Helping the Hyuga clan wasn't something Andrew did purely out of altruism. It was, in part, to atone for a regret from his past life. Of course, it could also be seen as the product of a private understanding—a kind of "PY" relationship—between two powerful clan leaders: Fugaku of the Uchiha and Hiashi of the Hyuga.
But if this support also managed to drive a wedge between the Hyuga clan and the Hokage's office, then Andrew was more than happy to make it happen.
After all, those who lack foresight are doomed to be caught off guard. The Uchiha clan might appear to be in a good position now, but who could say for sure that the Third Hokage wouldn't wake up one night, remember the pride of his youth, and decide to confront the Uchiha directly?
That was why it was beneficial to create problems that would give the Third Hokage a headache. It distracted him, reduced his scrutiny of the Uchiha, and made it easier for Andrew to push forward with the five-year plan.
With Danzo currently laying low, and the Third Hokage's advisors hesitant to pressure the Uchiha too hard, any disruption that added to their discomfort brought peace of mind to Andrew.
When Andrew suddenly appeared on the scene, both the Konoha and Cloud Shinobi parties were stunned. The Cloud ninja were visibly unsettled by Andrew's strength. The Wooden Golem—Jinchūriki of the Two-Tails—had been sent by the Raikage to add gravitas to the delegation. But she had been effortlessly beaten back by Andrew from a distance. Just how powerful was the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Meanwhile, the Konoha side was just as shaken, not by the battle itself, but by what it revealed. A Jinchūriki from the Cloud Village had infiltrated Konoha!
In the shinobi world, a Jinchūriki is considered a living weapon. Sending one into another village without diplomatic context was tantamount to a declaration of war.
The Third Hokage, though unwilling to provoke a war, now had no choice but to take a firm stance. His gaze turned icy as he glared at the Cloud envoy, Tutai.
Tutai's expression soured instantly. Just moments ago, he had been leveraging an incident to put pressure on the Hyuga. But now, with the Jinchūriki's identity exposed, the tables had turned. Cloud was at fault, and badly.
Just as Third Hokage's pressure on the Hyuga clan was about to bear fruit, the situation flipped on its head. Now, his face was stormy with frustration.
"Tutai! Is your Cloud Village really prepared to start a war?" the Third snapped. "Konoha may not want another conflict, but if you keep pressing, I will not hesitate to respond in kind!"
Despite not fully understanding why Andrew—clearly a Uchiha—had taken the village's side, the Third Hokage seized the opportunity to reassert control.
Even in a world filled with intrigue and espionage, one had to take a principled stand on the surface. If he let this pass quietly, it would give others the pretext to stir up further trouble.
Hyuga Hiashi remained expressionless but signaled Hizashi to disperse the surrounding Hyuga clansmen. The fewer people present, the smaller the risk of escalation.
Meanwhile, the Wooden Golem, bruised and rattled, struggled to her feet. Her eyes betrayed fear as they locked onto Andrew. As the Two-Tails' Jinchūriki, she had always believed that only a select few—like the Raikage or the former "Konoha's Flash"—could pose a threat to her.
But tonight, she'd been crushed. Even wrapped in a tailed beast's chakra coat, Andrew had overwhelmed her using only taijutsu.
His strikes were not only blindingly fast, but also powerful enough to disable her regeneration momentarily. If it hadn't been for her Jinchūriki-level resilience, she would've been critically injured already.
And this was without Andrew even using any ninjutsu. Not once had he resorted to his Sharingan's powers.
Just then, a figure descended from a tree—Shisui—followed by two Uchiha teammates. They landed beside the battle site, with Shisui casting a disapproving glance at the Third Hokage.
"We all saw what happened, Hokage-sama," Shisui said calmly. "That Cloud ninja brought this upon himself."
His disappointment with the Hokage's earlier actions was palpable, though left unspoken.
"You were watching all along?" the Third asked, startled. Then, realization dawned, and his gaze flicked to Hiashi. A chill ran down his spine.
"The deceased Cloud ninja had been under surveillance since leaving his lodging," Shisui continued. "He went to a corner grocery store, changed into civilian clothes, and posed as the owner. He loitered around the village before entering the Hyuga compound disguised, only to later emerge carrying the Hyuga clan's eldest daughter."
"It was then that the Hyuga Patriarch struck him down," he finished.
Shisui's matter-of-fact tone left no room for argument. The gathered Hyuga looked toward the Third Hokage, their expressions cold. His earlier attempt to sacrifice Hyuga for the sake of political expediency had left them feeling betrayed.
With the mission concluded, Shisui stood beside Andrew, Mangekyō Sharingan now active, locking eyes with the battered Wooden Golem.
Wooden Golem: 'Do they really need to go that far just to watch me?'
With two Mangekyō users on the field, the dynamic had shifted dramatically. Tutai realized the mission had completely failed—and if he wasn't careful, it could cost him and his people their lives.
"Hokage-sama, please, let's calm down," Tutai said quickly, switching to a conciliatory tone. "We acted rashly out of grief for our comrade. We didn't know he had inappropriate intentions toward your villagers…"
He was clearly gambling on the Hokage's unwillingness to trigger another war.
The Third, though still angry, gave a faint nod. "I won't pursue this matter any further… but your Jinchūriki—"
"Will leave immediately!" Tutai interrupted eagerly. "You can even send escorts if needed, to ensure she exits the Land of Fire."
Relieved, he motioned to his team, and the Cloud shinobi withdrew with stifled resentment.
Wooden Golem paused for only a moment, casting one last glance at Andrew before fleeing the village silently.
Andrew made no move to stop her. Although the tailed beasts fascinated him, capturing one now would only bring unnecessary trouble. Cloud's future resistance was still part of his broader plans, and provoking them too far would be shortsighted.
Then Andrew turned to the Third Hokage, smiling slightly. "Hokage-sama, the Anbu have been clashing with my clan a bit too often lately. Do rein them in—next time, we might not just detain them."
The warning was delivered in a light tone, but it landed like a hammer.
The old Hokage felt the fatigue settle deep in his bones. He knew about those missing Anbu. He had chosen to overlook it, fearing escalation. But now, Andrew was rubbing salt into the wound—offering a favor while twisting his arm.
This time, Uchiha had uncovered a threat that directly endangered the village. It was a major win for them, and the Hokage couldn't even refuse the gift.
"I understand," the Third Hokage murmured, his voice hoarse. "I'll speak to them."
"Good. That's all I ask," Andrew replied. "What happened today was pure coincidence, nothing worth dwelling on. Patriarch Hyuga, we'll take our leave."
Hiashi gave a proper bow in response, his earlier aloofness replaced by sincere gratitude.
Whether Andrew had truly intended to help Hyuga or not, the fact remained—he had pulled them out of a tight spot.
Watching Hiashi's sudden shift in demeanor, the Hokage felt bitterness rise in his throat. He opened his mouth to protest, but no words came.
Hiashi ignored him entirely. After seeing off Andrew and his team, he turned back toward his own people.
The Hyuga were done here—and clearly disillusioned.
How could the Hokage betray them so easily, knowing full well it was a trap set by Cloud? To sacrifice a loyal clan for peace was one thing… but to do it so brazenly, so coldly…
That wasn't the act of a village leader—it was the act of a politician cornered by his own indecision.
___________________________________
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31