56-60

*Chapter 56: A Shark Skin Worth Ten Million Ryo? (Vote! Invest!)*

Yamanaka Inoichi sat still, almost glued to his chair, not daring to move an inch. Without a word from the Hokage or a clear stance from Elder Shimura, he wouldn't even think of making a move. He was well aware that even if Uchiha Sougen became furious, he couldn’t risk his clan’s position. The choice between his family and himself wasn’t difficult; his own death would be insignificant compared to the possibility of people thinking the Yamanaka clan was cozying up to the Uchiha like the Kurama clan had.

To be honest, these days, the Kurama clan had already been pushed out of many social circles. The Uchiha clan... was truly unpopular! Even though these clans understood the smear campaign against the Uchiha in the village, no one wanted to interact with them. This disdain had started when Uchiha Madara lost the election for Hokage to Senju Hashirama.

Over decades, this sentiment had become ingrained. Changing such a long-standing habit wasn’t going to be easy!

Even though Danzo’s near-death situation had made Sougen seem a bit more tolerable to many clan heads, this acceptance extended only to him and not to the entire Uchiha clan. People still maintained a respectful distance—no provoking, but definitely no cozying up either.

“Clan Leader Yamanaka? Are you feeling unwell today?” Sougen pressed him further.

“N-no, it’s just...” Yamanaka Inoichi wasn’t good with words and fumbled for an excuse. Sweat the size of beads rolled down his forehead. Just as Nara Shikaku clenched his fist, ready to help his friend out of the situation—

“Uchiha Patriarch, let’s not waste time on trivial matters.”

Elder Mitokado Homura interrupted Sougen’s questioning.

Though he wasn’t sure what Sougen was aiming for, he knew that now wasn’t the time to be led around by the nose by him. That troublesome Mist ninja might have some damaging information against them. “The matter at hand is how to respond to Mist Village’s provocation. The village is recovering, and going to war now would be unwise. We should do everything we can to avoid conflict—”

“Heh!”

A derisive snort echoed through the meeting room.

“Avoid conflict? Elder Mitokado, don’t say such naive things. You lived through the war era yourself. How can you still spout such delusional nonsense? War isn’t something that can be avoided just because one side wants to. And stop dancing around the point—according to your previous suggestion, what is Konoha supposed to pay to satisfy Mist?”

Mitokado Homura’s face darkened.

Being interrupted and ridiculed like this only fueled his anger. But just as he was gathering his thoughts to rebut Sougen, Sougen continued:

“What’s the deal? Mist hasn’t named their price yet? Seems like this envoy from Mist knows what he’s doing—he understands that not naming a price makes it infinitely high. So, Hokage-sama, elders, what do you plan to offer to pacify Mist? Their appetite won’t be satisfied with mere scraps.”

Sougen’s aggressive attitude had been relentless since the start of the meeting.

“Uchiha Patriarch, this matter is of great importance. That’s why we convened this meeting, to gather input and discuss the best course of action,” Mitokado Homura said, suppressing his irritation, trying to bring the meeting back to order.

“Gather input?” Sougen retorted, not backing down. “Is there really anything left to consider here?”

“Either we fight Mist, and show them Konoha isn’t to be trifled with, or... we bow our heads, apologize, and grovel before them. It all boils down to these two options. Unless, of course, there’s a third option I haven’t thought of?”

Sougen’s scathing words turned Homura’s face an angry shade of blue.

“Ridiculous! What do you mean ‘grovel and apologize’?”

This was about the greater good!

Allowing a young, short-sighted man like Sougen to lead a clan had been a mistake. They shouldn’t have tolerated the Uchiha’s rise just because of Danzo. Even if there was a price to pay, they should’ve corrected this error back then!

“For the village’s sake, nothing is too difficult to endure,” the Third Hokage chimed in, tapping his pipe lightly on the table, stopping Homura from lashing out. “If sacrificing me, the Hokage, could ensure Konoha’s prosperity, I’d gladly give my life right now.”

Sougen sneered.

It was all just pretty words. Perfect for fooling someone as naive as Shisui.

“Mist Village didn’t come here with good intentions, and they won’t be easily appeased,” the Third Hokage said slowly. “But, Uchiha Patriarch, war is something we should avoid if we can. The First Hokage founded Konoha to bring an end to the endless wars of the Warring States period.”

“The arrest of Mist’s envoy by the police force was reckless. I understand Mist probably acted with bad intentions, likely trying to provoke us, but that’s even more reason not to fall into their trap!” The Hokage sighed as if deeply troubled by the situation.

Rubbing his temples, he continued, “There’s no use dwelling on the past now. We must find a way to minimize the chances of war. Of course, we can’t agree to excessive demands, but the Samehada (Shark Skin) sword—since it originally belonged to Mist Village—can be returned to them. As for other conditions, we can take our time negotiating, delaying things as much as possible.”

Then, looking at Sougen, he asked, “Uchiha Patriarch, I understand Samehada is your spoils of war. To compensate for your loss, the village can offer you ten million ryo. If that’s not enough, you’re welcome to suggest other terms.”

Ten million ryo? What a joke!

The importance of Samehada to Sougen’s future was beyond measure—it was his most prized possession.

Even putting aside its significance to him, Samehada’s value was easily over fifty million ryo. The sword could help replenish a ninja’s chakra, making it a treasure that any connoisseur would empty their pockets for.

“Clan Leader Kurama, please use your genjutsu to interrogate Mist’s envoy. Find out what Mist Village is really planning!” Ignoring the Hokage’s sickening offer, Sougen turned to Kurama Tsumuyoshi, seated several spots away.

“Bang!”

“Uchiha Sougen!”

Mitokado Homura slammed his hand on the table, shouting, “This is the Hokage building! It’s not a place for you to act recklessly. Someone, take Mist’s envoy away and investigate after the meeting is over.”

“Shisui!”

Sougen snapped, “Without my permission, no one is to take my captive.”

He forcefully pushed his chair back and stood tall, locking eyes with Homura. However, in the next second, Homura’s gaze faltered, his eyes darting away from Sougen’s, causing the elder’s previously built-up momentum to dissipate.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 57: Will You Give It or Not? (Vote! Invest!)

The ANBU appeared, following Elder Mitokado's orders.

These masked elites attempted to seize the Mist Village envoy, who lay like a dead dog, from Shisui. However, this time, Shisui, resolute in his stance, didn't surrender quietly. Instead, he fought back fiercely, using genjutsu to swiftly incapacitate two ANBU squads.

The sight of the ANBU falling like wheat during harvest shocked many.

To be honest, quite a few people present had the strength to defeat two ANBU squads single-handedly. But precisely because of that, they knew how difficult it was to do so as easily as Shisui had just done.

No lengthy battle, just swift, decisive action.

Uchiha... Truly worthy of the Uchiha name!

Last time, Shisui's smooth defeat of Danzo's right-hand man, Aburame Ryoma, had already amazed the crowd. This time, Shisui's performance once again made everyone realize just how extraordinarily gifted the Uchiha clan was. Their constant emergence of geniuses inspired envy and even resentment.

Many couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy.

Why doesn’t my clan have such talents?

"Illusion: True Words Technique!"

Kurama Sogyun acted decisively.

Since his beloved daughter had become a disciple of Uchiha Sougen, the Kurama clan had tied their fate to the Uchiha. If the Uchiha were defeated, the Kurama clan wouldn’t escape unscathed either. So, even if it meant angering the Third Hokage, Kurama Sogyun chose to follow Sougen’s orders.

He cast the Kurama clan’s unique genjutsu on the exhausted Mist ninja, who had just been freed from Shisui's genjutsu and was in a severely weakened state.

This genjutsu, designed specifically for extracting information, disrupted the target's chakra flow, putting them into a specific state of confusion. In this state, the victim would answer any question truthfully from the heart.

The reliability of information obtained through the True Words Technique was beyond doubt. The Kurama clan, as one of Konoha’s ancient families and a bearer of a Kekkei Genkai, had a reputation for the accuracy of their interrogation methods, even though their bloodline power was somewhat unstable.

Moreover, many of the clan leaders present had firsthand experience working with Kurama ninjas and had witnessed the True Words Technique in action.

Sitting opposite Sougen, Hyuga Hiashi discreetly activated his Byakugan, carefully inspecting the Mist ninja to confirm there were no signs of manipulation by the Sharingan. Other clan leaders with various detection abilities also verified that the Mist ninja was only under Kurama Sogyun’s genjutsu and had not been influenced by any third party.

Kurama Sogyun, seeing his technique succeed, breathed a sigh of relief.

As for what to ask...

Hadn't Sougen already said? Ask what the Mist Village was planning.

"Tell me, what is the Mist Village's purpose in coming to Konoha?" Kurama Sogyun demanded.

As soon as his words fell, the room grew quiet. Everyone's attention shifted to the Mist ninja, who hung limply in Shisui's grasp like a puppet. It was impossible not to be curious—when Sougen had earlier insisted on Yamanaka Inoichi reading the Mist ninja's memories, everyone’s interest had already been piqued.

Too bad the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were too adept at playing it safe. Yamanaka Inoichi just sat there without moving.

But now...

This show might just continue.

The Third Hokage and the two elders were pinned down by Sougen's pressure, and the Mist ninja was in Shisui's hands. Two ANBU squads had been taken down—summoning more wouldn’t help at this point... No, that wouldn’t work!

The Third Hokage sighed inwardly.

The clan leaders were already intrigued. To persist in obstructing the interrogation would leave the impression of deliberately hiding something.

More importantly, the village wasn’t prepared to go to war with the Uchiha. The Third had recently reviewed the Second Hokage’s classified research on the Uchiha and the Sharingan, and the more he read, the more alarmed he became. Mangekyo Sharingan, unique ocular techniques, Susano'o...

Until they were fully prepared, they couldn’t afford to start a conflict with the Uchiha.

Thankfully, after some reflection, the Third realized there was nothing shady about the village’s dealings with the Mist, so he wasn’t too concerned about any incriminating information surfacing. At worst, Danzo was still recovering in the hospital...

As the Third Hokage pondered this, the dazed Mist ninja finally spoke.

"Orders... Mizukage-sama ordered us to recover Samehada."

"And what else?" Sogyun pressed.

"And to threaten Konoha with war, demanding the return of Samehada. At the same time, they want the heads of ‘Enma’ and ‘Shunshin,’ the two demons who killed so many of our comrades." The Mist ninja spilled everything without hesitation.

The meeting room erupted into an uproar.

Even those not close to the Uchiha were incensed. How dare the Mist ninja belittle Konoha like this? The sheer audacity of it felt like an insult.

Kurama Sogyun froze for a moment. What on earth...? Were the Mist ninja daydreaming? Which village would ever agree to such an outrageous demand? Kill their own battlefield heroes and send their heads to the enemy? Wait!

A flash of insight crossed his mind. He suppressed his chaotic thoughts and asked, "Why do you think Konoha would agree to such an absurd demand?"

"Absurd?" The dazed Mist ninja reflexively retorted, momentarily startling Sogyun into thinking the genjutsu had been broken. But the Mist ninja continued, returning to the point, "Two years ago, didn’t Kumo succeed in coercing Konoha with the threat of war? The Third Hokage killed the Hyuga clan leader’s brother and handed the body over to Kumo. Asking for two heads along with Samehada isn’t too much, is it? Even if they can’t give both, one will do!"

When the Mist ninja finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.

The clan leaders and department heads were all mute.

Everyone discreetly glanced at Hyuga Hiashi, who sat across from Sougen. The Hyuga clan leader had his eyes lowered, expressionless, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Yet even that lack of expression spoke volumes, enough to make the Third Hokage and the others grimace.

"This is a provocation."

Koharu Utatane tried to defuse the situation, forcing a smile.

"Elder Koharu, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a provocation or not. The Mist wants the heads of Shisui and me. What do you and Hokage-sama think? Will you give them? Or not?"

Sougen pressed on relentlessly.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 58: Uchiha and Hyuga (Votes and Support Requested!)*

To give or not to give?

This is a tough question.

If Uchiha Sougen hadn’t stirred up this trouble, the Third Hokage and his council had indeed planned to use the pressure from the Mist Village to weaken the Uchiha clan, forcing them to cut off their own wings. Even though they couldn’t harm Uchiha Sougen himself, taking down Uchiha Shisui wouldn’t have been a wasted effort.

Aburame Ryoma, one of Danzo’s closest aides, couldn’t gain the upper hand against Uchiha Shisui. Clearly, the danger in the Uchiha clan didn’t only stem from Uchiha Sougen; Uchiha Shisui was also an unstable and dangerous element.

However, with Uchiha Sougen making a scene with the Mist emissaries, they could no longer proceed with their original plan. If they pressured the Uchiha clan to hand over Shisui, it would mean bowing to the Mist Village’s threats, which would deal a severe blow to the Third Hokage’s prestige — even a fool could see that!

Moreover,

Uchiha Sougen would never agree to such a demand. The original plan was to use the threat of war to unite the other clans against the Uchiha, but now those clans would likely refuse to cooperate. Being forced by the Mist Village to fight among themselves, even if the target was the Uchiha, was unacceptable!

But if they abandoned the original plan,

how would they face the Hyuga clan?

When faced with the Cloud Village’s threat, the Third Hokage himself had persuaded the Hyuga clan to prioritize the bigger picture, resulting in the sacrifice of Hyuga Hizashi, the younger brother of Hyuga Hiashi, as a scapegoat. Although Hiashi hadn’t shown any animosity toward the Third Hokage afterward, the seed of resentment had clearly been planted.

It just hadn’t been touched upon in the past two years, so nothing had changed.

However,

today, that wound had been found and cruelly pressed.

If the village refused to yield to the Mist Village’s threat this time, what would the Hyuga clan think?

Koharu Utatane’s face turned pale. Faced with Sougen’s questioning, she opened her mouth but couldn’t utter a single word. Her mind was in complete disarray, unsure how to handle this unforeseen situation. She wasn’t the only one — Homura Mitokado’s face was just as grim.

The decision to have the Hyuga clan sacrifice one of their own to avoid war with the Cloud Village had been made by the Third Hokage and these two elders. Due to the suddenness of the situation, they hadn’t had time to involve Danzo to share the blame. Hiruzen Sarutobi had even personally gone to the Hyuga clan, so now they couldn’t push the responsibility onto Danzo!

Hiashi Hyuga wasn’t an idiot!

He wasn’t emotionless, either!

If they treated him like a fool, as someone with no emotions, it would only backfire.

As for delaying the decision,

that would be the dumbest choice, as it would only make them seem weak and incompetent.

Caught in this dilemma, the Third Hokage hesitated for a moment before finally declaring with righteous conviction, "Konoha does not like war, but we do not fear it. Since the Mist Village has no sincerity for peaceful coexistence, we won’t hesitate to show them that Konoha cannot be bullied!"

The moment the Third Hokage finished speaking—

"Ridiculous!!!"

Hiashi Hyuga slammed his chair to the floor, stood up, and left without looking back, tossing out a cryptic "ridiculous" as he stormed off.

No one stopped the Hyuga clan leader’s rude behavior, nor did anyone criticize his discourtesy. The other clan heads didn’t mock the Hyuga clan’s situation. Instead, they shared a sense of sadness and deep disappointment.

The Third Hokage was no longer the formidable leader he once was!

He seemed willing to swallow his pride in front of external enemies while tirelessly targeting his allies within the village. Everyone knew what today’s meeting was really about — it wasn’t about dealing with the Mist Village’s threat; it was about suppressing the Uchiha clan. If some had been swayed by the Third Hokage’s warnings about the Uchiha threat before, they were now completely disinterested in getting involved in such a petty matter.

So what if the Uchiha were arrogant and looked down on others?

No matter how proud they were, they were still comrades from the same village. They were certainly better than those scoundrels from the Cloud and Mist Villages.

The meeting room was filled with an unbearable tension.

Only Sougen sat back in his chair with a relaxed, satisfied smile. His goal had been achieved — the Hyuga clan had broken with the Third Hokage. It was a spectacular show, truly a delight to watch!

The only regret was that Hiashi hadn’t lost control and directly clashed with the Third Hokage. Instead, he had simply chosen to leave.

"Today’s meeting is over. We’ll discuss the Mist Village issue at another time,"

the Third Hokage announced wearily. With Hiashi Hyuga’s departure, there was no point in continuing the meeting. In truth, the real purpose of this gathering wasn’t to address the Mist Village threat but to find an excuse to suppress the Uchiha clan.

With the plan completely falling apart, there was no need to continue the discussion.

As the saying goes, small meetings are for big issues, and big meetings are for small ones. There was no need for such a large group to decide on something as critical as war with the Mist Village. Five to seven people would be more than enough to work out a general strategy.

The meeting adjourned.

The clan heads left the Hokage building in silence, each deep in thought.

The village now faced hostility from the Mist Village, threatening war from the outside, while internally, it was far from united. The conflict between the Third Hokage’s faction and the Uchiha clan had become increasingly obvious, and now even the Hyuga clan seemed to be drifting away from the Hokage…

These worries weighed heavily on everyone’s minds.

"Uchiha Clan Leader!"

An unexpected figure stopped Sougen as he left the Hokage building.

"Hyuga Clan Leader, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Sougen looked at Hiashi Hyuga standing in front of him, surprised and unsure what the Hyuga leader wanted. Could it be that Hiashi was here to cause trouble because of the wound that had been reopened during the meeting?

Of course not!

"This isn’t the place to talk. The food at Matsutake Pavilion is quite good. I wonder if the Uchiha Clan Leader has time to join me for a drink?" Hiashi extended a gesture of friendship.

"Though I’m not of drinking age yet, if the Hyuga Clan Leader doesn’t mind me substituting tea for wine, I’d be honored to try the food at Matsutake Pavilion. I must admit, I’ve never been there before!"

Sougen smiled as he spoke.

"Tea is fine! Too much wine is bad for the body anyway," Hiashi agreed smoothly.

The sight of Uchiha Sougen and Hiashi Hyuga chatting in front of the Hokage building caught the attention of the other clan leaders as they exited. The scene sent shockwaves through their minds, causing wild speculation about what this could mean.

Uchiha and Hyuga…

If those two clans joined forces… It was unimaginable, unthinkable! Was this the beginning of… a new era?

Choza Akimichi looked up at the clear, blue sky, his heart heavy with worry, even losing his appetite. He sighed deeply, "How did it come to this? Shikaku, you’ve got a sharp mind — what do you think is going on?"

Shikaku Nara’s smile was bitter in the extreme.

What’s going on?

It all boiled down to the fact that the Third Hokage had planted the seeds of disaster long ago, and today, they were coming to fruition. If the Third Hokage had remained in complete control, the Hyuga clan would have continued to weigh the pros and cons and tolerate the situation. But the Uchiha clan’s sudden assertiveness had shaken the Hokage’s authority, giving the Hyuga clan an opportunity. It was no surprise that the Hyuga, unwilling to accept their fate, were now making moves!

In his memory, Hiashi Hyuga and his brother Hizashi had been very close.

Even the divide between the Hyuga’s main and branch families hadn’t broken the bond between the brothers!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 59: Hyuga’s Request (Seeking votes! Seeking investment!)

Matsutake-tei was one of the most high-end restaurants in Konoha.

Although this was Sougen’s first time stepping into this tasteful and elegant establishment, it wasn’t because he couldn’t afford it. His age had been a limiting factor in his activities—his parents had forbidden him from drinking alcohol until he turned twenty. Even now, as the clan head, he hadn’t gained the freedom to do so.

Surprisingly, even his grandfather agreed with this.

He would often say that today’s young people didn’t take the “Three Prohibitions of Shinobi” seriously. As the clan head, Sougen was expected to lead by example and improve the clan’s ways. The temptations of alcohol, lust, and greed should only be indulged in moderation by shinobi; any obsession with them could dull their willpower.

Sougen walked along the wooden floor, glancing around the surroundings. They were being guided by the hostess through a winding corridor, flanked on both sides by sliding shoji doors painted with images of seasonal beauty—spring flowers, autumn moons, summer suns, and winter snow. Despite the traditional decor, the lighting in the hallway wasn’t dim.

The owner of this restaurant clearly wasn’t a stubborn traditionalist. Modern science had banished the gloom from the corridor, and the elegant lamps, shaped like cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, and plum flowers, complemented the seasonal images on the shoji doors in a delightful fusion.

The hostess slid open a shoji door with a soft sound.

They had arrived.

Following Hyuga Hiashi inside, Sougen saw it was a six-tatami-sized room with cushions and a low table in the center. Hanging on the wall was a landscape painting, which Sougen found beautiful, though he didn’t understand it. Through the veranda doors, he could see a refined stone garden outside.

Meticulously raked white sand, stone arrangements, and lanterns combined to create a breathtaking landscape in the hands of a master gardener.

After the hostesses served tea and snacks and quietly left the room, closing the shoji doors behind them, only Sougen and Hiashi remained in the room. Their bodyguards, including Shisui and Hiashi’s attendants, were stationed in a nearby room, close enough to respond immediately but far enough not to disturb the conversation.

“Clan Head Uchiha, please wait a moment,” Hiashi said, sitting cross-legged on a cushion. He activated his Byakugan, carefully scanning the surroundings to ensure they weren’t being eavesdropped on, and only then deactivated it.

Sougen furrowed his brow slightly. Hiashi’s act of checking the environment seemed to double as a scan of Sougen himself. However, he knew there was no way to hide anything from Hiashi—if Hiashi wished, he could examine him from a kilometer away.

Though mildly annoyed, Sougen quickly let the feeling pass.

“Apologies, Clan Head Uchiha…”

“Just call me Sougen, Hiashi-senpai.”

“Well then, Sougen-kun?”

Sougen wasn’t particularly close to Hiashi, but they weren’t complete strangers either. During the Third Shinobi War, they had collaborated several times. The Hyuga Clan wasn’t just active against the Cloud Village; the Byakugan also proved effective against the Hidden Mist’s jutsu.

However, the Hyuga Clan had suffered a significant setback in their fight against the Mist.

Not only had they lost a member of the main family, but a perfect Byakugan had been stolen by the Mist Village.

Sougen had met the unlucky Hyuga member who had died. He was a brash, arrogant young man, around Sougen’s age, who had not only gotten himself killed but also caused six branch family members to lose their lives.

“What are you thinking, Sougen-kun?”

“I’m thinking, Hiashi-senpai, what is it that you want to discuss? If you have something to say, please speak plainly. I believe it’s better to get straight to the point than to waste time on pleasantries.”

Hiashi laughed lightly, “No wonder you became the head of the Uchiha Clan at such a young age. Since you’ve said so, I’ll get right to it!”

He paused for a few seconds, his smile fading, replaced by a serious expression. His pure white eyes stared intently at Sougen across from him as he spoke slowly, “Sougen-kun, I want to ask: Does the Uchiha Clan intend to support the rise of a new Hokage?”

It was an answer Sougen had expected.

But,

He hadn’t thought Hiashi would be so direct about it so quickly. He had expected more probing and circling around the issue. It seemed Hiashi’s anger and frustration had built up over time.

“Yes, we do,” Sougen replied candidly.

“The Third Hokage’s bias against my clan runs too deep. As long as he remains in power, I’m constantly on edge, worrying about the future of my clan. But, Hiashi-senpai, you bring this up—is there something you’re planning to do?”

“Sougen-kun, there’s no need to say it that way. I may not know what methods you used to get the Mist envoy to say those things, but I don’t believe the Mist would be so arrogant… However, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that those words weren’t wrong. My brother Hizashi’s death is the greatest mistake of my life!”

Hiashi closed his eyes, his expression filled with deep grief.

“To protect the clan, I chose to sacrifice Hizashi. I personally sent my brother to his death. It’s a sin I cannot escape. But… the Third Hokage must also bear his share of the responsibility! Besides me, he is also to blame for Hizashi’s death!”

Hiashi’s eyes opened again, and a fiery rage seemed to burn within his pure white gaze.

“So, you’ve come to me?” Sougen asked calmly.

“Yes,” Hiashi nodded firmly. “Everyone knows the Uchiha and the Third Hokage’s faction are like oil and water. And… I mean no disrespect, but the current Uchiha under your leadership is more formidable than it was under Fugaku. With your help, I’d have a much greater chance of forcing the Third Hokage to step down!”

Sougen didn’t respond right away. He picked up his teacup, gently rubbing its warm surface as he thought.

He realized that his previous perspective had been too narrow, focusing solely on the Uchiha. He hadn’t considered that within Konoha, there were others like Hiashi, who opposed the Third Hokage and his faction.

Hiashi’s plan to overthrow the Third wasn’t made hastily. Today’s meeting was simply a chance to initiate action. After years of lying low, he was finally revealing his hidden ambition.

But,

It didn’t really matter!

Alliances were one way to solve the Uchiha Clan’s problems, but ultimately, the world respected strength.

Power is authority.

Relying on others was never truly dependable. In the end, the only thing that mattered was one’s own strength.

“Hiashi-senpai, do what you need to do. The Third Hokage has fallen behind the times. Konoha needs a new leader.” After a brief moment of contemplation, Sougen declared his stance. The Uchiha Clan would fully support the Hyuga’s efforts.

However, just removing the Third wouldn’t be enough. Unless they eliminated the root of the problem, it would persist, and things might even worsen in the shadows.

Therefore, the Third Hokage must die!

“… I wonder if Akitaro has found him,” Sougen thought to himself.

Then, he asked, “Hiashi-senpai, since you plan to overthrow the Third, have you thought about who should be the Fifth Hokage?”

“Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama! They are the most suitable candidates for the position.”

“… I thought you might want to compete for the title yourself,” Sougen remarked with a smile.

“To say I have no desire for the Hokage position would be a lie. But the village’s civilian shinobi and smaller clans won’t want to see a family with a kekkei genkai take the Hokage seat. Forcing the issue would only drive the civilian shinobi to support the Third.”

Hiashi was very clear-headed.

He knew what could be done and what couldn’t. He had no intention of using this opportunity to push the Hyuga Clan into the Hokage seat.

Konoha today wasn’t the same as it had been decades ago. With the Second Hokage’s establishment of the Ninja Academy, many small clans and civilian shinobi had risen to prominence. While the major clans still held power within the village’s key institutions, the rise of civilian shinobi was an unstoppable trend. Without their replenishment, Konoha wouldn’t have survived the Second and Third Shinobi Wars.

Every time Konoha fought, it was against multiple enemies: the Sand, Stone, Cloud, and Mist. Each war left the major clans severely weakened.

It was the large numbers of civilian shinobi who replenished the ranks, allowing Konoha to maintain its position as the top of the Five Great Shinobi Nations.

Unless a powerhouse like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, who dominated the entire shinobi world, were to appear, even the selection of the Hokage now has to take into account the opinions and attitudes of the civilian ninjas!

"As for Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya, I roughly know their whereabouts. If we send people to search, it shouldn’t take long to find them. Once we locate both of them, I will immediately push for the impeachment of the Third Hokage. Many clans in the village will support us. When that time comes, I hope you, Sougen-kun, can lend me a hand!"

"Of course,"

Sougen nodded in agreement.

So, it seems Hiashi Hyuga didn’t make this decision hastily; he's already connected with enough clans, huh? When it comes to connections, Uchiha and Hyuga really can’t compare!

The cooperation—

Was thus sealed.

There was no need for any signed documents. Hiashi Hyuga believed that Sougen would make decisions that aligned with the Uchiha clan’s interests. Sougen also didn’t doubt the ambition and hatred in Hiashi's eyes. Regardless of whether their original intentions were the same, as long as their goals were aligned, that was all that mattered!

Hiashi picked up his tea cup and drank the warm tea in one gulp, soothing his somewhat dry throat while trying to suppress the overly intense excitement in his heart.

"Hizashi, I won’t let your sacrifice be in vain! Overthrowing the Third Hokage is just the beginning—someday, the Hyuga clan will break free from the Curse of the Caged Bird!!!"

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 60: No More "Roots"! (Requesting Votes and Support!)

“Are Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Sōgen still at the Matsutake Pavilion?”

“Yes, Lord Hokage!”

“Do you know what they’re talking about?”

“Forgive me, I failed.”

The Anbu agent bowed his head deeply.

Getting close enough to eavesdrop on the heads of the Hyūga and Uchiha clans? Even the most trivial part of the brain would recognize how impossible that is. But, since it was Hokage-sama asking, there’s no one else to blame but the Anbu for not doing their job well!

This is Konoha Hospital.

After the meeting was dismissed, the Third Hokage didn’t return to his office or the Sarutobi clan’s estate. Instead, he came to Konoha Hospital, stepping into the room of Shimura Danzō, his old friend who was slowly but inevitably approaching death.

“You may leave.”

The Third Hokage waved his hand, unable to hide the frustration on his face.

Relieved, the Anbu withdrew, leaving the room to the Third Hokage and the two elders… oh, and to the barely clinging-to-life Shimura Danzō, the Hokage’s advisor!

Yes, not long after the Third arrived at Konoha Hospital, the two elders, like shadows, also showed up one after another. The famed Konoha F4 reunited once again in this spacious and luxurious hospital room!

“Damn it! Uchiha Sōgen, Hyūga Hiashi—those two bastards!”

As soon as the Anbu left, Koharu Utatane cursed in anger.

“Koharu, calm down. Raging here won’t solve anything. Rather than waste your energy, let’s calmly figure out how to handle this mess,” Mitokado Homura said, though his mood was equally sour. He still managed to maintain some composure and reason.

Koharu pressed her lips together, silencing herself.

“Sarutobi.”

Mitokado Homura looked at the Third Hokage, who stood by the window, puffing on his pipe, seemingly unconcerned about the patient in the bed.

“What’s your plan? Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Sōgen have openly met. If we don’t act, the situation will quickly spiral out of control.”

“The Hyūga clan has been making widespread contacts with other clans since last month,” the Third Hokage said, holding his pipe thoughtfully. “According to Anbu, every clan that’s been in touch with the Hyūga has experienced varying degrees of unrest. However, the Anbu hasn’t yet figured out what the Hyūga are planning. I used to think the village’s problem lay with the Uchiha... but it turns out, these noble clans are all unstable factors. They put their families above the village. I was too careless this time!”

As long as the Hokage remains in power, he is the core of authority in the village.

Konoha’s happenings rarely escape the Hokage’s notice, especially one like the Third, who has held the position for so long. But with that power comes complacency. He had overlooked the Hyūga's unusual movements while focusing on plotting against the Uchiha, giving the Hyūga an opening to exploit.

“Enough with the pointless chatter, Sarutobi! We need to know what you plan to do so we can help,” Homura cut in, dissatisfied with the lack of direct answers. Normally, everyone could engage in double-speak and games, but now wasn’t the time for wasting time.

Who knows what kind of storm Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Sōgen’s meeting could stir? Action had to be taken before they could move.

“What if we just eliminate Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi?” Koharu suddenly suggested.

“Eliminate Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi?”

Homura frowned. If it were possible, it would be a great solution, snuffing out the problem at its source. Even if it risked sparking rebellion from the Uchiha, there were ways to manipulate the situation. As long as Uchiha Fugaku was alive, he wouldn’t dare make any reckless moves. With the right manipulation, Fugaku could be persuaded to keep the Uchiha in check.

As for the Hyūga clan, Homura wasn’t worried at all. If Hiashi died, the clan would likely descend into internal squabbling over leadership rather than avenge him.

The real issue was figuring out how many people it would take to eliminate both Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi. Send too few, and it would only give their enemies a chance to retaliate. Send too many, and it would be hard to conceal the operation unless they had a good excuse or cover story...

“If only Danzō were still able to move!” the Third Hokage sighed as he walked over to Danzō’s bedside, looking at his emaciated friend, who now resembled a ghost more than a man.

Hearing this, Homura and Koharu nodded in agreement after a moment’s pause. If Danzō were still active, they wouldn’t have to scheme so hard against Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi. Danzō would have willingly taken on the role of striking from the shadows.

But now, Danzō was bedridden, motionless like a zombie, unable to open his eyes or speak. Though technically alive, he was as good as dead.

“Sarutobi…” Koharu’s words trailed off.

“Homura, Koharu, Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Sōgen are too selfish. They’ve disregarded the village’s interests, focusing only on their clans. To prevent them from doing more harm to the village, I’m prepared to take drastic measures to eliminate them—even if it means paying a heavy price,” the Third Hokage declared.

The alliance between the Hyūga and Uchiha was something he never anticipated. The two clans had always vied for the title of Konoha’s top clan, their relationship far from friendly. On the battlefield, they might cooperate, but back in the village, they maintained a distant neutrality.

However, the Third Hokage had not anticipated the depth of Hiashi’s lingering resentment.

If the two most powerful clans in the village were to truly join forces, the Third didn’t want to imagine the consequences. To prevent that undesirable future, he decided to take a gamble. After all, there’s no such thing as complete preparation.

“We should’ve done this from the start!” Koharu growled angrily.

The Third Hokage shook his head. Regret was pointless now; it only highlighted past mistakes.

“Sarutobi, are you going to…” Homura was about to ask which unit the Hokage planned to mobilize when he glanced at Danzō. Suddenly, a thought struck him. “The Root! Sarutobi, are you going to use Root to deal with Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi?”

“There is no more Root. Konoha has only one Anbu,” the Third Hokage replied gravely.

If Danzō were still conscious, he would’ve jumped out of bed in fury upon hearing that. All the years he spent cultivating his elite followers, now fully absorbed into the Hokage’s forces, and they were about to be used to take down Uchiha Sōgen and Hyūga Hiashi.

Even if the plan succeeded, the losses would be enormous!

(End of Chapter)