The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

The Ninja World. 

Outside the base located in the Land of Thunder, where Tsuchikage and Raikage were stationed. 

Danzo walked out, looking confused. 

The outcome was different from what he had imagined. 

He had come to sound them out, to see if they could reduce the compensation payments. 

Since it was assumed that Konohagakure was the losing side, Danzo had prepared himself to face ridicule. 

After all, from the results, Iwagakure, led by Oonoki, had been betrayed due to his actions. Even though Danzo's intention was to find allies for Konohagakure, his failure meant he deserved the blame. 

He had already steeled himself, deciding that as long as Oonoki didn't go overboard, he would treat it as nonsense and endure it. 

But strangely, the meeting to confirm the truce between the three great nations went unexpectedly smoothly. 

Even on the subject of compensation, Tsuchikage and Raikage believed it was negotiable. Since the war was over, they thought everyone should let go of grudges and even form alliances. They viewed compensation as just a formality. They assured him that the specifics would be handled by professionals coordinating with the Hokage and promised not to make things difficult for Konohagakure. 

For Konohagakure, this was like a gift from the heavens! 

"As expected, my reputation still holds weight." 

After thinking for a while without understanding why things went so well, Danzo smiled faintly, a touch of pride returning to his face. 

With just a simple negotiation, he had saved the village from a massive compensation burden. Only Shimura Danzo could achieve this for Konohagakure! 

No matter how you looked at it, this was a significant achievement! 

In some ways, it could even be considered redemption—an accomplishment that could restore his standing. 

Maybe when the Fifth Hokage was chosen, they would acknowledge his contributions and reinstate him as one of the village's higher-ups! 

With these thoughts in mind, Danzo left the base with a spring in his step. 

He planned to return quickly and share this great news with his old friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen. 

Just as Danzo, who had just achieved a success, was stepping out of the base, Oonoki and A exchanged a glance. They couldn't help but burst into mocking laughter, the sound of which made the guards at the entrance uneasy. 

After a while, Raikage coughed and finally managed to hold back his laughter. 

"I really overestimated Sarutobi Hiruzen. What is this? Is he trying to show goodwill in a roundabout way?" 

From his perspective, Konohagakure had practically admitted they were the losers in this war. This gave the Land of Thunder plenty of face. Even if it was just symbolic, being recognized as the victor could significantly boost Kumogakure's influence in the ninja world. 

And this time, the Hokage of the so-called strongest village had lowered his stance enough. 

Not only did he acknowledge the victories of Kumogakure and Iwagakure, but he also offered economic reparations. To be honest, Raikage didn't care much about the money itself. What mattered more was that through this, he and the Tsuchikage gained a deeper understanding of the Third Hokage's character. 

"I used to think he was bold and decisive, but it seems I was blind," Oonoki said with a sigh. Clearly, he had overestimated Sarutobi Hiruzen. 

"Judging by the Hokage's attitude, it's almost certain that we'll have the upper hand in the negotiations with Konohagakure this time." 

"When the time comes..." 

Entering the talks as the victors would be entirely different from negotiating as the defeated. 

As the losing side, they would be negotiating to show sincerity and demonstrate their desire for peace. 

But as the victors, their mere presence at the talks would be seen as granting Konohagakure a favor. In that case, Konohagakure would need to show the proper attitude. And if any conflicts arose during the discussions, it would be much easier to use those as leverage. 

Plus, they had agreed to Danzo's request. But in return, they could demand less money while expecting Konohagakure to offer certain conveniences in exchange. 

"It seems like the situation in Konohagakure is worse than we thought," Oonoki said, his sharp instincts picking apart the implications of Danzo's uncertain and probing tone. 

"They're more desperate than we are to end the war!" 

When fear takes hold, people become weak. 

Konohagakure was running on fumes. They could even use the threat of resuming the war to exert pressure, creating endless room for maneuver. 

"I'm surprised myself," Raikage said with a frown. 

"Based on the skirmishes I arranged at the border of the Land of Fire and the multiple probing attempts, it was clear that the Hyuga clan hadn't suffered major losses." 

"Plus, the Uchiha clan, who serve as Konohagakure's police force, did lose heavily in the war. But key figures like Fugaku with his Mangekyo Sharingan, and Uchiha Shisui, are still alive. Their ability to suppress tailed beasts makes them a serious threat to the Jinchuriki of our village." 

"If the fighting continued, there was a real chance we'd end up losing!" 

"But the Hokage is showing such a lack of confidence..." 

Something didn't add up. 

It seemed the village wasn't united. There had to be internal conflicts. 

Oonoki and A exchanged a glance, realizing they had stumbled upon a blind spot. 

Ultimately, the two of them revised their plans, approaching the situation from the perspective of victors. 

The plan was outlined as follows:

1. Send an envoy team to gather intelligence within Konohagakure, probing the relationships between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans and the village leadership to obtain first-hand information. 

2. Coordinate with the Daimyos of the Land of Thunder and the Land of Earth to have the Land of Fire Daimyo personally travel to Konohagakure as a witness for the peace talks. Ideally, the Land of Fire Daimyo would also preside over the discussions. 

3. Secretly approach Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen to gauge his stance on the possible spread of Kekkei Genkai. If he seemed open to negotiation, they would consider compromising on the reparations. 

After multiple rounds of discussion, the Tsuchikage and Raikage finalized these three main directions and began organizing the envoy dispatch. 

As their plans grew in scale, news of the impending ceasefire between the Lands of Thunder, Earth, and Fire started spreading across the ninja world. 

For some, this was far from welcome news. 

Among them was Sunagakure, which had no resources to join the war but took pleasure in watching the chaos. Rumors claimed that after hearing about the peace talks between the three great nations, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, flew into a rage in his office and secretly summoned the council of elders for a private discussion. Whether these rumors were true, however, remained unclear. 

---

Land of Fire. 

Konohagakure. 

Danzo returned to the village as a hero, though he didn't demand a grand welcome at the gate from the Third Hokage and the villagers. Instead, he rushed straight to the Hokage's office to deliver a full report of his mission. 

With this, his task was successfully completed, and Sarutobi could finally relax. 

Danzo's safe return confirmed that the peace between the three great ninja villages wasn't just an agreement written on paper. It was legitimate, with face-to-face negotiations to back it up. 

Now it was time to spread the word to the rest of the village! 

Even better, Danzo brought news that both Iwagakure and Kumogakure had made significant concessions regarding reparations. 

This was a major accomplishment! 

Though it wouldn't guarantee Sarutobi's position as Hokage, it would certainly help secure his legacy and ensure a smooth retirement. Moreover, it would strengthen his influence in deciding the next Hokage. 

---

In the village, speculation about the Fifth Hokage was rampant. Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped to choose someone obedient and dependable, much like the Fourth Hokage. 

And who knew—perhaps luck would bring about a miracle. 

"Everyone, peace has arrived!" 

Eager to seize this moment, Sarutobi urgently summoned the higher-ups and the leaders of Konohagakure's clans. In the meeting room, the old Hokage announced the arrival of peace. 

Below, the clan representatives remained silent. 

A heavy silence filled the room. 

The anticipated cheers didn't come. Instead, the atmosphere grew cold. 

The expressions in the room weren't filled with joy but rather a mix of numb relief and lingering fear from the horrors of war. 

In one corner of the room, Tsunade leaned silently against Hyuga Hitoshi. Her eyes closed in pain as memories of those she couldn't save flashed through her mind. 

Hitoshi said nothing, but he grasped her hand in silent comfort. 

Just a few minutes ago, when they suddenly received Sarutobi's message about a meeting, everyone's nerves instantly tensed. Many of them thought that with the recent news about peace, they had grown careless, giving their enemies an opening to exploit. 

After all, Tsuchikage and Raikage had done this before—spreading rumors about peace talks only to launch surprise attacks with greater force. 

Now, with Sarutobi Hiruzen officially announcing peace, it felt like a dream. For a moment, they were unable to process it. 

Some of those who had been on edge suddenly relaxed. The numb expressions on their faces gave way to bitter smiles, and many quietly shed tears, remembering their fallen brothers and sisters from the day before. 

Even Fugaku, who rarely dropped his usual air of superiority, leaned back in his chair with a sigh. At this point, their only feeling toward war was fear and respect. 

Fighting on equal terms always ends in cruel battles. 

Only overwhelming victories allow people to feel any joy in war. 

Hyuga Hitoshi watched everything unfold and unconsciously tightened his grip on Tsunade's arm. 

Fortunately, compared to a year ago, he had completely mastered the power of the Tenseigan, strengthening his connection to the Golden Wheel Tenseigan. He wasn't far from fully unlocking its potential. 

He was one of the few qualified to lead his people to thrive in the midst of war. In this era, there was no Senju Hashirama-like figure to stop him. 

After some time, the tense atmosphere in the meeting room gradually eased, and the numbness gave way to joy. 

Honoring the fallen could wait. 

For now, it was time to celebrate the joy of surviving the ordeal. 

At the very least, they were still alive! 

As long as they lived, life would go on. 

"In short, thanks to my tireless efforts, the Land of Thunder and the Land of Earth have agreed to a ceasefire. Soon, they will send envoys to Konohagakure to discuss peace and alliance terms." 

Sarutobi smiled faintly, observing the shift in everyone's mood. As usual, he quietly added another achievement to his name. 

After all, no one else knew the peace talks were initiated by the other side. What harm was there in spinning the narrative to highlight his efforts? 

"There's more good news." 

The Third Hokage waved toward the door, calling in an old colleague who had long been excluded from higher-ups' meetings: Shimura Danzo. 

The moment he appeared, everyone's expressions soured. 

No one needed to be told why this war had been so grueling for Konohagakure. 

If not for Danzo's actions, there was no way Kumogakure alone could have caused so many casualties in this war. 

But Danzo was Danzo. 

Even as everyone stared at him with hatred, he stood firm, unaffected. He even adjusted his outfit with composure. 

"After painstaking efforts on my part and a personal visit to the Land of Thunder, I have confirmed that Raikage and Tsuchikage have agreed to reduce the war reparations to an amount that Konohagakure can manage." 

"Additionally, they promised that once the peace talks conclude, Konohagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure will form an alliance. They also assured us they won't reject Konohagakure's invitations to the Chunin Exams in the future." 

This deal essentially gave both practical and symbolic victories to Konohagakure. 

This was something Danzo himself fought to achieve! 

Everyone knew that each village had its pride. Just like in the original story, it wasn't guaranteed that other villages would attend your Chunin Exams just because Konohagakure was hosting them. If they came, it was to give you face and acknowledge the authority of the event. Even Danzo himself hadn't expected the Tsuchikage and Raikage to give him so much respect. 

If an alliance was formed and the three sides jointly held the Chunin Exams, the scale would undoubtedly be unprecedented. When people talked about the person who made it happen, wouldn't the fame naturally follow? 

"You've done well, Danzo. This time, your contribution is significant, so…" 

Sarutobi smoothly continued the conversation, clearly satisfied with Danzo's performance. 

But just as he was about to move on to the next topic, discussing how to welcome the envoy teams in a way that showcased Konohagakure's stature as the strongest ninja village, an untimely voice interrupted. 

"I have a question for Hokage-sama." 

Everyone turned to look at the speaker. 

Hyuga Hitoshi, the current patriarch of the Hyuga clan! 

This was a remarkable clan. At the start of the war, they had singlehandedly held off Kumogakure. It was even rumored that the massive chasm still visible today was caused by a casual strike from Hyuga Hitoshi, a true powerhouse. 

However, what surprised many was that during the later stages of the war, the Hyuga clan's performance was rather unremarkable. They rarely showed themselves in the village, staying low-key and reserved, the complete opposite of the flashy Uchiha clan. 

"Patriarch Hitoshi, please speak," Sarutobi said, narrowing his eyes and calmly observing him. 

As Hokage, he was deeply annoyed by subordinates who interrupted him. However, there was little he could do about someone like Hitoshi. 

He swore that if he ever got the chance to deal with the Hyuga clan or the arrogant Uchiha clan, he wouldn't hold back! 

But what he thought and what he did were two different things. For now, he had to maintain the image of a respectable and wise Hokage. 

"Now that the war is over, I want to know—who exactly is the victor, and who is the loser?" 

Hyuga Hitoshi leaned back slightly, his tone deliberate. 

"Just now, based on what you and Danzo-sama were saying, are you implying that Konohagakure has accepted being the losing side? And on top of that, we're planning to pay reparations?" 

Exactly! 

Why should they pay reparations? 

The brutal war had already cost them so many lives. If they now admitted defeat, wouldn't their fallen comrades have died in vain? 

They hated the war and wanted to end it. They were eager to seize this opportunity for peace talks. 

But to be labeled as the losing side and forced to pay reparations? That was unbearable. 

"There are no winners in this war. Everyone is a loser. I'm merely facilitating the peace talks. Paying a price to end the war is not something I see as unreasonable," Sarutobi said, his tone darkening slightly as he used the prepared explanation. 

This was genuinely how he felt, and he saw no issue with it. 

"According to Patriarch Hitoshi's view, should I not have facilitated peace talks? Should we continue the war until there's a clear winner and loser? If so, who will take responsibility for the lives lost in the process? Or is Patriarch Hitoshi willing to personally lead the Hyuga clan to fight to the bitter end for Konohagakure?" 

Sarutobi's words were sharp and direct, immediately turning the situation around. Many people in the room started to agree with him. 

The war couldn't go on. Thinking carefully, the Hokage's reasoning seemed correct. 

But… 

"Sure," Hitoshi replied calmly. 

But agreeing didn't mean Sarutobi would have the guts to go mad alongside him. 

If Sarutobi truly had such courage, pigs could climb trees! 

Hitoshi nodded steadily. 

"As long as no one here objects, I'm willing to lead the Hyuga clan to fight to the end and settle this once and for all." 

"Brother! Don't be rash!" 

Thinking that Hyuga Hitoshi had the upper hand, Fugaku quickly shook his head, inwardly cursing. He couldn't help but feel that Patriarch Hitoshi was even more extreme than him, an Uchiha.

"Let it go, Patriarch Hitoshi. The war was hard to end." 

"Yeah, Patriarch Hitoshi, we know the Hyuga clan is fearless, but there's no need to keep sacrificing yourselves." 

"It's just some reparations; there's no need to get so worked up." 

"The village can't handle any more upheaval. Patriarch Hitoshi, you should think of the bigger picture."

"...."

As expected.

The room was filled with voices of persuasion, but the Third Hokage's face turned pale. He really wanted to just agree and let the Hyuga clan go to their death, but the issue wasn't that simple. He had to consider whether agreeing would reignite the conflict with Iwagakure and Kumogakure. 

He couldn't risk restarting the war, unless he clearly told the Tsuchikage and Raikage that it was the Hyuga clan's decision, and that Konohagakure wouldn't provide support. He'd have to tell them to go ahead and wipe them out. 

Even worse, what if, after agreeing, the Hyuga clan switched sides and attacked Konohagakure? The Hyuga clan was on the outer edge of the village—if things went wrong, he wouldn't be able to control their families, and if the Uchiha joined them, how would the war continue? Right now, Konohagakure still had some leverage in negotiations, partly because these two clans still had power. 

Simply put, the Third Hokage thought that Hyuga Hitoshi was fully aware of this, and that's why he was stepping up and acting all high and mighty. The frustrating part was that the Third Hokage had no good way to argue against it—he was stuck, feeling helpless. 

Hyuga Hitoshi could act all superior, while the Third Hokage would bear the blame and the consequences. Hyuga Hitoshi had both the inner and outer strength, and the Third Hokage was left with nothing.

The room was full of voices trying to calm things down. 

Meanwhile, Hyuga Hitoshi simply stared at the former leading ninja village. To be honest, he wasn't as dramatic as the Third Hokage had described him. He was just taking a jab at Sarutobi, slapping him in the face while watching everyone's reactions. 

But the reality was...

The war had left them with a psychological scar. Even if they had accepted their defeat, they didn't want to experience that hell again. 

This wasn't just a matter of being cowards, but also of how soldiers who've been through war often feel the same way. In truth, Kumogakure and Iwagakure were also struggling to fight, but Konohagakure had lost the courage to fight back.

Hyuga Hitoshi understood all this. He knew bringing up the matter would face opposition from others. 

He wasn't as extreme as Fugaku claimed. 

He just knew that with the upcoming events and the future timeline from the original story, some things had to be said now. He had to let everyone know that the Hyuga clan had the courage to challenge a whole village. 

He was no longer the person he was a year ago, and the Hyuga clan wasn't the same either. Now that they had the power to turn things around, he didn't mind being more vocal about it. 

"Then, as agreed, the Hyuga clan won't pay a single coin of the reparations." 

Standing up, Patriarch Hitoshi walked towards the door. As he was about to leave, he made a detour and approached the old village head. 

He stretched out his hand, adjusted the old man's collar, and brushed the dust off his shoulder before quietly making his stance clear. 

"Konohagakure lost, but We Hyuga, did not lose. Am I right to understand it this way?" 

The way everyone acted in the meeting room today made Hyuga Hitoshi realize that they had long lost the spirit of being the number one ninja village. They were now clinging to survival, even if it meant failure. This village was heading toward its end. 

At that moment, Hyuga Hitoshi felt some disappointment, but the situation wasn't settled yet, so there was no need to rush. 

The village that once claimed to be the best ninja village had become like this, and those in front of him were the ones who had contributed greatly. 

So... 

"If the Third Hokage doesn't speak, I'll take it as your approval."

He paused for a moment.

"Also, Hokage-sama, take care of yourself. As the strongest Hokage, Konohagakure's future depends on you."

He patted the Third Hokage's , not at all bothered by the twisted expression of anger on his face. Patriarch Hitoshi let out a light laugh before turning and leaving.

Live well, Sarutobi Hiruzen. 

With you, Konohagakure is truly blessed.

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