During dinner that night, Rokuro shared the information he'd gathered with his mother and Uchiha Izumi.
When they heard that the leader of the Cloud delegation had been killed—and that, before his death, he'd actually tried to kidnap Hizashi's son—both women were utterly stunned.
"How could something like that happen? Are we sure that man was really the delegation leader?"
Izumi frowned, her mind spinning. She simply couldn't connect the image of a formal envoy leader with that of a child-snatching thief. To her, that kind of act didn't make any sense for someone in such a position.
"Could it be…" she hesitated, "that this so-called peace negotiation was never real to begin with?"
Uchiha Ashikaga's expression darkened. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Rokuro nodded slightly.
"Mom, you're right. Ever since the Fourth Raikage came to power, the military strength of the Hidden Cloud has surged dramatically—several levels higher than before. In terms of sheer numbers of mid- and low-ranked ninja, they've already surpassed Konoha. The only area where Konoha still has the upper hand is in its number of elite jōnin."
"The Land of Fire enjoys the best environment in the entire shinobi world, which means Konoha receives the most funding and resources every year. In theory, both the quantity and quality of Konoha's shinobi should be the best."
"Unfortunately," Rokuro said with a bitter smile, "in recent years, the village leadership has grown increasingly incompetent—forcing or driving away several of its strongest warriors, both directly and indirectly. Naturally, our power has declined as a result."
Ashikaga raised her hands—one up, one down—to illustrate the shift.
"Konoha's power wanes, Cloud's power rises. When one falls and the other ascends, the latter won't miss the opportunity. There's no way the Hidden Cloud truly came here for peace talks."
Izumi ruffled her hair in frustration.
"Then what was the point of sending a delegation at all? Surely not just to steal a child?"
Ashikaga thought for a moment before replying, "The kidnapping might've been a spur-of-the-moment act. Their real goal was to provoke conflict—give the two countries a reason to go to war."
Rokuro chuckled softly. "Mom, you're only half right. Yes, they wanted to create conflict—but the kidnapping was intentional too. And the key is who they tried to kidnap: not some random child, but one from the Hyūga clan.
"Even though the Uchiha were Konoha's strongest clan after the Senju disbanded, on the battlefield, the Sharingan still can't compete with the Byakugan."
As he spoke, Rokuro took out the synthesized eyes—the so-called "True Byakugan."
"The Byakugan isn't just for reconnaissance—it's also an exceptional long-range targeting tool. Combined with long-distance ninjutsu, it could completely alter the course of a battle. And tell me—what long-range attack in the shinobi world surpasses a Tailed Beast Bomb?"
Izumi gasped.
"I've heard the Hidden Cloud has two jinchūriki, both of whom can perfectly control their tailed beasts. Don't tell me they were planning to steal the Hyūga's Byakugan to use as a targeting system for the Tailed Beast Bombs?"
Rokuro spread his hands. "That's just a theory. Maybe I'm overthinking it. The Naruto world has never exactly been known for airtight logic, after all."
He smirked. "Think about it—if they truly wanted to spark a war, they didn't need to go to such lengths. In the real world, nations have gone to war over far pettier excuses. There was no need to come to Konoha just to die."
"And the follow-up in the original story?" He sighed. "Utter nonsense. Hiashi kills a Cloud envoy, Hizashi sacrifices himself, and that's that? One life for one life, and the threat of war just disappears? Come on."
"The truth is, Naruto was a shōnen manga. Kishimoto couldn't afford to make it too grim or politically realistic. That entire subplot was only meant to highlight the branch family's resentment and struggle under the Caged Bird Curse—not to explore the realpolitik of the shinobi world."
Ashikaga folded her arms. "So what happens next? The Cloud delegation's going to retaliate, right?"
"Of course," Rokuro replied. "Their first move will be to confront the Hyūga—demand a life for a life, and compensation on top of that."
"What? But they were the ones in the wrong!" Izumi exclaimed, indignant.
Rokuro chuckled.
"In matters between nations, right and wrong don't matter. Only interests do. Still, this isn't the old Hyūga clan anymore. Back then, under the Caged Bird system, they'd have sacrificed a branch family member to pay the price. But now…" He grinned. "Let's just say, things are going to get interesting."
He wasn't wrong.
While the three of them were watching through the sensory barrier, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura had already arrived at the Hyūga estate for a confrontation.
"The Cloud delegation has stated their demands," Danzō said coldly, face devoid of emotion. "Surrender the one who killed their leader, and hand over ten Hyūga children as compensation."
The room erupted in outrage.
"What?! Those Cloud bastards must be dreaming!"
"They were the ones who acted first, and they have the nerve to demand reparations? Shameless!"
"Clan Head, we can't agree to this! They're clearly after our Byakugan—our bloodline limit!"
The Hyūga were a deeply conservative clan. Otherwise, they'd never have created something as twisted as the Caged Bird system.
Some records even mentioned that the Hyūga forbade intermarriage with outsiders to preserve the purity of their bloodline—a rule that wasn't broken until Naruto Uzumaki became the Seventh Hokage.
And now the Cloud demanded not only Hiashi's life but also ten Hyūga children—clearly intending to bring them back to the Cloud Village, breed them, and cultivate their own Hyūga bloodline.
There was no way the Hyūga would ever agree.
"What good is all this outrage?" Danzō barked, slamming the table. "The envoy leader died on your clan's grounds—killed by one of your own. The evidence is undeniable. As for your claim that they tried to kidnap your child—well, the culprit's dead. There's no proof. They'll never admit to it!"
He sneered, voice rising.
"And don't forget—relations between Fire and Lightning are already precarious. One spark, and war could erupt. Are you really willing to risk plunging both nations into chaos for your own mistake?"
Hizashi ignored him, turning instead to Hiruzen.
"Lord Third, what do you think? Do you also agree to the Cloud's demand for our bloodline limit?"
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe before answering slowly.
"The demand for ten children—absolutely not. The Hyūga's bloodline is a vital strategic asset to the village. We can't let another nation obtain it. However…" His eyes narrowed. "You know as well as I do how delicate the current situation is. If this escalates, even the Daimyō himself might choose to keep the peace."
That was Hiruzen for you—a pure politician.
First, he rejected the demand for the children, appeasing the Hyūga. Then he pivoted, invoking national interests and political pressure. Finally, he dragged the Daimyō into it, forcing the clan into a corner.
It was no wonder that, in the original story, Hiashi ultimately submitted. The main family had long since lost its pride—and didn't want to bear the blame for starting a war.
But this time, things were different. The Hyūga were no longer ruled by the main family alone.
"Lord Third," Hizashi said firmly, rising to his feet. "As head of the Hyūga clan, I declare this: we will not trade one life for another, nor will we hand over ten children. Whatever consequences arise from this, the Hyūga clan will bear them all. Now, please… leave."
END OF CHAPTER
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