"How do you plan to make Kumogakure Village lose its pretext?"
Wuye had guessed their intentions, and a sneer rose to his lips.
Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Kumogakure Village demands that Hyuga Hiashi pay with his life and that we send them the body. We all know they covet the Byakugan, so we propose sending Hyuga Hizashi in Hyuga Hiashi's place. After all, they are twins, and Hyuga Hizashi bears the Caged Bird..."
"Enough."
Wuye raised a hand and cut him off. "I know your proposal. You may go now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi grew angry. "This is a necessary sacrifice. One person's death in exchange for the lives of countless others—why are you so unmoved?"
"This kind of sacrifice..." Wuye stared at him. "Why don't you go instead?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply. "What good would that do?"
Wuye said leisurely, "Since we all know Kumogakure Village wants benefits, wouldn't the corpse of the Third Hokage be just as valuable for research as that of a Hyuga clansman? They may not get the Byakugan, but they could still gain plenty, couldn't they?"
"Hokage, you are being unreasonable," Koharu Utatane could not help saying.
"How is that unreasonable?" Wuye propped up his head. "You always want to sacrifice others for profit, but sacrificing yourselves is unreasonable. Isn't that double standard a little too obvious?"
Koharu Utatane was left speechless.
"Fine."
Then, to Wuye's surprise, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly nodded. "Take my corpse and use it to avert the war."
"What did you say?" Wuye froze for a moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face seemed to shine. "I am willing to sacrifice myself for Konoha's peace!"
The others were stunned as well, before an indescribable surge of emotion welled up in their hearts.
But Wuye suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Third Hokage, are you dissatisfied with