The midday sun shone brightly through the wide glass windows of the new building, illuminating the interior, yet failing to dispel a certain intangible, heavy atmosphere that had converged within.
Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Chōza walked side-by-side down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty space.
Compared to the old one, this newly constructed Hokage Tower utilized more solid stone and metal structures, giving it stronger defenses and a greater security force.
However, it lacked the familiar warmth of human activity and gained a sense of dead silence, solemnity, and austerity.
Click.
The three arrived at the meeting room door. Nara Shikaku reached out and pushed it open.
Inside the meeting room, a dark conference table occupied the center, polished until it gleamed.
A freshly brewed cup of tea was placed before each seat, steam rising gently and diffusing a faint, clean fragrance. Sunlight slanted in through the windows on one side.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was seated at the far end of the long table, the banner of Konoha hanging behind him. He wore the Hokage robe and hat, but the fatigue in his brows was undeniable.
"The Third Hokage is here so early?"
Nara Shikaku's gaze flickered, quickly scanning the people already seated around the table.
On the left sat Mitokado Homura, the masked ANBU Commander, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
When Nara Shikaku's gaze shifted to the right side, his pupils imperceptibly narrowed.
The seat of honor on the right was not occupied by any Konoha elder, but by a middle-aged man wearing a hitare (court robe) adorned with the crest of the Land of Fire's Daimyō Estate.
Nara Shikaku naturally recognized him.
It was Kazuma, one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
Sensing Nara Shikaku's gaze, Kazuma turned his head, a meaningful smile appearing on his face, and he slightly nodded toward Nara Shikaku.
Nara Shikaku's expression remained unchanged. After politely responding, he lowered his eyes, his mind already beginning to calculate.
"Kazuma, one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, is attending the meeting, and sitting in such a prominent position. Does this mean he represents the Daimyō?"
"Furthermore, the Third Hokage arrived so early. It seems they already held a small meeting and an informal consultation with this special envoy from the Daimyō before we arrived."
Realizing this, Nara Shikaku immediately understood that the will of the Daimyō would also intervene in this meeting. This meeting was destined not to be peaceful.
Besides Kazuma, also seated on the right were Utatane Koharu, Shimura Danzō, and Hatake Kakashi, among others.
"Undercurrents are surging..."
Nara Shikaku sighed inwardly, though outwardly he showed no emotion.
He walked toward the seat bearing his name, which was located near the middle of the long table.
He was attending this time not as the head of the Nara clan, but as the Squad Leader of the Konoha Jōnin.
This position held greater influence in the village's decision-making system than that of a sole ninja clan head. It was responsible for commanding all Jōnin and was a crucial link between the Hokage and the elite ninja.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza sat in the seats further back, representing their respective clans.
The three Ino–Shika–Chō clans were united, but their positions in the meeting hierarchy were clearly delineated.
Soon, the meeting room door was pushed open again, and other attendees arrived and took their seats one after another.
However, as this was a high-level meeting rather than a Jōnin conference, the number of people was actually quite small.
Besides the people already present, there were only the heads of critical departments like the Medical Department and the Logistics Support Department, as well as the heads or representatives of a few other ninja clans.
For example, Uchiha Shisui, Aburame Shibi, and...
Nara Shikaku's gaze paused at an empty seat.
That seat belonged to the head of the Hyūga Clan.
The Hyūga Clan had suffered devastating losses earlier, with the core of the Main House almost entirely wiped out. The position of Clan Head was still vacant, and no one knew who would attend this level of meeting today.
Just as Nara Shikaku and the people present were lost in their own thoughts, a voice broke the slightly oppressive silence in the meeting room.
"Hokage-sama."
Perhaps to ease the tension, Kazuma looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and smiled, "During this period, I have heard many stories about the brave resistance against the recent catastrophe."
"Especially, it seems a heroic figure emerged who turned the tide and saved the village. May I inquire who this person is?"
"If given the opportunity, I would very much like to meet him, so that I may report back in detail to the Daimyō-sama. I am sure the Daimyō-sama would be relieved that Konoha has gained such a brilliant talent."
Despite Kazuma's internal disdain for the Hokage, his current choice of words was impeccable.
He expressed "concern" for Konoha, highlighted the Daimyō's "attention" to the matter, and steered the conversation toward the name that was currently receiving the most attention.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura frowned slightly. Shimura Danzō's single eye was lowered, making his expression unreadable.
For a moment, everyone's gaze subtly drifted towards Sarutobi Hiruzen, awaiting his response.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression remained unchanged, and he was about to speak.
Creak...
Just then, the meeting room door was pushed open from the outside.
A gust of cool air, different from the warmth indoors, rushed in, making the steam on the teacups on the table waver.
Everyone's eyes instinctively turned towards the doorway.
A figure, silhouetted against the light from the corridor outside, stepped in.
Black hair was tied back, and he wore plain white clothes. A striking dark red color, like spilled blood, adorned the cuff of his right sleeve, and his injured left arm was supported in a sling.
It was Hyūga Kawa.
His gaze swept over every familiar or unfamiliar face in the room. Faint blue light flowed in the depths of his pupils, reflecting the figures of those he looked at.
The instant their eyes met, a certain inexplicable solemnity quietly welled up in the hearts of those being watched, causing them to instinctively lean back slightly.
It was an indescribable sense of pressure, not deliberately released, but more like an innate nobility, stemming from the very depths of his bloodline.
"My apologies, I am late."
A slightly apologetic smile appeared on Hyūga Kawa's face: "I just finished my discharge procedures this morning and then had to handle some miscellaneous clan affairs, which took some time."
With the appearance of his smile, the invisible pressure that had shrouded the meeting room silently dissipated like a thin mist under the sun, causing everyone to secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Hyūga Kawa said no more, walking straight to the empty seat that had been waiting for him, and sat down calmly.
Kazuma looked at Hyūga Kawa, an inscrutable light flickering in his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked deeply at the seated Hyūga Kawa, then at the silent Danzō, his expression complex and difficult to discern.
"Since everyone is here, let the meeting commence." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was heavy. "First, regarding the Hyūga Clan's ordeal during this incident."
"Following the internal recommendation of the Hyūga Clan, Jōnin Hyūga Kawa has formally succeeded the position of Hyūga Clan Head. The specific details will be explained by Clan Head Kawa."
Instantly, all eyes focused on Hyūga Kawa.
"As the Third Hokage has stated, the Hyūga Clan suffered the most severe losses in its history during this attack."
His expression was calm, yet a barely detectable pain lingered in his eyes, and his tone was somber. "The main culprit was a former Branch House member, Hyūga Neji."
Hyūga Kawa briefly described Neji's accumulated resentment toward the Main House and continued, "When I returned to the Hyūga Clan, all adult males of the Main House, including the Clan Head and Elders, had already perished."
"Furthermore, it was discovered afterward that the Forbidden Scroll Repository used to store various secret techniques and ancient texts within the Hyūga Clan was also burned down by Hyūga Neji."
Hearing this, the expressions of those present varied. Although they had received the news previously, they now had confirmation.
The Hyūga Main House truly only had women and children left.
Those who possessed the Caged Bird Seal had all been killed by Hyūga Neji.
Even the Forbidden Scroll Repository that held the secrets of the Caged Bird Seal had been burned. This was a tremendous blow to the Hyūga Clan.
If not for the existence of Hyūga Kawa, the clan might have completely fallen to the status of a second-tier ninja clan, much like the Uchiha Clan.
But at the same time, this meant...
"Is Hyūga Kawa truly free?" This thought simultaneously arose in everyone's mind.
It was widely known that the greatest obstacle preventing Hyūga Kawa from becoming Hokage was the Caged Bird Seal.
The Hokage of Konoha could never be someone who did not even hold his own life in his hands.
But now, everyone capable of using the Caged Bird Seal was dead.
The only remaining obstacle to Hyūga Kawa becoming Hokage was his lack of experience in political affairs.
Aside from that, whether considering prestige, strength, or contribution, Hyūga Kawa was worthy of the title of Fifth Hokage.
Realizing this, everyone looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. If nothing unexpected happened, Sarutobi Hiruzen should naturally support Hyūga Kawa's ascension.
"After arriving at Lord Hiashi's residence, I used the Byakugan to see Hyūga Neji attempting to attack Hyūga Aoi and Hyūga Hinata in the underground secret room."
Hyūga Kawa ignored their varying gazes and continued, "So I intervened and rescued the two. Hyūga Neji took the opportunity to escape."
"Before my intervention, Hyūga Neji claimed that if the talent was strong enough, the Hyūga Clan's Byakugan could evolve into an eye called the Tenseigan after experiencing extreme emotional stimulation."
"And the method for activating the Tenseigan is similar to the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan, requiring intense emotional catharsis. Hyūga Neji achieved this condition by slaughtering the Main House."
Hearing this, the crowd was stunned, their eyes widening in disbelief.
"The Byakugan can evolve like the Sharingan?" Uchiha Shisui said with a serious expression. "How reliable is this information?"
The Byakugan evolving was unheard of in the history of the ninja world!
In everyone's understanding, the Byakugan was simply the Byakugan, with no relevant records to prove its potential for evolution.
"This was stated by Hyūga Neji himself," Hyūga Kawa said indifferently. "At the time, he was about to kill Hyūga Aoi. I do not believe he had any need to lie to someone about to die."
He paused here, then pointed to his own eyes: "Moreover, I believe my eyes can also serve as a form of proof."
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze instantly focused on Hyūga Kawa's eyes.
What should have been pure white eyes now had faint blue nebulae slowly flowing in their depths, emitting a mysterious and profound aura.
"Your eyes are also the Tenseigan?" Mitokado Homura's gaze was full of shock and doubt. "The power that broke that formidable Jutsu before was the power of these eyes?"
"Yes," Hyūga Kawa admitted frankly. "That Jutsu was called the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, but the burden of using that Jutsu is currently too great for me."
Everyone had either witnessed or heard about the power of that single blow.
In their view, it was a power that transcended the scope of conventional Ninjutsu, a terrifying power that surpassed the Susanoo.
And since the Susanoo was called the power of a god, the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion was equally worthy of that appraisal, perhaps even stronger in terms of destructive power.
"Hyūga Neji actually acquired such terrifying power," Nara Shikaku frowned tightly. "No wonder he would resort to such extreme means."
[Ding, your lies have been judged as [Groundless Fabrication][Distorting Black and White][Transplanting Flowers and Attaching Branches]. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Kazuma, and others have generated intense emotional fluctuations, reaching the degree of [Absolute Belief]. You have gained 4000 Reality Points...]
"Fortunately, we here in Konoha possess the same power," Jiraiya interjected opportunely, causing Sarutobi Hiruzen to frown slightly.
"Based on the residual traces at the scene and eyewitness reports, Hyūga Neji also controlled 'Wrath' from the 'Seven Deadly Sins'."
At this moment, the previously silent ANBU Commander spoke up: "His ability is to release a special flame. It does not burn material but directly scorches the target's 'soul.'"
"The intensity of the burning seems related to the 'evil' the target carries. It is effective against Hollows and can convert their essence for his own use. Hyūga Neji called it the 'Karmic Fire'."
Nara Shikaku asked, "If the 'Karmic Fire' can kill Hollows, why did a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow still emerge from the Hyūga Clan?"
The ANBU Commander shook his head: "The specific reason is still under investigation. We cannot rule out the possibility of direct intervention by the 'Kage' that appeared later, or the Hollow Realm forces behind him."
"According to what Hyūga Neji said to Hyūga Aoi at the time, perhaps the criterion for the Karmic Fire is the 'evil' accumulated by the target against the Branch House during their lifetime," Hyūga Kawa suddenly suggested.
"The Branch House members who were killed might not have met the standard for 'evil,' thus they were not killed by the Karmic Fire. Their souls may have become a breeding ground for Hollows."
Hearing this, everyone showed thoughtful expressions and nodded in agreement.
"Hyūga Neji, colluding with external forces, carried out a premeditated bloody massacre against the Main House members and stole the 'Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath'."
Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen took over the conversation and said, "His actions are heinous crimes. He has defected from the village and is currently at large."
"Konoha will launch a maximum-level investigation and cleanup operation against him and the associated 'Hollow Realm' forces, eliminating the hidden danger at all costs."
"And according to the conclusive evidence currently possessed, the mastermind who planned and executed this attack on Konoha is an organization called 'Akatsuki'."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced around the room, seeing solemn or puzzled expressions on the faces of the attendees, and continued, "Jiraiya will provide everyone with detailed intelligence on Akatsuki."
Hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's face no longer held his usual playful demeanor but was slightly grim. He sighed.
"The 'Akatsuki' organization did not emerge from nowhere. Its first-generation founders were three young ninja from the Village Hidden in the Rain: Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan."
He paused there, then said in a low voice, "They were my disciples."
At these words, the expressions of several people present changed slightly. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura couldn't help but frown again.
It was the second time.
That fellow Jiraiya had failed to follow the plan they had agreed upon a second time.
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