Night fell, enveloping the deeply scarred land in a melancholic darkness.
The Hokage Rock, once a symbol of Konoha's glory and honor, was now just a blurred, fractured silhouette under the dim moonlight, resembling a silent tombstone.
Looking around, most areas remained a shocking scene of ruins and wreckage.
Charred wooden beams, shattered bricks and stones, and twisted steel frames lay piled up chaotically, silently testifying to the severity of the disaster. The air was thick with the lingering smell of burning and blood.
Only a few scattered areas were lit by faint lights—these were the hastily erected tents, and the flashlights of patrolling ninja flickered among the ruins, casting weak beams.
In front of the Hokage Rock, in a relatively flat clearing, stood a tent larger than the others, yet still unmistakably makeshift.
A solitary hurricane lamp hung from the tent's roof, its dim yellow glow flickering in the night. This was the temporary Hokage Office.
Inside the tent, the furnishings were utterly simple: a rough wooden table, a few chairs, and stacks of scroll boxes in the corner—that was all.
"Hoo..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with his back to the door, his hunched figure positioned by the window. The tobacco pipe in his hand flickered, and the rising blue smoke blurred his deeply wrinkled face.
After gazing out the window for a long time, he slowly turned around, his eyes, somewhat cloudy yet still profound, fixed on Hyuga Aoi as she entered.
"I apologize for having to call you here so late," his voice was hoarse with fatigue. He pointed to a chair across the table. "Please sit and speak."
Hyuga Aoi sat down as instructed. The stiffness and reserve characteristic of the Hyūga Clan had largely disappeared from her demeanor.
Once she was settled, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not immediately get to the point. Instead, he gently tapped the table with his pipe, asking casually, as if making small talk: "How is the situation in the Hyūga Clan now?"
Hyuga Aoi pursed her somewhat dry lips, organized her thoughts, and then spoke slowly, her voice low: "Hokage-sama, the Hyūga Clan suffered heavy casualties."
"Most of the main family members with combat strength have been killed by Hyūga Neji. Now, only some women and children remain."
"The branch family also suffered great losses. Many excellent ninja have... As of now, Hyūga Iroha is temporarily in charge of clan affairs."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and sighed: "As the Hokage, I bear an inescapable responsibility for what happened."
"How is the child, Hinata, doing now?"
At the mention of Hinata, Hyuga Aoi's eyes dimmed: "Hinata, she was greatly traumatized."
As she spoke, the image of Hinata involuntarily appeared in her mind.
Although no longer timid as before, she had become very quiet. After the funerals of Hiashi Hyūga and the others, she began practicing the Gentle Fist every day.
"The village will offer all possible assistance. If the Hyūga Clan has any urgent needs, whether resources or personnel, please let us know," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"Thank you for your concern, Third Hokage-sama." Hyuga Aoi stood up and bowed slightly.
After discussing a few more matters, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly shifted the topic, asking seemingly casually: "According to the Anbu's report, Hyūga Neji's purpose in slaughtering the main family was..."
"First, to seek revenge for the main family killing his father, and second, to awaken that eye called the Tenseigan, is that correct?"
"Yes." Hyuga Aoi nodded, saying solemnly, "I saw his eyes myself; they were definitely not the Byakugan, and he admitted all of this himself."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi gently tapped the desk with his pipe, making soft thudding sounds, pondering for a long time.
"Tenseigan..." He took a puff from his pipe and sighed softly. "An eye evolved from the Byakugan. Even I have never heard of it."
"And, just like the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, it evolves through intense emotional stimulation. It seems the power Kawa displayed at the time was also the power of the Tenseigan."
He then looked up at Hyuga Aoi and asked: "Do you believe everything that happened that night was a joint effort between Hyūga Neji and the 'Holllow Realm'?"
Hearing the question, Hyuga Aoi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but a hint of hesitation and apprehension flashed in her eyes, and she ultimately remained silent.
Seeing her hesitant look, Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed his guess. He narrowed his eyes slightly and unconsciously leaned forward, subtly applying pressure.
"Based on the Intelligence Department's analysis of the behavior of 'Shadow' and the 'Espada,' they only appear to take away newly born Espada-level 'Vasto Lorde' and rarely directly engage in combat."
"So, could Hyūga Neji alone, who had not yet fully awakened the Tenseigan's power and had not mastered 'Sloth,' the 'Seven Deadly Sins' of the 'Holllow Realm,' truly have the ability to kill all members of the main family within the Hyūga compound?"
He paused here, then continued: "Might there be something overlooked, or perhaps, a hidden truth?"
At his words, Hyuga Aoi's hands quietly clenched on her knees, her knuckles slightly white.
She remained silent for a moment, clearly going through an intense internal struggle.
Finally, seemingly having made up her mind, she looked up, meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze: "Actually, due to some reservations, we concealed one detail in our report."
"What is it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened abruptly, and he quickly pressed for an answer.
Hyuga Aoi took a deep breath and whispered: "A very small number of survivors recalled seeing masked Anbu ninja that night..."
"..."
At this revelation, the expression on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly froze, his eyes wide with shock.
Anbu?
How could it be Anbu?
Impossible. I never issued any orders targeting the Hyūga Clan...
Suddenly, looking at Hyuga Aoi's still hesitant eyes, a thought darted into Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
Not his Anbu!
It's "Root"!
Bang!!
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand down on the desk. The fatigue on his face was instantly replaced by fury, and he almost spat the name through gritted teeth:
"Danzō!!"
What in the world has that fellow Danzō been doing while I was away at the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Demons?!
What benefit is there for him in collaborating with Hyūga Neji to kill the main family members who possess the Caged Bird Curse Seal?
Wait...
As if something had just dawned on him, the anger in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes suddenly solidified.
He had always vaguely suspected whether Hyūga Kawa was behind the Hyūga Clan's tragedy.
After all, everything was too coincidental. Hyūga Kawa had sufficient motive to exploit and guide Hyūga Neji's hatred for the main family, kill them, and dismantle the Caged Bird Curse Seal that shackled him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he shouldn't speculate about a "hero" who had just earned great merits for the village and was still unconscious.
But his vigilance as Hokage, coupled with his fear of Hyūga Kawa's terrifying power, made him unable to stop his suspicions.
For a man like him, once the seed of suspicion was sown, even without evidence, a certain kind of "guilt" was already established in his heart.
However, now, Root's involvement presented a different, more logical possibility starkly before him.
"Danzō, did he choose to cooperate with Hyūga Neji to seize the complete activation method and secrets of the 'Caged Bird' Curse Seal?" Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered.
Once he mastered this, Danzō would essentially have a chokehold on all branch family members of the Hyūga, including the powerful and infinitely potential Hyūga Kawa!
Based on this, he could use the entire Hyūga Clan to make Hyūga Kawa the Hokage, and then he would become the true power behind the scenes!
At this thought, the churning rage in Hiruzen Sarutobi's chest gradually subsided, replaced by a familiar weariness.
He had been locked in a secret rivalry with Danzō for most of his life; he knew Danzō's ambition and methods too well.
Undoubtedly, this was absolutely Danzō's style, and exactly the kind of thing he would do!
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------
I only share the most exquisite and beautiful novels. Don't forget to check out my other novels!
p@treon DaoistWujinzi