With the Third Hokage making move after move, the Hyuga Clan’s position in Konoha quickly became awkward.
Backed by Hiruzen’s prestige, public opinion had swung sharply against them.
Villagers who had once regarded the Hyuga with respect now looked at them with disgust, and some had even begun openly cursing the clan.
Tenriki hadn’t left the Hyuga compound these past few days, but he didn’t need to.
The mood among his clansmen told him everything he needed to know about the pressure building outside.
“I never thought there’d come a day when people in Konoha would despise the Hyuga.”
“The Hokage is clearly trying to suppress us just to give Kumogakure an explanation!”
“Young Master Tenriki was attacked by Cloud shinobi. Instead of demanding justice for us, the Hokage is turning around and pressuring our clan?”
“At this point, Lord Hokage might as well be Kumogakure’s spy in Konoha!”
Throughout the Hyuga compound, anger simmered just beneath the surface.
Tenriki had been unusually intelligent since childhood, but what had truly won over the clan was how he treated people.
He remembered the names of almost everyone in the compound.
Whether they belonged to the main family or the branch family, he spoke to them politely and treated them as people rather than servants beneath his notice.
For members of a clan as rigidly divided as the Hyuga, that simple respect meant more than outsiders would have understood.
Because of that, most of the clan had already accepted Tenriki as the future clan head in all but name.
And now?
Their young master had nearly been kidnapped by Cloud shinobi.
Yet instead of Kumogakure being forced to apologize, it was the Hyuga who were being pushed toward submission.
How could they not be furious?
If Hiashi hadn’t personally stepped in to restrain the clan, several confrontations with villagers outside the compound might already have turned violent.
Inside the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was considerably more satisfied with the results of the past two days.
The unfavorable voices had almost completely disappeared.
Not only had the growing political pressure forced the Hyuga into a defensive position, it had also reminded Hiruzen just how much influence the title of Hokage still carried in Konoha.
Still, things were far from settled.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
“Lord Hokage, the envoy from the Land of Lightning has arrived.”
“Send him in.”
The door opened.
Two men entered.
The first was a thin, cold-faced envoy whose arrogance showed in every step.
The second was a large, dark-skinned Cloud shinobi with a powerful build.
The envoy didn’t bother with pleasantries.
“Hiruzen Sarutobi, Kumogakure is issuing Konoha its final ultimatum.”
His tone was openly domineering.
“By tomorrow, you will hand over Hiashi Hyuga—the man responsible for killing the shinobi of our diplomatic delegation.”
His eyes hardened.
“If you refuse, then Konoha and the Land of Fire should prepare for war.”
He had addressed the Third Hokage by name.
No title.
No respect.
Hiruzen, however, had no time to care about the insult.
The demand itself was enough to make anger flare across his face.
“Impossible!”
His voice filled the office.
“Hiashi Hyuga is the head of the Hyuga Clan. Konoha will not hand him over for you to execute.”
“Our investigation has already confirmed that Hiashi Hyuga killed our shinobi,” the envoy replied coldly.
“Therefore, he must be surrendered.”
“No.”
Hiruzen’s expression darkened.
“Choose another condition.”
He wanted to pressure the Hyuga, certainly.
But handing over the head of one of Konoha’s greatest clans was another matter entirely.
The envoy gave a humorless smile.
“There will be no other condition.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
His voice turned icy.
“Hiashi Hyuga must die.”
Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed.
“If you refuse,” the envoy continued, “then wait for war.”
He turned and walked toward the door.
Just before leaving, he stopped.
“One day.”
Without looking back, he added,
“You have one day to decide.”
The door closed.
For several seconds, silence filled the room.
Then—
BOOM!
Hiruzen’s fist slammed into his desk.
The newly replaced piece of furniture immediately suffered the same fate as its predecessor, collapsing into splintered wood.
“Too far!”
Hiruzen roared.
“They’ve gone too far!”
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Another knock came from outside.
Hiruzen forced down his anger.
“Enter.”
An ANBU shinobi stepped inside and presented a scroll.
“An urgent message from the daimyo, Lord Hokage.”
Hiruzen rubbed his temple.
Then he opened the scroll.
The message was brief.
And each line made his expression worse.
Large quantities of military supplies and shinobi forces have been detected along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
The Land of Lightning has issued the daimyo’s court a final ultimatum.
Hiashi Hyuga, who killed the Cloud shinobi, must be surrendered.
The Land of Fire cannot afford another war.
In my authority as Daimyo of the Land of Fire, I order you to calm the anger of the Land of Lightning and Kumogakure and prevent war from breaking out.
The final sentence was the harshest.
At any cost.
Hiruzen stared at the scroll for a long time.
His chest felt heavy.
But eventually, a decision settled in his eyes.
“Someone!”
An ANBU appeared immediately.
“Summon the elder council. Tell them we’re holding an emergency meeting.”
Hiruzen paused.
“And prepare an escort. I may need to visit the Hyuga compound personally.”
“Yes, Lord Hokage.”
The ANBU vanished.
Not long afterward, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane arrived in the Hokage’s office.
Hiruzen explained Kumogakure’s ultimatum.
Then he showed them the daimyo’s order.
The room fell silent.
The Hyuga weren’t some insignificant clan with a handful of shinobi.
Their members were spread throughout Konoha’s forces, and the Byakugan’s strategic value—especially in reconnaissance—was enormous.
And Kumogakure wanted the head of their clan dead?
All three elders cursed the Cloud internally.
“Well?”
He looked around the room.
“What do we do?”
Danzo immediately turned his head away.
He had no intention of volunteering first.
Even he understood how dangerous this issue was.
Homura remained silent as well.
This wasn’t some expendable shinobi being discussed.
This was Hiashi Hyuga.
Head of the Hyuga Clan.
Eventually, Hiruzen’s gaze settled on Koharu.
She hesitated.
Then gritted her teeth.
“The daimyo has already issued his order, and the Land of Lightning has clearly begun preparing for war.”
Her expression hardened.
“Konoha cannot allow this conflict to escalate.”
She paused.
“We need to give Kumogakure an answer.”
Once those words were spoken, the rest became much easier.
Homura slowly nodded.
Danzo gave the slightest nod as well.
Hiruzen abruptly stood.
“Then there’s no point delaying.”
He looked at the other three.
“The four of us will go to the Hyuga compound immediately.”
“No.”
Koharu’s voice was cold.
“It would be better to summon Hiashi here.”
Hiruzen looked at her.
She continued,
“There are four of us and one of him. Inside the Hyuga compound, we surrender the advantage of controlling the meeting.”
Homura nodded.
“I agree.”
Hiruzen considered it for a moment before clapping his hands once.
“Fine.”
His expression became stern.
“Have the ANBU ready.”
Danzo finally spoke.
“Root will be prepared as well.”
Back at the Hyuga compound, the atmosphere was completely different.
In one of the courtyards, Hinata was desperately trying to catch a small cat whose fur had puffed up in alarm.
The cat darted left.
Hinata lunged after it.
It twisted away at the last second.
She nearly stumbled before recovering and chasing after it again.
A short distance away, Tenriki and Neji watched the entire exercise.
Neji’s eyes followed Hinata’s movements carefully.
“Young Master, this training method is amazing.”
There was open admiration in his voice.
“Lady Hinata is learning really quickly.”
Tenriki smiled.
“Mm.”
He watched Hinata change direction again as the cat tried to escape.
“When training is tied to something interesting, the results can sometimes be surprisingly good.”