The Sky Cleared Up...

"Lord Hokage, you must conduct a thorough investigation this time!"

"Last time on the Mist Battlefield, when the Byakugan was taken by Kirigakure, we let it slide. The Hyuga clan considered the bigger picture and chose not to pursue the matter."

"But this time, the Hyuga clan will absolutely not sit idly by!"

Hyuga Hiashi recounted the process of the Byakugan theft in detail, every word sharp as tempered steel and heavy with conviction.

Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his brows furrowing deeper amidst the swirling smoke.

What did he mean by "the Hyuga clan considered the bigger picture and chose not to pursue it"?

He remembered clearly that it was the Hyuga main branch, in a bid to rack up war merits, that had ignored orders and led a squad of branch house guards deep into enemy territory for reconnaissance. They had fallen into a Kirigakure trap, resulting in the total annihilation of the unit and the loss of the Byakugan.

There might have been someone pulling strings behind the scenes in that incident.

But in Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, the failure on the Mist Battlefield was largely the Hyuga clan's own doing.

What he found even harder to move past was that afterward, when the village fought tooth and nail to reclaim the Byakugan to maintain the Hyuga's reputation, it was the Hyuga clan themselves who stepped in and forcibly suppressed the village's decision.

If it had been the Uchiha's Sharingan that was stolen...

Would they not have fought to the death?

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Hyuga Hiashi with deep, inscrutable eyes, hiding a complex meaning within his gaze.

And now... it was the Hyuga clan causing trouble again.

Holding a celebration, only for a secret vault elder to be killed and a Byakugan to be stolen.

"A clan that places itself above the interests of the village..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed silently, ultimately ordering the village to be placed under martial law.

Regardless of anything else, the Hyuga were one of the most prestigious clans in Konoha.

With a Kekkei Genkai stolen within the village, the village had to take it seriously, regardless of whether the Hyuga had brought this upon themselves.

Besides... didn't this incident itself highlight the current vulnerability of the village's defenses?

"Hiashi."

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, interrupting Hyuga Hiashi's impassioned speech.

"You should understand the village's current situation..."

"Has the Hyuga clan become too idle?"

"I..."

Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

He was, of course, well aware of Konoha's current predicament.

One thousand Iwagakure shinobi had invaded the Land of Fire, and the Battle of Kannabi Bridge had only just concluded.

Kirigakure, after the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were crippled by Might Duy, was sharpening their blades and preparing for a comeback.

Cloud Village was harassing the borders from time to time.

And Sunagakure had closed its borders, cutting off all communication; no one knew what schemes they were brewing.

But what about the Hyuga clan?

They had recalled all their shinobi, except for those on front-line missions, to hold a grand, ostentatious celebration.

Hyuga Hiashi certainly couldn't voice the true reason.

But in the eyes of the Third Hokage, wasn't this just blatant cowardice in the face of war?

"As long as you understand that, it is enough."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and walked to the window with his hands behind his back, watching the drizzling rain outside.

"The village will investigate the Hyuga clan's matter. Reassign the remaining shinobi to their posts."

"But..."

"Hiashi," Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around, his gaze as calm as a deep pool, showing no ripples.

"As the head of one of Konoha's top clans, staying in the village for such a long time... I fear it will invite gossip."

"Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku has been rotating through various battlefields, and he even brought his four-year-old son to the front lines..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not finish the rest of his sentence, simply watching Hyuga Hiashi quietly.

Hyuga Hiashi shuddered, clearly realizing how inappropriate his behavior had been during this period.

Ever since he received the scroll from Kong, he had been blinded by excitement.

The front lines had urged him repeatedly, yet he had delayed again and again, choosing instead to hold a grand celebration in the village, lost in the fantasy of the Hyuga clan's imminent rise.

But what was the reality?

The reality was...

Before fully deciphering the secrets within the scroll, the Hyuga clan still had to bow their heads; they still could not compare to the Uchiha.

"I understand, Lord Hokage." Hyuga Hiashi lowered his head, his tone complex: "Then I will leave it to the village..."

"Hmm..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, his tone softening slightly, "The village will certainly bring the culprit who stole the Byakugan to justice."

"Yes!"

Hyuga Hiashi bowed deeply, then turned and left.

The office door closed gently, muffling the sound of his heavy footsteps.

No sooner had the door closed than it was pushed open again.

There was no need to think twice to know who had arrived.

"Danzō," Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a calm voice, showing no trace of emotion, "was this Byakugan theft your doing?"

"Byakugan theft?!"

Shimura Danzō felt his heart skip a beat.

His mind raced, quickly reviewing the personnel deployments he had made during this period.

After a brief mental brainstorm, his expression gradually turned gloomy: "Hmph... don't go pinning everything on me."

"If not you, then who?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up sharply, his eyes burning with a fury that Shimura Danzō had never seen in all these years.

"Do you not know the current state of the village?! How can you still be pulling these petty tricks?!"

"Don't think I don't know that you were the one behind the previous Byakugan theft!"

"You..."

Danzō widened his eyes, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen in disbelief.

Given such an uncontrollable rage, if Danzō hadn't known exactly what he had been doing lately, he almost would have believed it himself.

And even if it had been done by members of Root...

How could he, their leader, not know about it?

"It wasn't me!"

Once he realized this, Danzō argued his case firmly, refusing to give an inch.

"Not you..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned.

That wasn't right.

In the past, whenever Danzō did something and was exposed, he would always remain silent, wearing that stubborn look of "I did it, so what are you going to do about it?"

But today...

"Could it really not have been Danzō?"

A strange thought surfaced in his mind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly into Shimura Danzō's eyes, trying to find a flaw in that sinister, single eye.

Shimura Danzō did not back down; instead, the intensity in his gaze even seemed to subtly overpower him.

"..."

"Since that is the case, then I have wronged you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed in an instant; the thunderous rage from a moment ago seemed to have never existed, replaced by a smiling, kindly face.

"Hmph..."

A flicker of triumph crossed Danzō's mind, but he did not forget the purpose of his visit.

"I am leaving the village to discuss the deployment of troops with Salamander Hanzo..."

"If you aren't going to eat barbecue, then we'll be heading off, Captain Qinglan."

Ebisu waved at Hyuga Qinglan.

"Goodbye."

Hyuga Qinglan put down his pen, turned, and waved in acknowledgment.

He walked into the gates of Konoha.

The inspections at the village entrance were much stricter than usual.

People were constantly being stopped and questioned, but those responsible for the checks were all Genin or ordinary Chunin.

The experienced veterans had likely all been transferred to the front lines.

"It seems the village has reached its most critical moment..."

Hyuga Qinglan sighed softly.

The fiftieth year of Konoha was indeed an eventful autumn.

At the beginning of the year was the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, and by mid-year, Kirigakure had made a comeback, leading Danzo to take the elite of Root to Amegakure to seek an alliance, only to return in defeat because of Nagato.

Later on, Sunagakure and Iwagakure joined forces and fought their way to the village gates...

"What a twist of fate..."

He raised his head and looked toward the sky.

The dark clouds were gradually dissipating, and golden sunlight poured down through the gaps, shrouding the entire Konoha in a brilliant radiance, gilding every brick and tile with a golden edge.

"However, the sky always clears eventually."

"Captain Hyuga Qinglan."

A crisp voice called out from behind him.

Hyuga Qinglan paused his steps and slowly turned around.

The post-rain sunlight fell right upon Anko, bright enough to be somewhat dazzling.

The sky had cleared...

"Teacher Orochimaru says he wants to see you."

Anko tilted her head, smiling as she repeated Orochimaru's words.

"He said: 'Even if dried medicinal herbs fall to the ground, their efficacy will be diminished by a few points'~!"