Hyūga Hiashi did not die. Just as in the original story, his younger brother Hyūga Hizashi died instead.
The two looked identical. As a branch family member, Hizashi bore the caged bird curse seal. After death, his Byakugan would be destroyed, becoming a useless organ. So he was handed over.
The Raikage A did not raise difficulties again despite receiving a useless corpse and ruined eyes.
He only wanted to give his subordinate Akai an explanation and needed to prove to the village that he had defended Kumogakure's dignity.
Being able to obtain a Hyūga clan member's corpse was already the Raikage's limit.
If negotiations continued to fail without fighting, village discontent would overflow.
During negotiations, Konoha's grain blockade never stopped for a moment. Overland merchants were terrified of being killed. Root even pursued onto the seas to intercept every merchant ship possibly heading to Lightning Country.
Even though Kumogakure equally dispatched personnel for protection, shinobi were ultimately a profession whose capacity to harm others far exceeded their capacity to protect.
As for the impact on Konoha's reputation from such wanton attacks on ordinary people...
To the Five Great Ninja Villages, Root was no secret. But to the vast majority of people in this world, Root was an unfamiliar term.
If anyone ran to question Konoha, the Hokage's office would only tell you that Konoha was a proper ninja village that would not do such things. If you wished to investigate this matter, you could submit a commission following proper procedures.
As Konohagakure and Kumogakure formally signed their alliance, the eastern line's smoke completely dissipated.
Konoha then sent probing peace initiatives to Iwagakure.
Beyond some people's expectations, Ōnoki readily agreed. He proposed no conditions. Merely agreeing that both sides would end hostilities, he simply shifted attention westward—to the vast territories west of Silence Country.
After so many years of failed southern campaigns, tired of fighting Konoha, he would fight Sunagakure instead. Konoha would not interfere. Fight wandering shinobi west of Silence Country too, see if anyone was useful. After successfully employing Akatsuki, Ōnoki felt he could appropriately shift thinking.
Hiring these people was not bad. If they died, no death benefits needed paying.
Sunagakure was the only party benefiting from this incident, but only temporarily.
Konoha was wounded again. Defeating Iwagakure gained no actual benefits. Appeasing Suna and pacifying Cloud cost considerable resources.
Although with Fire Country's production, as long as peace came, financial losses could quickly be replenished, some things were not so easily recovered.
How the public opinion storm against Hyūga arose, Cloud's fierce exterior hiding inner weakness—more than one person could see through it.
The world had many smart people. Even for the village's sake, leadership decisions were not incomprehensible. Without war, one's own family would not die either.
But the discontent that should arise would still exist.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew everything. He only did the Hokage's work as usual—handling official business, practicing taijutsu with students at the ninja academy, offering condolences to families who lost loved ones in war.
Without many knowing, Sarutobi Asuma left the village.
Shuji knew because at the old estate, Hayami and others mentioned it when they brought people back for a small gathering.
"The Third's son has a bit of a brain problem."
"Can't figure out what's important. Still thinks it's twenty years ago. So many people lost protecting the Daimyō's mission, yet he's still complacent."
"For that mission, the Third ultimately authorized distributing the mission payment to fallen shinobi families."
Tori from the mission center was somewhat confused. "Protecting the Daimyō-sama, isn't that an important and glorious mission?"
Both Hayami Shigeru and Kachi Atsuki cast slightly strange looks.
Shuji mentioned, "Mm, necessary, but not worth pride."
Kachi Atsuki pointed out to Tori, "Though the village has good relations with the Daimyō, it doesn't represent much. They just manage. Those truly guarding Fire Country's peace are we Konoha shinobi."
"The Daimyō has sons and brothers." Hayami Shigeru was indifferent. "As long as they're not controlled by foreign shinobi, whether they die doesn't really matter."
Kachi Atsuki said, "Better if they don't die, avoiding unnecessary turmoil."
Subsequent idle talk aside, one matter was ultimately decided. Every month, the western suburb old estate would hold a meal. They could notify each other. Those who wanted to eat together could come. No compulsion.
This was an opinion Shuji proposed after obtaining Granny Momoka's agreement.
Once monthly and fixed, funded by him, just a cafeteria preparing some good ingredients for gathering together for a meal.
Hayami and others all thought it a good idea and decided to arrange this matter together.
When the small gathering ended, Hayami Shigeru stayed briefly. Kachi Atsuki and others left first.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the village will hold chūnin exam promotion ceremonies next year. Shuji, in your squad, that Uchiha Itachi is still a genin, right?"
"He can prepare early."
Shuji nodded. Uchiha Itachi's promotion to chūnin required no worry. As a shinobi, his ability was never the problem.
Then Hayami complained slightly, "The village really troubles people, actually throwing him to you, making me spend considerable extra thought."
Seeing inquiry in Shuji's gaze, Hayami Shigeru sat down again.
"You also know that after Hashirama-sama arranged the clan's dissolution, some people were unwilling. But that was Hashirama-sama's decision."
"Later after both Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sama passed, everyone felt empty inside. The Uchiha grew increasingly arrogant. Inevitably... some among us had other thoughts."
"I also had some views, though not as extreme as theirs."
Shuji could understand this. The Senju and Uchiha fought so long in the Warring States era. Ultimately their side won, yet disbanded. Instead the Uchiha clan gained the title of Konoha's premier clan. Hearts inevitably felt unbalanced.
"Therefore some people chose to support Advisor Shimura."
Shuji was stunned. Wait, this sentence means...
Hayami Shigeru continued speaking. "Previously when Momoka-sama stayed silent, we just went along. But now you're willing to stand forth, and have an Uchiha subordinate."
"So I tried to persuade them. Later when some of them come over, their attitude might not be so good. Don't mind it..."
Shuji was silent. So among the forces most hostile toward Uchiha in the village, advocating hardline approaches, there had always been Senju people.
So in the original plot, after the Third Hokage's death, Danzō who held real power for years as the advisory elder, even obtaining support from Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu and rebuilding Root.
Was still firmly suppressed by Tsunade who had been away from the village for years and only returned to assume the Hokage position.
Not only because of the Hokage's status, but also because among Danzō's supporters, naturally some inherently supported the First's granddaughter for this reason.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild