Chapter 513: A Fragile Alliance of Interests
Hiashi's gaze, like a cold knife, scraped across the aged and panicked face of Utatane Koharu.
"You shameless old thing, you are already at such an advanced age, yet you still deceive Lord Third Hokage for the sake of a bit of power and influence."
Deceive Third Hokage?
Upon hearing this, Homura Mitokado's eyes widened sharply, and he looked at Utatane Koharu in disbelief.
Did Koharu deceive Hiruzen behind his back again, or was the matter of him and Koharu deceiving Hiruzen together discovered?
Damn it, this person didn't clean up her tracks well enough.
With trembling hands, he picked up the crumpled piece of paper on the table and brought it close to his eyes to examine it carefully.
This was actually a marriage application form, and it prominently bore the names "Hiruzen Sarutobi" and "Utatane Koharu"!
At a glance, the handwriting looked exactly like it was written by Hiruzen and Koharu. How could this be?
Huh?
Did Koharu actually deceive Hiruzen's feelings? Did she use this form to trick Third Hokage into signing it? Or could it be that the two of them really...?
"Koharu, you... you and Hiruzen... when did you sign this?"
Homura Mitokado's voice went out of tune, filled with shock and a hint of betrayal-fueled anger.
It wasn't that he liked Utatane Koharu, but as veteran Advisors, the two of them had always been of one mind, advancing and retreating together. He hadn't expected that Utatane Koharu would go behind his back and get involved in something like this with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This didn't just concern personal morality; it could even affect the balance of power and distribution of interests within their small group!
Utatane Koharu also leaned over to take a closer look, her face instantly turning ashen.
Of course, she knew this was fake.
There was nothing between her and Hiruzen Sarutobi when they were young; otherwise, how would it have ever been Biwako's turn?
However, the two of them had always maintained a close political alliance, but they had absolutely never signed any marriage application form.
Let alone tricking anyone!
"This is a forgery."
Utatane Koharu shouted, her voice sharp with agitation and anger.
"Hiruzen and I absolutely do not have that kind of relationship. This is slander, barefaced slander!"
"Hiashi, to strike at us, you would actually use such despicable means!"
"Whether it is or isn't, that is your business."
Hiashi leaned back in his chair with composure, crossing his hands.
"This form was sent over'specifically' by people dispatched by Orochimaru, not long after Third Hokage went to 'visit' him. They said it was discovered while cleaning up the laboratory."
He paused, his tone becoming more meaningful, "I can't say for sure about this matter."
"After all, the two of you have known each other for over fifty years; the bond is deep."
"Some things, how can outsiders say for sure?"
Hiashi's words were half-true and half-false, full of implications and misdirection.
In all likelihood, this was forged by Orochimaru, and it was probably just meant to disgust Third Hokage.
Forging handwriting was not difficult for Orochimaru.
But it was also a fact that Third Hokage and Utatane Koharu had known each other for many years and had a close relationship.
Utatane Koharu was trembling with rage, pointing at Hiashi, but she couldn't utter a single word.
She knew that this kind of rumor involving personal morality and feelings was the hardest to clarify, especially when the other party had produced "evidence."
Homura Mitokado also looked grim. He looked at the crumpled form, then back at Utatane Koharu, his eyes complex.
In his heart, a stormy sea was churning at this moment.
This old woman is no good either!
Who knows if this thing is real?
The paper had been crumpled, obviously having been repeatedly looked at or carried around, and it looked like the signatures were indeed the handwriting of Third Hokage and Utatane Koharu.
They had worked together for decades and were too familiar with each other's handwriting.
Damn it! If they really got married, even if they only signed such a form in private, how could his own interests be guaranteed?
In their youth, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi were indeed all members of Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's personal guard, sharing the camaraderie of comrades who had lived and died together.
However, decades had passed, everyone had aged, and their partners had passed away one after another.
On top of their feelings, too many other things had long since been mixed in.
Interests!
This was the most critical thing!
If Third Hokage quietly married Utatane Koharu, how could his, Homura Mitokado's, interests be guaranteed?
If Utatane Koharu and Hiruzen Sarutobi became a Family, the nature of their political alliance would change completely.
He, Homura Mitokado, would very likely be excluded from the core decision-making circle and become a loner.
These two old fogies, one a widow and one a widower, never would have thought they would actually pull off this kind of nonsense of "legitimizing an underground affair."
Homura Mitokado was shocked and angry, and also felt the stinging sensation of being betrayed by his most trusted ally.
Although they were all in the Second Hokage's personal guard in their youth, Utatane Koharu did not marry any of them.
Later, Homura Mitokado formed a private alliance with her because Danzo Shimura held the "Root" organization, which was powerful and acted in secrecy; Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage and needed balance.
The two of them formed a political alliance to ensure their own interests and those of their Family, advancing and retreating together.
And now Danzo had defected with his life or death unknown, and Third Hokage had retired, though he still wanted to find a job in the Hokage Building.
If Utatane Koharu really married Third Hokage, the one who would lose out the most would definitely be him, Homura Mitokado.
The alliance would exist in name only, and he would be completely marginalized.
"This is fake. I can call Hiruzen and Orochimaru here for a face-to-face confrontation!"
Utatane Koharu saw Homura Mitokado's increasingly grim expression and suspicious gaze, and in a panic, she hurriedly said.
She had to clear her name immediately.
She knew her own situation best; if she were really having a twilight romance with Third Hokage, she would have long since torn up her alliance with Homura Mitokado.
But she hadn't!
This kind of thing was a devastating blow to the trust within a political alliance.
She had to clarify it quickly, otherwise, once Homura Mitokado broke with her, and she couldn't rely on Third Hokage either, then she would truly never be able to make any waves in Hidden Leaf Village again!
The Utatane Family had gradually grown strong by relying on her, Utatane Koharu's, position and influence in the upper echelons of Hidden Leaf Village.
If she was finished, losing her power and right to speak, the Family's prosperity would quickly collapse.
After all, within the Family, there were no longer any outstanding younger generations capable of carrying the banner.
Hiashi watched the signs of infighting between these two old fogies before him, sneering in his heart. This was the effect he wanted.
Divide and conquer, letting them be too busy to care for themselves, and naturally they would have no energy left to come and cause trouble for him.
"Confrontation?"
Hiashi said slowly, "Third Hokage is currently staying behind closed doors every day, and Orochimaru is also conducting scientific experiments in his underground laboratory all day long. If you want to get them both to come over, you'll have to go and invite them yourselves."
He stood up, walked to the window, and with his back to the two of them, his voice was calm but carried an intangible pressure:
"You two Seniors are getting on in age; you should properly enjoy your later years and the happiness of Family life."
"The future of Hidden Leaf Village is for us juniors to worry about. If you attempt to interfere in Hokage affairs again, or spread some false rumors..."
Hiashi turned around, his Byakugan sweeping coldly across Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado:
"I wouldn't mind having the Anbu invite you two to 'have some tea' to have a good chat about the last few decades, about Hidden Leaf Village's funding, mission distribution, and exactly what's going on with the abnormal expansion of certain Families."
A threat, a barefaced threat!
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado's faces turned deathly pale.
They knew Hiashi was serious this time.
If they continued to tangle with him, they would likely really bring disaster upon themselves.
"You... fine, very fine! Hyuga Hiashi, we'll see about this!"
Utatane Koharu gritted her teeth and spat out a harsh remark, then pulled the still-dazed Homura Mitokado and left the Hokage Office in a disheveled state.
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