Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 26 I've Come to See Lord Hizashi Off

"This……"

The crowd fell silent. One of the elders of the main clan sighed, "If Hiashi had captured that Kumogakure ninja alive, the situation might have been better."

“No way.” Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, shattering his naive fantasy. “According to the intelligence we’ve gathered, the Fourth Raikage has a new secretary named Mabui. She’s not only one of the few female Jonin, but she’s also calm, intelligent, and talented.”

"It seems this plan was her doing. The Cloud Village delegation had already decided before they came that they would either successfully take Hinata Hyuga away or die at the hands of the main family. This is a blatant conspiracy."

This time, Konoha has truly suffered a defeat.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected that the usually rough and reckless Hidden Cloud Village would now resort to underhanded tactics.

Based on the words Yurui shouted before he fled, coupled with the fact that so many villagers witnessed it, and the fact that Yurui ultimately died at the hands of Hiashi Hyuga, he was completely "pulled into a hole by the mud."

Aside from those present who knew all the details, no one would believe that Konoha wasn't behind this. Even the villagers of Konoha wouldn't believe it. Konoha had taken the blame for this whole mess.

Now, Konoha only has two choices.

They either fight to the death to protect Hyuga Hiashi and wage war against Kumogakure, or they sacrifice Hyuga Hiashi and compromise with Kumogakure.

"..."

Hyuga Hiashi and the six elders of the main family also understood this, and the six of them, except for Hyuga Higo, couldn't help but have a slightly somber expression.

Since the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gave them the "choice," it means that the Hyuga clan actually no longer had a choice.

War kills people, many, many people.

The Land of Lightning has specifically named and labeled Hiashi Hyuga as the murderer, so what grounds do they have for making the village risk war to protect themselves?

It is conceivable that if war breaks out again, the extremely weakened Konoha will definitely be the target of the other ninja villages, and anyone could die in the war.

Human nature is selfish; no one is willing to die for the Hyuga clan.
"In that case."

After a long silence, Hiashi Hyuga finally spoke, his voice, though trying to remain calm, was still somewhat hoarse: "If I could save the village with my own life..."

"and many more."

Before Hiashi could finish speaking, Higo suddenly interrupted him, shaking his head and saying, "Hiashi, don't be so impulsive."

"The Hyuga's Byakugan is not only for the Hyuga clan, but also very important to the village. It must not fall into the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village of the Land of Lightning."

As he said this, Hyuga Higo glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was sitting at the head of the table.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent on this matter. Although he harbored some resentment towards the Hyuga clan and wanted to shift the blame onto them, he had to admit that the statement was not wrong.

The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan played a significant strategic role in the two previous Shinobi World Wars. If it were to fall into the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village, which is skilled in ninjutsu research, and they were to uncover any secrets from it, it would be a disastrous loss for Konoha.

Of course, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed with this statement, he would not be able to express his opinion.

The blame for the war now rests on the Hyuga clan. If he takes the initiative to take the blame, he will have to choose between abandoning his "comrades" or starting a war, and the deaths will be attributed to him.

This is essentially a "trolley problem," where choosing either option will result in loss of life.

Even he didn't know how to choose, and was instead curious about what this old man, Hyuga Higo, was planning to do now that he was saying all this.

"But we can't let Konoha be dragged into a desperate war again because of this," Hiashi Hyuga said, frowning.

If you had to say how much he cared about Konoha, that wouldn't be accurate. He cared more about the future of the Hyuga clan in Konoha.

Sacrificing one person to avert war and save thousands. This was not only a choice made by the Konoha leadership, but also a choice driven by the pressure on the hearts of the entire village, and a choice that the Hyuga clan could not refuse.

If Hiashi Hyuga truly chooses to flee, he will undoubtedly become the target of everyone's hatred in Konoha, and the Hyuga clan will face immense difficulties in Konoha.

Because every person who dies in war will be blamed on them.

So, while it may seem like there are two choices, in reality, there has only ever been one.

"Of course I know about this."

Higa Higo's face was obscured by the candlelight, and he said in a cold tone, "So, aren't the branch family members there precisely for this reason?"

"..."

Hiashi Hyuga slowly raised his head, looked at the elder of the main family in front of him, and asked blankly, "What?"

Ignoring his gaze, Hyuga Higo turned to the closed door and said, "Come in."

Click.

A cold, drizzling wind blew in as the door opened, as if someone were revealing a reality they didn't want to acknowledge. The candlelight in front of them flickered and dimmed, casting erratic shadows on the wall.

"Hizashi?"

Hiashi Hyuga stared blankly at the person who entered the room, then looked at the unfamiliar face that followed him in.

The former was naturally Hyuga Hizashi, whose expression was complex, but the latter was a boy with red eyes.

"Hyuga Kumikawa?"

Upon seeing the person who had followed Hyuga Hizashi into the room, Hyuga Higo's calm expression finally changed, and he frowned and snapped, "Get out! Who let you in..."

"I asked him to come along."

Before Hyuga Higo could finish speaking, Hyuga Hizashi interrupted him, causing Hyuga Higo's face to darken.

Hijiri would never have dared to interrupt him before, probably because he felt he was about to die, which is why he lost his respect for him.

Everyone present focused their attention on Hizashi and the boy behind him. Facing these heavy scrutinizing gazes, Hyuga Kumokawa raised his head without any hesitation or burden.

Hinata Kumokawa's eyes were red-rimmed, clearly from crying; his pure white eyes were bloodshot as he glanced at everyone present.

"I've come to see Lord Hizashi off on his final journey."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's surprised look, he gave him an apologetic glance before turning to the other members of the main family and saying coldly, "I don't think the 'highly respected' heads and elders of the main family would be unwilling to even give a dying person the last bit of dignity, would they?"

He pronounced the four words "highly respected and virtuous" with great emphasis, his tone clearly carrying a sharp and sarcastic tone, almost as if he were pointing his finger at them and calling them shameless old men.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't feel offended, because he was given an apologetic look and naturally knew that Yun Chuan wasn't cursing him. Instead, he was surprised by Yun Chuan's audacity.

Is this child speaking out for Hyuga Hizashi?

Have they become so resentful that they no longer care about the difference in status and position?
As expected, the six clan elders' faces darkened, and Hyuga Higo's eyes flashed with a cold light.

Hyuga Hizashi was one thing, but he overstepped his bounds anyway, since he was already dead.

But what are you, Hinata Kumokawa, to dare to be so rude to me?

(End of this chapter)