Hyūga clan head, Hyūga Hiashi…
No—right now, it should be said, Hyūga Hizashi.
At present, Hizashi was playing the role of Hiashi, and deep inside he felt extremely uneasy about his situation.
He had been shutting himself away in his room these past days, alone, mimicking Hiashi's habits and mannerisms.
Fortunately, Hiashi's nature was already severe and rigid by default, and his attitude toward both family and clan members was never warm.
Thus, Hizashi's behavior had raised no suspicion. Everyone simply assumed he wished to hide away his grief and not show his sorrow openly.
Because of this, Hizashi had gained precious time to fully accustom himself to his new identity.
By now, he could imitate his brother almost perfectly—eight parts resemblance out of ten. And even if a flaw appeared, he could cover it with an excuse.
If asked, he could simply say that the "death of his younger brother" had changed his temperament.
Who could blame a man for mourning a dead sibling?
And yet, despite his preparations, Hizashi still felt uneasy—not for himself, but for Hyūga Kumokawa, and for that esteemed lord.
The escort team had already been gone from Konoha for three days, and still no news had returned.
Both the village and the Hyūga clan were growing tense.
He prayed for that lord's success, and for Kumokawa's safe return.
So, the moment he received notice of an emergency jōnin council, Hizashi rushed to attend.
But when he pushed open the door, he realized he was not among the earliest arrivals.
Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, as well as the heads of the Uchiha, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and others were already present.
Clearly, all were eager to learn the outcome of the Hidden Cloud envoy incident.
In the past, Hizashi had always attended council standing respectfully behind Hiashi.
This was his first time attending as clan head. He was both nervous and a little excited.
Until—the door opened again. Hiruzen Sarutobi entered. Hizashi and the others all rose to their feet.
But when Hizashi's eyes fell upon the figure following Hiruzen, he froze in place, mouth agape.
"Kumokawa? Why is he…"
It wasn't only him. Many present stared in confusion and astonishment at the boy trailing the Hokage.
Danzō, however, already knew.
He had heard of Kumokawa's performance and strength from Aburame Ryōma, and even more, he had heard from Koharu the very words Kumokawa had spoken in the hospital ward.
"They want war, then we'll give them war!"
So bold, so stirring!
If he could, Danzō would have stolen that line for himself, rather than muttering the likes of "Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
Thinking this, Danzō's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kumokawa.
When he noticed the boy's gaze briefly turn his way, a stiff, unnatural smile crept across Danzō's usually cold face.
"???"
Homura Mitokado, standing nearby, witnessed this and nearly recoiled in horror.
His wrinkled face contorted in disbelief.
Danzō… smiling?
And smiling so kindly?!
What in the world was happening?!
Kumokawa, unfazed, simply returned the courtesy with a polite smile, before sweeping his gaze across the assembly.
The very core of Konoha's power was gathered in this chamber.
If a spy could somehow infiltrate here and unleash a suicide explosion, the village would crumble to its grave along with these buried walls.
He counted the balance between shinobi with clan crests and those without. The ratio was about one to two.
Kumokawa let out a faint breath of relief.
As expected.
With this, there would be no problem.
Tonight, not only would he push Konoha irrevocably toward war, he would also secure himself a greater political standing.
The thought alone made his body tremble slightly with anticipation.
It was too exciting, too exhilarating, too intoxicating.
To toy with everyone like this…
Hiruzen strode past the gathered clansmen.
All eyes followed him—
and the youth at his back.
Creak.
Kumokawa pulled out the Hokage's chair for him. Hiruzen sat without hesitation, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Nara Shikaku's eyes narrowed with layered meaning at the gesture, his peripheral glance flicking toward the stunned "Hiashi."
Seeing the shock written across "Hiashi's" face, Shikaku instantly understood—the Hyūga clan head had no knowledge of this boy's involvement.
Troublesome. This council will not go smoothly.
"Sit, everyone. I know it's late, and I appreciate your effort in coming."
Placing his hat on the table, Hiruzen's tone was calm, his expression gentle.
"Other than those still on missions, everyone should be present, yes?"
Homura stood and reported the attendance. Hiruzen nodded, then without further delay, spoke the core of the matter:
"I'm sure all of you have heard. In order to give the Hidden Cloud an explanation, Hyūga Hizashi, head of the branch family, voluntarily sacrificed himself in place of the main family head. His body was escorted to the Cloud by our team. However…"
He paused, his voice turning cold.
"According to intelligence, the Cloud dispatched their magnet release shinobi, Toroi, along with dozens of ANBU, to receive Hizashi's body. Yet, after taking it, they turned on the escort and attacked."
"Not only that, when Akimichi Dōtō and the others held out until reinforcements arrived at the border, nearly a hundred more Hidden Cloud shinobi suddenly ambushed them. The result—one jōnin, ten special jōnin, and countless chūnin dead!"
"It was only thanks to their sacrifice that Dōtō and a few others returned alive. Without them, not a soul would have survived to tell the truth."
By now, Hiruzen's voice was shaking with fury—half genuine, half feigned.
"What?!"
The room erupted. Faces blanched, eyes wide.
Were the Cloud madmen?
Had they perhaps discovered that the body belonged to Hizashi and not Hiashi?
Even so—how could they brazenly tear away all pretenses? Wouldn't that turn all hearts against them?
"Without the support of the Lightning Daimyō and his people, is the Fourth Raikage insane?!"
"The Cloud village has gone too far! They've crossed every line!"
The solemn chamber had devolved into chaos, buzzing like a market street.
Kumokawa stood silently behind Hiruzen, coldly observing the uproar.
This was Hiruzen's lie—an unavoidable lie.
Humans are complicated, yet simple. When they support one side, they instinctively denounce the other. And when they denounce one side, they instinctively support its opposition.
Stances gather people together. And no one ever believes themselves to be evil.
As many positions exist in the shinobi world, so too do as many "justices."
The truth—that Konoha and Cloud shinobi alike were slaughtered by a "monster"—could never be spoken, nor would anyone believe it.
Thus, all blame had to be laid on the Cloud. Only this way could Konoha stand upon the moral high ground.
Only by this narrative could Konoha be just, and the Cloud be evil.
"Cough, cough."
Hiruzen's throat-clearing silenced the chamber. All eyes turned back to him.
"I intend to rally our forces and declare war on the Hidden Cloud," he said gravely, gaze sweeping across the assembly. "What do you all think?"
At once, silence fell. An eerie, heavy silence.
The chandelier's white light gleamed across polished marble. The clamorous voices from earlier seemed to have never existed.
The clan heads, in particular, knew exactly what this meant.
The Hokage was asking them to offer up their people.
And none of them wished to be the one who volunteered first.
Their answer was silence.
Until one voice shattered it.
"Lord Third, please allow me to join the army!"
Hyūga Kumokawa stepped forward, his voice deep and firm:
"I believe… if our heads are already in the tiger's mouth, reasoning alone cannot save us from being devoured!"
The declaration darkened many faces instantly.
Among them was Hyūga Hideki, who stood behind "Hiashi."
"Kumokawa!" His gaze was shadowed, his voice cold. "Remember your place! This is a jōnin council. You have no right to speak here!"
"Cough."
Before Kumokawa could answer, Hiruzen's light cough cut him off.
"I almost forgot to tell you all." His eyes narrowed with a smile. "Hyūga Kumokawa has already been promoted to jōnin by my decision. The official notice will be issued tomorrow. From now on, he has the right to attend this council and speak."
The words struck the chamber like thunder.
Every gaze turned, flickering, to Kumokawa.
As though they were seeing this supposed "failure" of the Hyūga clan for the first time.