"Asuma has entered the Hyuga clan territory?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, which had been narrowed, suddenly widened at these words, his expression turning grave.
The Hyuga clan!
He didn't fully understand the situation yet, but Asuma Sarutobi had dared to enter their territory so recklessly.
Wasn't it dangerous?
He had already lost one son and didn't want to lose another.
"Yes, Lord Asuma has entered the Hyuga clan territory with others from the ANBU," the ANBU ninja nodded, speaking earnestly. "He sent me to request your assistance. He said the situation with the Hyuga clan might not be simple."
Not simple!
Hiruzen knew that well enough.
But still, Asuma had acted so impulsively, entering the Hyuga lands on his own.
What if something went wrong?
Why was he still so careless? Did he truly believe that being in Konoha meant he could act however he pleased? If an accident happened, there would be nothing he could do.
Thinking this, Hiruzen suddenly stood up.
The ANBU ninja, noticing the Hokage's serious expression, asked cautiously, "Lord Hokage, is something wrong?"
He hadn't seen the usually calm and composed Hokage so tense in a long time. If he was this serious, it had to mean something important had happened.
"Something is happening with the Hyuga clan. We must respond!" Hiruzen said, looking at the ANBU ninja. Then he continued, "Summon the elite ANBU ninjas. We are heading to the Hyuga territory!"
"And… notify Danzo Shimura and the Sarutobi Police Force as well. They must join us at the Hyuga clan."
Learning that Asuma had recklessly entered the Hyuga lands, Hiruzen had lost his composure first and decided to gather all available forces and move quickly.
The speed!
It was much faster than when they faced the Nine-Tails attack years ago.
"Yes!" The ANBU ninja nodded and quickly went to carry out the Hokage's orders.
By the time Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at the base of the Hokage Tower, over a dozen ANBU ninjas had already assembled, bowing deeply. "Lord Hokage!"
Hiruzen nodded and led the way toward the Hyuga clan, with the others following.
The pace was swift.
Before long, they arrived at the Hyuga clan territory.
At the entrance to the Hyuga Clan's territory, Shimura Danzō was already waiting. His single eye stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "You've finally arrived!"
"Heh. It seems you've been keeping an eye on the Hyuga Clan for a while!" Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled calmly as he looked at Shimura Danzō.
Ever since the Uchiha incident, Root had suffered heavy losses, but it had now recovered.
When two old foxes meet, they naturally do not reveal their true feelings.
Shimura Danzō also smiled. "With so much happening in Konoha, it would be careless for Root not to pay attention!"
In fact, when he received Hiruzen's notification, he had already been watching at the Hyuga gate. He had even seen Asuma Sarutobi enter the territory!
However, he did not act rashly.
"What's going on inside? It seems you've figured it out?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked cautiously, testing the waters.
"I've already sent people to investigate. This commotion was caused by Hyuga Neji!" Shimura Danzō replied with a smile.
"I heard he even found a way to remove the Caged Bird Seal, which is why he dares to openly oppose the Hyuga main house and cause such a disturbance!"
Huh?
A way to remove the Caged Bird Seal?
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised an eyebrow. The weight that had been pressing on his heart finally dropped. What he feared most had come to pass.
If there really is a way to remove the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga Clan would fall into complete chaos.
The main house and branch house would split entirely. And with Neji forming ties with that Uchiha boy… if the branch house truly breaks away from the main house…
Then, under Neji's leadership, the Hyuga branch house would certainly draw closer to the Uchiha Clan.
No. Absolutely not. This cannot be allowed.
The Hyuga Clan must remain loyal to the Sarutobi clan. Otherwise, their existence would be meaningless.
So that Hyuga… no, Neji cannot be allowed to remain!
The structure of the Hyuga Clan cannot be broken!
Lost in thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a decision in his heart: support the main house and ensure the Caged Bird Seal remains.
"Heh, it seems the Hokage has already made his decision!" Shimura Danzō, calm as ever, allowed a smile to curve at the corner of his lips.
Having spent so much time with Hiruzen Sarutobi, he already guessed what the Hokage intended to do.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shimura Danzō and nodded. "If Hyuga Neji commits a grave mistake, then he must face Konoha's laws!"
"Good. Then it shall be handled according to Konoha's laws!" Shimura Danzō laughed heartily.
While the two were speaking, Asuma Sarutobi had already arrived with the Sarutobi clan's Police Forces, all elite members of the Sarutobi Clan.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Clan Leader!"
"Clan Leader?"
The newcomers bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Some addressed him as Hokage, others as clan leader.
"Since you've all come, come in with me!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at the elite members of the clan. His tone was unusually grave.
He stepped forward first, heading deeper into the Hyuga clan territory.
He moved quickly.
The others followed him, continuing forward.
Along the way, they encountered members of the Hyuga branch family. But these branch members only stared coldly at Hiruzen and his group. No one spoke.
They just watched silently as they passed!
As he walked, Hiruzen frowned. The behavior of these branch members seemed off, almost as if they didn't even recognize him as the Hokage!
Something was definitely wrong.
Despite this, urgency filled his heart, and his pace quickened.
They continued moving forward.
Soon, he saw the Eight Trigrams Formation, and inside it, Neji, covered in blood. Outside the formation stood two opposing teams.
Asuma Sarutobi, Kakashi, and Might Guy were among them.
Hiruzen cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
"Father!"
Kakashi and the others, along with Asuma, turned to him, then bowed and greeted him.
"Speak. What's going on?" Hiruzen asked, scanning everyone present. His voice was deep, full of authority.
The elite ninjas following him remained alert.
However, Danzo Shimura was focused on Neji inside the formation, who was torturing the main family. His face showed keen interest.
His eyes, and the chain locks created with Neji's bones—this was worth studying closely.
Asuma hurried forward and said to Hiruzen, "Hokage-sama, Hyuga Neji has committed grave crimes. We need to stop him immediately!"
"But… Kakashi and the others actually blocked us!"
Asuma recounted everything that had happened, especially Kakashi's involvement.
Hiruzen frowned and looked at Kakashi and Might Guy. "You owe me an explanation!"
****
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