Within the Hyuga cn compound, a crowd had gathered outside a room.

  “Lord Hiashi is here!”

  Someone called out, and the others quickly stepped aside to open a path, bowing deeply to the young man approaching.

  “Lord Hiashi!”

  Hyuga Hiashi walked to the doorway with a frown, his expression darkening as he saw the body lying inside.

  He had already received the news—Hyuga Ninkyo had been murdered in his own room.

  “Lord Hiashi, Ninkyo…”

  “Please, you must find the killer!”

  “Lord Hiashi!”

  Voices rose from all directions, indignant and furious.

  A cnsman sin within the heart of the Hyuga compound—it was a btant insult to the cn. Who would dare such audacity?

  There were no signs of struggle in the room. The only visible wound on Ninkyo was a clean ssh across his throat.

  Hiashi stood silently for a moment, lost in thought, before solemnly promising the crowd that he would find the murderer and avenge Ninkyo’s death.

  After offering his reassurances, he dispersed the gathered cnsmen.

  Some of Ninkyo’s closer friends were reluctant to leave, but none dared defy the cn leader’s order.

  Once everyone was gone, only Hiashi and Hizashi remained.

  Hiashi took a deep breath. “Search for the key.”

  Hizashi was already inspecting the body, but after a thorough check, he found nothing. He then activated his Byakugan and scanned the entire room. After a long moment, he shook his head silently.

  A wave of dizziness swept over Hiashi. Hizashi rushed to steady him.

  “Lord Hiashi!”

  “This was aimed at us,” Hiashi said through gritted teeth. “At the Hyuga cn itself!”

  “Ninkyo was a jonin, one of the stronger members of the cn. Whoever killed him so cleanly was no ordinary person,” Hizashi added.

  Hiashi’s expression shifted rapidly, thoughts racing through his mind.

  “Check the Byakugan vault,” he said at st.

  With that, he vanished in an instant, clearly in a hurry. Hizashi could only follow quickly.

  In a fsh, the two arrived at the hidden chamber where the Byakugan were stored. The secluded courtyard was rarely visited, which was why no one had noticed the lock and sealing jutsu had already been tampered with.

  Seeing the door left slightly ajar, Hiashi hesitated, dread creeping into his chest.

  Theft of the Byakugan. The sacred bloodline leaking outside the cn. In a daze, Hiashi could already envision a future where outsiders wielded their prized dojutsu, threatening the very existence of the main family.

  He didn’t want to open the door.

  But a cold gust of wind blew it open with a long creak.

  The scene inside was clear: the wooden boxes once lining the shelves and tables had all vanished—completely emptied.

  Hiashi stared at the emptiness before him, a tightness in his chest making it hard to breathe.

  Silently, Hizashi stepped forward, closed the door, and relocked it.

  “Lord Hiashi, we shouldn’t let word of this get out—at least not for now,” Hizashi said quietly.

  “Do you think keeping it quiet means no one else will find out? Ninkyo was the one holding the key! Every elder in the cn knows that!” Hiashi snapped.

  He no longer held the calm and dignified bearing of the cn leader. He was, after all, barely in his twenties—still a young man. The day’s events had shattered his composure.

  He gradually regained control. “First, see to Ninkyo’s body. Say nothing about the stolen Byakugan. Focus all efforts on tracking the killer.”

  Hizashi asked, “What about Lord Hokage?”

  Ninkyo was not only a Hyuga cnsman but also a shinobi of Konoha. Murdered in his own home—the vilge was bound to get involved.

  “I’ll inform him myself,” Hiashi said.

  All of Konoha’s recent entry records and visiting personnel would need to be investigated—and the Hokage’s help would be essential.

  Hiashi’s thoughts were a chaotic mess. Finally, he waved his hand. “Go.”

  But Hizashi didn’t leave right away. He remained rooted in pce.

  “What is it?”

  “Lord Hiashi… what about the operation?”

  Hiashi’s mind fshed back to the boy who had dined with him the night before—those pitch-bck eyes, gringly out of pce.

  “We’ll discuss that ter,” he said coldly.

  Hizashi returned to Ninkyo’s quarters. The body was still lying on the floor, the blood long dried.

  Though he masked it well, Hizashi was grieving. Unlike Hiashi’s fury, his sorrow came from losing a friend.

  The room hadn’t been disturbed—meaning the killer had likely struck in an instant, not even giving Ninkyo a chance to resist.

  He activated his Byakugan, scanning every inch of the room. Even the dust on the table was sharp in his vision.

  At st, he noticed something strange. Beneath the bed, where cleaning rarely reached, a yer of dust had settled—broken by a winding trail.

  He deactivated his Byakugan and knelt to examine it. It was a distinct mark, as if something had slithered through—like a snake.

  “Did you find something?”

  Hiashi’s voice suddenly rang out behind him, making Hizashi’s heart skip a beat.

  Without changing expression, Hizashi leaned forward and casually blew the trail away in a puff of dust, then coughed and stood.

  He waved the dust from his face. “Nothing. Just checking the scene for clues.”

  Hiashi gnced from the doorway toward the bed. It did look undisturbed.

  “Don’t leave the body lying around too long,” he said.

  “Understood.”

  …

  Makoto stayed in his room all day.

  That morning, after hearing a scream, he noticed groups of cnsmen walking past outside, whispering among themselves.

  It wasn’t until the afternoon that Hizashi suddenly came to visit.

  “Lord Hizashi!” Makoto looked surprised, then greeted him warmly. “What brings you here?”

  Hizashi stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the room. From outside, he had already used the Byakugan and confirmed the boy had spent the whole day reading in his room.

  “You didn’t go out today?” Hizashi asked, settling into a chair.

  “No, I think I caught a chill in the rain yesterday. I’ve been feeling off.”

  Hizashi nodded. “You’re still recovering. Make sure you take care of yourself and don’t get sick again.”

  “Thank you for your concern, Lord Hizashi.”

  Then Hizashi asked, “Something big happened in the cn today. Have you heard?”

  Makoto tilted his head. “I saw some people talking this morning, but I didn’t know what it was about.”

  “Ninkyo is dead. He was murdered st night in his home.”

  “Nin... Ninkyo-senpai?!” Makoto froze for a moment, then his face contorted in shock.

  “What?!”

  He cried out in disbelief.

  Hizashi watched him closely, scrutinizing his expression. Nothing seemed forced.

  “Ninkyo-senpai was a jonin! How could he be killed?!” Makoto asked, unable to contain himself.

  “There are many in this world far stronger than a jonin,” Hizashi said calmly.

  “Then who did it? Who would kill Ninkyo-senpai?!” Makoto’s voice was furious now.

  “You’re angry?” Hizashi asked.

  Makoto seethed. “Someone murdered a member of our cn right here in the compound! It’s a direct sp to the Hyuga name!”

  He had never been close with Ninkyo. In fact, the older man often ignored his greetings. Hizashi knew that well.

  “We’ll find out who did it,” Hizashi replied.

  “The killer must pay with their life!” Makoto hissed.

  “Mm.” Hizashi gave a noncommittal grunt, then stood and casually reminded him that the cn would be investigating thoroughly in the coming days, so he should avoid going out unnecessarily.

  “Take care, Lord Hizashi.”

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