"Hyuga Hiashi is at fault too; as a prominent clan in Konoha, we should think about the village!"
"Taking unilateral action against the Cloud Village ninjas who came for negotiations has indeed put Konoha in a difficult position; this is the Hyuga clan's mistake!"
"Hyuga Hiashi…"
As Koharu finished speaking, Sarutobi Eisuke echoed her sentiment. This incident had caused problems in the area he managed, leaving a serious stain on his reputation.
Even the key figure, Mitokado Homura, nodded in agreement with Koharu's viewpoint.
Hyuga Hiashi had gone too far.
"Clearly, it was the Cloud ninjas who attacked Konoha's people. Are we supposed to apologize to them?"
"Advisor, how can this be Hiashi's fault? If they invade our clan, can't we defend ourselves?"
"If Cloud Village wants war, then let's go to war!"
Some ninja from prominent clans were unhappy with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's views. In their eyes, if they couldn't protect their own people, they had no right to call themselves ninjas.
Thus, the meeting room was filled with heated arguments from those holding opposing views, with neither side able to convince the other.
As the debate escalated, everyone's gaze turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, waiting for him to provide an answer.
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his brow furrowed. The Cloud Village had posed a difficult problem for him. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both in favor of peace. Even though he also wished for the war to end, some people were simply unwilling to compromise.
Especially since the Hyuga clan would likely be furious upon hearing this news.
"Lord Hokage, you need to make a decision!" someone said, looking at the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu also turned their attention to him, believing he would share their thoughts. Peace was the most crucial element; as long as peace continued, it would stabilize his position as Hokage and allow the clan to thrive.
"Call Hyuga Hiashi and a few elders from the Hyuga clan over; I need to discuss something with them!" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, his tone serious.
No matter what, he needed to talk to Hiashi about this matter.
However, as soon as he said this, Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui's expressions darkened, for this meant the Third Hokage was leaning toward punishing Hiashi to stabilize Konoha.
They couldn't say he was wrong; everything was for the sake of peace.
The meeting room fell silent.
After about half an hour, Hiashi arrived with several members of the Hyuga clan. The Hyuga clan members still held their heads high, displaying the demeanor of a prominent clan in Konoha.
Hiashi and his clan members bowed to the Third Hokage and then took their seats.
One elder from the Hyuga clan impatiently asked, "Lord Hokage, what do the Cloud ninjas plan to tell us? If it's just a simple apology, we won't accept it!"
The Cloud ninjas dared to invade the Hyuga clan; they absolutely could not let this go unpunished.
Silence, complete silence.
After a member of the Hyuga clan asked the question, the entire meeting room fell into an uncomfortable hush.
No one spoke.
Even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had a strange expression, unsure of how to respond.
"If you're all silent, then let me speak!" Utatane Koharu cleared her throat, her aged eyes turning to Hyuga Hiashi as she continued, "The Cloud Village is very angry about you killing their ninja. They claim it wasn't the Cloud ninja who attacked the Hyuga clan's heir, but that you intentionally killed their people, ruining the peace talks between our two villages!"
Huh?
Intentionally killing Cloud Village ninjas? Hiashi frowned and quickly replied, "Those two ninjas kidnapped Hinata, and I intervened. How is that ruining the peace talks?"
From the moment he entered, Hiashi felt something was off, but he never expected it would lead to this.
"Your explanation is useless. There's no evidence now; they firmly believe you killed the Cloud ninjas and disrupted the peace talks!" Utatane Koharu scoffed, "Cloud Village is currently using this issue to threaten the Hokage. If we don't resolve this, then Cloud and Leaf will go to war!"
The more Koharu spoke, the more frustrated Hiashi felt. The talks had been going smoothly without the Hyuga clan's incident, and now, the peace negotiations were likely over.
Another advisor, Mitokado Homura, sighed and criticized, "Hiashi, you've really gone too far this time. To kill two ninjas is excessive!"
Listening to the accusations from the two advisors, Hiashi, feeling impatient, asked, "What conditions are the Cloud Village proposing?"
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, then looked at the silent Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Finally, Koharu spoke again, "They want the body of the killer who murdered their ninja. If they don't see the body by tomorrow, they'll return to the Land of Lightning, and then war will break out between our two nations!"
War again, it's always war!
"What? They want the body of the Cloud ninja? That's impossible!"
"Impossible!"
"It was the Cloud ninja who trespassed into our Hyuga clan's forbidden area; they deserved to die!"
"Impossible!"
As Koharu finished speaking, the Hyuga clan members behind Hiashi exploded in anger. Did they want their clan leader's life?
That was absolutely unacceptable.
He had come here to address the accusations, but now it seemed like the Hyuga clan leader was the real criminal.
"Enough!" Hiashi forced a bitter smile and turned his gaze to the Third Hokage, who had remained silent since they entered. "Lord Hokage, do you think the same way?"
From the moment Hiruzen let Koharu and Homura speak, Hiashi had sensed what he was thinking, but he still wanted to confirm.
"Hiashi, I have my own difficulties!" Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, a troubled expression on his face. "On one hand, if war breaks out, Konoha will suffer heavy casualties. On the other, there's you. I cannot make a choice!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was still pretending to be the good guy as usual, unwilling to easily reveal his choices or take on the role of the villain.
What he wanted to say had already been said by the two advisors.
"Hehe, unable to make a decision?" Hyuga Hiashi laughed, already understanding what the Third Hokage meant—he wanted to abandon himself. How typical of the Third Hokage!
"Hiashi, you don't need to be so dissatisfied!" Koharu said, noticing Hiashi's somewhat grim expression.
"I remember there was someone from your branch family who looked a lot like you. We just need to temporarily deceive the people from the Cloud Village!"
Someone who looked a lot like him? Hiashi frowned, thinking. There was only one person in the Hyuga clan who resembled him! But that person could never be an option.
Mitokado Homura noticed Hiashi's unusual expression. "Hiashi, you are also part of Konoha. Are you really going to just stand by and watch Konoha fall into war?"
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