"I know this is asking the impossible. I know this is the hardest decision... but I... I, as Hokage, have no other choice..."
"Even if I am weak, even if I am incompetent, everything I have done was for the entire village..."
Hyuga Hiashi's face turned deathly pale, utterly bloodless.
He had never imagined that the Hyuga clan, loyal and devoted through generations, having sacrificed countless clan members to protect the village, would have all that bloodshed and sacrifice repaid with such an outcome...
"Lord Hokage, do you truly... truly intend to send me to my death?"
"If it is to sacrifice for the village, to fight desperately on the battlefield, I, Hyuga Hiashi, would not even furrow my brow!"
"But to pay with my life for that kind of deranged villain?!"
"I... I simply cannot accept this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed slightly.
"Then do you intend to start a war with Kumogakure?"
"If war breaks out, will the Hyuga clan not have to take the battlefield?"
"Will the Hyuga clan's members not die and be sacrificed because of it?"
"Will the village's shinobi and civilians not suffer unimaginable pain?"
Hyuga Hiashi's face flushed red. "Th... those are two different things!"
"My Hyuga clan would rather die on the battlefield than throw our lives away for that kind of bastard!"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely erupted in anger before others.
For a moment, everyone felt threatened.
But he quickly regained his usual kindly, gentle demeanor.
He even put on an expression of humble despair.
"Hiashi, consider it this Hokage begging you..."
"Let this Hokage bear all the sins and infamy..."
"For the village, I... I beg you..."
He even made as though to kneel, only for Hyuga Hiashi to hurriedly catch and support him.
"Lord Hokage, you... you..."
There was no