Konoha's Great Thief

How did these lands and spheres of influence come to be?

The Third Hokage was the one who knew best.

During his tenure, two Ninja World wars occurred in succession.

Every war was an opportunity to re-divide the spoils.

As Hokage, he did not interfere openly, but behind the scenes, this influence was always present.

The benefits the Sarutobi Clan devoured were not limited to the reparations ceded by other nations.

There were also the legacies left behind by the clans destroyed by the war.

Fugaku Uchiha also discovered the problem.

From the founding of the village until now, the land and sphere of influence controlled by the Uchiha Clan had not changed at all.

The area of Konoha had expanded several times over, yet their land area remained unchanged; did this not mean they had failed to reap any of the dividends from Konoha's expansion?

In the end, he consoled himself with the thought that at least they had preserved their ancestral foundation.

However, when he looked at the map again, he realized something was wrong.

The center of Konoha was shifting, gradually pushing the Uchiha Clan to the outermost periphery.

Moreover, they were being surrounded on all sides.

This indicated that their influence had not only failed to strengthen but was being gradually devoured.

This left Fugaku Uchiha feeling a bit more bitter inside.

A massive question loomed in his heart!

Should he still trust the Third Hokage?

Finally, his gaze fell upon the newly appointed Minato Namikaze.

It seemed the Uchiha Clan did not have many choices.

Those with agile minds gradually understood the implications, and it seemed they realized something in their hearts!

However, none of them dared to raise any questions.

The Sarutobi Clan and the clans of the several elders were the biggest beneficiaries.

They, too, had feasted on the dividends.

Whether they were satisfied with these dividends was another matter entirely.

The once noisy meeting room fell silent, and the heads of these clans looked at one another.

Their expressions varied, each secretly making comparisons in their hearts.

What had their own clans gained over all these years?

And what had they sacrificed?

The final conclusion was that the effort and the return were disproportionate.

So, where did what they were owed go?

Their gazes turned toward the Third Hokage, the Sarutobi Clan, and the other clans surrounding him.

Minato Namikaze finally saw the two maps, but his thinking remained sharp.

He immediately understood the message Shinichi Hyuga intended to convey.

His gaze fell upon the elders beside him, and a sense of helplessness rose within him.

He appeared to be the Hokage.

Yet, the Third Hokage and the elders held control over every aspect of Konoha.

His administrative orders could not be issued at all.

Even the so-called Anbu, directly under the Hokage, was led by Shinnosuke Sarutobi; take this incident with the Uchiha, for example.

Shinnosuke Sarutobi only informed him after seeking instructions from the Third Hokage.

The role he played was that of a mascot, a clown meant to draw fire for everyone else.

"Wait until after Kushina gives birth? There are still three months."

He recalled the words of the Third Hokage, who had promised to gradually hand over power after Kushina gave birth.

Now, he began to doubt the sincerity of that promise.

He hoped for the time to come quickly; he wanted to do something for Konoha.

He wanted to do something for the civilian ninjas.

Their interests needed protection.

He sighed one last time, yet ultimately chose to compromise.

Every shift in Minato Namikaze's expression fell into the eyes of the Third Hokage, causing him to nod in appreciation.

Choosing Minato Namikaze was truly the most correct decision.

"Let's end today's meeting here! Everyone, dismissed!"

The Third Hokage needed to steer clear of this whirlpool now, so he announced the end of the meeting immediately.

The purpose of today's meeting had been to force the Uchiha clan into submission, and that had already been achieved.

He felt a twinge of regret for challenging Shinichi Hyuga on such an occasion.

As his voice fell.

The surrounding ninja all looked toward the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage stood up, preparing to leave.

Shinichi Hyuga, however, did not intend to let things end so easily.

Otherwise, wouldn't all his preparations have been in vain?

"Wait, I have something to say.

Regarding the Third Hokage's question as to whether I am an unqualified clan head?

I will answer now: I am indeed unqualified.

My clansmen sacrificed so much, yet did not receive the results they deserved. This is a dereliction of duty for all past heads of the Hyuga clan, and it is my dereliction as well!

During the Third Shinobi World War alone, the Hyuga clan sacrificed over three hundred people, amounting to one-fifth of the Hyuga clan's total strength.

In the end, when the spoils of war were distributed, we received less than half of what the Sarutobi clan got!

I am very dissatisfied!"

Shinichi Hyuga's voice was filled with a chill that seeped into the ears of everyone present.

His final challenge to the Third Hokage left everyone gasping.

That was the Third Hokage; how long had it been since anyone dared to speak to him like that?

What exactly was Shinichi Hyuga trying to do?

"Shinichi Hyuga, high casualties do not mean high merit!

Every single contribution is recorded.

Do not question the impartiality of the village's Supervision Squad!"

The Third Hokage had nowhere to hide; Shinichi Hyuga was challenging his authority.

He had experienced such things many times before.

It was also what he was best at: using the village's rules to suppress them.

Because he was the one who made the rules.

"I am questioning the village's Supervision Squad, which is composed entirely of the Sarutobi clan's direct line!

I will make my war contributions public.

Compared to the Fourth Hokage, I am not a bit inferior!

With such contributions, only half of what the Sarutobi clan received? No one will believe that.

You need to convince me, convince everyone here!

Convince the Daimyo!"

Every word Shinichi Hyuga spoke struck a chord with the smaller clans.

On the battlefield, the people they hated most were those who supervised them.

Their war contributions were tallied by those ninja from the Sarutobi clan; everyone knew exactly how much room for manipulation there was.

Shinichi Hyuga first questioned the Sarutobi clan's Supervision Squad.

Then, he compared himself to the Fourth Hokage, and he had the qualifications to do so.

Finally, he produced a vermilion scroll from his hand; it was an order specifically issued by the Daimyo.

He had gone to great lengths to obtain this item from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Seeing the scroll in Shinichi Hyuga's hand, the crowd was shocked.

The Daimyo was the leader of the country, while the Hokage was the leader of the ninja village.

In name, the Daimyo had the authority to supervise and command the Kage.

[In later appearances, one Daimyo even boasted that he would replace the Hokage of Konoha.]

However, all of this was built upon the foundation of strength.

The high degree of autonomy in ninja villages made some Daimyo feel insecure.

To deal with Sarutobi Hiruzen—the longest-serving, most influential leader, known as the Strongest Hokage in History—the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had specifically established the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

It was to protect his own safety!

His thoughts coincided with some of Shinichi Hyuga's ideas!

Both were extremely dissatisfied with the current situation in Konoha!