The Hokage’s office.
The Third was still at the desk, working through a stack of documents.
“Lord Hokage, Tiange Hyūga is acting strange.
Something’s about to happen!”
“What do you mean?”
“Lord Hokage, he’s walking around with his sword out, releasing killing intent without restraint.
We don’t know where he’s headed!”
“I know where he’s headed!”
Hiashi Hyūga arrived at the office.
The Anbu report had already reached those ears.
“Lord Hokage, shouldn’t you give our Hyūga clan an explanation?”
“Over a hundred people stormed into our compound in the middle of the night and killed people on our own grounds!”
“Is Konoha trying to wipe out the Hyūga too?
Aren’t you afraid of chilling the hearts of the other clans?”
Hiashi’s face was flushed with fury, the expression of someone whose clan had just suffered tremendous losses.
The Third shot to his feet, now knowing exactly where Tiange was headed.
“Move — something’s about to go wrong!”
“Stop right there!”
“Third, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Do you really think the Hyūga are that easy to push around?”
Hiashi’s sudden outburst left the Third stunned.
In the Third’s mind, Hiashi had always been the kind of person who simply endured whatever came.
“Hiashi, what’s the matter?”
“What’s the matter?”
“Third, are you even listening to me?”
“I’m asking you for an explanation — why did over a hundred people storm into our compound and kill our people for no reason whatsoever?”
“You show no concern for that at all, but the moment Tiange’s name comes up, you rush to stop him.
What exactly does that mean?”
“Are Hyūga lives just meant to be thrown away?
Is this how you treat every major clan?”
“Believe it or not, I can have the whole of Konoha, the entire ninja world, know about this before long.”
“Third, aren’t you being a little too partial?”
“What wrong has Tiange done?
People killed his family.
He’s not allowed to demand justice?”
“If you dare interfere tonight, I will make sure all of Konoha knows by morning.”
“And then I’d like to see how many people would still lay down their lives for you.”
Hiashi’s outburst left the Third frozen in place.
It took a moment to collect.
If what Hiashi said was true and it got out, Konoha could very well begin to fall apart.
And beyond that, could the Third even stop Tiange Hyūga?
Nine years ago, Tiange had come to blows with the Third and held his own.
Nine years later, the Third’s strength had declined across the board with age.
Tiange, meanwhile, had only grown stronger.
If truly provoked, would he even hesitate to kill the Third?
The more the Third thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
That man was a death star.
Every time the Third’s thoughts turned to him, the headache was immense.
“Hiashi, tell me — what exactly happened?”
“Hmph!”
“What happened?”
“I’d actually like to ask the Third the same question.”
“Today, Tiange came back and went to the training grounds to test his younger brother Neji Hyūga on his progress.”
“Suddenly, over a hundred Root ninja burst out and went straight for Neji’s life.
The weapons they carried were coated in lethal poison.”
“If Tiange hadn’t spent years learning medical ninjutsu under Tsunade, Neji would be dead tonight.”
“Even so, nearly the entire main house of our Hyūga clan has been wiped out.”
“Third, I’d like to know, when did a faction within Konoha become so utterly lawless it could do something like this?”
“Was this your order?
How else could anyone be so depraved?”
“Third, let me be direct.
I’ve already made arrangements.”
“If I don’t make it back tonight, or if you don’t give me a satisfactory explanation,”
“I guarantee that what happened tonight will be known across the entire ninja world by tomorrow.”
“I’d like to see whether Konoha has really fallen this far.”
“Whether the Third’s old friends count as human beings while the other clans and civilians do not, fit to be wiped out at will.”
“Today, I’m putting everything on the line.
Third, if you have the nerve, kill me right here.”
“Otherwise, if you dare step outside this door tonight, I promise, I mean every word.”
Hiashi’s face was grim and resolute, as though the resolve to die had truly taken root.
That display shook the Third to the core.
The Third wasn’t truly afraid of what Hiashi alone could do.
What the Third feared was that the Hyūga’s actions would stoke suspicion among Konoha’s major clans.
And even more than that, the Third feared Tiange Hyūga coming directly.
That utterly lawless man.
Once his killing intent rose, he would genuinely dare to kill the Third.
No regard whatsoever for the Hokage title.
“Report!”
“Lord Hokage!”
“Tiange Hyūga has made his move.
Anyone standing in his path, he doesn’t say a single word.
He just draws his sword and kills.”
“Who ordered you to stop him?”
“Lord Hokage, it wasn’t our people.
It was…
it was Root!”
By now, word had spread.
Representatives from the major clans and shinobi of comparable standing throughout Konoha had gathered outside the Hokage’s office.
Every face was grave.
They had already looked into the full sequence of events.
That they had pieced it together so quickly was naturally Hiashi’s doing.
These people understood, Konoha was heading for a catastrophe tonight.
Someone had gone and provoked that death star again.
“Lord Hokage!”
The Third glanced at the assembled crowd, said nothing, pressed fingers to the temple, and turned to look out the window.
The sky above was choked with dark clouds, roiling and churning without end, as though something monstrous were about to tear free from the overcast.
Killing intent.
Any shinobi of sufficient strength could feel it.
It had already blanketed the entirety of Konoha.
Sending more people now would accomplish nothing, they would only become part of that killing intent.
Tiange was releasing what was in his heart.
That was why he was walking, step by step.
Otherwise, with his strength, he would have reached Root long ago and begun the slaughter.
“Lord Hokage, if we don’t find a way to calm him down soon, I’m afraid…”
“Hiashi…
the losses your Hyūga clan suffered, I will compensate.
But right now, is there any way to settle Tiange down first?”
“Ha.”
“Compensate?”
“So Lord Hokage still wants to shield the culprits?”
“If that’s your attitude, then the Hyūga clan has heard all it needs to hear.”
Hiashi gave a cold laugh, turned, and walked toward the door.
At the threshold, there was a pause.
“A word of advice to everyone here, keep your clan members in line.
Tiange’s brother was nearly assassinated in their own home.
He nearly died.
In Tiange’s current state, no one can calm him down until the culprits are dead.”
“Lord Hokage, you’re welcome to try stopping him, just don’t be surprised if you go and don’t come back.
The Hyūga won’t need your explanation after that.”
“But the Hyūga will stand on the same front as Tiange tonight.
If any of you wish to intervene, by all means, come and try.”
“One reminder, with his current strength, no one can stop Tiange from doing what he wants.
If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to find out for yourselves.”
With that, Hiashi turned and headed back to the Hyūga compound.
The goal had been achieved.
The Third’s attitude had once again left Hiashi cold.
Since Tiange was going to make a scene, then they might as well make it a big one.
Hiashi intended to bring the entire Hyūga clan into this fight.
Tonight, Konoha would see exactly where the Hyūga stood.
In the Hokage’s office, the assembled crowd exchanged glances.
One wrong move, and Konoha’s sky would change tonight.
Hiashi’s stance sent a jolt through every heart in the room.
➤ Next: Byakugan Awakens,
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