The air in Konoha was thick with tension as all the village elders were summoned to the Hokage office. The matter at hand was urgent.
The death of the Cloud Village envoys had stirred a storm, and the repercussions were beginning to ripple through the village.
The Third Hokage sat at the head of the room, his face unusually serious.
Beside him stood Danzo, as always wearing his bandaged eye and neutral frown, while the two elder advisors, Homura and Koharu, had also arrived, brows furrowed with concern.
They had come especially to discuss what had transpired the previous night.
Outside, Hiashi Hyuga stood silently before being called in. For some reason, his heart was uneasy.
There was no evidence or obvious reason for this nervousness, yet the feeling clawed at his insides.
He shook it off, convincing himself that everything would be fine. He had done what any father and clan head would have done—he protected his daughter.
Once summoned inside, Hiashi entered and gave a formal bow. The atmosphere was heavy.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, opened the meeting by stating the facts.
"Last night, the disguised Cloud Village envoys attempted to kidnap the Hyuga heiress, Hinata. As a result, they were eliminated. However..."
He paused as the door opened again. The surviving Cloud envoy entered the room. His expression was grim, eyes narrowed with clear anger.
"My comrades were killed," the envoy growled. "This man—Hiashi Hyuga—attacked them without mercy. I demand justice. I will not let this go unpunished. The blood of my team will be avenged."
Hiashi clenched his fists.
"It was your people who started this!" he shouted. "You entered our village under the disguise of peace and dared to attempt the kidnapping of my daughter! Now you demand an explanation? This is madness!"
The tension rose sharply. The room began to echo with the tension between the two sides.
"SILENCE!" Hiruzen shouted, slamming his desk.
Everyone paused. The room fell into silence.
But Danzo's sneer broke it again.
"Hiruzen, you are still as naive as ever," Danzo said coldly. "I warned you yesterday to keep an eye on these damn Cloud envoys.
But you ignored it. Now look at the result. They almost took the Hyuga princess right from under your nose.
And now this clown has the nerve to demand justice?"
Danzo glared at the envoy.
"Justice was served when your men died trying to steal one of our children."
The Cloud envoy's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You dare!?" he roared. "I will report all of this to Lord Raikage. Prepare yourselves. The next time we meet will be on the battlefield."
Danzo didn't even flinch.
"War? Then war it is," Danzo said. "We are not afraid. We've crushed you before. We can do it again. You came to our house under false pretenses. Your comrades died the moment they crossed that line."
Hiruzen's face turned dark.
"Shut your mouth, Danzo!" he barked.
Even the two elder advisors intervened.
"Danzo, this is not the time to provoke the Cloud Village," Homura warned. "We are still recovering from the last war. The village cannot sustain another conflict."
Koharu added, "Not only that, but the political climate with the other nations is already fragile. If we show any sign of aggression, it may unite the other great villages against us."
Danzo scoffed. "So we bow our heads? We beg for peace? Pathetic. You two are just as soft as Hiruzen. This village needs strength, not cowardice."
"Enough!" Hiruzen yelled, slamming the desk once more. "I am the Hokage! This village does not need warmongers. What it needs is peace, stability, and reason."
Danzo glared at him. "And yet your reasoning has led to this crisis. Don't come begging to me when this explodes in your face."
"Danzo, leave this office immediately," Hiruzen commanded.
Danzo growled, turned without another word, and slammed the door behind him as he exited.
The air remained thick.
Hiruzen turned toward the Cloud envoy, who now wore a smug expression.
"Now then," Hiruzen said, softening his tone. "Let us hear your demands. We want to resolve this peacefully."
Hiashi felt a chill in his spine.
The Cloud envoy leaned forward.
"Blood for blood," he said slowly and clearly. "We demand the death of Hiashi Hyuga. Only then will this matter be settled. Only then will we consider peace."
Hiashi's entire body stiffened.
"You dare demand my life!?" he shouted, his chakra flaring, veins bulging near his eyes.
He took a step forward, his hands forming the beginning of a stance.
"I should destroy you where you stand!"
"STOP!" the Hokage shouted again, stepping between them.
"Let me confirm," Hiruzen said carefully. "Is this truly your final demand?"
The Cloud envoy nodded firmly. "Yes. This is your last chance. Or prepare for war."
Homura and Koharu exchanged glances.
Homura sighed. "We will deliberate and offer a solution by tomorrow. Leave for now."
The Cloud envoy gave a final cold glance to Hiashi and then exited the office.
Hiashi stood rooted in place, his fists clenched, his chakra still surging.
Then Hiruzen turned back to him. His expression shifted, now feigning sorrow.
"Hiashi," he said, "I am truly sorry. But we need to stop this war. Your sacrifice... it may be the only way to protect the village."
Hiashi's body trembled.
He didn't reply.
But in his mind, a name echoed.
Indra.
He remembered the boy's words, his warnings, the grin on his face. And suddenly, he realized just how deeply he'd misjudged things.
"So he was right all along..."
The world around him seemed to blur.
Then came the final twist of the knife.
"Hiashi," Hiruzen said softly, "There is... another option. You and your brother are twins.
If we were to send Hizashi in your place, the Cloud would never know the difference. And with his Caged Bird Seal, the Byakugan cannot be stolen. The risk is minimal."
Hiashi's lips parted, but no words came out.
His legs moved on their own as he turned and slowly left the office, his heart heavier than it had ever been.
Hiashi returned to the Hyuga compound in silence. His footsteps were slow, burdened with the weight of what had just transpired in the Hokage's office.
The moment he passed the front gate, the branch members bowed deeply, unaware of the storm that was about to hit their clan.
He didn't respond, barely acknowledging them as he made his way to the main hall.
Wordlessly, he summoned the elders of the Hyuga main family.
When they gathered, Hiashi stood before them like a hollowed man. His fists were clenched, his eyes unfocused.
"There is a matter I must discuss with you," he began, voice low and grave. "The Cloud Village has demanded my life as compensation for the deaths of their so-called envoys."
A sharp intake of breath ran through the room.
One elder stood. "What? That's outrageous! You defended your child!"
"This is political," another muttered. "They want the Byakugan. This is not about justice. This is about seizing the advantage."
Hiashi nodded slowly. "The Hokage... suggested an alternative."
He looked up, voice trembling. "He told me... that Hizashi should be sacrificed instead of me."
Silence blanketed the room. The implication was clear. The elders exchanged looks, and not one of them looked surprised.
"It is regrettable," said one elder, sighing, "but necessary."
"Hiashi-sama," said another, "You are the head of the main family. Your death would create a leadership vacuum. Hizashi is from the branch family. He bears the cursed seal. His Byakugan cannot be taken even in death. It is the most logical decision."
Hiashi remained silent.
"We must protect the clan," an elder added. "Your sacrifice would serve no purpose. The clan would weaken. But if Hizashi volunteers..."
"He won't refuse," another elder interrupted. "He knows his duty."
Hiashi closed his eyes for a moment.
They were right. From a clan perspective, from a political perspective, from a strategic perspective... they were right.
But from a brother's perspective?
He felt like a coward.
Moments later, Hizashi was summoned. He entered calmly, bowing respectfully.
"You called for me, Hiashi-sama?"
Hiashi raised his head slowly, meeting his brother's eyes.
For a long time, he couldn't speak. He just looked. Remembered. Their childhood. Their sparring. Their dreams.
Then he finally said, "The Cloud Village has demanded my life."
Hizashi didn't flinch.
"I see."
"The Hokage... has offered a solution," Hiashi continued. "He suggested that you be sent in my place. Since we are twins, and with your seal... they will never know."
There was silence.
Then Hizashi bowed his head slightly.
"As you wish."
Hiashi's eyes widened slightly. "You accept?"
Hizashi looked up again, a faint smile on his lips.
"I am from the branch family, brother. It is my duty. I have accepted that since the day I was marked."
Hiashi felt something crack inside.
"I never wanted this," he whispered.
"I know," Hizashi said. "But I made peace with it long ago. You have a daughter. A clan to lead. I have... the chance to protect you. To protect her. That's enough."
Hiashi turned his head away.
He couldn't look at him.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Hizashi stepped forward and placed a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Live well, Hiashi. Raise Hinata with pride. And remember—we are brothers. Nothing will change that."
The next morning, the message was sent to the Hokage's office. Hizashi Hyuga would be handed over to the Cloud Village as compensation.
The decision was final.
The Hyuga elders gave their formal approval, citing the need to preserve the strength and stability of the main family.
As preparations were made for the handover, Hiashi stood alone on the veranda, watching the sunrise.
He felt no peace.
Only guilt.
Only sorrow.
And a growing hatred for the choices that power forced upon men.
End of Chapter 25
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