Neji's Choice

Tsunade on the table and said, "Sensei, I'm going to the border to meet this Fourth Tsuchikage."

Tsunade was furious that Yichen had infiltrated Konoha and impersonated Root in front of her, so she wanted to take the opportunity to teach Yichen a lesson.

It wasn't until the post-war intelligence analysis that she learned the guy she thought was Root ninja was actually the Tsuchikage in disguise.

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly said, "You absolutely must not leave the village now. Your departure will only further expose the village's weakness."

"Tsunade, consider having the Hyuga Clan make a sacrifice," Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to persuade.

"Impossible! I won't trade my village's ninjas for this kind of unreliable peace!" Tsunade heavily on the table again, roaring loudly.

"Sigh." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, unsure whether Tsunade's choice was right or wrong.

However, Tsunade absorbed all the pressure and did not put pressure on the Hyuga Clan, but someone made the opposite decision for her, and that person was Danzo.

Although Danzo was on the front lines, he sent Root back to the village to spread the Cloud ninja's demands. He wasn't afraid of Ikura alone, but with the addition of the Tsuchikage and a Jinchuriki, Danzo thought, "I've already done right by not running away on the spot, Tsunade."

So, just like he had dealt with White Fang, Danzo easily turned his attention to Hyuga Hiashi.

This time, however, is different from when Danzo dealt with White Fang. Back then, Konoha was generally peaceful, and there was no suffocating feeling of foreign enemies pressing in. But this time, the armies of Cloud ninja and Iwa ninja are pressing in, and the Fourth Raikage and the Fourth Tsuchikage are personally present at the border.

Although the fighting hasn't started yet, the atmosphere of war is already very strong within Konoha.

In this situation, Danzo was extremely efficient at spreading rumors; he didn't need to do much to embellish it before the news spread Konoha.

Although the villagers of Konoha knew that handing over Hyuga Hiashi in exchange for peace was wrong, they still couldn't help but gossip about it. In addition, Hyuga Hiashi was the head of a powerful clan, not a hero like White Fang, so it was easier for everyone to get over that hurdle in their hearts.

Hyuga Hiashi naturally received the news as well. He felt extremely embarrassed. Suicide was out of the question; his life wasn't just his own. He was currently the only adult Main Family of the Hyuga Clan. If he died, the Hyuga Clan would likely descend into chaos.

Fortunately, he didn't have to worry about it; someone quickly made the decision for him and Tsunade.

His younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, "Committed suicide."

Whether it was truly suicide or not, even Yichen, a fan of the original work, doesn't know. In any case, Hizashi Hyuga used his life to put an end to the rumors, and also relieved Hiruzen Sarutobi of the need to persuade Tsunade.

Soon after, news spread Konoha that the head of the Hyuga Clan had committed suicide.

Just as Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi were discussing who should deliver Hizashi Hyuga's body to the front lines of the Cloud ninja, the leader of the Iwa ninja Hirubu Junichi, Junichi Hirabe, came to their door.

"Hokage, I'm here on the orders of our Lord Tsuchikage to make a deal with you," Hirubu Junichi Gate of Opening.

Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi a glance; they were actually relieved, thinking, "Finally!" The Iwa ninja had indeed planned something. But why choose this particular time?

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "What kind of deal does the Tsuchikage intend to make?"

"We are willing to exchange peace for Hyuga Neji Hyuga, the son of Hizashi Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan."

Faced with Hirubu Junichi's unreasonable demands, Tsunade was naturally furious and refused on the spot.

However, Hirubu Junichi calm. He had already received a signal from Yichen and said, "The Lord Tsuchikage said that if Konoha is unwilling, the Iwa ninja will not withdraw their troops. I believe that as long as the Iwa ninja do not withdraw, the Cloud ninja will not withdraw either."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes; she knew that the Iwa ninja probably already knew that it was Hizashi Hyuga who committed suicide, not Hyuga Hiashi.

Hirubu Junichi was actually threatening him. If he didn't hand over Neji Hyuga, the Iwa ninja would tell the Cloud ninja the truth. Once the Cloud ninja had an excuse, they probably wouldn't retreat easily.

However, Tsunade will not be threatened. Danzo's interference caught her off guard before, and she will not compromise again.

Seeing this, Hirubu Junichi calmly said, "If the Hokage insists, we can let Neji Hyuga make his own choice."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, not answering directly, as she pondered whether the Iwa ninja had made prior contact with Neji Hyuga.

Hirubu Junichi, however, said, "Hokage, please rest assured, we Iwa ninja have never had contact with Neji Hyuga. Besides, does the Hokage not believe in the Will of Fire within Neji Hyuga? He is a genius; he must have inherited his father's Will of Fire."

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi at Tsunade's sleeve.

Tsunade slowly exhaled and said, "Alright, let Neji Hyuga make his own choice. If he chooses Iwagakure, I'm willing to release him."

Hirubu Junichi nodded calmly and said, "I'll ask Lady Tsunade to communicate with the Hyuga Main Family and prevent them from using the Caged Bird Neji."

Tsunade and said, "Of course, but the envoy seems to have jumped to conclusions too early."

After saying that, Tsunade led Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hirubu Junichi out of the Hokage Building and headed straight for the Hyuga Clan compound.

The Hyuga Clan is rebuilding their clan's territory after it was destroyed, but no one expected that this would happen before the reconstruction was even complete.

The entire Hyuga Clan was in low spirits. Hyuga Hiashi was probably saddened by the loss of his younger brother, but only the members of the branch family knew what they were truly thinking.

Upon seeing the arrival of the two Hokage, the members of the Hyuga Branch Family simply nodded politely to Tsunade. As ninjas, they naturally knew that Tsunade had been protecting them from the pressure from the Cloud ninja. Moreover, Tsunade had previously offered assistance to their Hyuga Clan.

As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hyuga Clan family seems to ignore him. Danzo isn't in the village, so the person spreading the rumors might be Hiruzen Sarutobi. They've also heard that Tsunade is a proponent of war, and Hiruzen Sarutobi advocates handing over Hyuga Hiashi.

There's no way around it; the blame is there, and someone has to take the Danzo. If Danzo won't take it, then Danzo best friend will have to.

Looking at the lifeless Hyuga Clan, Tsunade felt very sad. Since she took over, very few things had gone her way. She had been trying her best to maintain order, but the results were always disappointing.

Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly met with Hyuga Hiashi and explained their purpose.

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he looked at Hirubu Junichi. He knew that it was because of the involvement of the Iwa ninja that the Konoha High-ranking officials couldn't withstand the pressure and chose to compromise, which led to his younger brother's suicide.

Hirubu Junichi didn't say a word. Tsunade Hokage, would handle this kind of thing; there was no need for him, an outsider, to interfere.

Hyuga Hiashi turned to Tsunade and said, "Hokage, do you mean to hand over Neji?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, fearing Tsunade would be embarrassed, spoke up first, "Hiashi Chief Hiashi misunderstands. We're just here to ask Neji's opinion. If he chooses to stay in the village, then there's nothing to worry about."

Hyuga Hiashi a deep breath and said, "Come with me."

After saying that, he turned and headed towards Hizashi Hyuga's house. After the incident with Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands, Hyuga Hiashi understood that his clan's strength was far inferior to that of the Konoha High-ranking officials. With the two Hokage present, he had no choice but to compromise.

The Hokage gives him face because he is the head of a powerful clan; if the Hokage doesn't give him face, then he won't be much different from other ninjas.

This is the truth about the Ninja World; it has never been the idyllic place portrayed by the Will of Fire.

The group calmly followed in Hyuga Hiashi's footsteps.

Soon, the group arrived at Hizashi Hyuga's house. It was called a house, but it was actually just a temporary little house; the real house was still under construction. Neji Hyuga was sitting alone at the door of the house.

Upon seeing Hyuga Hiashi arrive with a group of people, Neji Hyuga's hands trembled slightly, then he mechanically stood up, bowed deeply, and said, "Clan leader."

Hyuga Hiashi didn't speak, but turned around and left his seat to Tsunade behind him.

With Danzo absent, Hiruzen Sarutobi the villain himself. He stepped forward and ruffled Neji's hair, saying, "Neji, right? Your father is a hero of the village."

"He sacrificed himself for the peace of the village, don't be sad. Take good care of yourself, and when you grow up, become an excellent ninja like your father."

Neji Hyuga looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi. He recognized him; he was the village's Third Hokage, and the clan members had been discussing him recently.

First they said he ruined his own family, then they said he spread rumors to force the clan chief to commit suicide, but his own father ended up committing suicide in place of the clan chief.

Although some people said that another high-ranking member was spreading the rumors, the other tribesmen immediately said that even if this person was not the mastermind, he would have agreed to it.

"This is an enemy, "Neji thought to himself. "But I'm still young and powerless. I can't get angry right now, and I can't let anyone see my anger." Neji kept reminding himself.

He nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at Hirubu Junichi and said, "This is a ninja from Iwagakure. They want to adopt you, take you away from Konoha, away from the Iwagakure Hyuga Clan, and let you live alone in a faraway place. Are you willing?"

Hirubu Junichi frowned. This Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't a good person. Weren't these words implying something about Neji Hyuga? He was about to speak when, unexpectedly, Neji Hyuga's eyes suddenly lit up, then quickly dimmed.

Hirubu Junichi was chosen by the Iwa ninja as the leader of the delegation, and his intelligence was certainly on point; he quickly grasped the key point after a moment's thought.

He quickly said, "Neji Hyuga, your Hokage has already agreed that if you go to Iwagakure, no one will use the Caged Bird on you."

At this moment, Neji Hyuga could no longer hold back and quickly asked, "Really?"