Ryōsuke's taunt had a purpose. He wanted to enrage the enemy and push them to attack the Leaf. He did not want the war to end here. His father had died at the hands of Cloud. He had never met the man, but in his inherited memories his parents in this world looked almost identical to those from his previous life. He would avenge them.
His words infuriated Samui. She glanced back at the Uchiha wearing a mocking smile. Bold, to provoke Cloud like that. Even a great Leaf clan had no right to challenge a hidden village. No matter how strong a clan was, it could not face an entire village. And the Uchiha no longer carried their old renown. Cloud did not fear a challenge.
"I'll deliver your message to the Fourth Raikage. See you on the battlefield."
With the Fourth Raikage's temper, he would never let it pass. Leaving those words, Samui led her team out of the village. She did not want to remain in Konoha another moment.
The Third Hokage recognized the Uchiha taste for war. It felt as if the domineering aura of the old Uchiha had returned. Uchiha Ryōsuke was dangerous. His thinking matched Uchiha Madara's extremity. Madara had planned to defect because he clashed with the First Hokage. After that outburst at the Cloud envoys, of course Cloud would mobilize. The Third was no longer anxious. He would not be on the front line anyway.
"Since you insist, if war breaks out, I'll trouble your two clans to meet the enemy," he said, rising to leave. A dangerous man like that was better off dying on the battlefield. The Fourth Raikage was a powerful Kage-level shinobi. Slightly weaker than the Hokage, perhaps, but more than enough to deal with Ryōsuke. If the Hyuga would not stand with him, their losses were their problem.
Hiashi let the Third leave in silence, resentment simmering. The scapegoat plan had nearly cost his brother's life. When the Hokage was gone, he faced Uchiha Ryōsuke. The man's mockery of Cloud was a headache. The Hyuga did not want another war. He had hoped the combined renown of the Uchiha and Hyuga would deter Cloud. That plan was ruined. The Fourth Raikage would not endure such provocation, even if they had started with trickery.
He sighed, conceding the Hyuga could not match the Uchiha for boldness. "Uchiha Ryōsuke, thank you. But weren't you impulsive? Such provocation could spark a great war."
Ryōsuke was unconcerned. "If I don't taunt them, will they back down? In the shinobi world, fists decide. And after years of war, Konoha suffered heavy losses, but so did Cloud. Relax. Even if it comes, the scale won't match the past—unless they intend total annihilation."
Hiashi eased slightly. He hoped Ryōsuke was right. Surely Cloud would not throw its entire strength at them.
Ryōsuke prepared to leave. He had skipped training to attend the talks. After he left, Hiashi turned to his brother, stern. "Don't ever do something that foolish again. You are Branch, yes, but you're also my brother. If you die, how do I face Neji?"
Hizashi had no answer. His brother had not treated him as a tool. He had been selfish. If he died, what would happen to young Neji?
"I was wrong," he said.
"It's enough that you know. Don't be so rash again," Hiashi said, his tone softening.
By afternoon, word of the broken talks with Cloud spread through the village. The townsfolk were disappointed. They disliked war. Learning that an Uchiha had sabotaged the talks, they grew angrier. The Uchiha were a curse. They could not see how war benefited them. Even angry, they did not dare make trouble. The Uchiha manned the police force. People who had tried to pick fights with them had gone to jail. No one wanted prison food.
Ryōsuke, meanwhile, was at home training the Eight Gates' Fifth Gate, the Gate of Limit. With his current body, if he opened Five Gates, could he match Might Guy at Seven? His physical stats far surpassed Guy's—even past Guy's peak. With that power, he would be nearly invincible in the early stage. Nagato's destruction of the Leaf was not far off, and who knew when Uchiha Madara would be revived? Even in the near term, if the Uchiha clashed with the Fourth Raikage, Ryōsuke would not fear him with Four Gates. With Five, he would crush him.
Just as he began training, his grandfather entered and relayed the rumors raging through the village and the news that the Uchiha would convene a clan meeting the day after tomorrow. Even the Great Elder could not stomach Ryōsuke's recklessness. This was no longer a personal issue. It involved the entire clan. If the clan decided to hold him accountable, even the Great Elder could not shield him.
"Ryōsuke, why did you do it?" his grandfather asked.
"I had my reasons," Ryōsuke replied. "Isn't the village talking about Cloud's envoy abducting Hinata at midnight and being killed by the Hyuga clan head?"
"What?" The Great Elder was startled and shook his head. "No such story is circulating."
Ryōsuke understood at once. Someone had seeded rumors to turn the villagers against the Uchiha. It likely was not Shimura Danzō. The morning incident had only just ended; could he spread it so fast, and without even knowing it himself? The Hyuga would not do it either. The story going around chopped the head and tail off the truth. That left the Third Hokage. Only he had the motive.
So Ryōsuke told his grandfather the full account.
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