Who Will Take the Blame?
Thousands of hands…
Hearing that name, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but think of his former disciple.
Tsunade.
With her strength, repelling the forces of Kumogakure wouldn't be difficult.
However, ever since the death of Suwa Rooseki, Tsunade had suffered from severe hemophobia and left the village.
"Hizashi." Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a moment. Only after the medic had left did he inquire about Hizashi's report.
"Yes," Hizashi responded, then proceeded to recount the events of the pursuit.
When he described the extent of the destruction in the border forest, both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo were visibly shocked.
"Did you see any suspicious individuals?" Danzo asked.
Could it really have been Tsunade who saved Hinata?
"No," Hizashi shook his head. For a Hyuga with the Byakugan, even a moonless night wouldn't obstruct their vision.
If there had been anyone else, he would have seen them.
"I see," Danzo nodded. "Either way, Hinata isn't seriously hurt. Once she wakes up, we may learn the truth."
Still, even beyond Hinata's rescuer, the situation was already precarious.
Kumogakure and Konoha had only just formed an alliance, and now this happened.
If not handled carefully, it could reignite conflict.
And right now, the village couldn't afford another war.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was dead. The village's Jinchūriki—not only had he not mastered the power of the Nine-Tails, but he didn't even know he was a Jinchūriki.
The Uchiha Clan was growing restless.
Konoha needed stability.
"Hizashi, I hope the Hyuga Clan will take responsibility for today's incident," Danzo said, his voice low as he met Hizashi's gaze.
"Danzo, what are you suggesting?" Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately frowned.
"It's simple. The leader of Kumogakure's delegation attempted to kidnap the Hyuga heiress but was intercepted by the Hyuga patriarch and killed in combat. As for what happened at the border? No one knows," Danzo explained.
According to Hizashi, the Kumogakure shinobi who had taken Hinata were dead.
With this version of events, Konoha could distance itself from the conflict.
The Hyuga Clan would bear the blame for the attack—an unfortunate misunderstanding that did not involve the leadership of Konoha.
"Danzo, how can you suggest such a thing?" Sarutobi Hiruzen saw through Danzo's scheme immediately. This way, the Hyuga Clan would become a scapegoat, shielding Konoha from political fallout.
"I understand." As the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hizashi understood the implications. Taking a deep breath, he agreed to Danzo's terms.
"Hizashi…" Sarutobi Hiruzen's frown deepened, uneasy with the decision being made so hastily.
But Danzo wasn't interested in further debate. He stood up and walked toward the door.
"Hiruzen, Hinata needs rest. There's nothing more for us here."
"Danzo!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen called out in frustration, but he could only watch as Danzo disappeared through the doorway. Sighing, he turned back to Hizashi.
"Take care of Hinata, and make sure the clan handles this delicately."
"I will, Lord Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and left the ward.
However, Danzo did not go far. He stood at the corner of the hospital corridor, as though waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Danzo," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with displeasure. "How can you place all the blame on the Hyuga Clan?"
"Isn't that why you called me here?" Danzo's voice was calm, unwavering. "You and I both know the alliance with Kumogakure is crucial—even if their real motive was to obtain the Byakugan."
"We can't afford to turn this into a direct confrontation. The Uchiha Clan is already unstable, and we have lost Minato and the strength of our Jinchūriki."
At the mention of the Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"Homura and Koharu will support me on this," Danzo continued confidently.
If Kumogakure wanted a Byakugan, then a body would be provided. Hizashi would disguise himself as Hiashi, be handed over, and his Byakugan would be sealed.
The Hyuga Clan existed to protect their bloodline.
And the sacrifice of the Hyuga was for the village.
Everything…
Was for the village.
"No, Danzo. This time, we'll find another way. Whether it's the Hyuga or the Uchiha, there are other solutions."
Sigh…
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a weary sigh. He had come to Danzo hoping he would take responsibility for the conflict.
He hadn't expected Danzo to immediately shift the burden onto the Hyuga Clan instead.
"If you're uncertain, I will handle it myself," Danzo said firmly.
Time and again, Sarutobi Hiruzen had claimed he would find a solution for the Uchiha.
And time and again, he had failed.
"Let's discuss this later, Danzo," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, cutting off the conversation.
For now, there was something else equally important.
They needed to find out who had saved Hinata.
Personally, Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped it was Tsunade.
Although he had resumed the Hokage position after Minato's death, his body was aging rapidly.
He needed a successor.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were about to leave the hospital, they were stopped by a Hyuga clansman.
"Lord Third Hokage, Hinata has woken up," Hyuga Hizashi reported.
"She's awake?"
"Did she say who saved her?" Danzo asked immediately. That was the more pressing question in his mind.
"It was someone who called himself a Senju…" Hizashi hesitated, his voice full of disbelief. "A black-haired boy."
"A boy?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged shocked looks.
It wasn't Tsunade.
It was a boy.
Could it be… Senju Xu?
The name suddenly surfaced in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, but he quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought.
He had visited the remnants of the Senju Clan several times.
Senju Xu had no talent as a shinobi—he hadn't even been accepted into the Academy.
Could he really have saved Hinata and destroyed the border forest?
Impossible.
Meanwhile, Senju Xu had returned to the Senju residence, preparing to rest before reporting to the Ninja Academy the next day.
"By now, the Third Hokage must know I was the one who saved Hinata," Xu mused, calculating the timing.
A boy from the Senju Clan who had saved the Hyuga heiress.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to investigate.
But that was all part of Xu's plan.