Bang!
In the Hokage's office, a red figure smashed the desk with one punch and roared in fury.
"Third Hokage, hand over the murderer at once! Or we go to war!" The Raikage's advisor, Dodai, demanded forcefully, his hair bristling with rage.
His entire body was wrapped in scarlet magma. Its terrifying heat distorted the air, making Kakashi, Tenzo, Nara Shikaku, and the others guarding the Third Hokage turn pale.
Lava Release Chakra Mode.
This was a technique exclusive to shinobi with the Lava Release kekkei genkai. Molten rock cloaked the user's entire body, melting anything it touched while also bolstering their defense. It was a rare, powerful kekkei genkai technique that was both offensive and defensive.
Dodai was not only an advisor to successive Raikage, but also the only Lava Release kekkei genkai user in Kumogakure.
He had exceptional intelligence and foresight, and was also one of Kumogakure's main combat forces, second only to the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in strength.
Drip... drip...
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows knitted together. He took several deep drags from his pipe, the rich scent of tobacco turning acrid in the scorching heat.
"Dodai, before we go any further, explain why your subordinate tried to abduct the legitimate daughter of the Hyuga Main Family."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Dodai, all sorts of schemes and plots surfacing in his mind.
Though Kumogakure's intention to seize the Byakugan bloodline was painfully obvious, he still didn't want to give up on the chance for peace so easily.
Dodai had seen through Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions during the negotiations over the past few days. He immediately turned the accusation around and replied in a hard voice:
"Abduct her? What abduction? The legitimate daughter of the Hyuga Main Family didn't even lose a hair. All I know is that we came here with peaceful intentions, and now someone has died in Konoha. The dead man was Mōshibi, who was set to become the next Raikage."
Dodai's eyes reddened as he glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his voice heavy with grief. "Damn it! We sent our finest shinobi to help bring about peace, and you assassinated Mōshibi."
"I have every reason to believe that you, Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, have no desire for peace at all. You're using peace as an excuse to destroy the most promising members of the next generation in Hidden Cloud."
"If that's the case, then let's go to war!"
After pinning such a grave accusation on Hiruzen Sarutobi, Dodai grew even more aggressive.
He ignored Konoha's explanations entirely, took up a fighting stance, and began rapidly forming hand seals.
"Lava Release: Rubber Ball."
"Kasai, use the Heavenly Transfer Technique and send word that war has begun!"
Pfft...
The astonishing Lava Release chakra swiftly transformed into rubber and shot from Dodai's mouth, forming a sphere that protected Kasai behind him in the blink of an eye.
"Yes, Lord Dodai."
Kasai wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes. Hatred in his gaze, he began forming hand seals at a frantic pace.
The two worked together with seamless precision.
The moment they did that, everyone on Konoha's side was stunned.
Hiruzen Sarutobi held a mouthful of smoke, forgetting to exhale, while Kakashi, Tenzo, Nara Shikaku, and the others were even more shocked.
Only Danzo, hidden in the adjoining room, was overjoyed.
"Quick, stop him! Cough, cough, cough..." Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, then broke into loud coughing as smoke caught in his throat.
Fearing that Hidden Cloud might actually go through with it, he ignored the burning pain in his throat and hurriedly said, "Dodai, calm down! Stop the Heavenly Transfer Technique at once. Konoha sincerely wants to bring about peace. Mōshibi's death was an accident. I'll give you an answer you can accept."
"An answer? That's just a lie. Third Hokage, do you really think I'm a child?"
Dodai didn't budge. He dodged Kakashi and Tenzo as they rushed to attack, deliberately leaving Kasai exposed behind him.
Nara Shikaku seized the opportunity and used his clan's secret shadow technique.
"Shadow Binding Technique."
A dark shadow stretched out from Shikaku's feet and shot toward Kasai.
Nara Shikaku was the Hokage's strategist. He knew Dodai wasn't the priority right now; they needed to restrain Kasai, who could send the message.
The instant their shadows connected, Kasai's frantic hand seals stopped. He was like a machine unplugged from its power source.
"Phew..."
Seeing that the Heavenly Transfer Technique had been interrupted, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly tried to placate Dodai. "Dodai, calm down. Give me one day, and I'll give you an answer you can accept. If we go to war, many more people in Kumogakure will die."
"An answer I can accept? Hmph. The only answer that would satisfy me is for you to hand over the murderer, Hyuga Hiashi."
Dodai used the opening to back down a little, slightly reining in his Lava Release chakra. "We in Kumogakure also yearn for peace. I hope Konoha won't disappoint me. I only want Hyuga Hiashi's corpse to comfort Mōshibi in death. If you can't give me an answer I find satisfactory by tomorrow morning, Hidden Cloud won't hesitate to repeat the Battle of Kikyo Pass."
During the Battle of Kikyo Pass, Konoha had been driven right to its doorstep. Thousands of shinobi had died, leaving Konoha severely weakened.
If it happened again, no one knew how many more would die. Konoha might even fall into decline for good.
Hiruzen Sarutobi absolutely wouldn't allow that to happen.
He knew this was Hidden Cloud's strategy, and that its goal was surely the Byakugan, but he didn't dare take the risk.
On top of that, Hidden Cloud had lost an outstanding shinobi. Fourth Raikage A was notorious for being brawny but dim-witted. If things went wrong...
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt bitter. For a moment, he even thought of Danzo's earlier proposal.
But in the next instant, he drove that terrible thought from his mind and said in a low voice:
"Dodai, I'll give you an answer you can accept by tomorrow morning. For now, stop."
"Hmph. Then you have one day."
A moment later, Dodai left with Kasai, slamming the door behind them.
The Hokage's office was a complete mess, with still-molten lava everywhere and documents burned to ashes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help taking out his pipe again. After taking two deep drags to compose himself, he turned to the others behind him.
"Tenzo, I'll leave the repairs to you. Kakashi, go notify the leaders of the Hyuga Main and Branch Families and ask them to come here. Shikaku, bring the two advisors here."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Just as they were about to leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought it over and added, "Kakashi, the Uchiha Clan Compound is nearby. Go find Fugaku and ask him to bring Shisui along as well. They were absent from this battle."
Kakashi froze, immediately understanding that the Third Hokage was displeased with the Uchiha.
And, indeed, he had a point.
As a major clan in charge of Konoha's Military Police Force, and with the battle taking place right next to the Hyuga Clan, the Uchiha Clan should have been the first to provide support. Yet not a single one of them had appeared. They clearly had other intentions.
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
After Kakashi turned to leave, Danzo immediately walked out of the adjoining room.
His face wore a dark, mocking grin. "Hand over Hyuga Hiashi? Hmph, I knew it. Hidden Cloud really is a pack of wolves. Hiruzen, I told you that you'd regret it. What do you think now?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already in a foul mood. Now Danzo was mocking him as well, and his face darkened at once. Furious, he snapped:
"Danzo, I'm the Hokage. Watch your tone."
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