The Bearing of a Great Nation

The Bearing of a Great Nation

Where there was light, there was bound to be darkness. Without either side, the world could not function properly.

This had always been the philosophy of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

It was also why he had repeatedly overlooked Danzo's mistakes.

Especially on Nine-Tails Rampage Night.

The sacrifices of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, and countless lives in the village

had left him with no choice but to approve the human experiments Danzo proposed.

Hashirama Senju's Cells would be transplanted into ordinary people, granting them Wood Release and power sufficient to suppress tailed beasts.

Even though he had been optimistic at first, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood perfectly well

that such human experiments would inevitably cost many lives.

In other words, when faced with the village's interests and human lives, the scales in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart had ultimately tipped.

At that moment, his heart had darkened.

Yet the outcome went against expectations. Without exception, none of the test subjects had been able to withstand Hashirama's Cells.

Rather than allowing Konoha to regain Wood Release, the entire project had been wiped out.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had made up his mind, wavered at that moment and chose to give up.

But...

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had not only been childhood companions who grew up together; they were also Konoha's light and shadow.

He knew full well that even if he gave up out of mercy, Danzo would continue the experiments until he obtained Wood Release.

And that was exactly how things developed. Danzo and Orochimaru hit it off immediately, abducted children from nearby villages, and successfully created Yamato, who could use Wood Release.

When he first saw Yamato, Hiruzen Sarutobi had sternly condemned Danzo's actions, but inwardly, he had been secretly pleased.

This meant the village possessed Wood Release once more.

It had gained the power to suppress the Nine-Tails.

This would undoubtedly help Naruto's growth and the village's stability.

Most importantly, he had used this opportunity to bring Yamato into his Anbu and keep him away from Danzo.

So that he could inherit his Will of Fire.

Cherish one's comrades. Cherish the village.

And this had made Hiruzen Sarutobi believe in his philosophy even more firmly.

Where there was light, there was bound to be darkness. Without either side, the world could not function properly.

To obtain the First Hokage's Wood Release, he had not hesitated to stain his hands with blood, darken his heart, and indulge Danzo's inhumane experiments. Yet in the end, the strongest towering tree had grown from Konoha's soil itself.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened, his heart filled with the impact Xu Fan had brought him.

If Xu Fan had displayed his Wood Release from the very beginning, why had he and Danzo needed to conduct any human experiments?

Xu Fan himself was Hashirama's successor!

The God of Shinobi of a new era!

Gulp.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat bobbed as he nervously swallowed.

In truth, it was not only Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As fellow disciples of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were equally shocked, and they were filled with expectations for Xu Fan's future.

Their thinking, however, was far more calculating than Hiruzen Sarutobi's.

Xu Fan's Wood Release alone was enough to make them stand on his side.

It would not even be an exaggeration to say that if they had to choose between the Hyuga Main Family and Xu Fan,

they would choose the latter without hesitation.

Even if every member of the Main House died, they could simply support the Branch House in taking its place. After all, children born to Branch House members under the Caged Bird Seal would not be affected by the Cursed Seal Technique and were naturally born with perfect Byakugan.

Therefore, even if Xu Fan aggressively pressed the Hyuga Main Family, neither of them would stop him.

The two exchanged glances and chose to remain silent, with no intention of interfering.

"What... exactly do you want?"

At this point, even the Hyuga Elder could no longer remain composed. Several minutes had passed since Xu Fan had sealed the Hyuga clansmen.

Yet those Konoha leadership figures, let alone stopping or reprimanding Xu Fan, had not even spoken a single word of fairness.

They were clearly indulging Xu Fan's actions.

"I will not allow Hizashi to die!"

Xu Fan's words rang out like a hammer strike. They were not only for the Hyuga Clan, but also for the Konoha leadership behind him.

However, one thing surprised Xu Fan.

He had assumed that after he did something like this, the Third Hokage would take the Hyuga Clan's side.

Yet that man truly had not said a single word.

Even now, after he once again emphasized that Hizashi must not die, the Konoha leadership behind him merely watched as if they were enjoying a show.

Could it be...

that Konoha leadership actually had another way to settle the dispute besides sacrificing Hizashi?

Was this all actually meant to suppress the Hyuga Clan?

Could it be that from the start, Konoha leadership had never truly wanted anyone dead, nor had they specifically wanted Hizashi Hyuga's life?

Their real goal had been to use this chance to warn the Hyuga Clan, to tell them just how miserable they would be if the village did not handle this matter for them.

On the surface, they were handing over Hizashi's corpse. In reality, they were bowing their heads to Konoha leadership.

But in the end, this was only Xu Fan's personal speculation.

It was merely that, given the current situation, Hizashi's life or death did not seem particularly important to Konoha leadership, which gave Xu Fan this idea.

But regardless of the truth, it would still take some effort before this matter could be resolved.

The Hyuga Elder looked at Xu Fan, then at the Konoha leadership standing not far away.

Hiss...

After some thought, the Hyuga Elder could only suck in a cold breath before explaining in a mournful tone, "Whether Main House or Branch House, both are part of the Hyuga Clan."

"The reason we are doing this is only to protect the Hyuga Clan's secret. At the same time, for the village's stability, we have no choice but to compromise with Kumogakure."

"I watched Hizashi grow up. How could I possibly bear to let him die?"

"This is all for the village!"

The Hyuga Elder spoke with a solemn expression, as though he truly acted for the greater good.

But Xu Fan found those words laughable.

If he had not watched Naruto, he might really have been fooled by that argument.

But in truth, the Branch House were nothing more than tools in the eyes of these Main House members.

If they truly regarded the Branch House as people, and this truly was a helpless measure for the village's sake,

was there any need to conceal the truth from Neji for years?

Even regarding the Third Hokage, Xu Fan felt that his actions this time were flawed.

Was a regime that obtained peace by selling out its own people truly the Will of Fire?

Put nicely, it was a forced compromise made out of consideration for the village.

Put bluntly, it was weakness.

Before Xu Fan transmigrated, the people of China had always been well protected by the bravest among them!

That was the bearing a great nation should possess!

"Hyuga Clan, listen carefully."

"We love peace, but if we seek peace through struggle, peace will endure. If we seek peace through compromise, then peace will..."

"Perish!"

Thanks to Lightning Ranger Xiang, TK Answer, Obscure Stars, and Misty Rain Qijue for the support!