Chapter 133 : Another Resurrection Talisman!

"I'll pick the question and answer cards," declared Hyuga Neji.

In the Golden List live room:

[Hyuga Hiashi: Neji has chosen the Q&A card!]

[Tsunade: The question and answer card. If luck is on your side, answering correctly will yield a good reward. But luck plays a role—if the question is easy, you're fortunate, but if it's too difficult, you're in trouble!]

[Hyuga Hizashi: I have faith in my son's luck!]

[Fourth Raikage: I hope Hyuga Hiashi's Q&A card has a tough question!]

[Hyuga Hiashi: Ah, Fourth Raikage, you just don't want to see Konoha's strength!]

[Fourth Raikage: Everyone's in a competitive spirit. It's natural not to want Konoha to be strong, isn't it?]

Shortly after, an image appeared in the live broadcast room: Hyuga Hinata in childhood.

Then, a Cloud Shinobi Village Jōnin was depicted moving to capture Hyuga Hinata.

Many viewers recognized the significance of this scene.

[Third Tsuchikage: This harks back to the Cloud Shinobi Village Jōnin's demise years ago—that incident!]

[Terumi Mei: Yes, that was quite the sensation. A Cloud Shinobi Village Jōnin was slain by the Hyuga clan, prompting an attack from Cloud Shinobi Village. Eventually, Hyuga Hizashi took his own life in remorse!]

[Hyuga Hiashi: That's precisely what occurred!]

Hyuga Neji was stunned; he hadn't anticipated his father's death being linked to this event.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage was torn.

"Should I reveal my actions?" he murmured.

In the past, he had wanted the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan which led to the death of the Cloud Shinobi Village Jōnin. He sought to pressure Konoha, whether Konoha provide an explanation, lest war erupt between the villages.

At that time, Konoha was at its weakest. Following the Fourth Hokage's death, influential figures like Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru had departed. Konoha boasted few Kage-level fighters, and the Third Hokage, aged and weakened, couldn't compensate.

Thus, Hyuga Hizashi of the Hyuga clan had taken his own life to appease the wrath of Cloud Shinobi Village.

The Hyuga clan was acutely aware that the assailant was a Jōnin from the Cloud Shinobi Village, the very one who had abducted Hyūga Hinata. However, the critical issue lay in the failed arrest and the lack of evidence regarding the assailant's demise.

This presented an opportunity for the Cloud Shinobi Village to exploit, leaving the Hyuga family in a precarious position with no plausible explanation. The deceased Jōnin left behind no evidence of his demise, complicating matters further.

"Revealing my past actions would be an embarrassment. While it may not incite war, it will undoubtedly draw criticism from many ninja and tarnish my reputation," mused the Fourth Raikage, his brow furrowed in concern.

The Cloud Shinobi Village's attempt to abduct Hyūga Hinata was thwarted by Hyuga Hiashi's intervention. With superior strength and fueled by rage, Hiashi engaged in combat and ultimately ended the Cloud ninja's life.

The scene transitions to an assault by the Cloud Shinobi Village, prompting a dialogue between Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi.

Although Hyuga Neji was aware of his father's actions, the gravity of the situation and the implications of the conversation struck him deeply.

[Senju Hashirama: Ha! A Cloud Shinobi Village Jōnin ventures into Konoha to commit robbery and ends up losing his life? When did Konoha stoop to this level?]

(Third Hokage: Hashirama-sensei, we were at a disadvantage back then. Konoha couldn't afford to engage in a conflict with the Cloud Shinobi Village.)

[Senju Hashirama: So, if Konoha loses, does that mean Cloud Shinobi Village won't? Are they daring to wage war?]

[Senju Tobirama: Konoha displayed restraint. It was the Cloud Shinobi Village that erred, and yet, it was Konoha who had to apologize and suffer the consequences. I dispatched numerous Cloud Shinobi Village ninjas, prompting them to seek peace talks.]

[Senju Hashirama: Back in my day, no other ninja villages dared to speak out. They all showed respect and dared not make a sound!]

[Third Hokage: Indeed, we heed your teachings, Sensei.]

The scene concludes with Hyuga Hizashi's suicide and a formal apology extended to the Cloud Shinobi Village.

Shortly after, a question emerges on screen.

[What was the Fourth Raikage's motive for sending a Jōnin to abduct Hyūga Hinata?]

[Tsunade: This question seems straightforward.]

[Hyuga Hiashi: Clearly, the Fourth Raikage's intent was malicious. There seems to be no other plausible explanation. Kidnapping my daughter, Hinata, and making it public would tarnish the Cloud Shinobi Village's reputation, leaving them with nothing but disdain.]

[Third Hokage: It likely pertains to the Byakugan. Given that most ninjas from the Cloud Shinobi Village specialize in Lightning Style, including the Fourth Raikage himself, obtaining a pair of Byakugan eyes, when combined with his own strength, would be formidable.]

[Kakashi: Indeed, the Byakugan lacks the side effects of the Sharingan. While Sharingan transplantation poses challenges and strains the body, the Byakugan offers a smoother transition. Hinata's pure bloodline and her untapped potential with the Byakugan make her an ideal target.]

[Third Tsuchikage: Byakugan possesses remarkable insight, and the Fourth Raikage is incredibly swift. He remains undeterred by the Three Tomoe Sharingan, for it fails to perceive him or restrict his movements, unlike Byakugan's abilities. As far as I recall, the Fourth Raikage has sought after the Byakugan on multiple occasions, longing to obtain a pair. Unfortunately, the Hyuga clan's guardianship over their Byakugan has reached formidable levels. Should a branch family member perish, the Byakugan seals itself, ensuring it doesn't fall into enemy hands. Thus, to acquire the Byakugan, one must confront the clan directly. However, the Hyuga clan is small in number, and Hyūga Hinata is among its members.]

[Kakashi: So, the Byakugan rarely surfaces. I can only recall one instance where Kirigakure obtained it.]

[Terumi Mei: Indeed, we from Kirigakure did acquire the Byakugan, but returning it is out of the question!]

[Tsunade: Hmph, we'll reclaim that Byakugan sooner or later!]

[Terumi Mei: Dream on!]

Hyuga Neji didn't hesitate to respond immediately.

[Hyuga Neji's Answer: The Fourth Raikage dispatched Jonin to abduct Hinata to obtain her Byakugan!]

The correct answer was soon revealed.

[Congratulations to Hyuga Neji for the correct response.]

Then, an image surfaced depicting a past dialogue between the Fourth Raikage and a Cloud Shinobi Village ninja.

In the image, the Fourth Raikage instructed the Jonin to retrieve Hyūga Hinata from Konoha and perform surgery to transplant the Hyuga clan's Byakugan onto himself.

"If I acquire the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, my power will skyrocket. With the Byakugan, I'll not be afraid of Byakugan. Coupled with my physical prowess and Lightning Style explosiveness, I may become the most formidable force in the ninja world!" exclaimed the Fourth Raikage with fervor.

The image soon faded away.

[Third Hokage: The Fourth Raikage's actions are truly shameless and treacherous, attempting to seize the Hyuga clan's eyes, even in failure!

[Senju Hashirama: The Fourth Raikage's conduct is despicable!]

[Killer Bee: Big brother, I'm disappointed in you. I never expected you to stoop so low! I initially suspected Konoha's involvement in the Jonin's demise, only to learn the truth.

[Fourth Raikage: For the village's progress, any means are justifiable. Tell me, which village leader hasn't resorted to extreme measures? Third Hokage, you're hardly in a position to judge. How many formidable opponents have you dispatched? When it comes to treachery, I pale in comparison to you!]

Despite the Fourth Raikage's retort, condemnation from various quarters persisted, and many within the Cloud Shinobi Village found themselves unable to defend their Raikage's actions, feeling that he had crossed a line in this matter, especially among the younger generation who had grown up in an era of peace.

Hyuga Ning answered the question correctly, and the reward was granted.

"Hmm!"

A reward item materialized on the screen—a spell.

[Resurrection Talisman: It has the power to bring back the deceased, yet with certain limitations. It cannot revive those of Six Paths caliber, and it exacts a toll of ten years of the user's life to enact the revival.]

[Hyuga Hiashi: So, it's a resurrection talisman!]

[Tsunade: Neji received a resurrection talisman!]

[Hyuga Neji: A resurrection talisman... Father, I can bring you back to life!]

[Hyuga Hizashi: Neji, there's no need to bring me back. The resurrection talisman would consume ten years of your life—it's not worth sacrificing so much to bring me back!]

[Hyuga Neji: No, it is worth it. There are many treasures in the gold list that can extend life expectancy. Ten years is a small price to pay.]

Regardless of Hyuga Hizashi's objections, Neji remained steadfast in his decision to resurrect his father.

At the Hyuga estate,

"Activate the Resurrection Talisman!" Neji commanded.

"Hmm!"

The Resurrection Talisman was promptly summoned by Neji within the live broadcast room and came into his possession.

Without hesitation, he initiated the resurrection process.

Boom!

The Resurrection Talisman absorbed a decade of his life force and emitted a radiant glow. This light formed a conduit, bridging the gap between the Pure Land and the mortal world, hastening the reformation of Hyuga Hizashi's corporeal form.

After a brief moment, Hyuga Hizashi was successfully restored.

"Father!" Neji exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement.

"Neji!"

Hyuga Hizashi's heart brimmed with joy as he stepped forward, reaching out to embrace the now grown Neji, tears of elation glistening in his eyes.

Father and son reunited, and amidst the emotional tide, there was an abundance of words waiting to be exchanged.

Meanwhile, the distribution of rewards for the Kage-level list continued unabated.

Before long, it was Gaara's turn, ranked twenty-seventh on the list of Kage-level shinobi.

**********

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