It seemed like karma for something that had happened earlier.
That night, Sarutobi Hiruzen was having a terrible headache in the Hokage's office.
He changed his pipe again and again, but no matter how much nicotine he inhaled, his brows stayed tightly furrowed…
"Is there really no room at all for compromise…?"
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
He had already passed his usual quitting time. At his age, health and rest were especially important.
His mood had actually been quite good earlier.
Three first-year Ninja Academy students had submitted graduation applications.
Two Uchiha, plus the son of the White Fang.
Ignoring their clans and backgrounds, as the head of the academy, he felt quite pleased…
It would've made good dinner-table conversation—something to chat about with Biwako.
But before he could leave work, his good mood completely vanished…
Because of the group of Hyuga standing before him.
Led by the current Hyuga clan head, with the young heir and many young clan members present—an imposing lineup!
"Apologies, Hokage-sama."
Hyuga Hiashi bowed slightly.
The etiquette was perfect—Hyuga family discipline was impeccable.
But his tone and words made Hiruzen frown.
"Most of the clan members heading to the Kirigakure front are young people. Hizashi is one of the leaders this time."
"This is not only an explanation for Hizashi, but also for the younger generation."
"I cannot allow them to shed blood on the battlefield while worrying about the safety of their families back home…"
Hiashi spoke the hardest words in the calmest tone.
Hiruzen inwardly cursed—this was troublesome—and took several more puffs of smoke.
It really was troublesome.
A future branch-family head was crippled before going to war. The Hyuga making trouble over this wasn't unreasonable.
The problem was the culprit…
Hiruzen glanced at the files on his desk.
Three of them.
Two were the ones the Hyuga explicitly demanded to be handed over—
Uchiha Jingyan. Uchiha Obito.
He roughly knew about them from their homeroom teacher's graduation report.
Two perennial bottom-rankers.
Both theory and combat were last in class—true underachievers.
This early graduation was probably Obito being unwilling to lag behind Hatake Kakashi, dragging a clansman along out of spite.
"Clan Head Hyuga, I understand your feelings for your people," Hiruzen said slowly.
"But… are you sure Hizashi was really injured by those two children?"
"As far as I know, Hizashi is a special jōnin. Even both kids together…"
"Of course not!" Hiashi interrupted, his voice rising slightly.
"Two Uchiha who aren't even real ninja could never defeat Hizashi!"
"But they are Uchiha!"
"Those two brats even broke our clan members' arms when sparring with their peers! Hizashi's injuries must have been caused by ninja from their clan!"
Hiashi was furious—and convinced.
The Hyuga could not be weaker than the Uchiha!
His second son was at least a special jōnin!
To beat him into that state—only an Uchiha jōnin could have done it. Absolutely!
Hiruzen paused mid-drag of his pipe.
Facing the enraged Hyuga head, his own presence felt weaker…
From that angle… it really did seem like something the Uchiha might do.
The reason didn't even need much explanation.
The Uchiha were naturally warlike, long suppressed by village leadership—resentment must have piled up.
And now, with war suddenly approaching, the Hyuga being deployed before the Uchiha…
Revenge on the Hyuga was highly possible.
Hiruzen began to weigh things in his heart.
Suppressing the Uchiha had been a policy since his teacher, the previous Hokage.
But the Uchiha's combat power was undeniable…
With war coming, this choice was extremely hard.
"Hiruzen, you're too soft!"
At that moment—
An untimely voice sounded.
Along with the heavy tapping of a cane, a cold figure walked in.
Konoha elder and Root leader—Shimura Danzō.
Danzō's arrival made the room feel even colder.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
So it's you again.
You always appear when I'm at my hardest crossroads.
Very considerate—but never in a way that makes people happy.
"What are you here for?" Hiruzen asked coldly.
"Hmph."
Danzō snorted, gave his old partner a cold glance, but didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Hyuga Hiashi.
"The Hyuga heir should already have departed at this hour."
His blunt words made everyone frown. Some Hyuga even activated their Byakugan!
If not for strict clan rules, they might've attacked on the spot!
Hiashi simply closed his eyes.
Not because he feared this elder—but because in his eyes, the future Hyuga head would have to face such situations sooner or later.
And Hizashi didn't disappoint him.
"My brother Hizashi, one of this mission's Hyuga leaders, was attacked."
Hizashi calmly repeated what his father had told the Hokage.
He did the right thing—
What the clan head says to the Hokage, the heir should say to the elder.
Unfortunately—
He was not yet clan head, and Danzō was not an ordinary elder.
"A Konoha ninja being attacked is the responsibility of my Root."
"I swear in the name of Root—you Hyuga will get an answer."
"But now… if the Hyuga delay the war effort, how do you plan to answer to the Hokage?"
T/N:
Access 40 Chapters in Advance on my P@treon:[email protected]/madmax2004
(Replace '@' with 'a')