War Is Imminent?

Yesterday, Leaf Village had been filled with celebration.

Because countless Konoha Ninja had traded their lives for peace.

But today, Leaf Village was shrouded in gloom.

Because the leader of the Cloud Envoy Delegation to Leaf Village had actually been personally killed by the Hyuga Clan Head.

In response, Kumogakure claimed that Leaf Village had no sincerity whatsoever in seeking a ceasefire. They demanded that Leaf Village hand over the corpse of the murderer who had killed the delegation leader, or they would once again wage war against Leaf Village.

They had even gathered ninja at the border of the Land of Hot Water, ready to launch an attack on the Land of Fire at any moment.

With such speed and such a display, any normal person could tell that Kumogakure had long harbored sinister intentions. This incident had merely given them a reason to start a war.

Yet fools who could not see the situation were cursing the Hyuga Clan, while the clever people who understood it all merely watched from the sidelines as though it had nothing to do with them.

After all, war meant deaths. A great many deaths.

And this time, the Hyuga Clan had brought this disaster upon itself. How could those shrewd old foxes possibly be willing to bear responsibility for the Hyuga Clan?

Besides, one could imagine that if war broke out again, weakened Leaf Village would certainly become the target of concentrated attacks from the other ninja villages.

No one wished to bear such consequences.

As a result, the atmosphere in the village was extremely grave, and public opinion was overwhelmingly one-sided.

An icy wind stirred by public sentiment was blowing toward the Hyuga Clan.

—Sacrifice one person, avert a war, and save ten thousand.

This was not merely pressure from the higher-ups. It was pressure from the entire village, a choice the Hyuga Clan could not refuse.

Inside the Hokage Office, smoke curled through the air, and the atmosphere was bleak.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a troubled drag from his pipe and asked, "Why hasn't Danzo arrived yet?"

Utatane Koharu shook her head, while Mitokado Homura beside her wore an odd expression.

Seeing everyone look at him, Mitokado Homura said helplessly, "Let me repeat his exact words."

"Cough, cough!"

"'I only wanted to teach Cloud Village a lesson, but Hiruzen would definitely throw the Hokage title in my face again. Rather than go there and smell his secondhand smoke, I'd rather stay in my Root.'"

As he said this, his expression and tone were utterly serious, perfectly imitating Danzo.

"That bastard..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled another cloud of white smoke, drawing a look of disgust from Utatane Koharu beside him.

"If he isn't coming, then we won't wait for him."

At that, Utatane Koharu took out a booklet and said, "The results of the jonin vote are in. More voted for a peaceful resolution, while fewer voted to continue the war. But..."

"But demanding that we hand over Hyuga Hiashi's corpse—Cloud Village's appetite is far too ugly, and their wishful thinking is absurd," Mitokado Homura cut in, his face filled with displeasure.

No matter why the leader of the Cloud Envoy Delegation had died, he had ultimately died on Leaf Village's territory. Moreover, the one who had acted was the Hyuga Clan Head.

If Cloud Village had demanded ordinary compensation, Leaf Village would have paid to avert disaster without hesitation.

But they actually wanted Hyuga Hiashi's corpse!

Hyuga Hiashi was not merely the Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan. Inside his eye sockets were the Byakugan!

A complete pair of Byakugan without the [Caged Bird] Cursed Seal!

The Konoha High-Ranking Officials knew perfectly well that someone in Kirigakure had transplanted Byakugan, and the Hyuga Main Branch had even come to demand an explanation.

But due to Leaf Village's current weakness, they could do nothing but condemn it.

And now, those rabid dogs from Cloud Village, who bit whoever they saw, had caught sight of a bone.

They had actually put a new twist on their old kidnapping routine and come to fleece them as well...

"What a joke. Do they really think Leaf Village is made of clay?"

Mitokado Homura's tone was exceptionally resolute. "This time, I agree with Danzo. If they refuse to back down despite having the upper hand, then even if it means starting a war, we absolutely cannot let Cloud Village obtain the Byakugan!!"

They were merely fence-sitters, not fools.

The Byakugan was far too valuable. Its worth was absolutely not as simple as "thirty-five million ryo."

Handing over the Byakugan might buy temporary peace, but in the long run, it would leave Leaf Village with a disaster lasting generations!

"If Hiashi had captured that Cloud ninja alive, things might have been much easier."

Mitokado Homura could not help nodding at Utatane Koharu's seemingly consoling words.

"No."

But Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Only an idiot would try to infiltrate the Hyuga Clan compound and steal the heir of the Hyuga Main Branch."

"Cloud Village's Fourth Raikage may be a brute, but Mabui at his side is a smart woman. She would never do something so foolish."

Utatane Koharu frowned at this. After thinking for a moment, her expression changed in surprise. "You mean that fellow from Cloud Village never intended to leave the Hyuga Clan compound alive? Cloud Village only wanted an excuse to start a war!!"

No wonder Hiashi had said that man had actively sought death. No wonder they had suddenly proposed an alliance treaty. No wonder they had specifically chosen today to come to Leaf Village.

"Vicious! Absolutely vicious! This is an open scheme, Hiruzen!"

Mitokado Homura was also somewhat shocked by the ruthlessness of this plan. Cloud Village was completely determined to start a war and force them to make a choice.

He even began to wonder whether Cloud Village's Conservative Faction truly existed.

Anyone with even the slightest softness in their heart could never have devised such a scheme.

"The Fourth Raikage has gained a fine strategist. He will be even harder to deal with."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and sighed. "The Byakugan cannot be lost. But no matter what, this incident began with the Hyuga Clan. We need to discuss it with the Hyuga Main Branch and see what their stance is."

"First, send troops to establish a defensive line. We must prevent those shameless Cloud Village bastards from launching a surprise attack."

Sarutobi stood up and glanced at the empty seat beside him, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly. You were right. At a time like this, even I can no longer remain indecisive.

Inside the underground Root Base.

Shimura Danzō held a scroll in his hand. His tightly furrowed brow relaxed at once, and a hint of delight appeared on his face.

"That Hiruzen... it seems his blood hasn't gone cold yet!!"

Beside him, a man in a black cloak and black sunglasses, with a purple marking tattooed on the right side of his face, had also seen the contents of the scroll.

Surprise appeared on his expressionless face as he asked, "Lord Danzo, are we going to war with Cloud Village?"

How many years had it been since the war ended? Was another one already coming?

"That's right, Ryoma! War is coming. This is how it should be!"

Danzo grinned viciously. "If Hiruzen could have made up his mind earlier, why would I have remained hidden in the darkness, accumulating my own strength?"

War in the Shinobi World would never cease. The end of every war was merely preparation for the next.

Leaf Village's strength had indeed weakened somewhat, but that did not mean Cloud Village could ride roughshod over Leaf Village.

Did they really think Teacher Tobirama's Forbidden Techniques were merely for display?!

"Now, we only need to see whether the Hyuga Clan can seize this opportunity. If they cannot, then we will give them a push!"