"If you say there's none, that's impossible. Anyone alive doesn't want to die."
Hizashi gave a bitter smile.
The Main Clan Elder nodded and took out a letter from his bosom.
"This is from Hiashi-sama for you. Your last words are no longer needed. Due to Hiashi-sama's obstruction, we still don't know the contents of the letter, even Hiashi-sama hasn't opened it. Now, handle it yourself."
The Main Clan Elder said.
"My brother?"
Hizashi murmured, with a complex look in his eyes as he took the envelope and tucked it into his bosom.
Find a place to burn this letter when I return.
Indeed, this letter is no longer needed.
"There's one more thing I need to verify with you."
After handing the letter to Hizashi, the Main Clan Elder seriously stared at Hizashi's face, watching him with utmost solemnity.
"Verify?"
Hizashi was bewildered by the Main Clan Elder's sudden serious demeanor, not knowing what he wanted to verify.
"Yes, verify."
The Main Clan Elder's life-and-death expression made Hizashi feel the matter was not simple.
"Please speak, Elder, I will certainly tell what I know."
"Alright, then I will speak directly. Someone from the Branch Family has contacted Danzo."
The Main Clan Elder opened his mouth, revealing explosive information, leaving Hizashi stiffly seated.
"The Branch Family... contacted Danzo?"
The news was so unexpected that Hizashi couldn't react for a while.
"Exactly. The Hokage-sama has already investigated; a team from Danzo's Root secretly left the village, soon followed by the border conflict incident, where one Jonin and three Chunin from the village were killed by Hidden Cloud's ambush."
"What does that imply? You wouldn't think the Branch Family would dare act without orders from the Main Family, would you?"
A trace of anger arose in Hizashi's heart, but he didn't show it on his face.
Since joining Konoha, the Hyuga Clan had never actively reached for power, which was also completely forbidden by the Main Family.
"Danzo's timing was too coincidental, and as far as I know, a few members of the Branch Family suddenly disappeared for a period recently. It's unknown where they went and what they did."
The Main Clan Elder carefully observed Hizashi's somewhat angry face, attempting to discern something.
"The Branch Family wouldn't do such a thing without the Main Family's authorization!"
Hizashi insisted on his viewpoint.
Despite saying Danzo saved his life, the fact was he had no dealings with Danzo whatsoever.
The Branch Family was also restricted by the Main Family; even if they actively contacted Danzo, Danzo wouldn't possibly make transactions with them.
If the Main Family contacted Danzo, that would bear different implications.
The Main Family deserves more suspicion than the Branch Family.
"Then was Hyuga Ayane's defection also authorized by the Main Family?"
The Main Clan Elder's expression became extremely dangerous.
Hizashi was speechless.
"But Danzo is originally a warmonger in the village; his unwillingness to negotiate with Hidden Cloud is understandable."
"But now, Hokage-sama suspects the Hyuga Clan supports Root's development in secret, which led Danzo to step in, relieving our clan's predicament, preserving the clan's reputation."
The Main Clan Elder's gaze pierced Hizashi like a blade.
"That's purely fictional!"
"Whether true isn't the point; the point is Hokage-sama already suspects the Hyuga Clan. The Root will be a serious target for Hokage's next crackdown. Warn those Branch Family elders not to mislead themselves nor disgrace our clan with foolish actions."
The Main Clan Elder took out a piece of paper with over ten names written on it.
Those named are Ninja from the Hyuga Branch Family, some are high-ranking Branch Family Elders.
"Your next task is to monitor the activities of these people. In exchange for this, your son Neji can come to the Main Family to learn more advanced Gentle Fist."
"..."
Hizashi's face darkened, clenching his hands into fists.
He wanted to punch the Main Clan Elder's face, but finally held back.
Because this Main Clan Elder, like his brother Hyuga Hiashi, wouldn't show him mercy, nor indulge his defiance.
His own affairs didn't matter, but Neji couldn't be implicated.
"I will keep an eye on them, but if they have no issues, I want an apology from the Main Family."
Hizashi stared fiercely at the Main Clan Elder's wrinkled face, which appeared extremely repulsive to him.
The Main Clan Elder disregarded Hizashi's expression, after brief contemplation, nodded.
"If they indeed have no problems, I will personally apologize to everyone in the Branch Family at the clan meeting; I shouldn't have doubted my clansmen."
Promises made, Hizashi's face darkened as he left the seat and walked out the door.
The Main Clan Elder paid no mind to Hizashi's attitude.
Rather than worrying about the trouble possibly involving the Branch Family and Danzo, the priority now is to dispel the Hokage's suspicion of the Hyuga Clan.
Once suspected by the Hokage in Konoha, things become tricky.