Oil Lamp Endurance!

It was still that same prison cell. There was no delicious feast on the table, and Hizashi Hyuga was now the only one left in the room. A bean-sized oil lamp flickered in the evening breeze. How could such a scene not bring the word "desolation" to mind?

Paper and a pen lay before Hizashi Hyuga. After hesitating for a moment, he began writing his "last letter." Once he had put pen to paper, he thought of his son Neji and sighed inwardly before picking up the pen again: My foolish son...

Cough, cough, cough... That wasn't the right tone!

Hizashi Hyuga casually smashed the sheet of paper into scraps with one palm, adjusted his state of mind, and started over:

Neji, when you read this letter, it will mean that you have become an outstanding ninja capable of standing on your own. As your father, I am very happy about your growth. This time, my choice to leave is not only for the Hyuga Main Family, but also for the village and for peace. I came from an era where war raged without end, so I know full well how hard-won peace is, blah blah blah...

"Whew... I wonder when the right time my brother and that brat spoke of will come! Not being able to watch Neji grow up really is a father's greatest regret!" After Hizashi Hyuga finished writing and sealed the letter, he took a butter-yellow pill from his robes and recalled what Akira Kurama had said.

Oil Lamp Endurance (Medicine Technique Gate): A death-feigning pill made from three precious materials. After use, the user will show no signs of life for seven days. During the period of suspended death, the user will have no awareness of the outside world. An antidote must be injected after seven days for the user to awaken. If the antidote is not injected in time, the user will enter a vegetative state and eventually starve to death.

He had not expected such medicine to exist in the world. Hizashi Hyuga swallowed the pill in one gulp, and before long, he felt dizzy and lightheaded...

With a thud, Hizashi Hyuga collapsed onto the table. The two Hyuga clansmen guarding the door heard the sound and immediately opened it, only to see Hizashi Hyuga slumped over the table. One hurriedly checked his breathing and pulse, while the other opened his Byakugan and saw Chakra pouring out of Hizashi Hyuga's body like floodwaters.

"Damn it, Lord Hiashi committed suicide!" the clansman with the Byakugan cried in panic.

"You go notify the clan head immediately!" The other clansman was clearly calmer. At his reminder, the Byakugan user came to his senses and rushed toward the clan's central district.

By the time the elders had assembled, Hyuga Hiashi had already laid Hizashi Hyuga's "corpse" down properly. With his back to the Hyuga Clan's seven elders, he slowly arranged his younger brother's clothes. Only after a long while did he rise and say hoarsely, "This is the result you wanted. Are you satisfied now?"

"Everything is for the Hyuga Clan." The First Elder's voice remained calm, as though nothing in the world could move him anymore.

"No, it was for peace!" Hyuga Hiashi turned around, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at the First Elder. "My brother died for peace!"

"For peace!" The First Elder had weathered countless storms. He sensibly changed his wording. The man was already dead, and the Hyuga Clan's crisis had been resolved. Why stir up more trouble over such a trivial matter?

The next day, news that Hizashi Hyuga, the culprit who had killed a Cloud Ninja, had slit his own throat spread throughout Konoha. The Third Hokage gazed from afar at the Hyuga Clan compound and could not help sighing. Then he turned to the two Anbu kneeling on one knee before him. "I'll leave this child to you from now on."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" the silver-haired Anbu answered, while the person beside him showed no reaction.

On the third day, the Hyuga Clan held Hizashi Hyuga's funeral. Ming Jing arrived with Tsukishiro Yuexi and Qing Yan. After paying their respects to Hizashi in the mourning hall, they were led by a Hyuga clansman into the council chamber behind it. The Third Hokage, Danzo, and the clan heads of the other families were all present.

"My apologies. This junior arrived late." The moment Ming Jing entered, he realized he was among the latecomers and hurriedly cupped his hands in apology.

"Sit." Hyuga Hiashi, as the clan head, waved a hand with an ugly expression. Ming Jing did not mind and found a seat somewhat toward the back. Kakashi, that veteran driver, was beside him again...

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the Cloud Ninja representatives arrived. Every one of them was arrogant as they sprawled in the seats near the front. Istada, who had been dealt with by a few words from the Third Hokage last time, was absent. That guy was the tragic victim who had died at Hyuga Hiashi's hands. The current leader of the Cloud Ninja delegation was Dasuka, also a jonin.

"Third Hokage, the Hyuga Clan unjustifiably killed Istada, the former head of our delegation. Lord Raikage is greatly enraged! Although the culprit has committed suicide, he did kill one of our people. We demand that the culprit's corpse be brought back to the Land of Lightning for Lord Raikage to deal with!" Dasuka upheld the Cloud Ninja's usual arrogant style. His tone made several hot-blooded people present want to go up and slap him.

"That is absolutely impossible!" Hyuga Hiashi abruptly stood, staring at Dasuka. "The man is already dead. Know when to stop, and don't push your luck!" Hyuga Hiashi could not remain calm at this moment. After all, he knew Hizashi was not dead yet! If the Cloud Ninja took the corpse away, then he really would be dead.

"Hmph! Third Hokage, this is also Lord Raikage's intention!" Dasuka could not even be bothered to acknowledge Hyuga Hiashi. He stared at the Third Hokage and spoke each word distinctly.

The Third Hokage frowned, somewhat displeased. "Isn't the Raikage being unreasonable?"

"Either hand over the corpse, or go to war! Those are Lord Raikage's exact words." As though he had seized Konoha's weakness, Dasuka spoke smugly.

"Fine! Then let's go to war!" Ming Jing finally could not endure it anymore. He could not stand this idiot showing off his nonexistent intelligence in front of him, especially when the Third Hokage looked as though he was almost convinced. So he blurted it out without thinking. Yet the instant he finished speaking, he regretted it. Damn it! He was still too young!

"Who are you?!" Dasuka had not expected someone to dare step out at this time. He abruptly turned around, wanting to see who was so bold.

"Akira Kurama, acting representative of the Kurama Clan!" Ming Jing sighed inwardly. Since he had already stepped forward, he might as well continue!

He walked out from the corner and looked at Dasuka. "The dead deserve respect. Things have already come to this point. If Lord Raikage still insists on pressing the matter, then let there be war!" At this point, Ming Jing looked to the Third Hokage. "Lord Hokage, Konoha can compromise and yield for peace. Every clan head present understands your painstaking intentions, and the daimyo will understand as well. But if peace can only be gained by casting aside our dignity, then we would rather not have such laughable peace! A scholar may be killed but not humiliated. This ancient teaching echoes in my ears. The First Hokage and Madara Uchiha did not establish Konoha through compromise either!"

At this point, Ming Jing looked around at those present and shouted in an intensely rousing tone, "Yesterday, we did not step forward to defend our companion, and we could still comfort ourselves by saying it was 'for peace.' Today, these people are pushing their luck and want to take away our companion's corpse! What are they trying to do?! What did we gain in exchange for sacrificing our companion for peace?! Gentlemen, our concessions have only brought the other side endless demands. Since that is the case, we might as well risk everything! All men must die; death may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather. The Kurama Clan would rather die gloriously on the battlefield than live in cowardly submission beneath the enemy's breath!"

"Let's go to war!" Gekko Hayato was the first to respond. He too had had enough of the Cloud Ninja's arrogant attitude.

"Come and fight, you little bastards from Kumogakure!" Hana Inuzuka planted one foot on the table and roared boldly.

"The Hyuga Clan will never compromise. If you want war, then war it is!" Hyuga Hiashi spoke up as well.

Fugaku Uchiha somewhat regretted coming. If he backed down in this situation, rumors that the Uchiha Clan feared the Raikage would spread that very night. How could Fugaku Uchiha, who cared so deeply about his reputation, endure that? Thus, he also said, "It has been a while since we crossed hands with the Cloud Ninja. The Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan is already starving for battle!"

Ming Jing gave Fugaku Uchiha a strange look. That choice of words... was quite fitting!

"This representative has seen it. If you want to take the body, then let there be war!" The Third Hokage's expression as he looked at Ming Jing was equally awkward. Just who had taught this brat? He had worked so hard to preserve the peace, only for this kid to wreck it with a few words! Damn it, what if they really ended up fighting Kumogakure?

"Y-you..." Dasuka looked at everyone in terror. No matter what, he had never expected his forceful stance to provoke Konoha's counterattack. The Third Shinobi War had only ended recently. Although Konoha had been weakened by the Nine-Tails Fox Demon incident, that did not mean Kumogakure truly dared to go head-to-head with Konoha.

If they really fought, Tsunade Hime, the princess among the Three Ninja, and the mighty demon Jiraiya would definitely return. The Third Hokage might be old, but that did not mean he was weak. Wasn't the Third Tsuchikage always looking as though he was about to be buried, yet still incredibly formidable? Besides, the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan alone would be enough to give the Raikage a headache.