Internal Fist Technique Showdown

No one would underestimate the Old Village Chief's political tactics.

Especially when it came to Internal Fist Technique.

So now, when a move named "for the village" was brought out, Fugaku was left at a loss, not knowing how to respond.

This was the Old Village Chief's strength!

Anyone who underestimated the Strongest Hokage would pay a terrible price!

Did they really think that after being smeared and forced to shoulder half the blame for the Nine-Tails Attack, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no way to strike back once war arrived?

Quite the opposite!

The Old Village Chief had seized the opportunity, using a reasonable and lawful tactic to directly destroy the Uchiha Clan's chance to earn merit on the battlefield!

That was right.

With war approaching, the village would likely become even more vulnerable.

So no matter what, Konoha could not withstand another Nine-Tails Attack. Weren't you Uchiha so impressive? You had wanted to step up and protect the village during the previous turmoil, but Danzo stopped you, leaving you with no chance to prove yourselves.

Now the opportunity was yours. Protect Konoha with your lives and be ready at any moment to deal with another Nine-Tails Attack!

After all, only the Uchiha Clan in all of Konoha could suppress the Nine-Tails and keep it from going berserk.

When the time came, the credit for suppressing the Nine-Tails would all be yours. Wasn't that better than going to the battlefield?

"Those who are capable must work harder. The village's safety depends entirely on the Konoha Military Police Force."

The Old Village Chief's counterattack was fierce, leaving Fugaku so frustrated that he did not know what to say.

He did not even have grounds to argue!

In this regard, the Old Village Chief truly deserved the title of Strongest Hokage!

"Also, Hitoshi Clan Head."

After disgusting Uchiha Fugaku, the Old Village Chief turned his kindly yet probing gaze toward Hyuga Hitoshi.

He did not expect to recover the face he had lost in the plaza so easily, but he needed these two restless fellows to understand who truly called the shots in Konoha—and the price of offending the Hokage.

It was not hard to guess that Hyuga Hitoshi stood behind Fugaku. After all, Fugaku himself lacked both the courage and the brains to confront the higher-ups.

Since Hyuga Hitoshi had made his move, the Old Village Chief naturally had to come up with a way to deal with him.

Yet when it came to the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi was somewhat hesitant instead.

He could not quite figure out what Hyuga Hitoshi was thinking. Why did he insist on joining forces with the Uchiha against the higher-ups? Hyuga Hitoshi did not seem like someone with a shrunken brain; he should have known that nothing good would come of getting involved with the Uchiha.

Yet he had done it anyway.

Could Uchiha Fugaku's wife really be that charming?

But no matter what, even if he did not want to completely fall out with the Hyuga Clan, he still had to teach them a lesson.

So the Third planned to offer a hint—or rather, sow discord.

After all, the Hyuga and Uchiha together were somewhat too dangerous. The correct approach was to win over one group and strike the other.

"Hitoshi Clan Head, regarding the arrangements for the Hyuga Clan, this old man has a suggestion."

The Uchiha had received a compulsory order, but when it came to the Hyuga, Sarutobi Hiruzen was much gentler.

Yet this was entirely a dagger hidden behind a smile.

"Regarding the reports from the front line, Hitoshi Clan Head should have seen them as well. This time, Kumogakure intends to compare hard power head-on with Konoha, so it seems the front line has little need for the Hyuga Clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan."

"Considering that the Konoha Military Police Force must remain vigilant against the Nine-Tails going berserk at all times and may lack manpower, and considering that Hitoshi Clan Head is already familiar with the aura of the Sharingan that controlled the Nine-Tails before, this old man hopes that the Hyuga Clan can cooperate with the Uchiha, stand guard with utmost vigilance against those Petty Individuals, and never allow the Nine-Tails Attack to happen again."

Pay attention to his wording.

What he had said was that he hoped they would do so.

The Third Hokage believed he had given the Hyuga Clan face. These were two choices, and also two paths.

The first was as he had said: the Hyuga Clan would willingly remain in Konoha alongside the Uchiha Clan, serve as the Uchiha Clan's guards, protect Konoha, and prevent the owner of Obito's Sharingan from taking advantage of an opening to trigger another Nine-Tails Attack.

The other was that as long as Hyuga Hitoshi spoke up and said he wanted to fight on the front line, Sarutobi Hiruzen would agree. He also did not believe anyone would be foolish enough to remain at their post in the rear. This was a calculated move.

As long as Hyuga Hitoshi chose the latter, a rift would inevitably form between the Hyuga and the Uchiha, and their alliance would collapse without being attacked. From then on, the Hyuga Clan could only stand on their side!

If he did not propose going to the front line, the Hyuga themselves would be the ones to suffer losses. Even during wartime, Konoha's various clans remained in a competitive relationship. If your contributions were small, then do not blame anyone when you received fewer resources later! To reap rewards, one had to pay a price!

The Old Village Chief believed he had given the Hyuga Clan face, and all the Hyuga Clan needed to do was lower their heads and yield to him.

As long as you spoke up, this old man would give you an opportunity!

But things turned out completely differently from what the Old Village Chief had expected.

They even differed greatly from what all the higher-ups present had expected.

Yes.

The Hyuga Clan, those nobles who had always performed brilliantly on the battlefield, competed to rise above others, and hoped to gain recognition—their clan head spoke with joy in his eyes and delight in his voice.

Damn, there was actually such a good deal?

"Old Village Chief, there is no need to say more. This clan head knows what to do! Leave the village to Fugaku and me!"

Hitoshi Clan Head struggled to suppress the smile on his face as he directly accepted the heavy responsibility bestowed by the Old Village Chief.

He nearly laughed out loud!

Just moments ago, Hitoshi Clan Head had been wondering how to use the chaos of war to deal with the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon and relocate the Hyuga Clan's members!

The Old Village Chief's cooperation was simply unbeatable!

"Uh..."

The Old Village Chief stared at Hyuga Hitoshi in shock, feeling that this fellow had completely gone mad. You did not want military merit? You wanted to guard the village? If you guarded the village in the rear, then what was this old man supposed to do?

But Hitoshi Clan Head was clearly not finished.

"Please rest assured, Old Village Chief. Starting today, this clan head will have every Hyuga Clan member at the front line withdraw and devote all their energy to protecting the village!"

With a face full of sincerity, Hitoshi Clan Head took the Old Village Chief's hand in his own.

But the Old Village Chief began to feel awkward.

You were pulling all the Hyuga back? Wasn't that a little too much? Though the Byakugan's usefulness had decreased in a head-on confrontation, it could still play a major role!

What if they changed tactics and tried a sneak attack?

"Everyone, rest assured. With the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan here, nothing will happen to the village!"

Ignoring Fugaku nearby, who was so moved he nearly cried, Hitoshi Clan Head continued to grip the Old Village Chief's hand tightly before dropping a bombshell.

"Leave the rear to us. As long as we live, the village will stand!"

"But when the Old Village Chief goes to the front line, you must withstand the Raikage's pressure!"

Huh?

Sarutobi froze, his eyes instantly widening.

"When did this old man say—"

Before he could finish, Sarutobi hurriedly shut his mouth.

He understood that once he said it aloud and told everyone he had not planned to go to the battlefield, he would be unable to save face.

As the Hokage, how could he not dare to go to the battlefield?

But just because he did not say it did not mean Hyuga Hitoshi would not.

Hitoshi Clan Head looked at the Old Village Chief in confusion, sizing him up with a Scrutinizing Gaze.

"Could it be that the Old Village Chief never intended to lead by example and serve as a model for Konoha's ninja?"

Suddenly, his tone changed.

"No way? No way? The Raikage has already come charging over, yet Hokage-sama is afraid of him? You are the Third Hokage, while he is merely the Fourth Raikage. You are afraid even of that?"

"This old man is not afraid!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen grew Angered and Ashamed. "This old man needs to Guard the Rear and coordinate the overall situation, and he must also handle the village's affairs. This is not because this old man fears the Raikage! Can the affairs of a Kage be called fear? If this old man Left the Village, and someone were to launch a Sneak Attack—"

"If someone launches a Sneak Attack, then the Hyuga and Uchiha will naturally handle it. The Two Advisors can handle government affairs as well. Otherwise, are they eating all that rice for nothing? Or does Hokage-sama not trust us?"

"Let us Guard the Rear."

Hyuga Hitoshi blinked at the Old Village Chief, his face utterly matter-of-fact.

"This was the task you assigned us, after all~"

"So, for the sake of the village and to encourage our comrades at the front line who are fighting a bloody battle, you will definitely go to the battlefield, right?"

This was the traditional Internal Fist Technique! Every blow was fatal when used against one's own people!

Only defeating magic with magic could be considered a true killing blow.

And with that.

Checkmate once again!

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