Hyuga Clan.
Inside the room, the Third Hokage sat at the head, with other Hyuga Clan members seated on either side.
Since everyone had taken their seats, no one had spoken.
Amidst the flickering candlelight, the atmosphere was extremely heavy.
Seeing that the Hyuga Clan members remained silent, the Third Hokage took the initiative to open the conversation.
His expression was very somber.
"Hiashi..."
The Third Hokage sighed, "I understand your anger. As a father, it's only natural to protect your daughter. Your killing of the invading enemy is beyond reproach, both emotionally and rationally."
Hiashi's expression didn't soften in the slightest; he had seen through the Third Hokage, knowing that this was all just an act.
"However..."
Sure enough, the Third Hokage's tone suddenly shifted, becoming incredibly grave.
"What we are facing now is not a single ninja, not a failed mission. We are facing the wrath of an entire ninja village, Hidden Cloud Village, a war on the verge of erupting."
"Look at them..."
Saying this, the Third Hokage pointed his pipe towards the Cloud Village Delegation.
"They didn't lose an ordinary Genin; they lost a Jonin, who was also a representative for these peace talks."
"They don't care about the truth; they just need an excuse to start a war."
"And now, they've seized that excuse."
"Hiashi, tell me, for the sake of Konoha, for the villagers who are just recovering from the trauma of the Nine-Tailed attack, what should we do?"
He didn't wait for Hiashi to answer, but instead answered his own question, his voice low but full of oppressive power:
"Once war restarts, how many children will lose their fathers? How many mothers will lose their sons? As a pillar of Konoha, how much blood will the Hyuga Clan have to shed then? How many clan members will be sacrificed?"
Hyuga Hiashi looked up, "Hokage-sama, you know the truth of this matter very well. I only have one question for you."
"What is Konoha's stance?"
The Third Hokage did not answer directly, but instead said slowly, "I know this is very unfair and unjust. But sometimes, protecting Konoha isn't just about fighting. True strength lies in enduring and sacrificing for something more important."
"I know this is very unfair and unjust. But sometimes, protecting Konoha isn't just about fighting. True strength lies in enduring and sacrificing for something more important."
Sōshu, the Hyuga Clan's Great Elder, interrupted the Third Hokage's preamble, even calling him by his full name.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, just tell us directly, what does Hidden Cloud Village want?!"
The Third Hokage glanced at Sōshu. When they were younger, the two had known each other, even fought on the same battlefield, and Sōshu was half his senior.
But times had changed.
"The people of Hidden Cloud Village are demanding the killer be handed over."
Everyone present's gaze fell upon Hiashi, or more precisely, upon the Byakugan in Hiashi's eyes.
Although Hiashi's strength was considerable, Hidden Cloud Village's true objective was, of course, the Hyuga Clan's Bloodline Limit, the Byakugan.
"This is absolutely impossible!"
Sōshu refused without hesitation, his tone exceptionally firm.
The Third Hokage's brow furrowed slightly:
"The Hyuga are one of Konoha's oldest and proudest clans. Precisely because of this, you should demonstrate an extraordinary magnanimity and sense of responsibility."
Sōshu stared at the Third Hokage with an unperturbed expression, like an ancient well.
"Konoha? We Hyuga are not just Konoha's oldest clan, but the oldest clan in the Ninja World."
The Third Hokage's expression changed dramatically. Sōshu's meaning was clear: What is Konoha? We existed before Konoha Village was founded.
His gaze sharpened:
"Hidden Cloud Village doesn't want the truth; they want an explanation. An explanation that can appease their anger, save face, and allow the peace talks to continue."
"Someone must take responsibility for this. The Hyuga Clan must state its position."
Hiashi tried to say something, but the Great Elder raised a hand to stop him.
The words that followed were earth-shattering:
"What if our Hyuga Clan says no?!"
The Third Hokage's pupils suddenly constricted.
He hadn't expected Sōshu to be so unyielding.
He took a deep breath, abruptly stood up, his words carrying intense pressure:
"For the sake of Konoha, and for the future peace of the Hyuga Clan... I hope the Hyuga can make the wisest, and also the most difficult, choice."
"Don't let things escalate to an irreversible point..."
"How many Hyuga are there? How many Konoha villagers are there!? Don't let the entire Hyuga Clan pay a terrible price for one person's 'righteousness'."
"Think it over carefully, and give me your answer tomorrow."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and left, sweeping his sleeves.
After he left, the Hyuga Clan members remained silently kneeling.
The Third Hokage's final threat echoed in their ears. Were they really going to completely break with Konoha?
"Great Elder..."
Hiashi spoke with some difficulty... Sōshu raised a hand, signaling Hiashi to be silent.
"There's another way..."
...In Hidden Cloud Village's room.
The heavy door had just closed, isolating the oppressive night air of Konoha outside.
Inside the room, the Cloud Village Delegation members, who had just been acting grief-stricken and self-righteous outside,
All traces of sorrow and anger instantly vanished from their faces, replaced by an irrepressible, twisted euphoria and smugness.
"Heh... hehe..."
The tall Totsui was the first to let out a low, hooting laugh, like a night owl.
He walked to the table, picked up a bottle of sake, and without bothering to find a cup, directly took a large gulp from the bottle. The pungent liquid seemed to fuel the frenzy within him.
"It worked! Perfect!" He wiped his mouth, his eyes bloodshot with excitement.
"Those Konoha fools! Especially that Hyuga Clan head, his speechless expression was truly magnificent!"
"Hahaha!" The lean Kai Gai could no longer hold back, bursting into loud laughter. He rubbed his hands excitedly, pacing back and forth in the room.
"A perfect plan! No matter the outcome, victory belongs to us, Hidden Cloud Village!"
He abruptly stopped and looked at Tokijin, the core figure of this operation – the deputy representative who had performed a tragic crying scene in front of everyone.
Kai Gai chuckled, "Those old foxes in Konoha really chose the weakest approach! They didn't even dare to investigate thoroughly!"
Tokijin didn't share the same wild joy as the others. He said calmly, "Investigate? Do they dare?"
"Lord Dodai's strategy is an overt scheme."
"Konoha knows this is our blackmail, and the Hyuga Clan knows it too."
"But they can't afford to gamble!"
"—Those cowards in Konoha, scared witless by the word 'peace,' will only choose to sacrifice the Hyuga to settle the matter!"
"They absolutely dare not risk restarting the war! Lord Dodai had already seen through their cowardice!"
Tokijin walked to the window, looking at the scattered lights of Konoha Hidden Village outside. The peaceful scene filled him with immense satisfaction.
"The Hyuga Byakugan... Hmph, it's merely a secondary objective."
His tone was contemptuous:
"The real spoils of war are tearing apart Konoha's seemingly united facade, allowing the poisonous seeds of suspicion and resentment to take root within them!"
Worui said excitedly, "To think that those Konoha Ninja, who pride themselves on their strength, will be utterly humiliated yet still have to bow down and apologize to us, meekly fulfilling all our conditions... This pleasure is far greater than direct combat on the battlefield!"
Hearing him say that, the Hidden Cloud Village ninja in the room let out a suppressed and rampant laugh, a laugh filled with the smugness of a successful scheme and extreme humiliation and malice towards Konoha.
That malice flowed freely through the room.
Like spiders lurking in the shadows, they savored the futile struggles of their prey caught in the web, already anticipating how to extract more nourishment and pleasure from this prey.
Konoha's peace? It was merely their most convenient tool for manipulating their opponents...