Kei provided a heavily sanitized, carefully constructed summary of the excursion. He explained that Shinnō was, in fact, a deeply embedded sleeper agent for the Sky Village remnants.
"Fortunately, Captain Kakashi was serving as my escort," Kei concluded, his voice smooth and steady. "When the terrorist initiated hostilities, the captain was forced to neutralize him."
There was a very specific, tactical reason Kei had manipulated the Hokage into assigning Kakashi to this mission. While breaking the ANBU captain's psychological conditioning had been a monumental victory, the primary logistical objective was to secure a flawless scapegoat.
By pinning the entire, violent confrontation on Kakashi, Kei completely insulated himself from any suspicion. Kakashi Hatake was an elite Jonin, a former ANBU Commander, and the legendary Copy Ninja. For him to effortlessly execute a rogue physician was entirely believable. No one in the village would question the after-action report.
Naturally, after formalizing the Avengers Alliance the previous night in the forest, Kei and Kakashi had meticulously coordinated their stories to ensure the official ANBU debriefing matched Kei's report to the Hyuga elders perfectly.
"A remnant of the Sky Ninja?" Taihiro mused, his singular eye narrowing slightly, though he displayed no suspicion toward Kei's narrative. "It is no wonder he attempted to assassinate a Leaf shinobi. It is indeed fortunate you possessed the foresight to request Kakashi's protection."
Taihiro looked down at the blind doctor, noting Kei's subtly downcast posture. "Kei, although this specific medical avenue has failed, you must not despair. The Main House will absolutely not abandon the pursuit of your cure."
Taihiro paused, stroking his white beard. "Based on your report... it appears your working relationship with Captain Kakashi has become quite close. Is that accurate?"
"It is, Great Elder," Kei nodded respectfully. "After I successfully guided him through his localized psychological trauma, a bond of mutual respect was formed. I consider him a friend."
"Excellent. See that you maintain that bond," Taihiro ordered, a shark-like smile touching his lips. "Kakashi Hatake operates within the Hokage's absolute inner circle. Cultivating a deep, personal relationship with him yields massive political dividends for both you and this clan."
"You have my word, Great Elder. I will leverage the friendship to its absolute maximum utility for the Hyuga."
Taihiro was deeply pleased by the doctor's ruthless pragmatism.
Hiashi, sitting rigidly beside the Great Elder, finally spoke up. "Have you formally briefed Lord Hokage regarding Shinnō's true allegiance? Exterminating a high-value Sky Village asset is a significant military contribution."
"Captain Kakashi proceeded directly to the Hokage Tower to deliver the official debriefing upon our return," Kei answered. "I calculate Lord Third is currently reviewing the intelligence."
"Outstanding. The council will ensure your operational contributions are properly recognized," Hiashi promised.
The Clan Head stood up, his robes pooling around him. "The Great Elder and I have already discussed contingency protocols. If our intelligence network fails to locate another viable ocular specialist on the continent... we will utilize our political capital to formally petition Lady Tsunade to return to the village and examine you."
In truth, Hiashi and Taihiro had been aggressively searching the black market for a cure for Kei's necrosis for months. They had exhausted their standard medical contacts without success. When Kei had suggested tracking down Shinnō, the elders had leaped at the opportunity, immediately deploying their tracker divisions.
The Byakugan was the absolute, foundational pillar of the Hyuga Clan's supremacy. The elders could not tolerate a mysterious, degenerative ocular disease spreading through the bloodline. They understood the biological threat better than anyone.
Therefore, their desperate drive to cure Kei was not born of compassion for the boy; it was born of absolute, terrified self-preservation. If the necrosis was a new, genetic mutation, and it began infecting the Main House heirs, they needed a proprietary cure ready to deploy immediately.
Sensing the cold, calculated panic beneath their "benevolence," Kei offered a deep, grateful bow. "I am profoundly humbled, Lord Hiashi. To monopolize so much of the clan's vital manpower and capital for my personal affliction... it brings me great shame."
Kei wasn't surprised by the extravagant promise to summon a legendary Sannin. He understood perfectly that the political leverage rested entirely in his hands. The Main House was terrified of the Uchiha tension, and they desperately needed Kei—a man deeply trusted by the Hokage—to serve as their diplomatic shield.
Taihiro waved a dismissive hand. "Do not burden yourself with logistical guilt, Kei. Leave the medical procurement to the council. You must focus entirely on your psychiatric duties."
"I understand," Kei replied. He smoothly shifted the conversation. "Before I depart, Great Elder, I must formally express my absolute gratitude regarding the construction of the new sanatorium. I was informed that you personally underwrote the financial deficit from your private reserves. It was a staggering act of generosity."
Hearing the blind doctor publicly acknowledge and stroke his ego, Taihiro gave a slow, satisfied nod. What Taihiro prized above all else in Kei Hyuga was the boy's flawless attitude of subservience.
In reality, Taihiro did not entirely trust the doctor. He was a paranoid, ancient tyrant who had survived decades of clan warfare; he inherently suspected every single member of the Branch House of harboring treasonous thoughts.
But Taihiro never lost sleep over Kei's ambitions. Why? Because the Caged Bird Seal was absolute. In Taihiro's arrogant, calcified worldview, it did not matter how brilliant or wealthy a Branch member became. As long as the Main House held the detonator to their brain, the slave could never escape the master.
As long as the monthly, peripheral chakra inspections confirmed Kei's seal was intact, the doctor's loyalty was guaranteed. Operating under that fatal delusion, Taihiro was perfectly willing to shower Kei with gold and favors, convinced he was simply buying a better collar for his favorite hound.
"Great Elder," Kei continued, his voice dropping into a tone of warm, familial invitation. "The structural renovations at the sanatorium are nearly complete. Once the facility is officially operational, I would be deeply honored if you would grace us with a personal inspection."
"After all, the institution's existence is entirely owed to your monumental vision."
Taihiro considered the offer for a brief moment, then shook his head. "I must decline, Kei. I am an old man. The sterile, depressive atmosphere of a hospital holds no appeal for me."
"Is that so? That is a profound tragedy," Kei murmured, his face falling into a mask of genuine, heartbroken regret. "I was actually preparing a private, luxury suite in the hopes of inviting you to reside there for a period of relaxation. The subterranean architecture and environmental controls are truly unparalleled."
"Your filial piety is commendable, but unnecessary," Taihiro chuckled, waving the doctor away. "If there is nothing further, you are dismissed. Return to your quarters."
"And remember, Kei," Taihiro added, his voice hardening slightly. "If Lord Hokage requests your clinical assistance with any highly sensitive village matters... you will execute his orders with absolute, flawless dedication."
"If you encounter any bureaucratic friction, report it to the council immediately. We will clear the path for you," Hiashi added.
"You have my absolute solemn oath, Lord Clan Head, Great Elder. I will never disappoint this family," Kei bowed deeply.
Having successfully navigated the interrogation, Kei turned and exited the council hall, his cane tapping rhythmically against the polished floor. Neji followed silently in his wake.
The invitation to the sanatorium had been a calculated, spur-of-the-moment probe. It didn't matter in the slightest that Taihiro had declined the offer tonight. When the time was right, Kei would ensure the Great Elder became a permanent resident of the subterranean ward.
Stepping out of the heavy, imposing gates of the Main compound, they found the streets entirely deserted in the dead of night.
Kei slowed his pace, turning his bandaged face toward his small apprentice. "Evaluate the engagement, Neji. What is your assessment after applying the theory in a live-fire scenario?"
Neji thought carefully before answering. "Sensei... I could physically feel the pressure drop. The moment I expressed a desire to bond with my little sisters, the Clan Head's defensive posture completely vanished. He became entirely vulnerable."
"Exactly," Kei smiled, a dark, brilliant expression. "In the realm of behavioral psychology, the concept of 'family' bypasses standard defensive perimeters. Individuals are biologically hardwired to trust blood over outsiders. When you invoke the sanctity of the family unit, you disarm their paranoia instantly."
Kei suddenly stopped. He turned around, 'staring' sightlessly back at the massive, oppressive silhouette of the Main House mansion looming in the dark.
"Therefore, Neji, you must return to this compound frequently. Whenever you walk through those gates, you will smile brightly. And you will forge an absolutely unbreakable, loving bond with Hinata."
"I understand completely, Sensei," Neji replied, his voice ringing with absolute, chilling resolve.
Neji finally comprehended the terrifying, devastating power of the two lessons Kei had imparted.
Do not bark. Wag your tail. When combined and executed flawlessly, those two simple psychological mechanics yielded a destructive power that infinitely surpassed the Eight Trigrams Palms.
It was darkly humorous to Neji now. He remembered the anger he had felt when he first met Kei, assuming the blind doctor was nothing but a pathetic, groveling sycophant who had sold his soul for the Main House's favor.
Now, Neji understood the horrifying truth. Everything Kei Hyuga did—every smile, every bow, every word of praise—was a flawless, sociopathic performance.
His Sensei had constructed a disguise so perfect, so absolute, that the most paranoid, ruthless tyrants in Konoha had completely failed to detect the monster lurking beneath the surface. They were eagerly handing the keys to their own kingdom directly to the man plotting to burn it down.
Staring at the blind man's back, Neji made an absolute, unbreakable vow. He would follow Kei Hyuga into hell. He would study the doctor's psychological warfare with fanatical dedication. Because Neji knew, with absolute certainty, that mastering even a fraction of his Sensei's terrifying intellect would grant him the power to conquer his demons.