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In the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi faced the remaining Kumo Shinobi, his expression grim.
“Gentlemen, I believe an explanation is in order.”
Hiruzen’s imposing aura pressed down on the Kumo shinobi. As a veteran of countless battles, his presence alone was intimidating, causing the Shinobi to flinch.
They exchanged glances. They had come here prepared to die; what was there to fear now?
Thinking this, they shed their fear of Hiruzen. One of the Kumo Shinobi sneered at him.
“Third Hokage, You owe us an explanation. Why did our captain die in Konoha? Are you trying to provoke a war with Kumogakure?”
The Kumo Shinobi’s sharp accusation made Hiruzen want to scream. These bastards were twisting the truth!
“Your captain broke into the Hyūga compound, attempting to kidnap the Clan Head’s daughter! He was killed by the Clan Head in self-defense! Are you denying this?” Hiruzen slammed his fist on the desk in anger.
“Ridiculous! It was clearly you who killed our captain! Hand over the murderer, or prepare for war!”
The Kumo Shinobi remained defiant, threatening Hiruzen with war.
Hiruzen’s face turned ashen. The Hokage of Konoha, being threatened by a few Kumo Shinobi?
“Handing over the Hyūga Clan Head is impossible. I will represent him and drop the matter. Let this be the end of it.”
Hiruzen compromised, taking a step back.
Seeing this, the Kumo Shinobi’s eyes brightened. ‘The Third Hokage doesn’t want war.’
“No! You must hand over the murderer, or we declare war on Konoha!”
Hiruzen’s face turned livid. They were pushing their luck. Just as he was about to lose his temper, Danzō suddenly opened the door and walked in.
“We agree to your terms,” Danzō said emotionlessly.
“Danzō, what are you saying?!” Hiruzen glared at Danzō angrily.
“We can agree, but you must sign a peace treaty with Konoha immediately. No war.” Danzō ignored Hiruzen and addressed the Kumo Shinobi.
“Naturally.”
The Kumo Shinobi readily agreed. They didn’t want to continue the war anyway. And this way, they could still potentially obtain the Hyūga Clan’s Byakugan. What was there to refuse?
After further discussion, the Kumo Shinobi left.
——
Hiruzen turned furiously to Danzō.
“Danzō, are you planning to sacrifice a Hyūga Clan member for peace?”
“Tch~ Hiruzen, if you truly disagreed, you should have stopped me earlier, not waited until they left to confront me.” Danzō sneered at Hiruzen.
If Hiruzen hadn’t agreed, he wouldn’t have remained silent during the negotiations. Aside from a weak initial protest, he hadn’t voiced any objection. This meant Hiruzen had tacitly approved.
Complaining now was just hypocrisy.
Danzō turned and left, leaving Hiruzen sitting alone in silence in the Hokage office.
“Hiashi—I apologize. For the sake of the Village’s peace, you must be sacrificed. Konoha cannot withstand another conflict right now.”
A flicker of guilt crossed Hiruzen’s eyes, but whether it was genuine or feigned, only he knew.
——
The next morning, Hiashi Hyūga was summoned. He had been eagerly awaiting Hiruzen’s explanation.
Instead, Hiruzen demanded an explanation from him.
“Hiashi, I know this is unfair to you, but there’s no other way. Konoha truly cannot afford a war with Kumogakure. Please endure this hardship. Everything is for the village.”
Hiruzen patted Hiashi’s shoulder, delivering the verdict.
Everything for the Village—With those words, Hiruzen intended for Hiashi to sacrifice himself for peace.
If it were Shin Uzumaki, he would have slapped Hiruzen and told him to shove his “Village”—where the sun doesn’t shine.
But Hiashi Hyūga… was a useless coward. He didn’t even dare to show his anger towards Hiruzen.
Hiashi left the Hokage’s office, his face expressionless. Only he knew the turmoil raging within him.
“Regretting it now?”
Shin watched him with an amused expression.
The emotionless Hiashi turned his vacant gaze towards Shin. Yes, he regretted it. If he had let Shin take the blame, perhaps he wouldn’t be in this situation.
But for some reason—Hiashi hadn’t revealed that Shin Uzumaki had killed the Kumo delegation leader.
At the same time, Hiashi wondered how Shin knew what had happened in the Hokage’s office.
He didn’t bother asking. His heart felt dead. He returned to the Hyūga compound.
“Time to… spice things up a bit.”
Shin watched Hiashi’s retreating figure, a plan forming in his mind. If things followed the original story, Hizashi Hyūga would die in Hiashi’s place.
But Shin wanted to change things, shake up the stagnant Shinobi world, create a Major incident.
“This boring Shinobi world… I’ll make it more interesting. Hiashi Hyūga, I hope you seize this opportunity. I’m only giving it to you for Hinata’s sake.”
Having reached the pinnacle of strength, Shin found himself without worthy opponents.
Causing Chaos was his only remaining pastime.
Stirring up trouble in the Shinobi world sounded appealing. Unlike others, Shin didn’t yearn for peace.
He understood that true, permanent peace was impossible. Wherever people existed, conflict existed.
War was merely an extension of that conflict.
Unfortunately, the fools in the Shinobi world couldn’t grasp this simple truth.
Shin leisurely returned to the Hyūga compound and took little Hinata out for a walk.
Hiashi Hyūga, meanwhile, had gathered the Hyūga elders for a meeting.
He explained the situation to them.
CRASH!
One of the Hyūga elders slammed his cup down, shattering it.
“Outrageous! The Hyūga Clan has served Konoha faithfully, shedding blood and sweat! How dare Hiruzen Sarutobi treat us like this!”
Hand over the Clan Head? If they did that, how could the Hyūga Clan ever hold their heads high in the Shinobi world again?
“We will not accept this humiliation!” the Hyūga Great Elder declared.
“I have a proposal. Hiashi, as the Clan Head, cannot be sacrificed. But Hizashi and Hiashi are identical twins. Perhaps… Hizashi could take his place,” the Third Hyūga Elder suggested.
The other elders’ eyes lit up.
It was a brilliant idea. It would save the Clan Head, preserve the Hyūga Clan’s honor—and prevent the [Byakugan] from falling into enemy hands.
Hizashi was from the branch family, marked with the Caged Bird Cursed Seal. The main family could control and destroy the branch members’ brains through this seal, simultaneously destroying the Byakugan.
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