The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

"Why didn't Hokage come himself?" 

"I can represent Hiruzen." 

Konohagakure. 

Center Square. 

Under the night, in a room of modest size, a few familiar figures made everyone below change their expressions. 

Tsuchikage and Raikage raised their brows, completely confused about when this movie-like projection was recorded. 

Given their strength, they should have noticed something like this easily. 

"Sharingan, I have to have it. I hope Hokage will make it easier." 

This was said by Oonoki himself. 

The voice in the air made the villagers and ninjas in the square finally realize what had happened before today. 

Shimura Danzo had actually represented the Hokage and made deals with the Tsuchikage and Raikage, then joined forces to set up a trap targeting Konohagakure's double eyes! 

They were left red-faced, ashamed, their heads lowered as they couldn't even bear to look at the projection anymore, fearing they might say something shocking. 

"I can decide on the compensation myself." 

This was said by Raikage. 

"That's impossible! Absolutely not, not a single coin less!" 

Danzo sternly rebuffed him, leaving everyone in the square stunned. Rather than throwing their own people under the bus, reducing the compensation was a real way to lessen the burden on the village. Was Danzo crazy to refuse? 

"Heh, I understand the rules." 

"This is a yin yang contract." 

"So, when it comes to betraying your own, no one does it like you Konohagakure!"

The crowd in Konohagakure could no longer listen. They were embarrassed by Raikage's summary, their scalps tingling with discomfort, wishing they could hide in a hole.

"Damn it."

When it comes to targeting your own people, Konohagakure really takes the lead.

This wasn't just directed at Hokage and the higher-ups; it was an insult aimed at everyone present.

But they couldn't refute it.

Looking at what just happened to Uchiha and Hyuga, wasn't this also a result of being targeted by their own people?

As public opinion began to shift under Hyuga Hitoshi's influence, and with the moral high ground slipping away, the old village leader became anxious. He opened his mouth, ready to tell everyone not to believe the scene they saw.

After all, it was just an image. Using chakra to create a projection and make everyone fall under Genjutsu wasn't impossible. Plus, this was likely something the suspect, the head of the Hyuga clan, had set up. With a little stirring, it wouldn't be hard to make everyone believe it was all fake.

This was the reason why Orochimaru had said this invention wasn't valuable.

Chakra in the ninja world was a strange thing, so even if the technology had gone awry, the reason they didn't use something like a camera was probably because the images couldn't be used as evidence in court. At most, they could be used for entertainment.

Jutsu like Transformation Jutsu and Shadow Clones couldn't even be seen in recorded footage. If you used something like this as evidence, it would be too easy to frame someone.

Thinking further, maybe someone was even using clones for their own amusement?

So, even though Sarutobi was sweating, he wasn't actually panicked. This wasn't solid evidence, and it could be easily cleared up.

But...

The old village leader wasn't quick enough.

Or maybe Raikage and Tsuchikage had already lost their patience. Afraid that waiting would cause more problems, they chose to activate their backup plan!

"Enough. I admit, that person on the screen is indeed me."

Oonoki looked around, coldly laying out the bloody facts.

He was done with the formalities!

To hell with saving face. I'll deal with you openly!

This was the second plan that he and Raikage had discussed earlier. How to proceed depended entirely on whether Uchiha and Hyuga cooperated. If they did, they'd leave Konohagakure some face; if they didn't, they'd go ahead and seize the opportunity, directly using the Byakugan and Sharingan Kekkei Genkai as bargaining chips in the peace treaty!

With that, Raikage and Tsuchikage were happy. They wouldn't need to worry about how others saw them. After all, they were the victors, and they had the right to set conditions.

But while they were satisfied, Sarutobi and Danzo were completely stunned.

This was selling out their own team!

Were they really trying to please outsiders while targeting their own people? Though, this plan to target their own could indeed bring peace.

Hmm?

Peace?

For peace?

Doesn't that mean it's for the village?

Sarutobi froze for a moment, then quickly calmed down, as if he had flipped a switch.

Yes.

Although he targeted the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, he was doing it for the village. He was fighting for peace for Konohagakure, which was too weak to continue the war!

As for Danzo misusing compensation funds?

That was Danzo's doing, not Sarutobi Hiruzen's.

With everything figured out, Sarutobi wasn't panicked at all. He even secretly exchanged a glance with the grim-faced Danzo, who clearly had come to the same conclusion and looked at Sarutobi with a face full of struggle.

Danzo understood exactly what Sarutobi's expression meant.

Hide it. There's a scapegoat. Get away quickly! 

After all these years, they had this unspoken understanding.

But this time, this burden...

A cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he felt the angry glares around him. Even the shadow of the burden made him swallow nervously.

It was fine before; no matter how messy things got, it was always an internal issue for the village.

But this time, if things went wrong, he might be branded as a traitor and accused of treason!

Other things could be dealt with, but the issue of the compensation funds... there was no way to clear that up.

This burden, I really don't want to carry it!

Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a face full of grievance. He wasn't sure if his old colleague could help him out of this mess, pulling him out of the muck.

But he had no choice. After all, the image clearly showed only him, not Sarutobi. And with Tsuchikage directly confirming the authenticity of the footage, there was no way for him to clear his name.

"Damn it, Oonoki, you're crazy!"

Realizing he couldn't clear himself, Danzo immediately glared at Oonoki, pointing his finger at him and firing back:

"If Uchiha Madara hadn't refused to ally with your Iwagakure, that would have been the best decision! You guys are traitors who sell out your own allies in crucial moments! Uchiha Madara really held back; why didn't he just kill you and the second Tsuchikage back then?"

Danzo had lost it?!

Sarutobi's expression suddenly changed. "Enough, Danzo!"

"Enough my ass!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier Danzo got. He decided to go all in, understanding how serious this situation was. If he took the fall for this, his dream of becoming Hokage would be over!

No village could tolerate someone who betrayed the interests of their own village becoming Hokage!

Sarutobi, who was about to retire, couldn't even protect himself. The best he could hope for now was a lifetime in prison.

So...

Why should I bear this?! 

Why has it always been me taking the fall? You've been sitting comfortably in the sunlight while I've had to be the dirty worm, covering for you again and again, clearing your name every time?!

In the past, he understood Sarutobi could protect him as Hokage, but not anymore!

Moreover, after years of taking the blame, forget about being Hokage; now, he didn't even have a high position in Konohagakure. His only remaining asset was the ROOT, which he had worked hard to build, but because of past mistakes, it had already been handed over to Sarutobi for management. So, was it still his organization?

What had he gained after all these years?

At this moment, Shimura Danzo finally understood!

He looked at Sarutobi, his mind filled with all the ugly secrets hiding in the darkness of Konohagakure.

"To hell with you, Sarutobi!"

"I'm done!"

With a loud shout, Danzo pointed his finger at Sarutobi's nose and started to defend himself:

"I was just following Sarutobi's orders! He made me represent the Hokage in the negotiations, that's why I was there!"

I just wanted to experience what it felt like to be the acting Hokage!

What did I do wrong?!

"Including Orochimaru, the Nine-Tails incident, White Fang, and even Senju!"

Unfortunately, Danzo's outburst had only just begun when an enraged Sarutobi rushed forward and covered his mouth.

Then, with a swift chop of his hand, Sarutobi knocked the self-destructing Danzo out cold.

"It doesn't matter!"

Sarutobi, having quickly dealt with his unwilling old comrade, looked around with a pale face.

Although Danzo had only said one sentence, it was loaded with meaning, especially the part he didn't say: the Senju clan. If Danzo had been allowed to finish his sentence in this situation, his life would have been ruined for good!

But, as he said, it didn't matter.

Tsuchikage and Raikage clearly weren't here to watch the drama. The focus wasn't on the meaning of Danzo's words, but rather on the peace treaty negotiations.

The projection in the night sky had already disappeared, and Hyuga Hitoshi had also retracted his sharp gaze from Oonoki, who was about to explode.

Raikage and Tsuchikage had already finished drafting the peace treaty in front of everyone. 

The content above was straightforward and blunt. 

The compensation could be negotiated, but the Kekkei Genkai of Konohagakure's double eyes must be obtained. This condition was non-negotiable. 

Option two. 

If the subtle approach doesn't work, they'll just take it by force! 

"Fortunately, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire is here and can act as a notary. I assure you, as long as Konohagakure agrees to sign, we will guarantee that there will be no conflicts between Us and Konohagakure during missions or normal activities. Moreover, we can form an alliance with Konohagakure. If Konohagakure is attacked in the future, Iwagakure Village will provide appropriate support." 

Oonoki finished speaking in one breath and then looked at Raikage. 

But Raikage clearly had nothing to add. 

Oonoki had already said everything—everything that needed to be said and everything that shouldn't have been said, all shown in the projection. 

Now, all he could add was, "I feel the same way!" 

And just like that, 

The choice was given to Konohagakure. 

It was only at this moment that the villagers and ninjas in the square finally understood the whole situation. Even the Daimyo sitting at the top now understood what Sarutobi Hiruzen meant when he said that Hyuga's clan would be forced into an uncomfortable position, giving them an opportunity to create a scene. 

But this opportunity... 

Daimyo's face darkened. Even someone as useless as him could tell this wasn't a good opportunity. In fact, it was rather humiliating. 

But when he thought back to the time he was forced to kneel by that ninja just with a glance at the gate of Konohagakure, he suddenly saw it as an opportunity—an opening to make a move. 

Yes. 

As long as you still want to stay in this village, still want to go out with the title of a Konohagakure ninja, you'll have to follow their rules! 

With the power of the Daimyo and Hokage, in a reasonable and justified situation, they certainly had the right to use the threat of expelling Konohagakure to target others. 

At this point, the situation had become so clear and obvious that even a stray dog passing by would know what was going on. 

Kumogakure and Iwagakure were indeed interested in peace talks, but the real situation was that they were hoping to obtain the Byakugan and Sharingan. Ideally, they wanted them delivered alive to their villages, though they didn't mind if the eyes came from dead bodies. 

But this time, with Oonoki present, the envoy group was more intelligent than in the original story. It didn't matter if the person was dead, but the eyes had to be intact. 

Thanks to Danzo, who had learned about the "caged bird" (a reference to the Hyuga clan's secret), they made sure to emphasize this. 

"How outrageous! My father is such a fool! Why doesn't he just fight Kumogakure and Iwagakure?" 

Asuma gritted his teeth. 

"He really doesn't dare, and it's not just him calling the shots anymore." 

Kakashi said calmly. While the Uchiha clan might not be entirely on board, from the heated discussions on the other side, it was clear that some in the clan wanted to avoid conflict. The loudest voice was Uchiha Patriarch's eldest son, but from his father's actions, it was obvious that Patriarch Fugaku was trying to stay strong despite the pressure within the clan. His face was filled with confusion, and he even called Shisui to help decide whether to follow the village's will. 

For now, the Uchiha situation was still unclear. 

But what about the Hyuga clan? 

Heh, Kakashi sneered. 

If Hitoshi agrees, then it won't be him anymore. 

At this moment, the man was slowly scanning the entire room, observing everyone's expressions and attitudes. His face went from satisfaction to disappointment, and finally to calmness. 

Perhaps Hitoshi had already made up his mind? 

Kakashi couldn't help but shake his head.

As expected of Hitoshi, truly living up to his name as someone who values integrity.

Even though he knew in his heart that this was a hopeless village, he still tried to convince himself, patiently searching for a way to turn things around.

But the outcome had already been decided.

Kakashi was feeling everything around him with his heart, and the noise of the argument pierced his ears.

"Isn't it fine to agree? Just a few pairs of eyes, what's the big deal?"

"How could we agree? This isn't just an insult; it's trampling on the beliefs of Konohagakure!"

"Beliefs? The Will of Fire? I remember what it says, 'Where Konohagakure flies, the fire will never cease. The light of the fire will continue to shine on the village and cause new leaves to sprout.' That's all fine, but isn't it time for Uchiha and Hyuga to make sacrifices? It's just a few pairs of eyes. What's the problem with that?"

"Do you understand the Will of Fire, but this also makes sense. A few pairs of eyes, better than reigniting war!"

"We hopes Hitoshi and Fugaku will agree quickly. The atmosphere is too oppressive, I'm's scared."

"...I'm just weakly asking, why should they burn their own people to light up us useless outsiders? They didn't join Konohagakure for this, did they?"

"Shut up! The village is the most important thing!"

"Yes, for the village, agreeing is the right thing to do."

"..."

In the end, those who spoke up for Hyuga and Uchiha were drowned out by bigger interests.

Just as Danzo had mentioned before, it was the same situation his father had faced.

"If the village suffers losses, even if you save someone, you're still a sinner!"

"I never asked White Fang to save me, he came back on his own!"

"White Fang changed, no, Hatake Sakumo changed. He's no longer worthy of being Konohagakure's White Fang!"

"..."

Exactly.

It was so similar.

Kakashi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with mockery.

"Uchiha can sacrifice two pairs of eyes for the village."

Finally, after intense discussions among Fugaku and the clan elders, they came to a conclusion that everyone was happy with.

But the truth was, the radical Uchiha didn't want to accept this humiliation. Using their clan members' eyes as compensation was like rubbing their dignity into the dirt. It would be more satisfying to send them to the battlefield to kill.

As for why they knew this but still…

"Senju isn't in Konohagakure, the only ones who can protect Konohagakure are the Uchiha. The first Hokage killed his own friends for the village and declared that he would even kill his own relatives and children if they were a threat to the village. We Uchiha are also founders of Konohagakure, so of course, we can give up two pairs of eyes."

After Fugaku finished speaking, he kept signaling Hitoshi with his eyes.

This was all part of the plan!

Following the idea of the neutral faction, Uchiha Fugaku changed his strategy.

On the surface, the conflict might make the villagers view the Uchiha negatively, so he would do the opposite and focus on winning people over.

For Fugaku, this was actually an opportunity.

The Third Hokage was about to retire, and if he could gain enough support now, there was a chance to become Hokage himself!

According to the neutral faction's suggestion, to satisfy the radicals' desire for revenge, once he became Hokage, he could declare war again on Iwagakure and Kumogakure and take back the eyes!

At that point, as Hokage, he would have the final say. And since Hitoshi liked fighting, this could work out perfectly for them!

As for whether Hitoshi supports me?

Don't joke around, we're buddies! He's already given up two of his wives, that's a pretty strong bond!

Also, back during the Nine-Tails incident, Brother Hitoshi publicly said he would support me rising to power!

When the Uchiha's narrow minds finally opened up, they naturally thought this plan was a good one. Once Fugaku became Hokage, we could stomp on those who once looked down on the Uchiha. Then, we could make Hyuga Hitoshi the vice-Hokage. We'd rule the ninja world together as equals, and how the village develops, we'd figure that out together!

It may seem rough, but isn't this a correct path?

Fugaku smiled slightly and exchanged a brief look with Hitoshi.

What surprised Fugaku, however, was that Brother Hitoshi simply shook his head and sighed deeply.

Yeah.

Maybe Fugaku's choice was the right one.

Hyuga Hitoshi, always sharp and observant, had already heard about their plan. The proud Uchihas loved to whisper loudly, but no one could do anything about it.

But... they chose this path, Hyuga can't!

"Why should I, as the Patriarch, waste time and energy handling a mess like this? Why should I go out of my way to protect a group of useless people? Why should I work hard to create a comfortable life for people who won't learn from their mistakes and can't even be grateful?"

"A bunch of freeloaders who don't even know why they're still alive. There's no need for that."

Hitoshi took a step forward, his eyes glowing with intense blue light. He met everyone's gaze, and in an instant, his presence became distant and unrecognizable.

The approachable, humble Hitoshi had disappeared.

Now,

He is the future ruler of the divine kingdom!

"Hyuga will refuse any peace that comes at the cost of sacrificing our people, trampling on their dignity, or selling the bodies of our ancestors."

His cold voice swept across the room, but before anyone could react in shock,

Hitoshi suddenly turned his head and looked at Tsuchikage and Raikage , who were about to speak in anger.

"If you want war, I'm always ready. But right now, I need to handle some matters left by my ancestors, make some decisions that go against them. I'll allow you to watch, but keep quiet!"

Boom!

Two figures instantly collapsed to the ground.

Byakugan Pressure!

Exploded! 

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