The Betrayer

"Lord Hokage, although my eyes were blinded by those two ninjas from the Hyuga clan using despicable means, I was fortunate enough to capture them and have already delivered them to the Uchiha Police Force," Kawaki Aoba replied respectfully.

Danzo also stepped forward at the appropriate moment: "As both the Uchiha and the Hyuga are prestigious clans known for their ocular techniques, it is inevitable that they might shield one another. Therefore, I have already sent my own men to interrogate those two, and I am confident that the full truth of the matter will be brought to light."

The smooth exchange between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kawaki Aoba, coupled with Danzo's seemingly pointed remark, left the Hyuga Second Elder with a vague sense that something was amiss.

He could not quite put his finger on what was wrong, but a lingering feeling of unease began to stir deep within him.

As a knock sounded at the door, the anxiety in the Hyuga Second Elder's heart reached its peak.

"Enter." Following Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, a masked ninja walked into the room.

"Reporting to Lord Danzo, the matter has been clarified." The ninja reported respectfully to Danzo; if there were no surprises, this was surely one of the men from Root.

"Since the matter is clear, report it to the Hokage," Shimura Danzo ordered.

"Yes." After a respectful acknowledgment, the Root ninja turned to face Sarutobi Hiruzen and delivered the findings: "Reporting to Lord Hokage, it is as follows: after receiving those two Hyuga ninjas from the Uchiha Police Force, we subjected them to emergency interrogation.

The truth of the matter is that those two received orders from the Hyuga Second Elder to attack a civilian genin named Kawaki Aoba, with instructions to show no mercy. During the ensuing struggle, the two suddenly struck with lethal intent, shattering the goggles Kawaki Aoba was wearing and causing severe damage to his eyes."

"You're full of crap!" Before the Root ninja had even finished speaking, the Hyuga Second Elder burst out in a rage: "I only ordered those two idiots to bring Kawaki Aoba back to our Hyuga clan!"

"Hmph, so you admit it then? Attacking a civilian ninja within the village without cause, deliberately manufacturing a crisis—who gave you Hyuga the audacity to do such a thing?" As if he had finally caught them in a fatal error, Shimura Danzo lashed out at the Hyuga Second Elder without a shred of restraint.

"Enough! Shimura Danzo, do not spit blood and slander us. Our Hyuga clan has never done anything to harm the village. Even if I admit to ordering those two fools to invite Kawaki Aoba back to the Hyuga estate, that is merely a private matter for our clan." Although his complexion was ghastly, the Hyuga Second Elder's tone remained firm.

He knew that since both the Hokage and the Hokage's advisor had intervened, his act of sending those two fools out could no longer be hidden, so he simply admitted to it. He still believed this was just a private family affair for the Hyuga, completely unaware of the gravity of the situation.

"A private Hyuga affair? Lord Hokage, please forgive my presumption, but I cannot agree with the view of the Hyuga Second Elder. I am merely an ordinary civilian ninja belonging to Konoha; when did I ever become involved with the Hyuga clan? Or does the Hyuga Second Elder believe that the affairs of Konoha have already become the private business of your clan?"

Kawaki Aoba's words were sharp, and he said them right in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the already grim expression of the Hyuga Second Elder darkened even further.

What did he mean by saying they treated Konoha's affairs as their own? Such words were not to be spoken in front of the Hokage. Even with the Second Elder's questionable intelligence, he could sense the malice in Kawaki Aoba's words.

He hurriedly explained: "You brat, what are you saying? Of course, the village's affairs are managed by the Hokage. When I spoke of a private matter, I meant you, a brat who has awakened the Byakugan!

As long as you have awakened the Byakugan, you are one of our Hyuga people. How I choose to deal with you is a matter for our clan and does not violate the village's rules."

"That is utterly ridiculous. I am just a civilian ninja, and my peers can testify to that. How could I have awakened the Byakugan? Even if the Hyuga Second Elder wants to frame me, please find a better reason.

Or perhaps the Hyuga Second Elder believes that whenever your clan dislikes a civilian ninja in the village, you can simply claim they have awakened the Byakugan and enforce your clan's rules upon them?

Lord Hokage, such an absurd reason is something I cannot accept. I beg you to uphold justice for me." As he spoke, Kawaki Aoba bowed deeply toward the empty window.

As a blind man who could not see, bowing to the air was perfectly reasonable.

"Ahem." Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed lightly to make his presence felt: "Aoba, rest assured, the village will certainly investigate the truth of this matter. If things are truly as you say, the village will definitely grant you justice. As for the Hyuga clan..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head to look at the Hyuga Second Elder: "Everything must be based on evidence. Since you claim Kawaki Aoba has awakened the Byakugan and is a member of your clan, you must have proof."

The Hyuga Second Elder was struck dumb; he opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

According to the information he had received, Kawaki Aoba had only just awakened the Byakugan. Forget about physical evidence like photographs; there were likely very few people who had even seen him use the Byakugan with their own eyes.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck the Hyuga Second Elder. He remembered the ninja who had passed the information to him.

As if grabbing onto a life-saving straw, he hurriedly said: "Miyamura Ayano, this young genin girl can testify. Her entire squad saw this brat, Kawaki Aoba, awaken the Byakugan while on a mission."

Kawaki Aoba's expression shifted slightly. Miyamura Ayano—if there were no surprises, she must be the one who had sold him out to the Hyuga clan.

She was indeed his former temporary teammate, a senior who was two years ahead of him.

Afterward, with the lead provided by the Hyuga Second Elder, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly dispatched Anbu to bring in Miyamura Ayano's entire squad.

It was a team consisting of a Special Jonin and three genin. Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, all four members appeared quite nervous, Miyamura Ayano most of all.

"Lord Hokage, everyone in this squad can testify that they saw with their own eyes that Kawaki Aoba awakened the Byakugan." The Hyuga Second Elder turned to look at the Special Jonin's squad, his gaze locking onto the only female ninja among them.

However, his heart skipped a beat when, at the moment their eyes met, the underage girl timidly shifted her gaze away from him.

She was avoiding him? Why was she avoiding him?