As public opinion in Konoha turned increasingly against the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally made his move.
And when he did, he struck decisively.
A public statement spread throughout the village under the title:
To the People of Konoha — Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage
“During the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha lost 1,334 people, with another 5,943 wounded or permanently injured…”
“On the night of the Nine-Tails’ attack, 152 people were killed and 1,130 were injured…”
“Every war brings disaster to Konoha. And now, we may once again be standing on the edge of another great shinobi war.”
“The Land of Fire is preparing for conflict. Iwagakure, Kirigakure, Sunagakure… all are watching.”
“We cannot allow this war to begin.”
“If compromise can secure peace, then compromise is a price worth paying.”
“Would you rather see your families dragged into another war—or live beneath peaceful skies?”
Hiruzen did not hide behind empty rhetoric.
He openly published Konoha’s casualty figures from the Third Shinobi World War and the Nine-Tails’ attack, then made his position unmistakably clear.
War had to be avoided.
Within half a day, the statement had spread through notices, public postings, newspapers, and every other channel available in the village.
Konoha erupted.
“The Third War was that bad?”
“So many people died during the Nine-Tails’ attack too…”
“Over a thousand casualties…”
“I had no idea the numbers were that high.”
“My cousin’s family lost almost every adult man in the war. Only the elderly and children were left.”
“My uncle’s family was the same. It was horrible.”
“If another war really starts, we might be sent to the battlefield too.”
“Then we can’t let it happen.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Lord Hokage is right. Peace is better than another war.”
“I blamed him a few days ago…”
“So did I. He was trying to bear all of this for the village, and we cursed him without understanding anything.”
The numbers frightened people far more effectively than any speech could have.
For many villagers, war had always been something discussed in distant terms—until they were reminded exactly how many people had died the last time.
Fear of another conflict spread rapidly.
And with it came renewed support for peace.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had served as the Third Hokage for more than thirty years.
He had trained the legendary Sannin—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—and his own student lineage had produced the Fourth Hokage.
His reputation in Konoha had been built over decades.
It had only recently suffered because Danzo, the Uchiha, the Hyuga, and other factions had quietly pushed public opinion against him.
Now, by openly invoking the cost of war and reminding the village what another conflict would mean, Hiruzen reversed much of that damage in a single move.
Public opinion swung back toward him.
Fast.
At the Hyuga compound, Hiashi Hyuga sat across from Tenriki over a Go board.
Hiashi placed a stone down and sighed.
“I didn’t expect the Third Hokage to use something like this. The next few days may become difficult for the Hyuga.”
Tenriki calmly placed one of his own stones.
“I didn’t expect him to act this decisively either.”
He studied the board for a moment before continuing.
“But he’s probably created another problem for himself.”
“The Cloud?”
Tenriki nodded.
“Once Kumogakure sees that statement, they’ll know just how badly Hiruzen wants to avoid war. That gives them confidence.”
He smiled faintly.
“Their next demands will probably be even harsher. I’m curious how the Third plans to deal with that.”
Hiashi considered this for a moment.
“That will certainly be troublesome.”
Then his expression turned thoughtful.
“But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t become Hokage through reputation alone.”
Tenriki looked up.
Hiashi continued, “When the Second Hokage was surrounded by the forces led by the Gold and Silver Brothers, someone had to stay behind and draw the enemy’s attention.”
“Hiruzen was the first to volunteer.”
“He had that kind of resolve even then.”
Tenriki shrugged.
“Maybe.”
He placed another stone.
“But after this, I doubt the Third will simply ignore what the Hyuga have done.”
A relaxed smile appeared on his face.
“We may start getting the Uchiha treatment.”
Hiashi laughed.
“As long as we raise you properly, the Hyuga will be fine.”
He leaned back slightly.
“Everything else is secondary.”
“Besides, the Byakugan gives our clan a role that few others can replace. Hyuga shinobi are invaluable for reconnaissance, surveillance, tracking, and battlefield support.”
“The Third may pressure us.”
“But the Hyuga are not the Uchiha. We are not so easy to isolate.”
Tenriki nodded and returned his attention to the board.
A few moves later, Hiashi stared at the position in silence.
His largest group was surrounded.
Completely.
Tenriki’s stones had cut off nearly every escape.
Hiashi’s eye twitched.
Then—
“Oh!”
His sleeve suddenly swept across the board.
The stones scattered everywhere.
Tenriki stared.
Hiashi immediately stood.
“I think I heard your mother calling us to eat.”
And before Tenriki could respond, the head of the Hyuga Clan departed at a speed usually reserved for combat situations.
Tenriki looked at the ruined board.
His expression went blank.
“Eat?”
“We just ate.”
He stared toward the doorway.
“Couldn’t you at least come up with a better excuse?”
This boy is getting ridiculous.
I can’t even beat him at Go anymore.
Maybe I should stop playing against him altogether.
Then he suddenly remembered something.
The previous night, Danzo had sent over a gift as a gesture of good faith in their cooperation.
A fragmentary training method from Kumogakure.
Cloud Shinobi Secret Art: Fragment.
It concerned the use of Lightning Release chakra to enhance the body for taijutsu.
Hiashi slowed.
“The Cloud’s combat methods actually have some similarities to ours…”
Both systems used chakra to enhance close-range fighting, then developed increasingly powerful techniques from that foundation.
The Hyuga did not specialize in Lightning Release.
But that did not mean the principles were useless.
The Hyuga had their own advantages.
Precise chakra control.
The Byakugan.
The Gentle Fist.
If the Cloud’s body-enhancement methods could be studied and adapted…
Who knew what might come from it?
Hiashi called over one of his trusted attendants.
“Take the Cloud secret art to Tenriki.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
When Tenriki received the scroll and began reading through it, his eyes immediately lit up.
This was exactly the kind of thing he had been looking for.
During his previous battle against the Cloud shinobi, one weakness in the Hyuga combat system had become painfully obvious.
The Gentle Fist was refined.
Precise.
Extremely dangerous when used correctly.
But compared to the violent physical enhancement employed by Kumogakure shinobi, it lacked raw force.
The Cloud’s method was far more aggressive.
If he could combine that explosive power with the Hyuga’s Gentle Fist…
The result could be terrifying.
Tenriki immediately began studying the scroll in earnest.
A full day passed.
Progress was slow.
But there was progress.
Then, before he could delve much deeper, Hiruzen launched the second stage of his counterattack in the battle for public opinion.
The narrative within the village began to shift again.
This time, the Third Hokage’s supporters subtly suggested that the Hyuga Clan had manipulated public sentiment for its own interests and attempted to pressure the Hokage into accepting its political demands.
Danzo?
Ignored.
The Uchiha?
Also ignored.
Despite both having contributed behind the scenes, the blame was directed almost entirely at the Hyuga.
The Third Hokage had chosen his target.
And this time, it was Tenriki’s clan.