismissed that possibility.
His attention settled on Ranmaru—on that faint red glow.
So much like the Sharingan, yet without tomoe. A new kekkei genkai? And one akin to the Byakugan in function…
"Apologies if we've interrupted you. If so—how unfortunate," Yuto said with gentle amusement that sounded nothing like an apology.
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