The Hyuga Clan Must Make a Sacrifice, for Konoha!

A few minutes later, Ao's body collapsed to the ground.

"Ao-sama, we need to return to the village at once! Your injuries need treatment." A chunin pulled out a medical ninja tool kit and began bandaging Ao's wounds.

"No, go back to Konoha! Don't treat me. Even if I die, carry me back so I can die in Konoha." Ao raised a hand to stop the chunin.

The expressions of the several chunin stiffened.

"My lord, you—" One chunin still wanted to persuade him.

"Carry out the order!" Ao's voice was resolute. Having lost the Byakugan, what value would he have left if he returned to the Hidden Mist Village?

What might they encounter on the way back?

That person's goal was for me to return to Konoha!

He could only use his own life, along with the lives of these chunin, to trade for something in Konoha.

After saying that, Ao's consciousness began to fade.

The chunin hurriedly used the carriage compartment to make a crude stretcher, then carried Ao and rushed toward Konoha.

Half an hour later, at the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The people from the Hidden Mist Village rushed in, carrying the unconscious Ao.

The two gate guards saw the aggressive-looking Hidden Mist group and wanted to stop them, only to discover that they were carrying Ao, whose fate was unknown.

Things had become complicated.

Just an hour earlier, the two of them had been celebrating the successful peace talks. The negotiations had gone exceptionally smoothly, yet an accident had come out of nowhere.

"Kotetsu, go inform the Hokage. I'll lead them inside."

Izumo Kamizuki sent Kotetsu Hagane to report the matter while he led the Hidden Mist group toward Konoha Hospital.

As the incident unfolded, the entire Hidden Leaf Village went on alert. Even the area where Uchiha Feng was staying was placed under restrictions. Sarutobi Ippei personally came to explain that ninja spies were carrying out sabotage operations.

The atmosphere inside the Hokage Building was even more tense.

Every senior official currently in the village, including jonin squad leaders and the heads of the major clans, had gathered there.

The Hokage's office, which usually seemed spacious, now felt somewhat crowded.

"Kotetsu, report what you saw." The Third Hokage sat in his designated seat, biting down on his pipe without lighting it.

"Yes. Izumo and I were on duty at the gates as usual. More than two hours ago, the Hidden Mist peace delegation had already left the village.

Then, half an hour ago, they suddenly barged back in, bringing the severely wounded Ao with them. Ao's injuries were especially grave. One of his arms was missing, and the controversial Byakugan he possessed had also been destroyed.

Their group was also missing the Minister of Ceremonies and a chunin. The Konoha Anbu assigned to protect them had not appeared.

The other chunin in the delegation were extremely wary when they saw us, yet they also seemed prepared to die!"

Kotetsu Hagane cautiously glanced at the influential figures around him. His gaze stopped for several seconds in the direction of the Hyuga Clan.

"Who was protecting them?" Shimura Danzo, seated beside the Third Hokage, spoke in a gloomy voice.

"Kotetsu, you may leave first. At a time like this, Konoha needs you to guard the first line of defense." The Third Hokage removed the pipe from his mouth and spoke to Kotetsu Hagane.

After Kotetsu Hagane left, the Third Hokage swept his gaze around the room before finally settling it on Danzo.

"Danzo, you were responsible for the safety of the peace delegation, weren't you?" The Third Hokage questioned Danzo. The entire matter had been your responsibility, yet you were asking who had protected them?

"Hokage-sama, this escort mission was issued by Danzo-sama through the mission center as an A-rank mission. It was accepted by the Anbu ninja Saori Inuzuka, Yuzuru Aburame, and Hayato Moonlight."

A jonin from the Sarutobi Clan, standing beside the Third Hokage, reported in a low voice.

The Third Hokage was taken aback. Such an important mission had only been listed as A-rank. Though those three were jonin, they had not formed a true unit and were not a top-tier jonin squad.

The Third Hokage had a headache. Seeing Shimura Danzo's expression, he knew Danzo truly had not been behind this.

But so what? When there was no clue where to place the blame, pinning it on him was the right move.

"The priority now is how to resolve the attack on the Hidden Mist peace delegation. Danzo, you should bear primary responsibility." The Third Hokage spoke casually, already defining the nature of the matter.

Shimura Danzo's face darkened further, as though he might erupt at any moment.

Hadn't he merely wanted to save some money? Who would dare attack them at a time like this? Could it have been those reckless brutes from the Land of Lightning?

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door. Everyone was surprised. At a time like this, someone still wanted to enter?

"Come in!" Even the Third Hokage's voice carried a trace of anger.

Izumo Kamizuki walked in.

The gazes of all Konoha's higher-ups converged on him.

A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he forced himself to report under the pressure.

"Hokage-sama, the Hidden Mist ninjas at Konoha Hospital have caused a disturbance! During a scuffle, one of the chunin died amid the chaos. Preliminary investigations indicate suicide, but they are still making trouble.

Ao has also awakened. According to him, the attacker was a child from the Uchiha Clan who floated through the air.

They demand that we hand over the Uchiha Clan culprit and compensate them with a Byakugan.

They also told me to bring this peace agreement to Elder Danzo and have him fulfill its terms again."

As he spoke, Izumo respectfully presented the peace agreement in his hand to the Third Hokage.

"How are Ao's injuries now?" The Third Hokage gestured for him to place it on the desk, then asked.

"The medical ninjas have diagnosed him as being in mortal danger at any moment. His path as a ninja has also been cut off. His right arm was blown to pieces, and his Byakugan was destroyed as well."

Izumo Kamizuki relayed Konoha Hospital's diagnosis.

"You may leave. Go to Konoha Hospital and convey my order: spare no effort to preserve Ao's life." The Third Hokage let out a heavy breath, though it was unclear whether he was relieved or troubled.

Those conditions seemed harsh, but there was still some room for negotiation. Most importantly, Ao had to stay alive.

After Izumo Kamizuki withdrew.

The entire office fell into deathly silence.

The heads of the major clans exchanged glances, and their eyes ultimately settled on Hiashi Hyuga.

Hiashi Hyuga's expression remained unchanged, but raging waves churned in his heart.

Another unreasonable demand, even more excessive than the last. Last time, the Hyuga Clan had been framed and unable to defend themselves. This time, they were being directly extorted?

After a long while.

No one in the Hokage's office spoke.

"Hiashi, what are your thoughts?" The Third Hokage looked at Hiashi Hyuga, wanting to hear his opinion.

Of all the conditions, the Byakugan was the most difficult issue to handle. Fortunately, Ao had only asked for one Byakugan.

"I have no thoughts. Shouldn't this matter be discussed with Elder Shimura and the Uchiha Clan?" Hiashi's voice rang clearly through every ear in the room.

"You..." Shimura Danzo finally exploded. He rose to his feet and glared furiously at Hiashi Hyuga, only for Koharu Utatane beside him to tightly restrain him.

"Hokage-sama, who exactly is the Uchiha child Ao mentioned? Is it Sasuke?" Nara Shikaku stepped forward, defusing the situation for the Third Hokage while raising his own question.

The Third Hokage felt somewhat gratified. The Nara Clan was still reliable when it mattered most.

"It should be him. He has mastered a technique that allows him to fly through the sky, and he possesses the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. However, after investigation, there is no such person in the Uchiha Clan." The Third Hokage took out a portrait of Dumpling from an office drawer. In the portrait, Dumpling had activated a two-tomoe Sharingan.

"Hokage-sama, this person should be a wanted criminal who stole the Sharingan. He has nothing to do with us. A wanted notice should be issued immediately!" Nara Shikaku studied the portrait, falling into thought.

His next words made everyone's eyes light up.

"This is someone wanted by Konoha. He has absolutely nothing to do with us!"