What does Hyuga want to destroy? What do they want to overturn? Shimura Danzō's suffocating feeling, like a python's coils

Hyuga Tenzo was in a terrible mood.

He had run into the worst possible scenario...

If Hizashi Hyuga's skill at slapping labels on people was a one, then this middle-aged Bandage Man before him started at least at ten!

In Konoha, one thing the major ninja clans had always feared most was walking through a small grove, only for Shimura Danzō to suddenly appear behind them and say something like how the village needed geniuses...

"The Hyuga Clan has maintained private communication with Kirigakure for thirty years..."

Shimura Danzō spoke expressionlessly. "What have you discussed with the Kaguya Clan all these years? The Kaguya Clan actually believes the Hyuga Clan can influence the Hokage's decisions..."

"Did you obtain the village's approval? What are the Hyuga Clan's motives?

"What are you trying to imply with this letter? What does the Hyuga Clan want to overthrow this time?"

"What does the Hyuga Clan want to destroy? Who stands behind the Hyuga Clan? Who ordered you to do this?"

Shimura Danzō coldly spat out question after question.

Hyuga Tenzo's face gradually turned green.

Damn it, the Darkness of the Shinobi World, the Root of Konoha—those titles truly lived up to their reputation.

But he was no pushover either. The Hyuga Clan Head would not accept accusations forcibly pinned on him like this!

Yet Shimura Danzō waved his hand, his voice steadily rising.

"The Hyuga Clan's motive is collusion with foreign powers and betting on both sides!"

"On the surface, you are voluntarily reporting this, but in truth, you are making an exceptionally malicious insinuation! You are attempting to compare the Hokage to the Mizukage, and the establishment of the Patrol Force to Kirigakure's Bloody Mist Village!"

"This is destroying the Will of Fire. This is digging up Konoha's roots..."

Shimura Danzō turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "I believe the Third Mizukage stands behind the Hyuga Clan, and they are putting on an act of mutual suffering with the village!"

"They are using the Hokage and the village's authority to unscrupulously amass capital, declaring to the outside world that the Hyuga Clan is Konoha's true decision-maker—the 'Shadow Hokage'..."

Even Hizashi Hyuga, standing nearby, was dumbfounded.

Come to think of it, why did that sound somewhat reasonable?

The faint anger that had just risen within Hyuga Tenzo was completely smothered beneath one logically connected accusation after another.

His limbs turning cold, he even felt a little admiration for Shimura Danzō.

Though the Hyuga Clan could not compare to Konoha in scale, as someone who likewise held nearly absolute authority at the top...

Hyuga Tenzo had once used similar methods to suppress the Branch Family.

But compared with Shimura Danzō's wildly expansive thinking and his ability to blow matters completely out of proportion, he was nowhere close...

"Nothing to say? Have you been exposed and are now thinking of a countermeasure?"

Shimura Danzō's tone grew even colder. "You Hyuga call yourselves a great clan, but what kind of people has your clan ever produced?"

"Did you produce an Uchiha Madara capable of contending with the First Hokage? Or an Uchiha Izuna capable of standing against Teacher Tobirama?"

"Even the Uchiha wouldn't dare do this. How dare you Hyuga!" Shimura Danzō slammed the table, veins bulging on his forehead as though he had activated the Byakugan.

Those words struck Hyuga Tenzo right in the gut.

The Byakugan and Sharingan, the Uchiha and Hyuga, had always been known as the two great Dōjutsu.

But anyone with eyes could see it—where was the equality in that title? To put it bluntly, the Hyuga Clan was just riding on their reputation...

And Shimura Danzō's meaning was clear as well.

Compared to the Uchiha, the village had already been tolerant enough of the Hyuga Clan, yet they still wanted to push their luck?

"Advisor-sama, the Hyuga Clan absolutely has no such intentions!"

"Look, hasn't Hizashi been doing very well in the Anbu?" Hyuga Tenzo took a deep breath. In this situation, the Branch Family member who had joined the Anbu had instead become his lifeline.

"Hizashi has done very well. He's a good young man..." Yet Shimura Danzō continued to tear into him relentlessly. "But what does he have to do with the Hyuga Clan!"

Hyuga Tenzo was utterly dumbfounded.

That was my son, and he has the Byakugan in his eyes—how the hell could he have nothing to do with us?

Even the usually well-mannered Hyuga Tenzo could not help wanting to swear.

You could cut ties like that too?

"The village had barely recruited Hizashi into the Anbu when you rushed over here. Wasn't it because you wanted to use this letter to claim credit from the village and prevent further movement within the Branch Family?"

"And you even tried to drive a wedge between Hizashi and the village. Very good. Very good indeed..."

Watching Hyuga Tenzo's reaction, Shimura Danzō felt thoroughly pleased.

This Hyuga Clan Head truly had terrible luck, running right into his line of fire.

Over this recent period, although Shimura Danzō had learned a great deal from Hiruzen Sarutobi...

He had found it quite useful.

But after so many years of his old habit of slapping labels on people being forced into neglect, his heart had started to itch.

The urge to slap labels on people had been suppressed.

Shimura Danzō was about to speak again.

Hyuga Tenzo's heart tightened, as though a giant python had wrapped itself around his neck.

This Hokage Office Building was truly far more dangerous than the "Bloody Mist Village"...

Would he even make it out alive today?

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke and coughed lightly.

"Enough!"

Shimura Danzō had already formed the first syllable, yet he immediately fell silent.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat surprised by how decisively he stopped.

What did that mean...

Why was he being so obedient today?

"Sit down, everyone. Let's sit and talk." The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he set the tone, easing the atmosphere that had been tense to the extreme.

"Danzō, you went a little too far."

"The Hyuga have shed blood for the village. Even if they have made some minor mistakes, they remain pillars of Konoha. You must remember that well. You cannot label them enemies at every turn."

It was as though a massive stone had fallen from Hyuga Tenzo's heart, and his whole body relaxed considerably.

The Hokage still had some sense of reason!

Though this tactic was a little outdated...

The same old good cop, bad cop routine.

"Tenzo, do you think Danzō and I are playing good cop and bad cop?"

Hyuga Tenzo gave an awkward, sheepish smile and shook his head.

Could the Hokage read minds?

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled a document from a drawer and placed it before him.

It was, astonishingly, the full list of Konoha Committee Members.

Hyuga Tenzo's heart jolted.

This list clearly could not have been drafted just now.

Not only did he see his own name, he also saw that his name was ranked ahead of Hizashi's!

The matter of the "Konoha Committee Members" had long ceased to be a secret within the village...

There was no need to mention the Jonin circles. Even many Genin were eagerly discussing who would be selected.

Hyuga Tenzo had considered the possibility of Hizashi being chosen.

If he were the Hokage, he would have done the same...

By making Hizashi a "Konoha Committee Member" while excluding him, the clan head, it would instantly create a situation where the "Committee Member" and the clan head stood in opposition to one another.

No matter how overwhelming the pressure from the Main Branch was, could it surpass Konoha's?

The Hyuga of the Branch Family would flock to Hizashi like the tide!

It was a nakedly vicious scheme, even more ruthless than the kind used by the "Bloody Mist Village"...

It was not merely about killing people—it was about destroying their hearts as well.

Hyuga Tenzo had worried over this for a long time. If the Hokage truly did that, what should he do?

But he had never expected it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually included him among the "Konoha Committee Members" as well!

"Tenzo, Konoha believes in the Will of Fire."

"Between the village and the ninja clans, it has never been a matter of life and death, but of joining hands for mutual prosperity..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly, "This is also the most fundamental difference between Konoha and the other Hidden Villages. I regard every ninja as a friend, a brother, a family member—not as a tool or expendable material."

At that moment.

A thought could not help but cross Hyuga Tenzo's mind.

The Will of Fire was not merely a slogan after all...

It truly existed!