The night was quiet.
Kushina Uzumaki told Minato Namikaze how Naruto had moved her.
The heaviness in Minato's heart eased somewhat.
He had gone in person to state his position to the Hyuga Clan, but all he got in return was an even firmer answer.
To protect their clan and the village, the Hyuga Clan was willing to sacrifice one of their own.
"There's still a chance. We just need to find the right moment."
Kushina encouraged Minato.
The night was cold and desolate.
Candlelight flickered in the Hyuga Clan's home.
Two brothers who looked very much alike sat on opposite sides of the candlelight.
"I'm willing to do it." Hizashi Hyuga reaffirmed his decision. "Our Hyuga Clan can't be the cause of a war."
Hyuga Hiashi wrapped his arms around his knees, his heart heavy. "The Fourth Hokage doesn't agree with our decision. Though the Hyuga Clan isn't close to him, we can't ignore his opinion. You'll have to wait a little."
Waiting could become a torment.
The situation grew more and more dire.
Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning threatened Konoha again. If they refused to hand over the body of the Hyuga Clan leader, they would come and take it themselves.
The clouds of war hung over the Third Hokage and the Council of Elders.
Danzo was still stirring things up in secret. He even genuinely wanted Kumogakure and Konoha to go to war. Only in the chaos could he realize his ambitions.
The pressure on Minato was also mounting. He had taken a hard line and couldn't afford to back down.
The key to Naruto's training was persistence. He didn't rush to learn ninjutsu, instead focusing on conditioning his body and steadily growing stronger with Might Guy's simplified training method.
In a secluded grove.
Naruto punched a solid wooden post.
"Gate of Opening, open!"
Naruto's physical fitness was now enough to open the Eight Inner Gates.
The Gate of Opening released the brain's restraints, and Naruto unleashed all the energy in his body.
His punch bent the wooden post.
"So strong, and so fast, too." Naruto adjusted to moving in this state.
Notice. The host cannot open the Gate of Healing yet!
Naruto closed the Gate of Opening and returned to his normal state.
"Opening the Eight Inner Gates makes me burn through chakra several times faster. I need to get better at controlling how I use it." Faced with each challenge in his training, Naruto looked for a way to overcome it.
Another day was about to end.
Just as Naruto was getting ready to head back, his ring finger twitched a few times.
"Come to my house right away!"
Hinata had sent him a message.
Naruto cheerfully replied, "We haven't seen each other in days. Have you missed me?"
"Something big is happening. Help! I'm desperate."
"I'll be right there." Naruto leaped toward the Hyuga Clan's home.
At the side gate, Naruto met up with Hinata.
"Hinata, is someone bullying you?" Naruto asked with concern, taking her little hand in his.
Hinata led Naruto into the Hyuga Clan's compound. "Naruto, I just saw Uncle Hizashi preparing a knife to kill himself. I'm scared he's going to die because of me."
Tears spilled down Hinata's cheeks. "Naruto, a few nights ago, I was caught in a genjutsu and almost abducted by a ninja from the Land of Lightning. But my father rescued me in time. He killed that ninja, and now the Land of Lightning is using that as an excuse to demand the body of our clan leader. Otherwise, they'll wage war against Konoha."
"I heard it when Dad and Uncle were arguing. I don't want Dad to die, and I don't want Uncle to die either. Naruto, what do you think we should do?"
Naruto condemned them. "The Land of Lightning is acting like a band of bandits. We shouldn't take them seriously. Adults get stuck in their own way of thinking and can't see right from wrong. Hinata, don't worry. I'll go reason with Uncle Hizashi."
"Thank you, Naruto!" Hinata quickly led him to the room where Hizashi Hyuga was preparing to kill himself.
Naruto gestured for Hinata to go in with him.
Hinata gathered her courage.
Bang!
Naruto used a little too much force when opening the door.
The Hyuga Clan's doors were such poor quality.
Naruto pulled the doorframe right off.
The moment was a little awkward.
The room's heavy, solemn atmosphere was shattered.
The resolve Hizashi Hyuga had just steeled himself for wavered, too.
"Hinata, what are you doing here?" Hizashi Hyuga felt some resentment toward Hinata, but mostly he felt helpless.
The conflict between the Main Family and Branch Family wasn't something that could be resolved in just one or two generations.
Naruto walked over and sat down in front of Hizashi Hyuga. "Sir, please don't ignore me. I'm Naruto."
Hizashi Hyuga slid the knife under the table and looked at Naruto coldly. "Who you are doesn't matter. No one welcomes rude people."
Naruto could feel the pressure Hizashi Hyuga put on him. Hizashi was no weakling.
"Sir, I can tell you're a man of conviction, but I still want to say this: choosing death is incredibly foolish."
"Hmph. You think I'd find a child's words reasonable?" Hizashi Hyuga guessed why Naruto had come.
Hinata must have brought him here.
Naruto continued, "How strong is the Land of Lightning? How strong is Konoha? Sir, think about it for yourself. Would a war really break out just because they made a verbal threat?"
"If the Land of Lightning truly wanted to go to war with Konoha, would they make such a loud threat? Wars are always the result of long plotting or a sudden attack. So I can say for certain that the Land of Lightning doesn't have the courage to truly go to war with Konoha right now."
Hizashi Hyuga began to doubt his decision, but Naruto hadn't fully persuaded him yet.
"All right, Uncle Hizashi. Let's make a reasonable guess."
"Say you sacrifice yourself. There are only two possible reasons: protecting your clan and protecting the village."
"First, let's talk about protecting your clan. Would your sacrifice make your family happy? Hinata would certainly feel guilty. Your wife and children would lose you. No matter how noble the reason, they'd be the ones to suffer most. Your wife would be left alone, and your children would resent the clan, leaving trouble for the future."
"Now let's talk about protecting the village. The village needs everyone to protect it, but it needs its dignity even more."
"If one threat from the Land of Lightning makes the Hyuga Clan leader in Konoha kill himself, no one who doesn't know the truth will think you were protecting the village. They'll only think Konoha has grown weaker. And then everyone will look down on Konoha. Isn't that the most likely outcome?"
"Your death would be meaningless, and it would only bring even greater harm to the village."
Hizashi Hyuga was jolted awake. "How can a child have such deep insight?"
"Sir, worry can cloud our judgment. Konoha is the one in the right. Only the living have a chance to change things. Give yourself a chance, and give the Hyuga Clan and Konoha a chance to restore their dignity."
"You're no ordinary child." Hizashi Hyuga felt reassured, and his eyes burned as he looked at Naruto.
Naruto smiled calmly. "If you can understand, then everyone wins. Let's see whether the Land of Lightning dares to actually start a war. If it comes to that, I hope you'll lend Konoha your strength."
Before you continue