"I disagree with Mitokado Homura."
In the crowd below, Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, rose to his feet and challenged Mitokado Homura.
Only then did everyone remember that besides the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan was also a staunch supporter of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze.
Right after Shisui had finished speaking, he had already given Hyuga Hiashi a signal so he could be prepared.
At that moment, the groundwork Shisui had laid came into play.
"I believe the village's current internal and external situation is different from what it was during the First and Seconds' eras."
By standing up to speak, Hyuga Hiashi had already offended Third Hiruzen Sarutobi. He had no choice but to risk everything and follow Shisui Uchiha down this path to the bitter end.
"During the First and Seconds' eras, both Hokage possessed extraordinary strength and commanded the Shinobi World's respect. They chose peace because the village was powerful enough to defend itself, and foreign enemies didn't dare invade. The two Hokage chose peace so the villagers could be spared the ravages of war." As the head of one of Konoha's great clans, Hyuga Hiashi was certainly eloquent enough to make his case.
"But the village is weaker now than it was back then, which has brought enemies to our borders from all sides. If we keep giving ground and making concessions in the name of peace, all we'll get is enemies pushing even harder. The village will never achieve true peace that way."
Hyuga Hiashi's words represented the hard-line stance of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze.
When Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, many of the neutral factions present couldn't help nodding in agreement. The Shinobi World was governed by the law of the jungle. They couldn't entrust peace to the mercy of their enemies.