A Different Group of People Before the Third Hokage

"Huh? There are still people from the Hyuga Clan here?"

Uchiha Jie, who had just finished arranging the bodies of the Uchiha Clan members and looked up, frowned.

The extermination operation involved multiple parties: Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Obito, the Third Hokage, and Shimura Danzō. However, the Hyuga Clan was definitely not involved. The person who had arrived was certainly not a member of Root or Anbu, as they weren't wearing a mask.

She was dressed in plain white, with the Hyuga Clan's symbol embroidered on her clothes, like casual home attire. Instead of the usual ninja boots, she wore tabi socks and wooden sandals. A short sword without a sheath hung from her waist, shimmering with a faint, ethereal blue light under the moonlight.

The Konoha forehead protector was securely tied around her forehead. Beneath it, her eyes were as pure white as her clothing, declaring her identity.

"The barrier has been removed. If someone were passing by, they might have noticed the situation here," the Cat-faced Anbu also found it strange. "The Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan don't get along, do they? She wouldn't be up late at night wandering this way."

"But it doesn't matter if she came over. We've just finished cleaning up here," the Cat-faced Anbu handed the half-written mission report in her hand to Uchiha Jie, then activated the Body Flicker Technique, instantly appearing before the Hyuga clanswoman.

"I'm sorry, Anbu business. Please leave this area."

"If I recall correctly, this is the Uchiha Clan's territory."

The Hyuga clanswoman's voice was like fresh, elegant jasmine, making one involuntarily want to draw closer. Her expression was even more delicate, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. It made one wonder how such a person became a ninja.

The Cat-faced Anbu seemed moved by her appearance, and her voice involuntarily softened. She replied, "Something unexpected happened to the Uchiha Clan. You'll know the specifics in about two days."

Although the Cat-faced Anbu's explanation was as good as no explanation, the Hyuga girl merely nodded faintly and walked away step by step, her wooden sandals clacking.

However, it didn't take two days. As soon as dawn broke, everyone in Konohagakure, from the average Jonin to the civilian ninja and villagers, knew what had happened.

The usual bullying and oppressive police force had disappeared. Anbu members wearing masks had taken over their duties to maintain the village's security.

The Uchiha Clan's territory was empty. Some people, emboldened, ventured inside, only to find bloodstains and signs of battle everywhere that hadn't been completely cleaned. A few Anbu members were still inside cleaning up. When they encountered villagers who had wandered in, they politely asked them to leave.

Some rejoiced, believing the "tumor" of Konoha was gone and the village would prosper. Others were filled with unease, thinking that if someone could wipe out the Uchiha Clan so thoroughly within Konoha, would they be next?

This was exactly what Hyuga Hiashi was thinking. The moment he confirmed the news, he rushed to the Hokage Building. However, before him, several clan heads of various ninja clans were already waiting.

After a brief exchange of glances, the door in front of them was pushed open. A team of Anbu quickly exited the Hokage's office, and the clan heads filed in. Some clans, being familiar with each other, stood in small groups, while those with less power consciously stood at the side.

Unconsciously, Hyuga Hiashi found himself at the very front of the assembled clan heads, facing the Third Hokage, who was lowering his head and smoking.

"Hokage-sama? Everyone is waiting for an explanation," he asked softly.

"I believe this is the explanation." The Third Hokage's desk was exceptionally messy, with documents piled everywhere. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly having not slept all night.

The explanation he gave was a wanted poster, the ink still wet, indicating it had just been issued and hadn't even had time to be publicly announced.

Most of the clan heads recognized the person. Although his fame wasn't as great as that of many older ninja legends, the first step to becoming a qualified ninja was learning to gather information.

The person on the wanted poster was the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan head, Uchiha Itachi.

"Just last night, he killed his own parents and his clan members. Only his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, was spared." The Third Hokage's deep voice placed the entire blame for the Night of the Uchiha Clan Extermination onto Uchiha Itachi.

But whether others were willing to believe it was another matter.

"Hokage-sama, are you joking? The Uchiha Clan has more than a hundred ninjas who have awakened their Sharingan, and many with Three Tomoe. How could Uchiha Itachi possibly do this?" someone questioned loudly, while others muttered softly from behind.

The Third Hokage never played games of "believe it or not." He didn't get angry or annoyed. He simply pushed another piece of paper forward.

The paper still bore Uchiha Itachi's portrait. Compared to the one on the wanted poster, it was larger and clearer. The sharp-eyed ninjas quickly noticed the difference between the two portraits.

"His eyes..." Hyuga Hiashi, who possessed the Byakugan, was the first to spot the anomaly. The Sharingan in Uchiha Itachi's eye sockets was no longer Three Tomoe, but resembled a pinwheel. This was a Sharingan, and one never seen before. Uchiha Itachi, possessing such a Sharingan, appeared particularly ferocious.

"This brand-new Sharingan is an evolution of the Three Tomoe Sharingan. It seems capable of easily suppressing Three Tomoe Sharingan, leaving the latter completely defenseless," the Third Hokage explained, tapping the table.

"This..."

The clan heads all turned their gazes to Hyuga Hiashi, who stood at the forefront. Although each clan had its own heritage and specialized ninjutsu, when it came to dojutsu, only the Hyuga Clan, with their Byakugan, had the right to speak among those present.

Hyuga Hiashi fell silent for a moment, pondering inwardly. After years of secret competition with the Uchiha Clan, how could he not have known about a Sharingan that could so easily suppress other Sharingan?

Thinking of his own Byakugan, the gap between the eyes of each Hyuga clan member who awakened the Byakugan was far less significant than that of the Uchiha Clan. The greatest difference among clan members lay in their proficiency with the Gentle Fist; their eyes only played a supporting role.

His eldest daughter's Byakugan was as magnificent as pure white jade, more dazzling than that of other clan members. Yet, with such eyes, her strength could only be described as pathetically weak.

Let alone comparing her to Uchiha Itachi, the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan head, even the remaining little brat of the Uchiha Clan made him feel ashamed.

However, killing everyone in his own clan...

Hyuga Hiashi suddenly thought of the branch family girl who had come to see him that morning, bringing him the first-hand news about the Uchiha Clan.

Even if she was pathetically weak, as the eldest daughter of the Hyuga main family, it wasn't impossible for her to have the means to kill her entire clan in a short period. Once the Caged Bird Seal was activated, no branch family member could escape.

And as the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan head, Uchiha Itachi, it was perfectly normal for him to possess similar means. If no one interfered, simply ambushing his unsuspecting parents, Uchiha Itachi, who had been a ninja for many years, could naturally achieve it with ease.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded silently, accepting the Third Hokage's explanation. In truth, he was still somewhat doubtful, but this was hardly the time to question it.

The most powerful Uchiha Clan had been wiped out last night. Even if their various ninja clans united to raise objections, he, as the leader, and the Hyuga Clan would inevitably suffer severe damage, if not outright destruction.

The reactions of the other clan heads around him immediately intensified, filling the entire Hokage office with a low hum. Everyone began to whisper amongst themselves. If it wasn't the Third Hokage or the Konoha higher-ups who had acted...

The "cake" left behind by the Uchiha Clan was simply too large.

They had already gathered before the Third Hokage and naturally had no time to go home and deliberate. They had to start forming factions and swallowing the meat they could get their hands on immediately.

Including Hyuga Hiashi, only a few people stood still in their places, looking respectfully at the Third Hokage. The latter slowly took out another piece of paper. The sharp-eyed Hyuga Hiashi had already seen its contents.

Dividing the spoils.