บท 138: Chapter 138: The Sin in Our Blood

Meiko grabbed a handful of snow and casually crushed it, then smiled,

"Clan head-sama, are you just going to keep staring at me?"

She appeared thin, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness, but her tone and expression were livelier than usual.

Hiashi understood that Meiko had likely resolved her inner conflicts through her time with Shinosuke, and she looked much better for it.

'There couldn't be a better outcome,' Hiashi thought.

Although Shinosuke is suspected to be the Moon God, his extreme and forceful approach makes it difficult to extract the secrets he wants, and he could easily be silenced if he's not careful.

Regardless, Meiko would be much easier to talk to.

"Meiko," Hiashi began, his voice gentle like a kind elder, "if you have time, come home and visit. We have techniques to open the village's barrier without alerting anyone. Oh, and there are some Gentle Fist secret techniques you haven't learned yet. I'll give you a copy."

Yuto nearly gave Hiashi a thumbs-up.

Without discussing conditions or benefits, he offered comfort and avoided sensitive topics.

In Yuto's past life, this was akin to a young person working in a big city returning home for the holidays, with seniors not asking about work or marriage but instead stuffing them with affection.

Given Meiko's extreme romantic mindset, this strategy was spot-on.

Yuto carefully controlled his chakra as Meiko's corpse fell silent, her eyes lowered as if in sorrow.

"Meiko," Hiashi continued, seizing the moment, "Be careful out there. I am your elder, but also a shinobi of Konoha. I can't disobey the Hokage's orders. The village is currently dormant, but as soon as the Moon God shows a flaw, shinobi from the major countries will swarm like hyenas to blood."

"Shinosuke won't be defeated," Meiko's corpse said softly, not hiding her affection for him.

"Don't underestimate the village, Meiko," Hiashi said, finally hearing her call his name and feeling reassured. "Last month's high-level meeting decided to freeze all operations against Shinosuke, but the Hokage has promised that if the plan to kill the Moon God is reactivated, the village will use its greatest strength, including certain forbidden techniques."

"Forbidden techniques? Under Shinosuke's eyes, all techniques are ineffective."

"Ineffective? Meiko, have you heard of Impure World Reincarnation?"

"No..."

"It's an evil technique that resurrects the dead from the underworld."

Meiko's corpse widened her eyes, nodding solemnly after a while. "I understand."

The atmosphere fell silent again, but this time, Hiashi held the initiative.

Showing concern for Meiko, promising she could return home and learn the full Gentle Fist techniques, was playing the emotional card.

Revealing that the village might use forbidden techniques against the Moon God was a precious information card in a world where information is everything.

Hiashi never worried about these words reaching the Hokage's ears.

The Caged Bird Seal restricted the branch family but also the main family's thinking. In a clan where oppression is a tradition, the idea of "branch family betraying the Hyuga" became a blind spot.

And this was beneficial for the Hyuga clan, so Hiashi believed anyone but a fool would keep quiet.

Meiko's corpse seemed to sigh, glancing at Hiashi meaningfully.

Hiashi's heart pounded. "Everyone... retreat for now."

The Hyuga shinobi dispersed, stopping at least three kilometers away and staying on alert.

Everyone understood that the upcoming secrets were for the clan head alone.

In place, Meiko's corpse brushed her hair aside. "Clan head, our Hyuga bloodline flows with sin."

Hiashi froze, not understanding her meaning.

"As thanks for the information you provided, I'll tell you about the original sin flowing in the Hyuga's veins."

"In the western outskirts of the Land of Sea, there is a type of shark."

"Female sharks give birth to 6-23 eggs. When the fetuses reach 260 millimeters, they move in the womb. The first thing they do is cannibalize their siblings, consuming them for more nutrients and space."

"The Hyuga clan is like these sharks."

"If we want power that rivals or surpasses the Sharingan, we have only one path."

"Consume our kind to evolve the Byakugan."

'Consume our kind to evolve the Byakugan!'

Hiashi's mind reeled.

This clan head, not even thirty years old, understood why Shinosuke became the Moon God—he must have killed branch family protectors, consumed their blood and power, and evolved his Byakugan!

Hiashi's breathing became rapid. "How do we..."

"Don't ask anymore, Hiashi-sama," Meiko said softly. "I don't know more."

Hiashi felt a sinking feeling.

For a thousand years, the Hyuga clan had made many efforts to evolve the Byakugan, but all had failed.

But now, Shinosuke had succeeded.

While validating the theory was gratifying, the most important thing was always "the method!"

Unfortunately, Meiko didn't know how Shinosuke did it.

Hiashi couldn't let her leave without establishing a solid connection...

He gritted his teeth, his mind racing, and then, a thought struck like lightning.

"Wait, Meiko!" Hiashi called to her retreating figure. "Even for Shinosuke, Hyuga clan members' bodies aren't easy to obtain, right?"

Yuto and Meiko's corpse's lips curved slightly at the same time.

The girl turned, eyeing Hiashi warily.

"Meiko," Hiashi said, staring into her eyes, "as the clan head, I know where the bodies of deceased Hyuga shinobi are stored or destroyed."

Meiko frowned, staying silent but seeming slightly relaxed.

"Shinosuke might be strong enough to attack the village, but why shed unnecessary blood if he can avoid it?"

The girl bit her lip. "But... I can't decide for him."

"That's fine. If you trust me this once, next month at this time, this place, whether Shinosuke agrees or not, I'll provide what you need." Hiashi paused, then added his final push:

"Meiko, Shinosuke's Byakugan has evolved, but yours hasn't. You don't want him risking himself for you, do you?"

...

Yuto exhaled slowly, watching Meiko's corpse and Hiashi.

The experiences as vice commander had taught him a lot. Yuto knew that sometimes, it's better to use others than to take risks yourself.

Moreover...

Before the arrival of the bloody night that severs everything, he would extract every bit of value.

(End of Chapter)