In Jōdo.
Sakumo Hatake’s soul finally arrived.
The moment he entered Jōdo, he was automatically added to Live Chat Group Two.
Not long afterward, Sakumo sought out Minato Namikaze and personally thanked him.
He knew very well that Kakashi would never have grown into the man he was today—or escaped the darkness left behind by the deaths of his comrades—without Minato’s guidance.
Meanwhile, the conversation in Group Two continued.
[Kushina Uzumaki: I’m really glad Kakashi and Sakumo-senpai were finally able to reconcile.
If I ever get the chance…
I really want to talk to Naruto too.]
[Minato Namikaze: Judging from what Naruto has said in the chat, it seems he still doesn’t know who his parents are.
Lord Third probably kept it hidden deliberately so our old enemies wouldn’t target him.]
[Kushina Uzumaki: Right now, I only hope Naruto never appears on this ranking.
I just want him to grow up happy.]
[Minato Namikaze: He will.
Lord Third promised us he would take good care of Naruto.]
A new voice suddenly appeared.
[Hizashi Hyuga: Naruto Uzumaki…?
That child is the Fourth Hokage’s son?]
[Minato Namikaze: That’s right.
He’s my boy.]
[Hizashi Hyuga: Uh…]
Hizashi had been about to say something else about Naruto when the screen suddenly changed.
His own name appeared.
[TOP 20 TRAGIC SHINOBI]
[NO.
19: HIZASHI HYUGA]
[Reason for Ranking: Born only moments apart from his brother, yet condemned to a completely different fate.
In the end, he gave his life for the small measure of freedom still left to him and died in another man’s place.]
Hizashi stared at the words for a long moment.
Then a bitter smile appeared on his face.
“So I’m on the list too…”
…
In the plaza outside the Hokage Building.
The instant Neji Hyuga saw his father’s name appear on the screen, his emotions surged.
But what truly pierced his heart were the words—
died in another man’s place.
The veins around Neji’s temples bulged as he clenched his teeth.
“Father…”
“You died for nothing.”
His hands tightened into fists.
“I’ll never forgive the main family.”
“They’re the reason you lost your life!”
Elsewhere, Hiashi Hyuga silently lowered his head.
He knew better than anyone—
Hizashi had died in his place.
His younger brother had paid a debt that should have been his.
And that wasn’t the only thing weighing on him.
As the head of the Hyuga Clan’s main family, Hiashi had always maintained a stern, distant demeanor in front of the branch family.
He had never allowed himself to openly show the guilt he felt toward his younger brother.
And because of that…
he had also failed Neji.
“Father?”
Hanabi Hyuga looked up at him curiously.
“What’s wrong?”
Hiashi quietly rubbed the corner of his eye.
“Nothing.”
“Just some dust.”
…
Inside the Hokage Building.
The moment Hiruzen saw Hizashi’s name appear, he nearly choked.
This was bad.
Very bad.
Sakumo Hatake’s death had already raised uncomfortable questions about Konoha’s leadership.
And now the screen had chosen Hizashi Hyuga.
Hiruzen knew exactly what had happened back then.
After all, he had personally gone to the Hyuga Clan and persuaded them to settle the incident rather than risk another war.
If every detail were exposed…
Konoha’s reputation was about to take another beating.
The screen soon displayed Hizashi’s profile.
[Name: Hizashi Hyuga]
[Age at Death: 32]
[Rank: Jōnin]
[Alias: None]
[Mission Record: Unknown]
[Family: Older Brother — Hiashi Hyuga]
[Son — Neji Hyuga]
[Nieces — Hinata Hyuga, Hanabi Hyuga]
[Cause of Death: Died in Another’s Place]
Compared with Sakumo Hatake’s profile, Hizashi’s seemed fairly ordinary.
He had no famous title known throughout the shinobi world.
Nor was he presented as some legendary powerhouse.
He was simply a jōnin.
But one detail immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Died in another’s place?
That alone was enough to raise questions.
Had someone else been sacrificed by the village again?
Live Chat Group One quickly became active.
[Ōnoki: Well, Raikage brat?
This one involves Kumogakure.
Don’t you have anything to say?]
[Fourth Raikage: What’s there to say?
Back then, every hidden village used whatever means it could to strengthen itself.
Kumogakure was no different from anyone else!]
[Fourth Raikage: Or are you going to pretend Iwagakure never had dealings with mercenary organizations?]
[Mei Terumi: Some things are better left in the past.
None of our villages benefits from dragging every old secret into the open.]
[Rasa: Agreed.
In the end, every village acted for its own interests.]
Hiruzen’s expression hardened.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: Whatever excuses you make, Kumogakure still owes Konoha an apology for what happened back then.
Don’t think we’ve simply forgotten it.]
[Fourth Raikage: In the shinobi world, the strong are the ones who get heard.
If Konoha wants an “apology” that badly, I’ll send over a few rolls of tape to patch up your wounded pride!]
Hiashi immediately intervened.
[Hiashi Hyuga: Lord Third, please leave it there.
There’s no need to reopen the conflict.
Hizashi wouldn’t have wanted that.]
Hiruzen was silent for a moment.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: …Very well.]
At the same time, Live Chat Group Two had become just as lively.
[Madara Uchiha: Hahaha!
Konoha gets humiliated again!
Hashirama, is this the peaceful coexistence you dreamed about?]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, I told you from the beginning that there was no reason to treat the other villages so generously.
But you still insisted on distributing the tailed beasts among them!]
[Hashirama Senju: …]
Kushina’s expression darkened.
[Kushina Uzumaki: Kumogakure really hasn’t changed.
They tried to kidnap me when I was a child too.
If Minato hadn’t come for me back then…]
She didn’t finish the sentence.
[Kushina Uzumaki: And after all those years, they still came after Konoha again.]
Minato’s mood immediately sank.
[Minato Namikaze: I died too soon.]
[Minato Namikaze: If I’d still been Hokage, Kumogakure wouldn’t have been able to push Konoha around like this.]
Then Minato addressed Hizashi directly.
[Minato Namikaze: Hizashi…
you were wronged.]
Hizashi remained quiet for a moment.
Then he answered calmly.
[Hizashi Hyuga: Maybe.]
[Hizashi Hyuga: But for me…
death was also a kind of freedom.]