Chapter 207: The True Heir to Danzo's Spirit
"You!"
Hiruzen naturally understood what this Main House member was scheming. Rage immediately erupted as he glared at the man with narrowed eyes.
But this Main House member felt secure knowing the village's military might held the advantage, believing his life was now guaranteed. He wore an expression of absolute fearlessness, stubbornly refusing to yield with his neck stretched out.
He wasn't afraid of Hiruzen Sarutobi at all, because he understood very clearly that Hiruzen represented the conservative faction—someone who followed the rules.
What was there to fear from a rule-following Hokage? The Hyuga Main House was part of Konoha's rules!
With someone taking the lead, the other Main House members grew bolder as well, all chiming in with agreement.
"This Caged Bird seal was originally established to protect the Branch House Byakugan from leaking out. Once canceled, the Branch House will actually become easier targets for enemies and fall into danger."
"The Byakugan is precious wealth belonging to Konoha Village. If it unfortunately leaks out, the village's losses would be enormous!"
"Lord Hokage, we're purely thinking of the village's interests. We truly have no selfish motives!"
"This matter is too significant. Perhaps we should table it for later discussion."
"Right, right—let's set aside the controversy for now and first resolve this mess before us. Later, we'll hold a full clan assembly to discuss it together before deciding."
Seeing these Main House members' performance, Hiruzen knew things were going badly. He quickly looked toward Neji's side.
But he saw Neji pressing his forehead, laughing madly like a deranged Uchiha.
"This is the Hyuga Main House!"
"Talking about Branch House safety, about preventing Byakugan from leaking, about the village's interests..."
"They speak such high-minded words, but aren't they really just considering their own interests!"
"They clearly just want to continue enslaving us Branch House—never willing to give up!"
He suddenly slapped himself viciously, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth as he snarled:
"I'm a fool!"
"Even in this situation, you still fantasized about resolving things peacefully!"
"Your eyes may be blind, but your heart can't be blind!"
"This group of Main House bastards absolutely doesn't deserve any trust!"
He spun around, shouting loudly to the numerous Branch House members behind him:
"Branch House members!"
"Do you see clearly now?"
"The Main House has no intention of removing the Caged Bird seal!"
"Their previous promises were all complete bullshit—impossible to fulfill!"
"Wake up, all of you!"
"If we want freedom, we have to fight for it with our lives! Hoping for the Main House's charity is absolutely impossible!"
He drew his short blade and raised it toward the sky, shouting loudly: "Let's fight!"
"Let's fight!" The numerous rebellious Branch House members simultaneously drew their blades and raised them together. Instantly, a forest of blades stood before Konoha's forces, gleaming steel and murderous intent filling the air.
"Don't act rashly! Calm down, calm down!"
Hiruzen watched with his heart pounding, frantically waving his hands as he continued persuading: "Everything can be discussed!"
"I'll convince the Main House—absolutely won't disappoint the Branch House!"
"We're all from the same village—absolutely don't attack!"
"Once deaths occur, only the conspirators behind the scenes will be happy. It won't benefit the Hyuga clan at all!"
"No need, Lord Hokage." Neji's face was cold as he refused stiffly. "We now have absolutely zero trust in the Main House."
"Even if you obtain promises from them, we won't believe it!"
"I'll state the Branch House's position one final time—you make your choice."
"Today either all Main House members die, or all of us rebellious Branch House members perish! There is absolutely no third option!"
"Now, Lord Hokage, it's your turn to choose."
"Will you help those Main House members slaughter all of us Branch House, or abandon that small number of Main House members and let us Branch House annihilate them completely."
"You choose!"
After finishing, Neji gripped his short blade tightly, clearly ready to fight at the slightest disagreement.
"This... this..." Hiruzen's head immediately throbbed like it might explode, not knowing how to respond.
He now hated those foolish, greedy Hyuga Main House members to death, wishing he could butcher them all like dogs.
But as Hokage, there were some things he absolutely couldn't do no matter what—even if he clearly knew those choices were right, he still absolutely couldn't do them!
Inexplicably, he once again missed his old comrade Shimura Danzo.
If he were here, many things unsuitable for the Hokage to do would have solutions.
As if by telepathy, Itachi Uchiha beside him suddenly spoke: "Lord Hokage, there's really nothing difficult about this."
"Whether in numbers or contribution, the Main House falls far short of the Branch House. If we truly must choose sides, then without question, we should support the Branch House!"
"If Lord Hokage finds it inconvenient to act, allow me to do it for you."
"What?" Hiruzen looked at Itachi beside him in shock. Why did this tone and manner so resemble his old comrade?
He strongly suspected that Itachi was truly the genuine heir to Danzo's spirit.
But this method was simply too crude!
Danzo would always do the dirty work behind the Hokage's back first, then come forward to take the blame. Where was the logic in saying it outright like this?
You've made everything explicit—how am I as Hokage supposed to respond?
"Hahahaha!"
Yasushi watching from afar saw Itachi suddenly speak up to "relieve Lord Hokage's worries," and immediately clapped his hands laughing. He laughed so hard he nearly bent over backward, tears almost spilling from his eyes.
"It really is you, Itachi!"
"You haven't changed at all—you still have that 'Hokage mindset'!"
"For the peace and security of the majority in the village, you could completely annihilate the Uchiha clan."
"Now, to maximize preserving the Hyuga clan's military strength and personnel, of course you can also completely annihilate the Hyuga Main House!"
"You already guessed Itachi would volunteer?" Zetsu asked curiously.
"Of course." Yasushi bared his teeth, cold white light gleaming from them. "No one in this world understands Itachi better than I do!"
"His Mangekyō Sharingan obsession makes all his choices linear."
"As long as you grasp the ultimate purpose behind all his actions, you can very easily predict his behavioral logic."
"I see!" Zetsu finally understood completely, knowing the future developments definitely wouldn't go as Itachi hoped.
Even if Itachi wholeheartedly wanted to do good, under Yasushi's interference, any good deed would only get worse and worse—absolutely without exception.
"Poor Itachi! Yasushi has him targeted." Thinking of Obito's current state, Zetsu couldn't help but secretly sympathize with Itachi.