Bab 787: Chapter – 780 What Can a Cripple Do?
Aoki's Prison Cell, Underground Dungeon, Hyuga Clan
It was a small cell with an area of about 9 meters square. Closed from four sides with 2-meter walls. The only point of entry and exit was the small barred opening on the roof.
Sitting in his wheelchair, Aoki looked at the full moon through the small opening on the roof, and sighed lightly, 'Haaaaa.'
All traces of anger, resentment, and hesitance had disappeared from his face, his heart had calmed down and his expression had also become clear. Aoki has finally accepted his reality, 'It turns out that no matter how I much try, I really can't be like them, I just can't. I wonder why did I even try in the first place?'
With such thoughts in his mind, Aoki recalled the event that changed his life forever.
It was during the latter stage of the third great shinobi war. Konoha was winning on all four fronts all thanks to the efforts of Yellow Flash and it was predicted that the war would soon end. At that time, he and his brother Aoba were assigned to the front line. Their main task was the protection of the only son of one of the elders of the main family of the Hyuga Clan–who was going to the front line.
Normally, the children of the main family don't go to the battlefield, especially not to the front lines. However, the third great shinobi war was a war like never before, it caused a heavy loss of manpower. Although Konoha was winning, however, all was not well. Protecting itself on all four ends, Konoha lacked human resources, therefore the Hyuga Clan had no choice but to send even the children of the main family to the front line.
After arriving on the front line, they were assigned a small mission. It was a simple reconnaissance task. The mission was completed without a hitch thanks to their Byakugan, and they were on their way back to the camp to submit the report. That's when it happened, they discovered the kidnapping of the disciple of Yellow Flash. Kirigakure shinobi were planning to do some serious damage to Konoha by sealing the three-tailed turtle inside her and releasing it when she returns back to the village.
Knowing the harm that the three-tailed turtle can cause to Konoha, they knew they couldn't just sit back and watch. They had to do something. And so, they decided to save the girl. Of course, they weren't going to act recklessly, so they discussed for a while and split into two teams. Aoki took charge of staying back and keeping a track of the Kirigakure Shinobi, while his brother and the child of the main family were tasked with bringing reinforcements.
The plan was perfect. Konoha's camp wasn't too far so it was definitely plausible, all Aoki had to do was not lose the track of Kirigakure's shinobi, which was an easy thing to do with his pair of Byakugan.
And so, they split into two teams. But who would have thought, their plan had one major flaw, and that's something they only realized by the time everything was over.
Aoki doesn't understand how they did it, but Kirigakure Shinobi spotted the three of them a long time ago, and just after they split into two teams, and it was just him, hundreds of Kirigakure shinobi appeared out of nowhere and attacked him. The other team consisting of his brother and the child of the main family were also attacked.
Surprising thing was, these shinobi were extremely weak, so they were easily dealt with, however, their numbers were never decreasing, it was as If they had no end to them, and continued to come at them.
The three of them could only deal with so many, but there was no end to Kirigakure Shinobi, by the time reinforcements from Konoha arrived, all the damage was done. He was crippled, his brother was injured but alive, and as for the child of the main family, not only was he dead but one of his Byakugan was also stolen.
This was a scandal. When the news about this incident reached the main family of the Hyuga Clan, the main family was furious.
The one to bear the brunt of everything was he and his brother.
Aoki and his brother tried to explain everything. The failure wasn't his or his brother's fault, they were doing what was necessary! They were trying to protect the village! But they were outnumbered. But the main family didn't listen to them at all. They were adamant about punishing the two of them for their failure to protect the members of the main family and the secrets of the Hyuga Clan.
He was still fine, after all, his legs were seriously injured and he had lost the ability to walk, so he was only imprisoned for three years, but his brother wasn't the same. His brother was executed for the failure. It's not that his brother didn't try to resist, however, he was powerless to do so because of the 'Caged Bird'.
After his brother's death, Aoki's spirit collapsed, he was consumed by anger and a desire for revenge against the main family.
He knew that he himself is powerless against the main family because of the existence of the 'Caged Bird' so he planned to use others and thus he became a traitor.
He tried to use Kumogakure's greed in an attempt to cause harm to the Hyuga Clan. Although the plan for Hyuga Hinata's kidnapping failed because of the intervention of Amatsukami, Aoki didn't give up and continued to look for opportunities.
After he stole some books from the forbidden library of the Hyuga Clan, Aoki learned a very important secret about the main family and the 'Caged Bird'.
Upon learning that secret, Aoki became hesitant.
The secret was about the true purpose behind the existence of the main family and the 'Caged Bird'.
Although Aoki hated the main family and 'Caged Bird', he didn't want to destroy the entire Hyuga Clan, especially the children of the branch family, they were innocent and had nothing to do with his hatred.
So, Aoki decided to keep his hatred within and decided to end it with him. Besides, when he had stolen the books from the forbidden section, he had already killed the elder who was responsible for the execution of his brother, so part of his revenge was completed, and he no longer wanted to create trouble for the branch family.
With such intentions, Aoki restrained himself and started living a normal life.
He would talk with his fellow clansmen and tried his best to integrate with them, revenge and other things were no longer on his mind. This is why when Kuroto continued to look for the traitor of the Hyuga Clan, he found no one for so long.
Aoki believed that he was happy now, and he didn't need to care about his past thoughts. But that's the thing… he believed that he was happy, but is he?
The clan meeting a few days back changed everything. Hyuga Kuroto's outburst changed everything. Aoki admired Kuroto for the kind of courage Kuroto showed at that time. More so, he really liked Kuroto's intention of protecting Neji, a member of the branch family from the wrath of the main family
Of course, Aoki only admired Kuroto, he had no plans of supporting him or anything, nor was he influenced by Kuroto.
But who would have thought that that's only what he believed?
When Elder Aoyama slapped him along with the rest of the branch members, all the anger, the suppressed desire for revenge and all the negative emotions once again surfaced. At the same time, Aoki also realized that he had been strongly influenced by Kuroto's actions. He can no longer bear the scolding and humiliation.
This is why he thinks that he can't be like them. Like the rest of the branch members who can swallow the anger and humiliation.
'Well, at least I tried. But I suppose it's time to stop with this stupid façade.' Thought Aoki as a relieved smile appeared on his face.
As Aoki made up his mind, the sound of footsteps resounded from the roof, and not long afterward, Hizashi appeared on the other side of the metal bars. He looked at Aoki through the bars, and said, "Aoki… you did something foolish today!"
"..." – Aoki remained silent.
Hizashi wasn't surprised, and sighed, "You… don't have to worry too much. I have talked with the Patriarch when the matter subsides, you will be released. Until then, stay peaceful, and try not to do anything."
Aoki smiled, and said, "My sentence is being shortened?" and asked, "Is it because Patriarch doesn't consider me much of a threat due to my disability?"
Hizashi tried to answer… but… he didn't know how to explain. Hizashi used Aoki's disability as an excuse in order to persuade Hiashi. And Aoki's disability is the only reason his sentence is being pardoned.
Hizashi didn't need to answer, Aoki saw through his hesitation, and said in a sarcastic tone, "I guess I should be grateful to you, Hizashi-san."
Hizashi sighed, "Just… don't make things difficult."
Aoki chuckled, and asked as looked at Hizashi, "Say Hizashi-san, don't you hate Patriarch?"
Hizashi frowned, "What do you mean?"
Aoki explained, "The two of you are twin brothers. And in my understanding, you are obviously stronger than him, yet he is the Patriarch, not you… why? Because of the stupid rules of the main family! Just because he is only a few seconds older than you, he is the Patriarch, while your entire life is limited to serving him because of that 'Caged Bird'. If anyone was in your position, he would hate Patriarch, right?"
Hizashi shook his head, "There is no use thinking about these things."
"Right!" said Aoki, and added in an aggressive tone, "I really pity you Hizashi-san. You are imprisoned to such a degree that you can't even express your hatred towards them. But you know what… all your efforts, the efforts of your son… everything is in vain… in front of 'Caged Bird' everything is useless… we are all prisoners, and we can never escape this destiny. We can try to resist it, just like Hyuga Kuroto did… but we can never escape it, even he can't!"
Hizashi was seriously confused now, and questioned Aoki, "What are you trying to say?"
Aoki took a deep breath, as he said, "That's a very good question. What am I trying to say, huh?" and muttered, "I… don't know… I just know that I can't become like you… and I have resigned trying to be… this is not just in my fate."
"Don't talk nonsense about fate and belief. Just live the rest of your life peacefully… Living is the most important!" said Hizashi, trying to calm down Aoki.
Aoki chuckled, "Yes… you are right, now I am going to do just that. I will not resist anymore." And added, "But you know what… you made a mistake… he made a mistake too… he should have killed me when he had the chance, now there is no going back."
As he said these words, Aoki's eyes became extremely clear. It's as if he knew what he had to do now.
Hizashi was getting a very bad vibe from Aoki. He started to panic, and questioned, "Aoki… what are you trying to do?"
Aoki looked at Hizashi and said with a twisted smile, "What can a cripple like me do Hizashi-san?"
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