This Uchiha Is Truly Evil!

Being captured by Kumogakure was just the beginning; who knew what tortures little Hinata would endure...

What father could possibly tolerate this?!

Kill him...

I want to tear him to shreds!

Hiashi patted Hinata's back, comforting her. His Byakugan held a resolute expression.

"It's alright, I will report the truth of the matter to Lord Hokage."

"Even he, once he understands the circumstances, won't blame us."

The Hyuga clan members behind him frowned, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"Himon, what do you want to say?"

Hiashi Hyuga's subordinate sighed, "Clan Head, do you truly believe Lord Hokage will uphold justice?"

"Based on your description of his attitude towards Kumogakure, I fear he will do anything to maintain the armistice agreement, even sacrificing so much power and profit..."

"How could he possibly offend Kumogakure's envoy for the sake of the Hyuga clan?"

Hiashi couldn't help but consider this.

However, he still held a sliver of hope for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The Hyuga clan is a founding family that has followed Konoha since its establishment, dedicating their lives to protecting the village. Would Lord Hokage sacrifice the entire Hyuga clan for a scoundrel who kidnapped my daughter?"

"I don't believe it."

Hiashi Hyuga's subordinate wanted to say more, but ultimately gave up, only letting out a long sigh.

Hiashi carried Hinata back home, then decisively said, "Send someone to guard Hinata's safety."

"I will immediately head to the Hokage's office to report this matter."

"Yes, Clan Head!"

Watching this scene, Qianyu remained silent and still.

Clearly, the Hyuga clan still had some faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi at this time.

He had just received intelligence that Kakashi Hatake had truthfully reported the truth in the Hokage's meeting, and he himself had "regained his freedom."

Thus, he openly pushed open the door of the Anbu prison and headed straight for the Hyuga clan's compound.

He, of course, did not believe Hiruzen Sarutobi would be selfless.

Firstly, the matter with Kumogakure occupied all his thoughts. Secondly, Kakashi Hatake had cornered him. Thirdly, due to his weak policies, he had been backstabbed by various clans, even by Shimura Danzo, leaving him isolated.

Of course, the final and most crucial reason...

He knew from the start that they couldn't possibly hold him.

Although he couldn't understand why he remained in prison when he could leave at any time, things had come to this. He didn't mind playing along with another act of "punishing his own kin for the sake of righteousness" and "selflessness," doing Hiruzen a favor by "releasing him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's strongest combat power at the moment was indeed Uchiha Shisui.

If Uchiha Shisui didn't make a move, no one else would have any confidence in dealing with him.

This was merely his reluctant compromise.

Hokage's Office.

The important figures, urgently summoned, stared at the corpse of the ninja leader on the ground in shock.

However, after hearing the events from Hiashi, everyone was filled with righteous indignation.

Shikaku Nara frowned, "I didn't expect Kumogakure to do something like this."

"On the surface, they claim to be for the armistice agreement, but in secret, they plot to steal Konoha's precious Kekkei Genkai, even resorting to harming a three-year-old child!"

Choza Akimichi also angrily said, "This is outrageous! Clan Head Hiashi, you did well! If it were me, he would have died even more miserably!"

The other major clans also voiced their agreement.

However...

Uchiha Shisui's gaze fell upon Hiruzen Sarutobi.

At this moment, Hiruzen was utterly dejected...

He had thrown away all pretense of dignity, sacrificing so many interests to secure the armistice agreement...

But this sudden incident rendered it all meaningless!

The leader of Kumogakure's envoy was dead in Konoha!

How could Kumogakure possibly let this go?!

Damn the Hyuga clan!

Couldn't you have endured a little longer?!

Are you willing to restart the war between Konoha and Kumogakure just for a pair of Byakugan?!

Not to mention, it completely disrupted his grand plan to reform the Uchiha clan!

He was furious and shocked, but he couldn't possibly show it.

So, the Lord Hokage of Konohagakure took a puff from his pipe, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and let out a long sigh.

"Sigh, Hiashi..."

"I completely understand how you feel. Anyone would be unable to tolerate their own daughter being kidnapped."

"However..."

"You subdued the ninja leader, that's one thing. But why did you have to kill him directly?"

Hyuga Hiashi and everyone else was stunned!

The Hokage's attitude, was he going to...

"Lord Hokage, I..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him, "You don't need to say more. I said I understand how you feel. However, this is a critical moment for the truce between Kumogakure and Konoha. As a high-ranking official of the village, the Clan Head, and with the Hyuga clan being a veteran family of Konoha, why couldn't you have considered more, been calmer, and shown more restraint..."

"Everything should be for the greater good, prioritizing the big picture?"

Cold sweat streamed down Hyuga Hiashi's face. Hyuga Hiashi's subordinate's worries had indeed come true...

The clan heads and elite ninja of the other major clans exchanged glances, looking at each other in dismay...

Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, had no room to back down.

He said with great pain, "Now, for this trivial matter, you've killed a Kumogakure ninja leader. Kumogakure will absolutely not let this go. If war breaks out again, won't it be the village that suffers?"

"Won't it be the clans and ninja of the village who are forced to sacrifice?"

"Peace and stability, that's what's most important..."

Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists tightly.

He really wanted to ask...

What do you mean, "this trivial matter"?!

If that's the case, then your son, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, being killed by Uchiha Qianyu, is also a trivial matter?!

If he could, Hyuga Hiashi truly wanted to unleash a Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms strike on Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't...

Behind him stood the entire Hyuga clan.

The others in the meeting also suppressed their shame and anger, quietly awaiting Hiruzen Sarutobi's judgment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, "How about this? I will report this matter to the Kumogakure envoy. We'll see what their demands are. At that time, no matter how unreasonable they are, we will be willing to sacrifice our own interests, even our lives, to quell this matter at all costs, to end the conflict and achieve the most precious peace..."

"Do you understand?"

Hyuga Hiashi felt the world collapse around him. His vision went black, as if his soul had left his body...

The Hokage's meaning...

Was he asking him to sacrifice himself?!

Did he mean it?!

The other party had crazily kidnapped his own daughter, and he had merely acted in self-defense. Now, for the sake of the so-called greater good, for the so-called peace, he was being asked to sacrifice himself for nothing, to die for nothing?!

This... this was truly said by the Lord Hokage of Konohagakure...

Was it?!

For a moment, the entire room was shocked. Everyone's heart was filled with shame and frustration, their anger surging like an undercurrent...

Chapter 43: You Are Innocent, You Should Not Die!

"Your Konohagakure must give us Kumogakure an explanation!"

"You have until noon today to hand over the murderer!"

"Otherwise, you will face the wrath of Kumogakure!"

"Lord Hokage, do you want war to break out again?!"

Facing the aggressive Kumogakure envoy, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled obsequiously, acting servile and humble.

After finally managing to send away these debt collectors for the time being, he reconvened everyone to discuss.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately turned his attention to Hyuga Hiashi.

"Hiashi, you should understand now..."

"For the sake of the village, for peace, for the greater good!"

"I can only ask you to make a sacrifice..."