Chapter 17: The Unstoppable War
The atmosphere within the Hyūga Clan Grounds was heavy.
All the elders of the Hyūga main family were gathered, and naturally, Hyūga Hiashi, the clan head and the 'culprit', was also present.
Additionally, the Third Hokage and several ANBU hidden in the shadows were there.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced sideways at the Root members hidden in the darkness, his heart sinking slightly: "What on earth is Danzō doing?"
For a hawk like Danzō, this was a prime opportunity to persuade the Hyūga, perhaps even pull them into his own camp.
But, he was actually absent now?
"The Cloud has been pressing harder and harder recently. We can't delay any longer."
Hiashi spoke first, breaking the silence in the residence, but the cold sweat beading on his forehead revealed he wasn't as calm as he appeared.
He scanned the room and said: "If sacrificing me alone can avoid war, then..."
"Wait, Hiashi."
The Great Elder spoke up, cutting him off, his expression turning serious: "Don't make such a hasty decision just yet. The Byakugan is not only the foundation of the Hyūga, but also part of Konoha's heritage."
Sarutobi silently nodded, gripping his pipe tighter, the craving for a smoke intensifying.
Neither the main family nor the Konoha leadership would allow a complete pair of Byakugan to fall into outside hands.
"But there's no other choice now."
Hiashi didn't understand why he was still hesitating, his brow furrowed deeper, his tone hardening: "We who should bear responsibility cannot drag the village into the abyss of a desperate war!"
"I know all this, therefore..."
Bang!
Before the Great Elder could finish, Hyūga Hizashi pushed the door open and walked in.
"That's why the branch family exists."
The Great Elder frowned, clearly displeased with his disrespectful behavior.
But he still spoke: "We will hand over Hizashi's corpse as your substitute. Hizashi has already agreed to all of this."
Although Hizashi was also a leader of the branch family and a Jōnin of considerable strength...
...compared to Hiashi, the main family head, Hizashi's value was negligible.
Besides, dying for the main family was Hizashi's fate as a member of the branch family.
"Hizashi..."
Hiashi looked at the face identical to his own, looked at his determined expression and the resolve in his eyes.
So, this is your choice?
I'm sorry, I cannot accept it.
"Hooo~"
Hiashi let out a long breath and said: "Those guys want the Byakugan's abilities and secrets. The Byakugan will be sealed after Hizashi's death. The Cloud Village will absolutely not accept it!"
"The terms of the deal they proposed were to hand over the culprit's body to them, so give them the culprit's body!"
"But, but..."
A drop of cold sweat slowly trickled down Hiashi's forehead: "Today's events are highly unusual, we cannot simply..."
Just moments ago, he wanted to resolve the incident quickly and was willing to die, but now that it involved Hizashi, he became indecisive.
The other main family elders exchanged glances upon seeing this, then spoke up one after another to persuade him: "Hiashi, now is the time for you to make a decision."
"Generations have protected the Hyūga Kekkei Genkai this way. Even brothers must be cruelly forsaken."
"This is the different fate of the main and branch families, the destiny of being born into the Hyūga clan."
And Sarutobi, as Hokage, remained silent, gripping his pipe.
But silence, in fact, was the clearest attitude.
This was indeed the best outcome.
It could avoid war, didn't require sacrificing the Hyūga clan head, and most importantly, wouldn't let the Cloud obtain the Byakugan, leaving them with nothing to say.
Hiashi's heart was filled with struggle, but Hizashi stepped forward, walking right up to Hiashi.
"What's wrong with the usually firm Lord Hiashi this time?"
As he said this, his tone held only laughter and relief.
Regardless of the cause, this incident originated from the main family head.
But despite this, there was no anger or resentment on Hizashi's face.
Before Hiashi could say anything...
Bang!
Under the shocked gazes of everyone present, Hizashi struck Hiashi's abdomen with his palm.
"This!!"
Hiashi, struck in a vital point, went limp and collapsed to the ground.
"Hizashi, don't you resent the main family... Then why..."
"I do resent the main family. Even now, I still resent them."
Hizashi shook his head, ignoring the elders' ugly expressions, and said: "But precisely because of that, I do not acknowledge you as a member of the main family, but rather protect you with my life as my elder brother."
"Then, what about Neji?"
Hiashi trembled as he forced himself up, still refusing to give up, questioning him.
Hearing Neji mentioned, Hizashi paused, a bitter smile touching his lips: "In Neji's heart, I have always been lowly. Because of this, I understand my own will even more clearly."
He took a scroll from his robes and handed it to a branch family guard nearby: "I hope you can give this letter to Neji. Let him know I did not die protecting the main family, but because of my own will, choosing to die protecting my brother, family, and the village."
Wait!
Die protecting brother, family, and the village...
Hizashi suddenly froze, a chill rising in his heart.
That masked person said my death was near, and I would become the scapegoat.
He actually predicted it?
No, perhaps this was all within his expectations.
Who is that terrifying person?
"Lord Third, you must..."
Bang!
Just as Hizashi was about to warn Sarutobi Hiruzen to be careful of the person wearing the three-eyed fox mask, a ninja dressed in ANBU attire and wearing a mask suddenly burst in, interrupting him.
However, judging by his ice-cold aura, this person was clearly not an ANBU member, but a Root member.
"Lord Hokage! According to frontline intelligence, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki has appeared on the battlefield and single-handedly attacked our forces stationed in the Valley of the Moon! Nearly a hundred ninja deaths have already been caused!"
"What?!"
The faces of everyone present changed drastically; they could hardly believe their ears.
Is the Cloud Village insane? How could they attack Konoha forces at a time like this?
They had already told the Cloud delegation that the "culprit's" corpse would be handed over tomorrow.
They hadn't even received the "corpse" yet, and they just started fighting?
And they deployed the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki right away!
This was equivalent to two armies fighting – no gunfire, no bayonet charges, the enemy just ignores martial ethics and directly drops a nuclear bomb.
"Without proper justification! Are those brutes insane?"
"And the Cloud envoys are still in Konoha! How dare they start a war directly?"
"Can Jinchūriki just be deployed casually like that?!"
The originally solemn residence now became as noisy as a marketplace.
And the Hyūga elders, usually focused on etiquette, now resembled market aunties haggling over prices.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
A figure leaning on a cane slowly walked over to Sarutobi's side.
The newcomer was Shimura Danzō.
His stiff face now actually held a faint smile: "Hiruzen, shall we go?"
Sarutobi's brow furrowed tightly.
"Was it you again? Danzō!"