Breaking Ties

(This is the first of three updates today!)

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"Explain?"

Seeing the Onitetsu thrown in front of him by Uchiha Yue, and then looking at the expressions on Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki's faces, Hyuga Hiashi's mood instantly sank to the bottom. Moreover, staring intently at Uchiha Yue's provocative gaze, even though Hyuga Hiashi was usually able to control his emotions, he couldn't suppress his anger at this moment, and the next second he shouted angrily, "Uchiha Yue, we're all ninjas from Konoha, what explanation do you expect me to give you!"

Hyuga Hiashi probably realized that his actions were somewhat rash, but the die was cast and he had no choice but to act.

Then, with Hyuga Hiashi shielding Hyuga Anya and the others behind him, he faced Uchiha Yue and continued, "My mission is to escort intelligence to the front lines and personally deliver it to Lord Orochimaru! This intelligence concerns the survival of the village, the lives of countless comrades on the front lines! The intelligence must not be lost. Even if I have to divert the attention of those enemy ninjas, sacrificing two Genin like you to ensure the safety of the intelligence is worthwhile!"

"Hyuga Hiashi, you bastard!"

Almost the instant Hyuga Hiashi finished speaking, Kushina Uzumaki punched him in Hyuga Hiashi face, knocking him to the ground. Had Minato Namikaze Kushina Uzumaki not intervened, Kushina Uzumaki likely would have given Hyuga Hiashi beating. However, even with Minato Namikaze there, Kushina Uzumaki couldn't contain her anger, shouting, "Is the information you, Hyuga Hiashi, are important, but aren't Yue and Kakashi's lives important?"

Kushina Uzumaki paused, then pointed her finger further at Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi, continuing, "Tsuki and Kakashi are both Jonin who recently graduated. You're willing to sacrifice their lives for a piece of information? Aren't you ashamed of what you've done? As a Jonin of Konoha Hyuga Clan, is this how you, Hyuga Hiashi Kakashi, protect the village's ninjas? Is this how you betray your comrades?"

"Hmph, is Uchiha Yue even considered one of our comrades?"

When Kushina Uzumaki said this, Hyuga Hiashi had no room for rebuttal. Who would have thought that Hyuga Yexing, would Chunin to spout such nonsense in front of Kushina Uzumaki: "Uchiha Yue is a ninja of the Uchiha Clan Hyuga Clan. What does it matter if he is sacrificed? Besides, after Uchiha Yue dealt with those three Chunin, he showed no intention of helping us. Does that mean Uchiha Yue was right?"

"Hateful.."

Hearing Hyuga Yexing use such a sensitive word as "clan," Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but curse Hyuga Yexing, casting a hostile glance at him. Poor Hyuga Yexing, he still didn't realize there was anything wrong with his words and insisted that his statement was correct.

Then, when Minato Namikaze could no longer contain his anger and fixed his gaze on Hyuga Yexing, he took a deep breath and said, "Hyuga Yexing, you are Hiashi's subordinate, so in principle I have no right to discipline you. However, don't forget that you are a ninja of Konoha, not a Hyuga Clan! Does this mean that Hyuga Clan will betray Konoha? If you still consider yourself a ninja of Konoha, apologize to Tsuki-kun right now!"

"I.."

As soon as Minato Namikaze finished speaking, Hyuga Yexing's face turned bright red, but he still showed no intention of apologizing.

But at that moment, Hyuga Hiashi suddenly slapped Hyuga Yexing across the face, shouting angrily, "Ye Xing, apologize!"

"Yes.."

Hyuga Yexing saw Hyuga Hiashi's angry face, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately went to Uchiha Yue and bowed, saying, "Tsuki-kun, I'm sorry, I was rude just now!"

"You don't need to apologize, you're right about everything."

Seeing the insincere apology, Uchiha Yue realized that he and the Hyuga Clan were now completely at odds, and he had no intention of giving them any face. He then turned to Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki and said, "Minato, Kushina, I think we should continue with the mission, right? Because of Mr. Hyuga Hiashi, our mission has been delayed for too long. Moreover, I feel that Mr. Hyuga Hiashi doesn't need us at all to deliver the information to Lord Orochimaru. Perhaps we should split up!"

"I agree!"

Just as Uchiha Yue was saying this, Hatake Kakashi had been silent until now, spoke up, "Yue and I have already been betrayed once, and we don't want to be betrayed a second time. Minato-sensei, I hope we can split up and stop traveling with these Hyuga Clan guys. Otherwise, if I, Hatake Kakashi, lose my life, I won't even know who killed me!"

"Okay, I understand."

Hearing this from Uchiha Yue and Hatake Kakashi, Minato Namikaze nodded heavily, then looked at Hyuga Hiashi in front of him and said, "Hyuga Hiashi, please forgive Kushina's rudeness earlier; she was just a little agitated. However, none of my team members wish to travel with you, so please forgive me for being unable to help."

"I'm so sorry, Minato- kun."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hiashi accepted the outcome calmly, nodding slightly and saying, "Minato- kun, Kushina, thank you for your care during this time, and for causing you so much trouble. Since your team members do not wish to continue traveling together, I will take my team and leave first."

"Let's go quickly!"

Seeing Hyuga Hiashi still putting on a show, Kushina Uzumaki, whose temper was always short-tempered, sneered and said, "And Hyuga Hiashi, don't ever let that hypocritical face of yours appear in front of me again, or I, Kushina Uzumaki, will beat you every time I see you!" Kushina Uzumaki paused slightly, then, as if suddenly remembering something, turned to Hyuga Hiashi and said, "Oh, right, there's something else I need to ask you about. Don't even think about asking Minato for help from Jiraiya- sensei! Our Jiraiya- sensei would never help someone like you who betrayed your village comrades!"

"..."

When Kushina Uzumaki said this, a hint of regret flashed in Hyuga Hiashi's eyes, which was clearly caught by Uchiha Yue. Obviously, Hyuga Hiashi had sought help from Minato Namikaze to get Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, to help him. To reach the pinnacle of the Hyuga Clan, he needed Jiraiya's help to make the Hyuga Clan the second most powerful clan in Konoha.

Unfortunately, Hyuga Hiashi's plans have now completely fallen apart, and it's even uncertain whether he can maintain his friendship with Minato Namikaze.

In the end, Hyuga Hiashi only sigh deeply, and then disappeared from the sight of Uchiha Tsuki and the others, along with Hyuga Anya Uchiha Yue and Hyuga Yexing.

However, as Hyuga Hiashi and the others were leaving, Uchiha Yue clearly noticed that Hyuga Anya turned back to look at him a few times with lingering reluctance.

Goodbye, Moon!