"If Lord Hokage really has made that decision, then I have nothing more to say."
Hiashi spoke bitterly.
Clearly, he no longer held out any hope for the Third Hokage.
"You think you'll be the one to die?"
But Shinichi looked at him with a trace of mockery and said coldly, "You're wrong. The one who dies definitely won't be you. It'll be your own younger brother, Hizashi. Don't forget, you're part of the Main Family, while Hizashi belongs to the branch family."
Because of the Caged Bird Seal, members of the Hyuga Clan's branch family had always been required to obey the Main Family unconditionally.
If sacrificing one branch family member could save the Main Family's clan head, those elders certainly wouldn't refuse.
Besides, Hiashi and Hizashi were twins who looked almost identical. There couldn't have been a better choice to die in his place.
"I take responsibility for my own actions!"
Hiashi said firmly, "I'm the one who killed him. Why should Hizashi bear the consequences?"
He and Hizashi shared a deep brotherly bond. He would never want his younger brother to die in his place.
"Clan Head Hiashi, don't be so naive."
Shinichi said evenly, "Even if you refuse, your clansmen will force you to agree. And I believe the more you try to protect Hizashi, the more willingly he'll die for you. You won't be able to change anything."
Hiashi fell silent.
He wasn't a fool. With Shinichi spelling it out so clearly, he knew he couldn't stop it from happening.
Unless he killed himself before Hizashi went to his death. Then the clan elders would have no reason to force Hizashi into it.
"Shinichi, thank you for the warning."
Once he understood the crux of the matter, a relieved smile appeared on Hiashi's face. "I know what to do now. If you hadn't come in time, I might have spent the rest of my life regretting it."
He wouldn't let Hizashi die. The one to die could only be himself.
"No, you've misunderstood."
But Shinichi rolled his eyes at him and said in exasperation, "I didn't come here to have Hizashi die for you, much less to have you throw your life away for Kumogakure's scheme. Don't forget, I still owe you a favor. I'm here to repay it!"
Of course, I'm the one who insisted on owing you that favor in the first place.
Hiashi had only himself to blame for having such a wonderful daughter. Even if it was just for his future sister-in-law, Shinichi had to help the Hyuga Clan!
"You have a way?"
Hiashi perked up and asked in delighted surprise.
He knew Shinichi wasn't someone who made empty claims. If he said that, he must have a plan.
"Obviously! Stay home and wait for news. Don't do anything rash!"
Having achieved his goal, Shinichi couldn't be bothered to waste any more words. He turned and left.
"Shinichi, do you really have a way to solve the Hyuga Clan's problem?"
When Shinichi finally returned, Shisui couldn't help asking.
"Shisui."
Shinichi nodded and chuckled. "Do you know why I've been taking you along these past few days?"
"No."
Shisui answered honestly.
In fact, apart from keeping watch on the Hyuga Clan, he had done practically nothing these past few days. He hadn't felt particularly useful, either.
"Because you're still young, and there are kinds of darkness you haven't seen yet. That's why I wanted to broaden your horizons."
Shinichi said solemnly, "Even as we strive toward the light, we must have the means to deal with the darkness! Our fate is in our own hands. Never entrust your ideals or your life to someone else lightly!"
"Shinobi who silently protect peace from the shadows certainly deserve respect. But if you can protect it while standing in the light, why would you refuse?"
As he spoke, Shinichi nearly tangled himself up in his own words.
But he knew Shisui should be able to understand.
Sure enough, Shisui looked as though he had suffered a tremendous shock. Deeply shaken, he remained speechless for a long time.
Leaving the boy to process it, Shinichi headed straight for the Hokage's Office.
The moment he opened the door, he saw the Third Hokage's worry-lined face.
"Shinichi, you're here."
The Third Hokage sighed softly. "Did Kakashi tell you?"
What had happened to the Hyuga Clan was certainly confidential, but as a member of the ANBU, Kakashi naturally knew about it.
So he guessed that Shinichi's sudden visit was most likely because Kakashi had shared the relevant intelligence with him.
"Lord Hokage, I know everything."
Shinichi said seriously, "Kumogakure has gone too far. They're forcing us in Konoha to make a choice. If I'm not mistaken, they've come prepared. The Fourth Raikage himself has probably already reached the Land of Fire's border."
"You're right. I just received intelligence confirming that the Fourth Raikage has indeed come to the Land of Fire."
The Third Hokage looked deeply grave.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so worried.
The Fourth Raikage had come all the way to the Land of Fire for one reason: to show Konoha his resolve to go to war.
If Konoha's handling of the Hyuga Clan incident left the Kumogakure Envoy Group even slightly dissatisfied, what followed would likely be war between Kumogakure and Konoha!
"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, whatever choice you make, it won't be good for Konoha."
Shinichi said evenly, "Sacrificing someone from the Hyuga Clan in exchange for peace would certainly minimize our losses, but it would breed resentment within the clan and leave trouble brewing. On the other hand, if you insist on backing the Hyuga Clan, war will be unavoidable. In Konoha's current state, recklessly going to war with Kumogakure would be nothing short of suicide!"
Unless the White Fang came back to life and the Sannin returned, Konoha truly lacked the strength to wage war against Kumogakure.
Leaving aside their lower- and mid-level forces, the gap between their top fighters alone was simply too vast!
"Shinichi, I was right about you. You're even cleverer than I imagined."
Shinichi's grasp of the situation and his predictions truly impressed the Third Hokage, deepening his admiration.
Then he couldn't help sighing again and asked, almost pleading for help, "Then what do you think I should do?"
The old man finally took the bait!
"Leave this matter to me!"
A confident smile curved Shinichi's lips as he chuckled. "Lord Hokage, all you need to do is keep the Kumogakure Envoy Group here in the village and reassure the Hyuga Clan. In no more than three days, those envoys will be slinking back to Kumogakure with their tails between their legs!"
"Oh?"
The Third Hokage brightened and asked curiously, "Just how do you intend to deal with Kumogakure?"
The confidence Shinichi radiated was infectious even to an old man like him.
"It's simple."
Shinichi smiled faintly and declared with commanding confidence, "Doesn't Kumogakure want to bully us because Konoha has no powerful fighters to defend it right now? Then I'll give them a resounding slap with cold, hard reality! The Fourth Raikage, is it? I've wanted to face him for a long time!"
Those words left the Third Hokage utterly stunned.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Shinichi's proposed solution was to confront the Fourth Raikage alone!
Indeed, if someone in Konoha could single-handedly repel the Fourth Raikage, Kumogakure certainly wouldn't dare go to war lightly. Then their plot against the Hyuga Clan would collapse on its own, and they would undoubtedly choose to let the matter rest.
But the real problem was that this was the Fourth Raikage!
Even the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't claim to be certain of victory!
"Shinichi, are you serious?"
The Third Hokage asked solemnly.
"Lord Hokage, do I look like I'm joking?"
Meeting his eyes, Shinichi said without a change in expression, "I'm going to use this battle to tell the entire Shinobi World that yes, Konoha's White Fang is dead... but the Hatake family still has someone standing! I, Hatake Shinichi, am not someone they can afford to provoke, either!"
In an instant, the fearsome presence of a true powerhouse began to emanate from the young man, inspiring dread!
The Third Hokage suddenly realized that perhaps only today had he truly come to know Shinichi.
Could this young man... really be even stronger than he had imagined?
"All right. I understand."
After a long silence, the Third Hokage sighed softly. "Be careful out there."
He knew he couldn't stop Shinichi, but in his heart, he was also hoping that Shinichi really could succeed.
If he did, it would be nothing short of a rebirth for Konoha.
Then the name Hatake Shinichi would strike fear not only into Kumogakure, but into the entire Shinobi World!
Before you continue