As the Hyuga Clan's succession ceremony drew ever closer...
In Jin Bao San's words, "I smell another bloody storm brewing~"
Quite a few merchants, envoys from various countries, and even nobles had arrived in the village, openly submitting the proper paperwork.
Konoha had no way to bar their entry. Otherwise, other countries would ban people from Konoha from passing through in the future.
They couldn't break the rules.
They could only assign more people to patrol and surveillance duties.
Then the Konoha F4 found another excuse to summon Hyuga Hiashi and Qingwu to discuss important matters.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Utatane Koharu a meaningful look.
Utatane Koharu said sternly, "Why didn't the Hyuga Clan notify the village before changing its clan head?"
"This is all a mess of your own making. The Hyuga Clan will cover the village's losses over these past few days, along with the resources spent assigning additional surveillance personnel."
Hyuga Hiashi frowned. "You're joking, Elder Koharu. Changing our clan head is an internal Hyuga matter. Why would we need to report it to the village...?"
Utatane Koharu cut Hiashi off. "Are you still part of Konoha or not? If you are, shouldn't you obey the Hokage's orders? You took it upon yourselves to change your clan head..."
Hyuga Hiashi stood his ground. "The First established the rule that the Hokage must not interfere in any clan's internal affairs. What?! Is Advisor Koharu planning to break that rule now?!"
Utatane Koharu said haughtily, "Insolence! Who do you think you're talking to? Is this wet-behind-the-ears brat even worth our attention? In any case, he is not permitted to become clan head."
"And cancel that ridiculous succession ceremony of yours. Just look at the mess you've made of the village..."
Hyuga Hiashi's face turned ashen. "So, is that your decision, or the Third's? If we cancel the ceremony, how is the Hyuga Clan supposed to hold its head up in the Ninja World? What about our dignity?"
Utatane Koharu said, "Never mind whose decision it is. We're still discussing this with you for now. Don't regret it when we take action. What does your Hyuga dignity matter...?"
"Hold on~ hold on~" Qingwu stood up, his expression icy. Beside him, Hyuga Hiashi's face was just as cold.
"Advisor Koharu, was it?"
Utatane Koharu glared. "Brat, do you have any right to speak here? Who gave you permission to interrupt me?"
"Have you no manners? Your parents are dead, after all..."
Boom!
"Shut your mouth, you old hag!" Qingwu unleashed an overwhelming aura. Smack! Smack, smack, smack! A flurry of slaps flashed out.
"You..." A mouthful of teeth flew out.
She wanted to say more, but the killing intent in Qingwu's eyes left Utatane Koharu feeling as though she had plunged into an icy abyss. Her body trembled uncontrollably, as if something were restraining her and preventing her from moving.
"Say one more word, and I will kill you," Qingwu said coldly. In the end, he did not kill Utatane Koharu, but a streak of black light had entered her body while he struck her. No one had reacted in time. Qingwu had moved too fast.
"Hyuga Seigo, what are you doing? Attacking the High Command—are you planning to defect?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were both shocked. Then they watched Hyuga Seigo warily, preparing for battle.
"Can we be reasonable here? I am Hyuga Seigo, the new Clan Head of the Hyuga Clan."
"I could let it slide when she kept calling me a brat, but she insulted my parents too. Not killing her was already a courtesy."
"What?! Are you going to hold me responsible, Lord Hokage?!"
"Don't bother sending those small fry in. Why don't you try me yourself? It would be a perfect chance to learn from your skills, Lord Hokage."
Hyuga Seigo paid no mind to their accusations. From the moment he decided to reveal himself, he had no intention of keeping up the act. "No wonder someone said the secret to a healthy mindset is settling grudges on the spot..."
I don't eat beef.
"Haha~ Qingwu, what are you doing?! We in Konoha are one big, loving family."
"Koharu misspoke just now, and you've already taught her a lesson. For my sake, let's leave it at that, all right?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was a smiling tiger. Though furious inside, he maintained his dignity as Hokage and played peacemaker.
This brat is fearless. He must have something up his sleeve. If I clash with him in the Hokage Building, it'll be my turf that gets wrecked. There's no need to create more trouble at a critical moment like this.
"Ahaha~ of course! I certainly have to show Lord Hokage respect. I'm just a child who doesn't know any better, throwing a little tantrum. Sorry, Old Lady Koharu..."
"Please forgive me."
Qingwu was shameless too. Taking the offered way out, he helped Utatane Koharu up with a face full of remorse and apologized to her.
Everyone was stunned.
Holy shit~ this brat's acting is better than all of ours.
A born politician.
The senior officials were wary; Hiashi was pleased.
When people had nothing in common, even half a sentence was too much.
The two sides parted on bad terms.
The Konoha F4's private meeting continued.
Seeing that Utatane Koharu could no longer hold on...
"Homura~ take Koharu downstairs." Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to tell Mitokado Homura to take her to a doctor.
"Danzo, this won't work."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, a trace of worry and resolve in his eyes. "Striking at the Hyuga during the Handover Ceremony...
"Would be the same as telling every major ninja village that Konoha has internal divisions. That is absolutely unacceptable." His voice was low and firm, carrying unquestionable authority.
"So you don't want the Secret Medicine anymore?!" Danzo's expression turned mocking. Who are you trying to fool? You probably want it even more than I do...
Though he harbored a powerful desire for authority deep down, as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood the importance of maintaining the village's stability and unity. "I want it, but not now."
Konoha was facing tremendous pressure and challenges. If internal strife broke out now, it would bring disastrous consequences upon the entire village.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew very well that Konoha was not as strong as it appeared. Kakashi and the others might have achieved glorious victories on the battlefield over the past year and earned widespread fame.
But the price behind those victories had been enormous. The village's elites had been working nonstop, carrying out all kinds of difficult elimination missions. Every one of them was exhausted to the limit.
If news broke now that Konoha's factions were attacking one another, it might prompt the other ninja villages to turn on them en masse.
Those elite squads and Anbu members had been working under intense conditions for a long time, enduring tremendous physical and mental strain. Heavy losses would severely affect Konoha's combat strength and future development.
These people were Konoha's foundation, the hope of the village's prosperity. If infighting wiped out a generation of talent, Konoha would face an unprecedented crisis and might even fall into decline. The Sarutobi Clan would be in danger too. He would never allow that.
Sarutobi Hiruzen drew a deep breath, his gaze growing more resolute. "We cannot let the village descend into internal strife. We must stand united and face external threats together."
"As for making a move against the Hyuga..."
"At the very least, not now."
At the end,
He added another line.
"I understand."
"But Sarutobi, don't you want to know what the Hyuga have up their sleeves? They've suddenly become so conspicuous..."
In the end, Danzo still slipped that in. He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen all too well: suspicious and obsessed with control.
"In any case, I will not allow people from the same village to kill one another."
Sarutobi Hiruzen still answered calmly.
"Heh~ I understand."
With that, Danzo turned and left, because he had already gotten the answer he wanted.
Sarutobi, you're as hypocritical as ever~
So they just can't be villagers, is that it?
The Ninja World...
Had no shortage of...
Stray dogs who would work for money.
Hyuga, hmph~
Before you continue