"Why would it not?" Hizashi asked.
"Suppose the head ninja is fine and dandy and is allowed to go back to his home. He will immediately be 'checked' and it won't take a minute for them to accuse us of the crime of harming the messenger and do something else in return," Aoto said. This made both of them stiffen and they didn't know how to reply.
The Hyuga brothers already knew that this would happen, but they needed someone to tell them this to their face. The family wanted to get Aoto and let him send the men he had saved. But the brothers knew that this wouldn't finish the job.
"By the way, did they ask for anything in return?" Aoto asked.
"There has been some back and forth between Konoha and Kumo. They asked for my body to be sent to them," Hiashi replied.
"Hmm... So what have you thought? Sacrifice yourself? Or your brother here?" Aoto asked.
"What?" Hiashi was appalled by Aoto's words.
"Oh please, don't act like your family haven't thought about it. Since your brother is a twin, you can already pass as yourself. If he doesn't want to do it, the curse mark is there to make sure he does the job," Aoto said. There was complete disbelief written all over Hiashi's face. Two or three members of the family who are on the other faction did subtly suggest it, but he hadn't paid attention.
Or more so because he didn't want to think of that solution. He came here expecting a live head ninja, not getting schooled by a young man.
"What are you so surprised about? This has been the norm, I am pretty sure. Konoha doesn't want a war at the moment, so that piece of shit Danzo might have come and suggested it to your family members or maybe your family themselves had thought about it. After all, you all are hypocrites. Including you," Aoto said.
"I am done with your accusations. Just give us the head ninja and we will be on our way," Hiashi said, shaking as he spoke. He was very angry at the moment, and only a bit of sanity was left for him to talk, only because Aoto was useful to him at the moment.
"As I said before, taking him away won't finish the job," Aoto replied without even bothering with his words. This was it for Hiashi.
Without much thought, he attacked right there. Of course, he didn't attack to kill him but to teach him a lesson and incapacitate him. But then he got the shock of his life. His attack couldn't even materialize when shiny orange tendrils burst out of the floor and held him by his hands, abdomen, and his feet.
Within a moment, he was on the ground quivering. Hizashi wanted to help his brother, but Aoto gave him a look that meant if he moved an inch, he would be the next to suffer the same fate. Both of their Byakugan were in full force, and they couldn't see the chakra at all. It was as if the world had come to life around them and stopped Hiashi.
Hiashi was croaking a bit as the tendrils had actually caught his throat and were close to choking him.
"The last person who attacked us lost an arm. Do you know why Danzo never comes to my place even though I am selling quite exotic things here, and why the Hokage seems to be friendly with me? Is it because I am their secret grandson? Hell no. Even the Uchiha respect me. The ignorant are always the first to go, and it seems today it's your turn," Aoto said.
"You... You... Can't... Can't... Kill me," Hiashi spoke while being choked, out of breath.
"Kisuke... John..." Aoto called, and from another room, both of them emerged. Kisuke was holding a man-sized dummy on his shoulder and threw it on the floor. Though Hiashi was on the floor, he could look around. He actually wanted to scream but couldn't at all, same as Hizashi.
Hizashi was confused about it. Kisuke didn't reply and went on to draw some blood from the body of Hiashi on a kunai. He then took out a small green-colored ball and drenched the ball in the blood of Hiashi. After that, he allowed the dummy to swallow the ball, and within seconds, the lifeless gray-colored ball started to change, and within seconds it went from lifeless to someone everyone knew.
It was Hiashi. The dummy became the perfect copy of Hiashi.
Hiashi and Hizashi were horrified. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. The copy of Hiashi stood up and bowed down.
"What can I do for you?"
"This is what we call a gigai. Except for the Byakugan and total memories, he can copy you and be your substitute. He can take your place easily, if I kill you," Kisuke said.
"Ha... Ha... ha. It's just some memories. He... can never rep... replace me," Hiashi said.
"You are right. This is where John comes in," Aoto said. John came forward and asked Hizashi to remove his headband. Hizashi was confused but followed the instruction. He knew that not following the instruction would just lead to pain like his twin brother. After the headband was taken off, John came forward and his hands were already shining in a dark red hue.
Hizashi felt his spine tingle and all of his body hairs became straight like bamboo. He wanted to move but couldn't. It was as if a force was stopping him from moving. John overlooked everything and placed his hands on his forehead. Hizashi felt a cool sensation instead of the death that he thought was approaching, and the sensation only lasted for a minute or so.
"There, now you are out of the curse mark and can just replace him and take this gigai as your own self. You are now the head of the Hyuga clan," Aoto said.
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