Make Konoha Pay, No Matter How Far They Flee!

Tokuma Hyuga whipped his head around and stared at Shizuya Hyuga, who had stepped forward. His clouded old eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

He had never imagined that such earthshaking words would come from one of his own clansmen.

From Shizuya Hyuga, of all people!

The head of the Main Family had been stabbed in the back by a member of the Branch Family, right in the middle of the council hall.

And Tokuma was his own uncle!

Rage and shock surged through Tokuma. His chest heaved, and his graying beard trembled.

The other Hyuga clansmen stood frozen too, staring at Shizuya in astonishment.

Everyone knew Shizuya Hyuga's background.

His father was Tokuma Hyuga's younger brother, yet because he had been born into the Branch Family, he had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal at birth and forced to live his whole life with his head bowed.

Shizuya had carried the Branch Family's fate since childhood, enduring years of oppression by the Main Family.

If he had not fought his way into the Hokage's Shadow Guard through sheer will and skill, he would forever have remained a servant the Hyuga Clan could order around and trample at will.

Even after he joined the Shadow Guard, his treatment had only improved a little. Some finally looked him in the eye, but the humiliation never went away.

Many Main Family members still ordered him about. Even children only a few years old dared to point in his face and berate him, secure in the privilege of their bloodline.

Years of resentment had built up inside him like magma beneath the earth.

Today, in the Hokage Office, before the village's leaders, the last thread of his long endurance finally snapped.

He held his head high and his back straight. Not a trace of his old meekness remained.

He had watched Kagami Uchiha's sweeping reforms over the past few years. He believed the Hokage before him would stand up for him and every exploited Branch Family shinobi.

Now, he had nothing left to fear.

Shizuya raised his eyes and met Tokuma Hyuga's furious glare without flinching. His voice rang firm and clear.

"Clan Head Tokuma, you sit in power and care only about protecting the Main Family's privileges! You exploit the Branch Family and obstruct the village whenever it tries to act! Today, I, Shizuya Hyuga, will not yield again!"

"Go on, kill me if you dare! I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

Silence fell across the room.

The air seemed to freeze. Everyone realized this meeting was no longer merely a debate over war or peace. A storm of long-buried resentment within the Hyuga Clan had erupted.

Blood rushed to Tokuma Hyuga's face, turning it purple-red. Veins bulged around his Byakugan, and a sharp surge of Chakra burst from him.

He pointed at Shizuya Hyuga, his aged voice shaking with fury.

"Shizuya! You—!!"

His rage nearly swept away the last of his reason. His authority as head of the Main Family had been trampled underfoot.

Killing intent roiled in his eyes. He stepped forward and raised his hand, ready to activate the Caged Bird Seal at any moment.

The clash was about to begin.

Thud!

Kagami Uchiha slammed his palm onto the desk.

An immense pressure swept through the office and crushed Tokuma's rising killing intent.

Kagami leaned forward slightly. His Mangekyō Sharingan fixed coldly on the furious old man. His voice was quiet, but each word carried unquestionable authority.

"What is this, Elder Tokuma?"

"Do you intend to kill my subordinate right in front of me?"

The icy question hung in the air.

Tokuma Hyuga stiffened. His raised hand froze, and the Chakra surging through him faltered. It was as though ice water had been dumped over his rage.

He gritted his teeth, his chest heaving. Yet under that commanding gaze, he did not dare take another step.

The leaders in the room held their breath. No one spoke.

Everyone heard the chilling warning in the Hokage's words.

"I called you here today to discuss declaring war on Iwagakure."

Kagami Uchiha straightened and looked between the two men, who were still bristling at each other. His authoritative voice quelled the unrest in the room.

"Everyone has the right to speak. If you have the good of Konoha in mind, say what you think."

His gaze settled on the ashen-faced Tokuma Hyuga, then passed over Shizuya Hyuga, who stood straight-backed and unyielding.

"Set your clan affairs aside for now."

He paused. A grave stillness spread through the room, and his voice rose.

"Now I'll tell you why I insist on declaring war on Iwagakure!"

Tokuma Hyuga clenched his fists, forced down his anger, and reluctantly lowered his hand.

Shizuya Hyuga drew a deep breath and slowly unclenched the fist at his side, waiting for the Hokage to continue.

Utatane Koharu, Shikata Nara, Mitokado Homura, and the others sat up straight. Every eye fixed on the young yet formidable figure at the head of the room.

The whispers stopped. In the vast room, only the sound of hurried breathing remained.

Kagami Uchiha swept his sharp gaze across every leader present. His words rang through the solemn Hokage Office.

"I know why Iwagakure has stationed troops in the Land of Grass."

"It's a test. Ōnoki wants to throw his weight around and put Konoha on notice!"

"He thinks that with Lord Tobirama gone, Konoha has yet to recover and our foundations are shaky. Add Iwagakure's recent progress in Jinchūriki research, and he thinks he has the strength to openly provoke the Land of Fire and Konoha! He knows he doesn't dare start an all-out war. He only wants to push us around and save face in the Shinobi World!"

"And I've already considered every concern you have about the other four great shinobi villages!"

"Kumogakure has just signed a ceasefire with Konoha. They suffered the heaviest losses in the war, and their resources are depleted. They have neither the courage nor the strength to fight again anytime soon!"

"Kirigakure is mired in internal strife. The Third Mizukage has his hands full trying to put his own village in order. He has no means to invade the Land of Fire!"

"Only Sunagakure remains. Ambitious and desperate from poverty, those fiends have always coveted the Land of Fire. I know that perfectly well."

"But I already sent Hiruzen to command the First Legion. With him there, our defenses will hold unless the entire village of Sunagakure comes against us!"

His tone abruptly sharpened, carrying a fierce edge of anger.

"So, with no threats at our backs, I'll tell you the real reason I insist on declaring war on Iwagakure!"

"Why should we put up with it?!"

"Why is it that whenever anyone in the Shinobi World wants to make a name for themselves, they come to trample Konoha and bully the Land of Fire?! Who gave them the nerve?!"

"Because we're rich?"

"Heh. Perhaps their forebears should have found a way to beat Lord Hashirama and Madara Uchiha."

"When Lord Hashirama was alive, who dared cross our borders?!"

"When Lord Tobirama guarded Konoha, would Ōnoki have dared provoke us?!"

"But now that I, Kagami Uchiha, hold the Hokage Position, Ōnoki thinks he can come to our door and provoke us without restraint?!"

"I'm going to hit him until it hurts! Until he's afraid!"

Kagami Uchiha stood straight, his eyes blazing with resolve. The full authority of the Hokage showed in his bearing, and his firm, heavy voice rang in everyone's ears.

"I'll use this war to tell the entire Shinobi World!"

"Konoha is no longer the weak, battered village anyone can push around! From now on, Konoha will be the one to take the offensive and show its strength to the world!"

"No power will ever again invade our land at will, abuse our people, or seize so much as an inch of the Land of Fire!"

"Attack Konoha, and I'll come for you! Invade the Land of Fire, and I'll destroy you!"

"Threaten Konoha, and I'll strike you down, no matter how far away you are!"

The room fell silent.

Every elder, Jonin, and clan head stood frozen, staring at Kagami Uchiha as he stood at the head of the room, fierce and decisive.

In that moment, no one questioned the decision to declare war. All that remained in their hearts was a rush of fighting spirit.

—That's the spirit!

—Let's kick their asses!

—Give Ōnoki a good...

A new Konoha would forge its authority in battle and make the entire Shinobi World think twice!