When Yagami arrived at the Hyuga Clan compound in the night, he was already a step late.
The ninja leader of the Hidden Cloud Village envoy group was already dead.
The one who killed him was, of course, the Clan Leader of the Hyuga Clan…
Hyuga Hiashi!
And in his arms, he tightly held his daughter, who was huddled in fear…
Hinata.
At this time, she was only three years old.
"Clan Leader, what should we do?"
"Although this damned ninja leader deserved to die, he was, after all, the head of the Hidden Cloud Village envoy group. Now that he's dead at the hands of the Hyuga Clan, Lord Hokage might…"
Hyuga Hizashi understood perfectly well.
However…
The scoundrel before him had kidnapped his daughter, who was just three years old!
Moreover, their objective was undoubtedly the Byakugan!
Once captured and taken to Hidden Cloud Village, having her eyes dug out would only be the beginning. Little Hinata would also suffer unimaginable torture…
What father could possibly endure all this?!
Killing him…
He simply wanted to tear him to pieces!
Hyuga Hiashi patted Hinata's back, comforted her, and a resolute expression appeared in his Byakugan.
"It's alright, I will report the truth of the matter to Lord Hokage."
"Even he, after understanding the situation, won't possibly blame us."
The Hyuga clansmen behind him frowned tightly, hesitating to speak.
"Hizashi, what do you want to say?"
Hyuga Hizashi sighed, "Clan Leader, do you truly believe Lord Hokage will uphold justice?"
"Judging by his attitude towards Hidden Cloud Village, as you mentioned, I fear he will maintain the ceasefire agreement at all costs, even ceding so many powers and interests…"
"How could he possibly offend the Hidden Cloud Village envoy group because of the Hyuga Clan?"
It wasn't that Hyuga Hiashi hadn't considered this point.
However, in his heart, he still held a sliver of hope for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"The Hyuga Clan is an elder family that has followed Konoha Village since its founding, dedicating themselves completely to protecting the village for generations. Would Lord Hokage sacrifice the entire Hyuga Clan for a scoundrel who kidnapped my daughter?"
"I don't believe it."
Hyuga Hizashi wanted to say something, but ultimately gave up, only able to let out a long sigh.
Hyuga Hiashi carried Hinata back home, then resolutely said, "Send people to ensure Hinata's safety."
"I will immediately go to the Hokage Office to report this matter."
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
…
Watching this scene, Yagami remained silent and expressionless.
Clearly, at this time, the Hyuga Clan still had some faith in Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He had just received information that Hatake Kakashi had truthfully reported the situation at the Hokage meeting, and he himself had "regained freedom."
So, he openly pushed open the door of the Anbu Prison and came directly to the Hyuga Clan compound.
Of course, he didn't believe Sarutobi Hiruzen would be selfless.
It was just that, firstly, his mind was completely occupied by the Hidden Cloud Village matter; secondly, he had been cornered by Hatake Kakashi; and thirdly, because of his weak policies, he had been backstabbed by various clans, including Shimura Danzo, leaving him isolated and helpless.
Of course, the very last, and most crucial issue…
He knew from the start that he couldn't be held captive at all.
Although he couldn't understand why he would stay in prison when he could leave at any time.
But since things had come to this, he didn't mind putting on another show of sacrificing personal ties for justice and selflessness, doing a favor by "releasing himself."
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen now, his strongest fighting force was indeed Uchiha Shisui.
If Uchiha Shisui didn't act, others wouldn't have any confidence in dealing with him.
This was merely his reluctant compromise.
…
Hokage Office.
The important figures from all sides, who had been urgently summoned, were all shocked as they looked at the ninja leader's corpse on the ground.
However, after hearing Hyuga Hizashi recount the events, everyone was filled with righteous indignation.
Shikaku Nara also frowned and said, "I didn't expect Hidden Cloud Village to do something like this."
"On the surface, they're for a ceasefire agreement, but secretly they plotted to steal our Konoha Village's precious bloodline limits, and even laid hands on a three-year-old child!"
Choza Akimichi also angrily said, "This is simply going too far! Clan Leader Hinata Hiashi, you did well! If it were me, he would probably have died an even worse death!"
The heads of the other major clans also repeatedly agreed.
However…
Uchiha Shisui's gaze fell upon Sarutobi Hiruzen.
At this moment, he was completely dejected…
He had lost face completely, and the ceasefire agreement he had gained by sacrificing so many interests…
Instantly became meaningless because of this sudden incident!
The head of the Hidden Cloud Village envoy group died in Konoha Village!
How could Cloud Village possibly let this go?!
Damned Hyuga Clan!
Couldn't you have endured a little more?!
Just for a pair of Byakugan, they had to cause Konoha Village and Hidden Cloud Village to restart the war?!
Not to mention, it completely disrupted his grand plan to deal with the Uchiha Clan!
He was filled with shock and anger, but in the end, he couldn't expose it.
So, Lord Hokage of Konoha Village took a puff from his pipe, then slowly exhaled a smoke ring and let out a long sigh.
"Ah, Hyuga Hiashi…"
"Of course, I can completely understand your feelings. If it were anyone else whose own daughter was kidnapped, they wouldn't be able to endure it either."
"However…"
"You could have just subdued the ninja leader, why did you have to kill him directly?"
Hyuga Hiashi and everyone else were greatly astonished!
Lord Hokage's attitude, this means…
"Lord Hokage, I…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him, "You don't need to say more. I said I can understand your feelings. However, now is a crucial moment for the ceasefire between Cloud Village and Konoha. As a high-ranking official of the village, a clan head, and the Hyuga Clan being an elder-level family of Konoha, why couldn't you have considered more, been calmer, and endured more…"
"Why couldn't you have prioritized the overall situation and acted for the greater good?"
Cold sweat poured down Hyuga Hiashi's face. Hyuga Hizashi's worry had indeed come true…
The heads of the other major clans and the elite ninjas also exchanged glances, looking at each other in dismay…
Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, had no way out.
He said heartbrokenly, "Now, because of this minor matter, the Cloud Village ninja leader has been killed. Hidden Cloud Village will absolutely not let this go. When war breaks out again, won't it be the village that gets hurt?"
"And won't it be the clans and ninjas of the village who are forced to sacrifice?"
"Peace, stability, that is what is most important…"
Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists tightly.
He really wanted to ask…
What do you mean 'this minor matter'?!
If that's the case, is it also a minor matter that your son, Sarutobi Asuma, was killed by Uchiha Yagami?!
If it were possible, Hinata Hizashi truly wanted to unleash a set of Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms fiercely on Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't do it…
Behind him were the clansmen of the entire Hyuga Clan.
The others at the meeting also suppressed their shame and anger, quietly waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen's judgment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, "How about this? I will inform the Hidden Cloud Village envoy group about this matter and see what their demands are. At that time, no matter how unreasonable, we would rather sacrifice our own interests and even our lives, and spare no effort to resolve this matter, settle the conflict, and exchange it for the most precious peace…"
"Do you understand?"
Hyuga Hiashi instantly felt like the sky was falling and the earth was splitting, his vision went black, as if he had lost his soul…
Sarutobi Hiruzen's meaning…
Was that he wanted him to go to his death?!
Was he, was he serious?!
It was clearly the other party who had gone mad and kidnapped his own daughter, and he had merely acted in self-defense. Now, for the sake of the so-called greater good, for the sake of so-called peace, he was being asked to sacrifice himself for nothing, to die in vain?!
This… is this truly what Lord Hokage of Konoha Village…
Would say?!
For a moment, everyone present was shocked. Everyone's heart was filled with shame and frustration, and anger surged like an undercurrent…
(End of Chapter)
Translator's Note: Hiruzen, Hiruzen… Has peeking through your telescope whatever it is called into bathhouses—fogged your mind? Vassals are more important than alliances; without your vassals, it wouldn't be called a kingdom or a village. You should quit being Hokage… at least then the village could still fend for itself.
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