The Hyuga Clan's Resentment

Konohagakure's ninja clans, large and small, had been on edge lately.

At the same time, they were furious.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had originally resigned to take responsibility!

Who would have thought that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, would die so suddenly? It was understandable that Hiruzen would return to power.

The Night of the Nine-Tails had thrown all of Konohagakure into chaos. Someone needed to step forward and take charge, so it was understandable for the former Hokage to resume his position!

But several years had already passed, and the Third Hokage had made no move to select a Fifth Hokage.

Was there really no suitable candidate? Had Konohagakure run so short of talent?

Did they think this was Iwagakure?

Fortunately, this was a time of peace. The aging Hiruzen Sarutobi could barely keep Konohagakure stable.

But!

Could he not rein Danzo in and stop him from constantly stirring up trouble?

Each incident was worse than the last. This time, he had directly set his sights on the Uchiha.

Many ninja clans had seen through the dirty dealings between the Uchiha and Konoha High Command.

They simply lacked the strength to interfere, and since it did not concern them, they chose to stay out of it.

They disliked the Uchiha, but neither could they bring themselves to respect the current Hiruzen Sarutobi.

They would rather remember the Third Hokage as he had been before the Fourth Hokage took office.

Back then, Hiruzen Sarutobi had deserved the title of Shinobi Warlord.

Yet over the years, one incident after another had left them increasingly disappointed in Hiruzen Sarutobi.

They remained silent.

They endured.

They had thought that since Hiruzen Sarutobi was already over sixty, he would surely choose a Fifth Hokage within the next few years.

But they never could have imagined that all they would get in return was his ever-tightening pressure.

Suppressing ninja clans, restricting Civilian Ninja, taking children, seizing resources...

This time, he had nearly ignited a civil war throughout the entire village.

The Uchiha's little moves had awakened memories the ninja clans of Konohagakure had nearly forgotten.

The Uchiha were Konohagakure's strongest clan.

Fugaku Uchiha had suppressed the Uchiha for years, while the public opinion secretly manipulated by Danzo had placed the Uchiha in opposition to the village.

Yet even if they stood against the entire Shinobi World, it would not change how powerful they were.

Just like Kazuna. This time, he had roared at all of Konohagakure.

Anyone with half a brain knew what kind of raging inferno Konohagakure would face if the Uchiha were pushed too far and truly started causing trouble.

Were the Uchiha the ones stirring things up?

They were more inclined to believe that Danzo was the one causing trouble.

Fugaku had always been quite reliable in this regard. When it came to keeping his own clan in line, he never showed mercy.

The more the ninja clans thought about it, the angrier they became!

During his years of retirement, Kazuna had made multiple preparations, including planting Hidden Agents within various ninja clans.

Now, all of those Hidden Agents had been activated. Carefully, they guided the dissatisfaction of numerous ninja clans, little by little luring them into erupting and carrying their grievances to the Hokage's ears.

This made the Hokage and the others even less willing to act.

For now, it was only verbal discontent. If things escalated any further, it would become dissatisfaction expressed through action.

Even Danzo furrowed his brow deeply when facing these ninja clans, large and small.

Had Root suffered fewer losses, he would have dared to strike back forcefully. But Root had lost a great number of Jonin. With only those Chunin left, any move he made would easily give others something to use against him and put him on the defensive.

"Hiruzen!"

Danzo's cold, shadowy voice rang out. "I need to replenish—no, expand Root!"

The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow and took several puffs from his pipe.

After a long while, he let out a deep sigh. "Fine. I will issue the order. The logistics department will provide you with the necessary supplies."

Danzo was not surprised.

Slowly, he said, "I also need a group of ninja to join Root."

This time, the Hokage did not hesitate. He directly asked, "Who?"

Danzo handed over a list.

After reading it, the Third Hokage crossed out several names with his pen and returned it to Danzo.

Danzo did not mind. He picked up the list and left.

He left behind only one sentence. "I will help you warn the Hyuga Clan!"

"Alas!"

The Third Hokage sighed deeply.

Root had suffered too great a loss this time. Of the twenty Jonin and Special Jonin, only five belonged to the Anbu. All the rest were from Root.

Root had truly been crippled.

In the face of the Uchiha's increasing pressure, Root's strength was indispensable.

But when he thought of that list, he could not help but sigh deeply.

He knew Danzo's methods. How many of the ninja on that list would survive?

"Alas!" The Third Hokage rose to his feet, gazed at the streets of Konohagakure outside the window, and sighed deeply. "Why did it come to this?"

After leaving the Hokage's office, Danzo went straight to the Hyuga Clan.

Within the Hyuga Clan compound, Hiashi Hyuga flew into a rage and nearly broke into open conflict with Danzo.

Yet Danzo was exceptionally forceful. Despite coming alone to the Hyuga Clan, he publicly threw out threats without showing the Hyuga Clan the slightest regard.

He was certain that the Hyuga Clan would not dare resist!

This was also how Konoha High Command viewed the Hyuga Clan!

They had always been like this!

"Hyuga Clan, do not bring ruin upon yourselves. Otherwise, only destruction awaits you!"

After throwing out those final words, Danzo turned and left.

Watching Danzo's departing back, Hiashi Hyuga's eyes flashed with cold light.

Over the years, Danzo had also taken quite a few people from the Hyuga Clan into Root.

Although Root was also part of the Anbu and appeared prestigious, those who joined it lost all dignity.

That was why so many ninja clans rejected Root.

A Main Family Elder beside him anxiously asked, "Clan Head, what is going on? Why is Danzo targeting the Hyuga Clan?"

Their clan had always been obedient. They had even thrown out the Branch Family's head to be sacrificed. What more did they want?

The Main Family Elder was somewhat enraged as well.

Hiashi Hyuga said coldly, "He means that someone from the Hyuga Clan is working with the Uchiha."

"How is that possible!" the Main Family Elder cried. "Who would work with those lunatics? Besides..."

Besides, the village higher-ups had made their intentions very clear. They wanted the Hyuga Clan to take the lead in opposing the Uchiha Clan.

They were not fools. There was no way they could fail to see it.

And they were willing to do it.

First, it would curry favor with the village higher-ups. Second, they wanted to become Konohagakure's strongest clan.

Both clans possessed eye-based Kekkei Genkai, and the Hyuga were unwilling to remain suppressed by the Uchiha.

How could two such clans possibly work together?

Hiashi Hyuga frowned slightly, slowly sat down on his knees, and said in a deep voice, "From Danzo's meaning, it seems that I am the one cooperating with the Uchiha."

"This..." The Main Family Elder froze, then cautiously asked, "Clan Head, you have not truly been involved with the Uchiha, have you?"

Hiashi Hyuga looked at the Main Family Elder with a faint smile. "What is wrong, Elder? Why do you think I am working with the Uchiha?"

The Main Family Elder looked embarrassed, but his eyes flickered constantly.

Why?

The answer was simple: Hizashi Hyuga!

Hiashi Hyuga's biological younger brother!

As the head of the Branch Family, he had been sacrificed by the Hyuga Clan for Konohagakure.

At the time, Hiashi Hyuga had caused quite a commotion, only to be suppressed by the Hokage and the Hyuga Main Family working together.

Could he be seeking revenge for his younger brother?

"Clan Head, what should we do?" the Main Family Elder asked. "Danzo demands that we prove ourselves. Does that mean we must..."

"Yes." Hiashi Hyuga said indifferently, "He wants us to take the initiative against the Uchiha!"

"Then what should we do?" the Main Family Elder asked directly.

Hiashi Hyuga shot him a glance and said coldly, "What? Do you really want to make a move against the Uchiha?"

The Main Family Elder replied as though it were only natural, "This is an order from the higher-ups. How can we disobey?"

Hiashi Hyuga's voice grew even colder. "That is the Uchiha!"

"So what?" The Main Family Elder did not care in the slightest. "We are both Kekkei Genkai clans. How are we, the Hyuga Clan, inferior to them? We have more than thirty Jonin!"

"Well said!" Hiashi Hyuga praised. "Since that is the case, how about having Elder lead the team?"