"Hmph!" Danzo Shimura snorted coldly.
Danzo Shimura: "That's because Hiruzen is too weak!"
Danzo Shimura: "So, if I had become Hokage back then, none of these messes would have happened!"
Danzo Shimura: "Without my Root Organization, with Hiruzen's character, Konoha would only be more pathetic than it is now!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Shut up!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, his face red with anger.
And then he was silenced.
However, what followed made Hiruzen Sarutobi even angrier.
Ōnoki: "Damn the darkness of konoha, although you are disgusting and make people want to tear you to pieces, I have to admit that your existence has indeed made Konoha's threat much greater."
Mei Terumī: "Of course, all in all, the cons outweigh the pros."
Fourth Raikage: "Agreed."
Rasa: Danzo is correct.
Rasa: For the Village, one should use any means necessary!
Senju Tobirama: "So all of you are so poor you can't even make ends meet."
Rasa: ... Chiyo: "Damn the Second Hokage of Konoha, damn Tsunade!"
If it weren't for Tsunade, during the Second Great Ninja War, the Hidden Sand Village would never have fallen into decline.
Tsunade: "Tch, old hag, that's how war is. Are you still naive enough to think your poisons are invincible?"
Tsunade: "What? You're allowed to poison and kill people, but we're not allowed to resist, detoxify, or kill you?!"
Tsunade: "Are only your people human? Are we not human?!"
Senju Tobirama: Tsunade! You really are in the chatroom. Why didn't you reply to Grandpa earlier?
Senju Hashirama: She truly is my granddaughter, hahaha~
Inside the chatroom, it was once again in chaos.
The next day.
Early in the morning, little Naruto was woken up by the sounds of children playing in the streets.
After a quick wash-up.
Knock knock knock —
Just then, there was a knock on his door.
He opened the door to see.
Ino and Sakura had already arrived.
Both were bundled up tightly, their exposed little faces red from the cold.
"Naruto~!" Ino reached out and touched little Naruto's face.
A cold sensation spread, and little Naruto instinctively recoiled.
He then smiled and invited them into his home.
Soon, Shikamaru and Choji also arrived.
Today was very lively.
Little Naruto went out with The Four Little Ones.
Before long, he saw a man with a headscarf tied around his head.
His forehead protector was completely different from that of a Konoha Ninja.
Upon seeing this person.
Hyuga Hiashi sighed.
The appearance of this person was the turning point for the Hyuga Clan's destiny, marking its beginning of decline.
In reality.
There were very, very few members of the Hyuga Main Family.
One could even say it was just Hyuga Hiashi and his two daughters, along with a few elderly elders.
Therefore, almost the entire Hyuga Clan consisted of Branch Family members.
The Caged Bird Seal seemingly firmly restrained the Branch Family.
However, it actually protected the entire Hyuga Clan.
Outside, there was no need to worry about losing one's life due to coveting the Byakugan.
Inside, apart from the small handful of people from the clan leader's lineage, everyone else was the same.
However, the Hyuga Clan was indeed a family with clear hierarchies.
It was precisely because of the Caged Bird Seal that the Hyuga Clan was able to preserve its strength and survive intact until now.
But it was also because of the Caged Bird Seal, coupled with the Third Hokage's incompetence, that things began to change when Hyuga Hizashi, Hyuga Hiashi's brother, became a scapegoat.
Within the clan, they were suppressed by the Main Family; within the Village, they were suppressed by those in power.
They seemed to see their future mirroring that of the Uchiha.
Adding to that the constant warfare.
Most clans were experiencing a generational gap in new talent.
Let alone civilian Ninja?
The Sarutobi Clan, though formerly a prominent clan, would never have been as vast as it is now.
It wasn't until after the Uchiha Clan's annihilation that the Sarutobi Clan's inadvertently exposed strength made Ninja from various great clans suddenly realize the truth.
But it was too late.
Aside from that Ninja, no other special discoveries were made.
Afterward, led by Ino, little Naruto tasted many snacks he had never eaten before.
Although he would still receive glares or be driven away.
But for the most part, when Ino stepped forward, the vendors would still accept the transaction.
Night fell.
The children, having played all day, were tired.
Before saying goodbye, Ino touched little Naruto's nape with her cold little hand.
Hiss —
That chilling sensation, anyone who has experienced it knows.
"Dad told me that these next few days, Shikamaru, Choji, and I will be learning the basics of our family's secret techniques."
"Shikamaru said it's Chakra control... I forgot the rest, but I'll teach you once I learn it~"
"Don't always bury yourself in studies, you need to relax sometimes too!"
Watching Ino suddenly drop her playful smile and become serious and earnest.
Little Naruto also cooperatively showed a serious expression and nodded.
Only then did Ino say contentedly, "Well then, see you in a few days~"
"Oh, and don't get a haircut. I think your long hair looks really good."
"I think so too," little Naruto replied with a smile, then waved goodbye to The Four Little Ones.
Night.
Inside the Konoha Inn.
The Cloud Village Envoy stood by the window.
Looking at the still brightly lit streets.
A cold sneer played on his lips.
"For the Village!"
Swoosh —
The moment the words fell.
The Cloud Village Envoy vanished from his spot.
Not long after he left, an Anbu Ninja appeared from behind a distant tree.
"Go report to Hokage-sama first."
Swoosh —
Immediately after, he also followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's order, not stopping the Cloud Village Envoy immediately, but instead going to report the situation first.
Before long, in the Hokage's office.
"Heading in the direction of the Hyuga?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly.
"Go take a look."
What is Kumogakure trying to pull?
Unable to figure it out immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply stopped thinking and decided to go see for himself.
On the other side.
In the Hyuga Clan compound, Hyuga Hinata was sound asleep.
A shadowy figure appeared beside her.
'Hmph~!'
'Such weak defenses, is this what Konoha, what the Hyuga, are all about?'
This person was none other than the Cloud Village Envoy.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, 'No cursed seal, a Main Family member, a Byakugan that can be transplanted.'
Without hesitation, he picked up the small Hinata and turned to run.
However, just as he was about to leave the Hyuga Clan compound, a figure had already been waiting for a long time.
Today was the day Neji was to receive the Caged Bird Seal, and coupled with Konoha holding a festival, the defenses had become lax.
He never expected that someone would take advantage of the loophole.
Of course, Hyuga Hiashi was also very puzzled as to who would dare to infiltrate the Hyuga Clan.
PS: Due to the special nature of the Byakugan, there was a long-standing prohibition against using the Byakugan in the Village under non-special circumstances. Otherwise, everyone's secret techniques would be seen by them.
When he saw the person's appearance, veins bulged on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead, and blood vessels protruded around his eyes, unconsciously activating his Byakugan.
Someone actually intended to abduct his own daughter.
Clearly, this was an attempt to steal the Byakugan.
Because the person was wearing a black mask, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't immediately recognize him.
Bang —
To Hyuga Hiashi's surprise, the person didn't change direction and flee upon seeing him.
Instead, he charged straight forward.
Hyuga Hiashi unhesitatingly unleashed a palm strike.
However, something else unexpected happened to Hyuga Hiashi.
With a single blow, this despicable thief was directly sent flying backward.
Hyuga Hiashi was certain that he had only used the Gentle Fist, not intending to kill with one strike.
Yet, the opponent was directly sent flying, blood oozing from beneath his black mask, and then, his neck twisted, and he died.
Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward and removed the black mask.
He was immediately stunned.
Isn't this the envoy from the Hidden Cloud Village who came to sign the alliance agreement?!
Suddenly, Hyuga Hiashi sensed something and abruptly turned his head to look.
"Third… Hokage-sama."