Konoha F4 Magnates' Meeting! Danzo is Stunned!

"Hiashi Hyuga went to the Uchiha Clan Compound early this morning?"

"And he even brought his daughter Hinata with him???"

Hearing the report from the half-kneeling ANBU below, Sarutobi Hiruzen was utterly stunned. His mouth fell slightly open, his face filled with disbelief.

Hiashi Hyuga was the head of the Hyuga Clan. What was he doing at the Uchiha Clan Compound?

As the Hyuga Clan head, did he not understand what such an action implied?

Why had he brought his daughter Hinata along???

An engagement?

Hinata was only three years old, wasn't she?

Although she was close in age to Fugaku's second son, wasn't this far too early?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts were in turmoil.

The Hyuga and Uchiha had made contact.

What were Konoha's two strongest ninja clans planning to do?

"Send someone to invite Hiashi over."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the order in a grave voice.

The most urgent matter was to bring Hiashi over and ask what he was thinking.

There was no reason for the Hyuga Clan to betray him. What benefit could they gain by joining forces with the Uchiha?

From what he knew of Hiashi's character, he did not seem like the sort of person who would gamble his clan's fate on something like this.

"Yes!"

Whoosh!

The half-kneeling ANBU below vanished.

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked his pipe with a troubled mind.

Wisps of smoke rose from the pipe stem, making his gloomy face appear hazy and indistinct.

The stimulation from the tobacco made his mind considerably more active.

Hiashi could not possibly betray him.

The Hyuga were unlike the Uchiha. They were known for their orderliness and adherence to rules. Moreover, much of the Hyuga Clan's authority rested with the elders of the main family.

Even as clan head, Hiashi could not decide everything concerning the Hyuga Clan.

Thinking this, the oppression in his heart vanished.

About ten minutes later, the ANBU who had left returned.

"How was it? Has Hiashi come?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with a smile.

The half-kneeling ANBU's gaze darted about as he stammered.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Hiashi is... is unwell and unable to come to the Hokage's office to see you..."

Clack!

The pipe fell onto his thigh.

Scorching ash scattered across the floor.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression froze.

Then, in a hoarse voice, he said, "Go invite Utatane Koharu and advisor Mitokado Homura at once. And Danzo as well. Bring them all here!"

A few minutes later.

Konoha F4 gathered in the Hokage's office.

"Hiruzen, what's so urgent that you called us here in such a rush?"

Utatane Koharu asked with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, this doesn't suit your usual temperament."

Mitokado Homura was also somewhat curious.

Danzo remained silent, his gaze cold and gloomy.

"This is the intelligence I just received. Take a look."

Sarutobi Hiruzen handed them a scroll, a trace of gravity in his eyes.

Utatane Koharu accepted it and began reading it carefully.

The further she read, the uglier her expression became.

Mitokado Homura noticed his abnormal reaction and curiously took the scroll.

"What is it? How did even you..."

His expression suddenly froze.

His eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Mitokado Homura stiffened on the spot.

Danzo, standing beside him, sneered.

"Is it about Hiashi visiting the Uchiha Clan Compound this morning?"

"You already knew, Danzo?"

Mitokado Homura looked at him in surprise.

"Of course."

Danzo snorted coldly.

"I'm not as slow-witted as you lot. Have you forgotten the teachings of the Second Hokage? The Uchiha are a clan born evil. When dealing with them, you must always prepare for the worst."

"The moment Hiashi entered the Uchiha Clan Compound, the informant I planted had already sent the intelligence back."

The air in the Hokage's office fell into a brief silence.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both wore extremely grave expressions.

Hiashi Hyuga was the head of the Hyuga Clan. Why had he personally gone to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound?

If Konoha's two greatest ninja clans joined forces...

How were they supposed to stop them?

"Danzo, since you received the intelligence long ago, what do you make of this?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked in a low voice from behind the Hokage's desk.

"In my view, the chance of the Hyuga joining forces with the Uchiha is extremely low. There is basically no need to worry."

Danzo sneered confidently.

"The Hyuga are unlike the Uchiha. Their clan is conservative and rigid. Even if Hiashi truly wanted to form an alliance with the Uchiha, the clan elders would be the first to oppose it."

"I suspect this is undoubtedly a scheme by those Uchiha. Their goal is to disrupt our judgment and make us hesitate."

"Hmph! The Second Hokage was indeed right. The Uchiha are a clan born evil. They can even come up with something so insidious."

After hearing Danzo's words, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu nodded.

Danzo's reasoning made sense.

The odds of the Hyuga joining forces with the Uchiha were low.

The Hyuga had deep roots in Konoha, and their relationship with the Hokage's faction had always been close.

Hiashi had no reason to take such a huge risk and seek an alliance with the Uchiha, who were the target of public criticism.

Even if Hiashi truly had such intentions, the Hyuga elders would stop him immediately.

Those rotten old men with one foot in the grave would never allow Hiashi to touch their interests.

"At first, I thought the same. But..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a sigh.

"The ANBU I sent to invite Hiashi back brought troubling news."

"What news?"

Utatane Koharu asked.

"After returning from the Uchiha Clan Compound, Hiashi claimed to be ill and refused to see any visitors. He even directly declined my invitation."

The Hokage's office fell deathly silent.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who had only just relaxed, instantly widened their eyes, their pupils trembling faintly.

Hiashi had voluntarily claimed illness and refused to see visitors???

He had even declined the Third Hokage's invitation?

Danzo's lone eye, visible beyond his bandages, held the same shock and disbelief.

The confidence on his face vanished at once.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the reactions of his old friends and sighed, shaking his head slightly.

When he had first learned this news not long ago, his expression had been exactly the same as theirs was now.

Since Hiashi had clearly not formed an alliance with the Uchiha, why had he shut himself away from visitors the moment he returned to his clan?

Or rather, what exactly had happened at the Uchiha Clan Compound that made the ever-steady Hiashi Hyuga choose to respond to the outside world in such a manner?

"Hiruzen, this matter is likely far more complicated than we imagined."

Mitokado Homura spoke gravely.