Hyuga Yuto couldn't have imagined that while he was leisurely returning to his clan grounds, a meeting concerning his fate was already quietly underway.
A highly detailed analysis report was placed before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The autopsy reports of Sugisaki Tetsujiro, Sato Masahito, Yamagata Reiro, and Hirahara Eiji had been submitted by the Medical Corps ninjas.
There were no suspicious points worth noting, except for Sugisaki Tetsujiro's fatal wound – the penetrating injury located between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae, delivered from a surprise attack from behind using a kunai.
For Kumogakure ninjas who excelled in Lightning Release and taijutsu, their fingers were their sharpest blades. Therefore, the report concluded:
"It is truly puzzling why the final battle ended with close-quarters combat."
Hiruzen Sarutobi merely glanced at it and dismissed the doubt.
The Hokage of Konoha had always been a pragmatist who rose through the ranks through battle merit and strategic prowess. Having experienced countless battles throughout his life, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood that when ninjas fought to the death, they would tear at each other like wild beasts. He had personally witnessed two powerful Jōnin, exhausted from battle, desperately stabbing frozen fish into each other's bodies.
The bodies of the deceased Konoha ninjas had been retrieved, and Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi did not question the report of the sole survivor. Thus, the credit for "acquiring important intelligence" and "eliminating multiple enemy ninjas" from the surprise reconnaissance team fell entirely on Hyuga Yuto.
Combined with his previous achievements, this Branch Family prodigy now possessed a substantial amount of battle merit.
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, and the words Hyuga Yuto spoke to him in this very office yesterday involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
The door creaked open, and three figures entered one after another.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained unfazed by the intrusion and softly said, "Danzo, Homura, Koharu, you've arrived."
"Hiruzen..." The three stood before the desk. When there were no outsiders present, they addressed each other by name, rather than by their esteemed titles.
Every week, in this Hokage office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane would hold secret meetings. No Anbu were present to record, no clan heads from the village, not even Hiruzen Sarutobi's proud disciples, the "Sannin," would appear.
All the shady, clandestine plots, even those that impacted the policies of the entire Land of Fire, often took shape during these meetings.
"Hiruzen," Danzo Shimura spoke first. He had a scar on his jaw, his right eye and forehead wrapped in bandages, giving him an unapproachable aura even when silent. "Let's strike first. Have Minato Namikaze infiltrate Kumogakure and attack the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. We'll prepare a portable jutsu that might be able to break the sealing jutsu and release the Eight-Tails."
Unleashing the Eight-Tails in the heart of Kumogakure was considered "anti-humanitarian" even in the world of shinobi. After all, a large number of ordinary people still lived within the village, and with the destructive power of the Eight-Tails, casualties in the Land of Lightning would undoubtedly reach six figures.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. There were no outsiders here, so there was no need to maintain a righteous facade. He seriously considered the feasibility of the plan: "The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is a perfect Jinchuriki with excellent compatibility. Ordinary jutsu probably won't work."
"Then have Minato Namikaze take someone from the Uchiha clan. Sharingan combined with that forbidden jutsu, the chances of releasing the Eight-Tails exceed 40%!"
"Danzo, do you want the whole world to know that Konoha did this? Even if the plan succeeds, the other major nations will unite against us."
"Then let them come!" Danzo Shimura was unfazed. "By then, Kumogakure will be severely weakened, and the only one worth noting in Iwagakure is that old geezer Onoki... As for Sunagakure and Kirigakure? Hmph, they're nothing but chickens and dogs."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before ultimately shaking his head. "It's too risky... One against four, I'm the Hokage, I cannot gamble the entire village on this."
"Hmph..." Danzo Shimura scoffed, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had already referred to himself as the Hokage, clearly making up his mind. He couldn't push further and had to drop the matter.
Just then, Koharu Utatane, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "But, war is approaching. Kumogakure is already restless, and Iwagakure's attacks on us are increasing. The other two powerful villages are also preparing for war. Once it begins, it won't be a small skirmish... I believe the Third Shinobi World War will occur within the next two years."
"I understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly responded, exhaling a smoke ring. "That's what I mainly wanted to discuss today. If war engulfs the entire world and all five major villages participate, we cannot rely on conventional forces."
He paused and continued, "We must have the Uchiha and Hyuga contribute more combat power. The Sharingan and Byakugan have a significant impact on the battlefield. We need these two Kekkei Genkai."
Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement. "A good idea, Hiruzen. In the past, although the Hyuga and Uchiha also sent troops to aid the village, they concealed their core strength. It was sufficient for dealing with minor border conflicts, but if the Third Shinobi World War truly breaks out, we will indeed need their full assistance. However, sending more troops means greater casualties. They..."
Danzo Shimura sneered, as if tasting blood in his mouth. "If they refuse, we can take this opportunity to..."
"Danzo." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "We are all from the same village. In my eyes, whether it's the Hyuga or the Uchiha, they are brothers and sisters, all belonging to the strength of Konoha. There's no need to go to that extent."
"Oh? Then tell me, what should we do?"
"We can give them a hint." Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, outlining his thoughts. "Hint that the position of the next or next-next Hokage will prioritize the Hyuga and Uchiha... Ah, Danzo, Homura, Koharu, don't worry, I know that having someone from powerful clans like the Hyuga or Uchiha as Hokage is not suitable."
"Therefore, it's just a hint. And a hint is just an empty promise that will never be fulfilled."
"It's like blindfolding a donkey and placing a carrot in front of it. It can smell the scent, so it will work hard and dedicate its strength, but it will never get to eat it."
The other three fell silent. Everyone knew how much the Hyuga and Uchiha desired the position of Hokage. Using this to dangle in front of them was indeed a brilliant way to make them work hard and sacrifice their lives.
The key was whether the hint was subtle enough.
They had to truly feel that the "Hokage seat was within reach" while allowing Hiruzen to easily evade and brush it off after the war.
No concrete promises, but with sufficient weight.
A blatant. "naked" hint.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't keep them in suspense.
"My three disciples, one from the Senju, and two civilians."
"My disciples' disciples also do not include anyone from the Uchiha or Hyuga. This is a very bad hint... It seems to imply that for a long time, these two clans will not be at the core of Konoha's master-disciple lineage and will have no chance at the Hokage position."
"I'm old, I don't have the energy to train disciples anymore. Therefore, I will have my disciples choose a successor from a major clan to show the outside world that I don't reject the Hyuga and Uchiha, and even willing to consider letting them become the leader of Konoha."