After browsing through Hizashi's mory sphere, Aoki grinned as he disregarded Hizashi and gazed toward the Hyuga District.
He didn't bother to eliminate Hizashi; the reason being that he doesn't harbor hatred for him. After all, the man did stand up for him and take care of him on a few occasions. Rather than hating him, Aoki pities him.
From Aoki's perspective, Hizashi's life has been nothing but a tragedy. Simply because he was born a few minutes late, he lost the right to beco the Patriarch of the Hyuga Clan and was even branded with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal.
Though Hiashi and Hizashi appear as brothers on the surface, in reality, Hizashi is the servant and Hiashi is the master. And Aoki doesn't concern himself with the life of a servant.
Of course, this doesn't imply that he dislikes everyone in the Hyuga branch; he does hold animosity toward one person in particular, and that's Hyuga Kuroto, who rejected his kindness and humiliated him. Aoki disdains Kuroto and still refuses to accept the fact that the man who spurned his kindness has sohow beco the Godai Hokage of Konoha.
To him, it doesn't make sense, and he believes Kuroto is nothing more than a puppet Hokage.
In truth, Aoki is unsure whether he harbors more hatred or jealousy toward Kuroto; it's a complex emotion even he cannot decipher.
With a sinister grin, Aoki mused, "If fate brings to fight him, I'll make sure he regrets rejecting my kindness." He was convinced that even in Konoha, there would be no one formidable enough to challenge him.
Now in possession of the legendary Tenseigan, Aoki felt no fear of confronting anyone—not Uchiha Shisui, not Hatake Kakashi, not even the renowned Sannin, let alone Sarutobi Hiruzen. He deluded himself into thinking that even if besieged by them, he could effortlessly defeat them single-handedly.
He firmly believed in the invincibility of the Tenseigan, considering only the Ōtsutsuki on the moon, who presumably possessed a more potent Tenseigan, could pose any threat.
As he departed the damaged house, heading towards the Hyuga District, Aoki contemplated, "If those moon-dwellers were to erge, all I'd need is to cooperate with Uzumaki Nagato." With a dismissive shake of his head, he vanished into the distance.
………
Mansion of Elder Hyuga Aoyama
Rumble!
Amidst the persistent shocks and rumblings, Elder Aoyama erged from his slumbering abode, his countenance betraying evident irritation. He directed his inquiry towards a mber of the Hyuga branch entrusted with his service, "What is the situation outside? Is the Hyuga District secure?"
In response to the unrelenting roars from outside, the clan's elder stepped out of his bedroom, visibly vexed, and addressed a mber of the branch family responsible for his care, "What's happening out there? Is everything calm within the clan's vicinity?"
The servant, clearly flustered, hurriedly replied, "Aoyama-sama… within the Hyuga District, everything appears to be normal, but as for the situation outside, I… I…"
Observing the servant's hesitant response, it beca apparent that he lacked any valuable information. Fueled by anger, Elder Aoyama scolded him, "Pathetic… all of you!"
"P-Please… please forgive !" The servant promptly bowed, fearfully anticipating the activation of the Caged Bird as punishnt.
Elder Aoyama let out a sigh, "Forget it…" and then proceeded to pose another question, "Has there been any word from Kuroto?"
The servant shook his head helplessly, "Forgive , Aoyama-sama, but as of now, the whereabouts of Hokage-sama remain unclear."
"Then what are you still doing here? Go find him!" barked Elder Aoyama, waving his hand in frustration. He continued, "Locate that individual and instruct him to report the exact situation tonight. Why is the village in such chaos tonight!?"
The re ntion of Hyuga Kuroto worsened Elder Aoyama's mood. He bore an intense and deep-seated animosity towards Kuroto for several reasons. The humiliation endured during the Hyuga Clan's eting, the embarrassnt at the Konoha Council gathering, and the prevailing attitude towards Kuroto had fueled Elder Aoyama's growing resentnt. Consequently, even after Kuroto assud the role of Hokage, Elder Aoyama refused to acknowledge him as such, continuing to address him as Kuroto, just like any other mber of the branch family. To him, the branch family mbers existed solely to serve the main family, and Kuroto was no exception—despite his Hokage status, he was still viewed as a servant to the main family.
"Yes, yes, I understand," nodded the Hyuga servant, promptly departing the mansion in search of Kuroto.
After the servant's departure, Elder Aoyama turned and retreated to his bedroom, taking a seat on the futon with an expression clouded by anger.
The turmoil outside, accompanied by intermittent explosions, made it challenging for him to find rest, yet he harbored no inclination to venture out and aid the village in its battle against the adversaries.
In his view, as an elder from the prominent Hyuga clan, his life held greater value than that of anyone else in the village, and there was no need for him to partake in such perilous combat. Even if the village were to seek support from the Hyuga clan, it should involve deploying more mbers from the branch family!
"Hmph, Kuroto is becoming increasingly audacious. Even as Hokage, he should not forget his duty as a mber of the branch family. Protecting the main family is the purpose of his existence, and he ought to feel honored… All mbers of the branch family should feel honored to sacrifice themselves for the main family!" mumbled Elder Aoyama as though it were a matter of course.
"You really believe that, do you?" Suddenly, a sarcastic voice emanated from the doorway.
Elder Aoyama was startled as he lifted his head and inquired, "Who's there?"
In response to Elder Aoyama's question, a cloaked figure entered the room, gazing at him with a cruel smile.
Recognizing the face, Elder Aoyama was taken aback and exclaid, "You… How are you still alive? This is impossible, absolutely impossible!"
In the wake of Aoki's defection, the Cursed Seal adorning his forehead was triggered, leading to his own execution at the hands of Elder Aoyama. Hence, when Aoki materialized before him, alive and well, Elder Aoyama's countenance contorted in sheer horror.
Aoki chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of amusent, "Heh… How could I perish so easily?"
Stunned, Elder Aoyama swiftly raised his hands, weaving the hand signs to activate the Caged Bird curse on Aoki's forehead.
"Die!"
"Die!"
"Die!"
Yet, no matter how many tis he attempted, the activation of the Caged Bird curse had no effect on Aoki.
With an air of derision, Aoki fixed his gaze upon Elder Aoyama and advanced steadily towards him.
With each step, the desperation etched on Elder Aoyama's face intensified.
As Aoki steadily closed in, the expression on Elder Aoyama's face grew increasingly desperate.
Observing Elder Aoyama's futile attempts to retreat, Aoki's grin broadened, relishing the sensation of toying with his prey.
Finally cornered, Elder Aoyama found himself pressed against the wall, his desperation transford into fear. His gaze trembled as he questioned, "Why is this happening? It's impossible… You should be dead… How can a cripple like you break free from the shackles of the Caged Bird curse?"
Aoki's nacing laughter reverberated through the room as he tightened his grip around Elder Aoyama's neck, hoisting him into the air. "Though it was that old man who executed my brother, it was you who proposed Aoba's execution, isn't that right?" he sneered.
Elder Aoyama, confronted by Aoki's cruel smile, paled visibly, and in his struggle for breath, he spoke with a frightened tone, "No… no… you are mistaken… Aoba's execution had nothing to do with … it was… it was the Patriarch's decision! Yes, everything was decided by the Patriarch!"
Unyielding, Aoki intensified the pressure in his grip, his words biting, "Does that an my mory is flawed?"
As the lack of oxygen reddened Elder Aoyama's face, he desperately flailed his arms and legs, beseeching for rcy, "Please… please let go… I was wrong… please forgive !"
"Heh… how can I release you so easily?" Aoki retorted with a twisted smile.
The exhilarating rush of power and absolute control over another person's life intoxicated Aoki. Not long ago, he himself had been at the rcy of Elder Aoyama, but now, the tables had turned. The once majestic Elder Aoyama of the Hyuga Clan now resembled a frightened rabbit, completely under Aoki's dominion. Relishing the newfound authority, Aoki reveled in the thought of torturing the elder.
Torturing Elder Aoyama had beco an essential item on Aoki's bucket list; there was no way he would spare the old man so easily. As Aoki savored the intoxicating sensation, he took delight in witnessing the desperation etched upon Elder Aoyama's face.
Yet, in the midst of this malevolent pleasure, a sudden change occurred in Elder Aoyama's left eye. The eye, which had been a pristine white just monts ago, transford into a scarlet hue, and within it, three black tomoe swirled, only to rge and reshape into a three-edged Shuriken.
"Ma… Mangekyō Sharingan?" Aoki stamred in disbelief, his expression dazed as he found himself plunged into a dark red world.
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