The Thief Catches the Thief, Then Bites Back

"Yes, Clan Head!"

An Uchiha clan ninja responded respectfully and departed.

"Clan Head, I am fine."

Uchiha Ryosuke held the little girl's soft, fragrant body, then suddenly realized something and hurriedly said, "These guys might be ninjas from the Cloud Village. Please, Clan Head, destroy everything on them that could prove their identities."

"Hmm?"

Uchiha Fugaku was stunned for a moment, then his expression shifted slightly, and he immediately ordered his subordinates to search the three men.

Without a doubt, they successfully discovered items on these people that could confirm their identities.

Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku did not hesitate to use a Fire Style jutsu to burn those items until nothing remained.

"Hinata!"

A middle-aged man in fine robes suddenly rushed in from outside the crowd, causing the Uchiha clan ninjas to become alert.

However, Uchiha Fugaku shook his head, allowing the man to approach.

He took the little girl into his arms.

"Papa..."

Hyuga Hinata's small body trembled slightly, and she finally couldn't help but burst into loud sobs.

"Damn it!"

Hearing his daughter's cries, Hyuga Hiashi looked at the corpses of the ninjas on the ground, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Uchiha Clan Head."

Hyuga Hiashi took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Thank you for saving my daughter. I owe you a favor for this."

"You are too formal, Hyuga Clan Head."

Uchiha Fugaku chuckled, "You shouldn't be thanking us, but Ryosuke. If he hadn't held those ninjas off, we wouldn't have been able to save your daughter."

"Ryosuke, is it?"

Hyuga Hiashi looked at Uchiha Ryosuke, who had a kunai still lodged in his shoulder, was covered in blood, and was so pale and weak that he couldn't even stand.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of respect, and said solemnly, "For this matter, my Hyuga clan owes you a favor. If you ever have need, you may come to the Hyuga clan to find me at any time."

"Hyuga Clan Head..."

Uchiha Ryosuke appeared 'terrified and overwhelmed,' attempting to stand up only to 'weakly' collapse back onto the ground.

"Why haven't the medical ninjas arrived yet?"

Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but roar in anger, "What are you all doing?"

As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku prepared to personally pick up Uchiha Ryosuke to take him to the medical ninjas.

"Uchiha Clan Head! Hyuga Clan Head!"

A ninja wearing a mask suddenly appeared and said calmly, "The Hokage requests your presence."

"Whatever it is, it can wait until I get Ryosuke treated!"

Uchiha Fugaku said bluntly.

The Anbu were all the Hokage's dogs, and they had never gotten along with the Uchiha clan.

After all, the Hokage had appointed the Uchiha clan as the Konoha Military Police Force, yet now he had created the Anbu to stand in direct opposition to them.

Wasn't this clearly an attempt to alienate and target their Uchiha clan?

"The Hokage requests that both of you come now."

The Anbu ninja said, neither humble nor pushy.

"You..."

Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned grim; these guys were truly holding the Uchiha clan in less and less regard.

"Clan Head, the Hokage's business is urgent."

Uchiha Ryosuke said weakly, "If you are worried, Clan Head, just bring me along."

"No..."

Uchiha Fugaku wanted to refuse, given how severely injured Uchiha Ryosuke was.

"Let's go together."

Hyuga Hiashi said calmly, "As it happens, I also have some things to ask the Hokage."

"Fine."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded helplessly, and together with Hyuga Hiashi, he headed toward the Hokage's office building with Uchiha Ryosuke.

Both were Jonin and possessed great speed.

However, they had to look after the two children, so they both slowed their pace.

Accompanying them on either side were guards from the Hyuga clan and the Uchiha clan, respectively.

It was less a visit to the Hokage and more a mission to hold him accountable.

However, the two had barely arrived in front of the Hokage's office.

When they heard the sound of questioning emanating from within.

"Third, you must give our Kumogakure a satisfactory explanation for this matter!"

"Our Kumogakure came with sincerity to negotiate a ceasefire with Konoha, yet our envoy has gone missing in Konoha!"

"If you do not give us an explanation, then it is war! Our Kumogakure will not accept any form of insult!"

The man's voice was incredibly loud, audible even to Uchiha Fugaku and the others outside the door.

Or rather, the man was deliberately raising his voice.

His goal was to force the Third Hokage to take a stance.

"Bang!"

Hearing the man's voice, Uchiha Fugaku pushed the door open in a fit of rage. "An explanation? What kind of explanation does your Kumogakure want?"

"Uchiha Fugaku?"

The Fourth Raikage narrowed his eyes as he looked at the man who had suddenly barged in, then glanced at the Third Hokage standing to the side.

The Third was currently staring at his own nose, completely detached, looking as if he had no intention of intervening.

The Fourth Raikage sneered; it was exactly as he had anticipated.

The discord between the Hokage and the Uchiha clan had already been brought out into the open.

This was precisely why, despite Konoha possessing the greatest strength, they had failed to gain any advantage in several Ninja World Wars due to their incessant internal strife.

"Grandpa Hokage!"

A childish, tearful voice suddenly rang out inside the office. "There are bad people trying to kill me, you must stand up for me!"

The Fourth Raikage, who had just been about to speak, froze.

The Third Hokage, who had been prepared to shift the blame and watch the show, also stiffened.

"Grandpa Hokage."

Uchiha Ryosuke looked at the Third Hokage with a pitiful expression, sobbing, "Someone just ran into my house to kill me, and they even said they wanted to gouge out my eyes. I was so scared..."

"Don't be afraid, good child."

The Third Hokage's smile was slightly stiff as he looked at the kunai Uchiha Ryosuke had re-inserted into his own shoulder, as well as the wound that was still bleeding.

Coupled with the boy's young, pale face—drained of all color—the Third didn't know what to say.

He had seen everything that happened just moments ago!

"Wuwuwu~"

Uchiha Ryosuke wailed fake tears while sneering inwardly.

Kumogakure might seem like simple-minded brutes who were honest and straightforward.

But in reality, not a single one of them was a good person.

They were using the tactic of the villain filing a complaint first to establish the "victim" narrative with the Hokage, only to then demand that Konoha pay a price.

In the original story, Kumogakure had exploited the Third Hokage's weakness.

They seized upon the Third's desire to end the war as quickly as possible, forcing the Hyuga clan to hand over the culprit.

In the end, Hyuga Hizashi died in place of Hyuga Hiashi, and his body was taken by Kumogakure.

Both Byakugan were then transplanted into others.

And the Hokage wasn't a good person either.

Setting aside his suppression of the Uchiha—which was Konoha's political correctness—this old man lacked any sense of responsibility as a leader.

He preached that everything was for the sake of Konoha, yet he would sacrifice anyone without a moment's hesitation.

And he would even do so to the Hyuga clan, who had given their all for the village.

Uchiha Ryosuke had always felt that Konoha was truly cursed to have a piece of trash like the Third as their Hokage.