i am kimimaro

Kimimaro had been observing everything that happened during the day from a bystander's perspective.

Ordinary people could only observe through their eyes, but he had something else: the Kagura Mind's Eye.

The Kagura Mind's Eye could determine whether someone was lying based on the changes in their chakra, making it a secret technique perfectly suited for the Interrogation Department.

After Kimimaro acquired this secret technique, no one could lie in front of him.

During the day, Hiashi hadn't lied, but both Kaguya Tsuki and Takenaka Sachiko were full of lies.

They were acting.

From the moment they mentioned the Mist ninja's surprise attack, they had been putting on a show.

It was evident that they were deeply immersed in their roles, having rehearsed countless times.

Even Hiashi Hyuga, a seasoned veteran of the ninja world, was deceived.

But after realizing they were acting, Kimimaro had another question.

What was their purpose?

This play was clearly staged for Hiashi Hyuga.

But what could they gain by deceiving Hiashi Hyuga?

Kimimaro couldn't understand, but through the Kagura Mind's Eye, he discovered another interesting thing.

About ten kilometers away, around seventy or eighty people were gathered in one place, and their chakra was very similar to that of the Kaguya clansmen in front of him.

If Kimimaro's guess was correct, these people should be the remaining Kaguya clansmen.

They hadn't engaged in a bloody battle with the Mist Anbu, hadn't been injured, hadn't died, and hadn't been captured.

Through this, Kimimaro was even more certain that this was all an act.

It was a grand play performed by the Kaguya clan, working together.

They knew Hiashi Hyuga would be visiting soon, so they planned this whole performance.

Now, back to the original question, what was the significance of this play?

Kimimaro couldn't come to a conclusion for the time being.

He didn't have enough information yet.

What was certain now was that Hiashi Hyuga had other motives for bringing him to meet the Kaguya clan.

And the Kaguya clan clearly had their own agenda as well.

"Indeed, in this world, it's extremely difficult for two clans to trust each other."

Kimimaro shook his head slightly, deciding not to waste time and lay his cards on the table tonight.

So he got up and first sought out Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga was leaning against a large tree, resting with his eyes closed.

Hearing Kimimaro's approach, he opened his white eyes.

"You're not asleep yet at this late hour? Do you need something from me?"

"Uncle Hiashi, I want to know your true purpose for bringing me here. I'm not stupid, you should know that your previous reasons couldn't convince me."

Hiashi Hyuga sighed, his expression somewhat helpless.

He seemed to be pondering something.

"Is it because the Kaguya clan also has something you need?"

Seeing that Hiashi remained silent, Kimimaro directly stated his guess.

Upon hearing this, Hiashi took a deep look at him.

"You really don't seem like a member of the Kaguya clan. You're right, I did have another purpose for bringing you to the Kaguya clan."

"What is it?"

"For half of a stone tablet."

"Half of a stone tablet?"

Kimimaro frowned slightly. Where did the Kaguya clan get a stone tablet?

"Yes, half of a stone tablet. The Hyuga and Kaguya clans were once one family, each safeguarding half of a stone tablet. This tablet was a treasure left by our common ancestor, containing many secrets and secret techniques, but no one had ever been able to decipher anything from the blank tablet.

Until hundreds of years ago, a genius emerged from my Hyuga main family. He used his extremely strong Byakugan to unlock part of the secrets within the tablet.

That secret was the Caged Bird Seal. The Caged Bird Seal was incredibly ingenious and was later used to control the Byakugan of the Hyuga branch family to prevent it from falling into outsiders' hands. From then on, the distinction between the main and branch families became even more pronounced."

Upon hearing this, Kimimaro was shocked.

He hadn't expected the Caged Bird Seal to originate from this.

No wonder no one from the Hyuga branch family had been able to break it for hundreds of years.

What was even more shocking was that the Kaguya and Hyuga clans actually shared custody of the same stone tablet.

This inevitably reminded him of the Uchiha clan's stone tablet.

The Uchiha clan's stone tablet was left by the Sage of Six Paths. Could the stone tablet of the Hyuga and Kaguya clans be left by Hamura Otsutsuki?

Did both brothers enjoy playing these games?

"So you brought me here, hoping that I could decipher the contents of the Kaguya clan's half of the stone tablet?"

Kimimaro quickly deduced Hiashi's purpose.

Hiashi nodded, not denying it.

"That's right. The Hyuga genius from hundreds of years ago relied on his extremely strong Byakugan to unlock the secrets of the tablet.

So I speculate that the Kaguya clan's half of the stone tablet also requires their powerful bloodline to see its contents. And you're probably the only one who currently meets that requirement."

"You covet the secrets on the Kaguya stone tablet?"

"No, I only want to obtain the method to break the Caged Bird Seal. The Caged Bird Seal technique is recorded on my Hyuga clan's half of the stone tablet, so the method to break it is very likely on the Kaguya clan's half. I want to obtain it."

Hiashi Hyuga's words were filled with determination.

"Hmm?"

This answer was clearly unexpected to Kimimaro.

A member of the Hyuga main family, and the head of the Hyuga clan at that, what did he need the method to break the Caged Bird Seal for?

As long as the Caged Bird Seal remained unbreakable, the Hyuga main family could forever control the branch family.

Hiashi Hyuga didn't want such a good thing?

Kimimaro found it very strange, but through the Kagura Mind's Eye, he knew Hiashi wasn't lying.

"I don't quite understand your purpose in doing this. Is the method to break the Caged Bird Seal important to you?"

"It's important, very important. It's related to my deceased younger brother."

"The Hyuga Hizashi who died in your place back then?"

Seeing Kimimaro mention Hizashi's name, Hiashi was slightly surprised.

After all, at his age, he shouldn't know about this person.

But soon, he laughed self-deprecatingly.

"I didn't expect even people from the Sound Village to know about Hizashi's death. It seems the shame of my Hyuga clan is widely known. Yes, it's my poor twin brother, Hyuga Hizashi.

Back then, it was clearly the Cloud Village's doing, yet my Hyuga clan had to swallow our pride and endure. Fine, to prevent the flames of war from reigniting, I could choose to sacrifice myself.

But!

To prevent the Byakugan from falling into the hands of outsiders, the clan elders and the Third Hokage actually made Hizashi die in my place!

That fool Hizashi actually accepted it for my sake!

I'll never forget the scene that day. Hizashi subdued me and said he wasn't dying for the clan, but only for me, his older brother!

But as his older brother, I still let his son endure the pain of the Caged Bird Seal! And in the future, my own daughter will also have to bear that damned Caged Bird Seal.

I'm not reconciled! The system of this clan makes me feel even more despair! The branch family members are bound by the Caged Bird Seal, and I, the clan head, am also a caged bird!"

As Hiashi spoke, he clenched his fists, filled with anger.

This anger contained dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage and also dissatisfaction with the Hyuga clan itself.

(End of Chapter)