What had happened the night before had already been reported to everyone.
The atmosphere at the scene was extremely heavy. Nearly every face in Konoha was filled with anger.
Kumogakure was arrogant, rampant, and utterly contemptuous!
That was the shared sentiment of most of Konoha's representatives.
Blatantly twisting right and wrong—who wouldn't be furious?
Openly coveting the Byakugan bloodline limit of Konoha—had they ever placed Konoha in their eyes at all?
Although the Hyuga clan was the one directly targeted, as fellow comrades of Konoha, the representatives of the other clans felt no pride either.
Today they set their sights on the Hyuga. Tomorrow, who would it be?
Once desire begins to swell, it's never easily satisfied.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, kept his head lowered, silent.
Kumogakure's sudden turnabout had caught him off guard.
One plan failed—so they tried another.
After failing to seize Hinata, they had immediately shifted their target to Hyuga Hiashi.
As the person directly involved, Hiashi's face was ashen, the anger pent up inside him like boiling magma, ready to erupt at any moment.
They plotted against my daughter, offered no apology—
And now they even want my life as clan head?
What kind of twisted logic is this?!
Do they think the Hyuga clan is made of mud?!
Though trembling with rage, Hiashi still forced himself to restrain his emotions.
He looked toward Hiruzen with anticipation and asked,
"Hokage-sama… what is your decision?"
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment. Gazing out the window, he muttered,
"Konoha… cannot endure another war."
He didn't answer directly, but that single sentence already revealed the stance of Konoha's leadership.
Many present felt injustice on the Hyuga's behalf, yet no one stepped forward to challenge the Third Hokage's decision.
They no longer represented themselves as individuals, but entire clans.
"No—this absolutely won't do."
"Hiashi is the clan head of the Hyuga!"
Before Hiashi himself could speak, elders of the Hyuga main house leapt forward.
Handing over their clan head—where would the Hyuga's dignity go?
Facing the indignant elders, Hiruzen immediately spoke to placate them.
"Of course. We will never sacrifice Hiashi."
With his pipe in his mouth, Hiruzen made the promise firmly.
He had already calculated everything in his heart—this was merely a warning to the Hyuga.
The Hyuga main house had always been protected by numerous branch family members marked with the Caged Bird Seal.
If the main house was off-limits, then having the branch family make a sacrifice for peace was only reasonable, wasn't it?
Hiruzen suddenly changed the subject.
"However… it is also true that Konoha cannot afford a war. We must cherish this hard-won peace."
"Even if it costs me my life as Hokage, I must ensure that Konoha's young sprouts can grow strong!"
True to his reputation as a master of talk-no-jutsu, Hiruzen began indoctrinating everyone the moment things turned tense.
With the Hokage having spoken to this extent, the Hyuga could only fall silent and await arrangements.
The room sank into silence once more, everyone lowering their heads and pretending the matter had nothing to do with them.
Hiashi's expression darkened, while the two elders of the main house appeared deep in thought.
If Hiashi couldn't be handed over, then someone would have to take his place.
Among the Hyuga branch family, Hiashi's twin brother—Hizashi—was the perfect candidate.
"No more discussion. I, Hyuga Hiashi, am willing to give my life for the village!"
Hiashi suddenly rose to his feet, glaring straight at Hiruzen as he roared.
If someone else were to replace him—who could it be?
That was absolutely impossible!
"Impossible! How could the Hyuga clan head be sacrificed so casually?"
Putting on a righteous front, Hiruzen decisively rejected Hiashi's declaration.
Handing over Hiashi was never an option.
Even if the Hyuga clan agreed, he would not.
Mito Mon, one of the Hokage's advisors, suddenly spoke up.
"If I remember correctly, Hizashi of the branch family looks very similar to Hiashi, doesn't he?"
"Perhaps—"
Hiashi's eyes instantly reddened with blood.
"This has nothing to do with my brother. Do not drag him into this."
"One man bears his own responsibility. I, Hyuga Hiashi, will pay Kumogakure with my life!"
His younger brother Hizashi had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal since childhood, stripped of freedom—something Hiashi already felt deeply guilty about.
Now they wanted his brother to die in his place?
How could he ever accept that?
If he did such a thing, how could he face their deceased parents? How could he face his four-year-old nephew, Neji?
Mito Mon said nothing more.
He never expected to quell Hiashi's fury—only to make the Hyuga aware of the higher-ups' intentions.
The Hyuga elders knew what mattered. They would surely give Konoha a satisfactory answer.
Everyone in Konoha lowered their heads, their expressions grim.
They understood the Third Hokage's meaning.
Not handing over Hiashi, yet still giving Kumogakure an explanation—
That meant sacrificing Hizashi.
Clearly Kumogakure was at fault, yet Konoha still had to swallow the humiliation.
What an unbearable disgrace.
Yet despite the shame, no one dared propose going to war.
The matter involved the interests of the entire village. No one could shoulder that responsibility alone.
War would mean massive losses, and whoever ignited it would be forever branded Konoha's sinner.
The two elders of the Hyuga main house exchanged glances, having already made up their minds.
"Doesn't the branch family exist precisely to protect the main house?"
"If war breaks out, how many of the Hyuga will be lost?"
"With one life, protect the main house, protect Konoha—this is Hizashi's duty, and also his honor."
"I believe Hizashi would be willing to sacrifice himself!"
Faced with the elders' earnest persuasion, Hiashi glared at them like an enraged lion.
"You…!"
He rejected them firmly.
"No. Absolutely not."
"I, Hyuga Hiashi, will never sacrifice my own brother!"
"Hiashi, calm down first—"
Hiruzen tried to say more, but Hiashi gave him no chance.
"Hokage-sama, there's no need to continue."
"I understand your difficulties, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for the village."
Hiashi suddenly moved, intending to gouge out his own eyes in front of everyone.
Isn't the only reason they refuse to hand me over these eyes?
Then I'll destroy them!
Hiruzen was startled and instantly flashed forward to stop him.
"Hiashi, what are you doing?!"
"You are the head of the Hyuga—how can you sacrifice yourself like this?!"
He refused to hand over Hiashi not only because of the Byakugan, but more importantly because of Hiashi's status.
A branch family member and a clan head—how could they be the same?
If Hiashi were sacrificed, how could he ever expect the Hyuga clan to remain loyal to him as Hokage?
"Hiashi, you must not act this way!"
"You must understand the responsibility on your shoulders. The Hyuga clan cannot be without you."
The two Hyuga elders also stepped forward to persuade him, even invoking the clan's ancestral teachings.
For a moment, Hiashi was caught in a terrible dilemma, hot tears streaming down his face.
What should he do?
Could he really sacrifice his own brother?
Watching all of this unfold, the corner of Uchiha Yusuke's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
Wasn't Konoha known as the Number One Ninja Village?
This is it?
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