"Shisui..."
He hadn't expected Shisui Uchiha to support him so staunchly at a time like this. Even Hiashi Hyuga, a political creature through and through, couldn't help feeling strangely moved.
"But will Lord Hokage believe me? Even if he trusts me, what about Kumogakure? The village just signed a peace treaty with them. What if—what if..."
The possible consequences were more than Hiashi could bear.
Seeing that the time was right, Shisui finally played his trump card.
"If you're still worried, Clan Head Hiashi, I, Shisui Uchiha, can take responsibility. We can tell everyone that I killed the Kumogakure envoy."
"What?!" Hiashi stared at Shisui in disbelief.
If Shisui's earlier offer of support could be taken as an investment, then his willingness to shoulder all the blame now made Hiashi wary, clearing his head in an instant.
"I said I can take responsibility for killing the Kumogakure envoy." Meeting Hiashi's gaze, Shisui spoke slowly and clearly.
That was when Hiashi became certain Shisui wasn't joking.
Hiashi studied Shisui for a moment before asking, "Then what price would I personally—or the Hyuga Clan—have to pay?"
Hiashi was a clever man. Rather than accept the other party's help and then be forced to agree to their demands, he would rather hear those demands first and decide whether he could afford the price.
Seeing this, Shisui stated his terms without hesitation.
"I want the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan to sign an alliance, pledging to stand together in war and peace. I also want the Hyuga Clan to publicly support Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and back his efforts to consolidate control of the village."
"What? Impossible."
Hiashi rejected Shisui's proposal outright.
"The Hyuga Clan won't stake the future of the entire clan on you Uchiha and the Fourth Hokage. Your demands are