get-shopping Chapter 153 Can one person save the entire village?
Chapter 153 Can one person save the entire village?
Chapter 153 Can one person save the entire village?
When Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hyuga main family mansion, it was the dead of night.
The spacious reception room was brightly lit.
Minato Namikaze was already waiting there, and several high-ranking members of the Hyuga clan were also gathered together, their expressions solemn.
Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, sat in the center of the room, his face resolute, his fists clenched, and his heart in turmoil.
His younger brother, Hyuga Hizashi, stood to the side, his expression equally tense, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
Several Hyuga elders, dressed in long robes, sat around the perimeter, all silent, creating a suffocatingly oppressive atmosphere.
"Third Hokage! You've arrived!" As the door opened, everyone's eyes turned to the newcomer.
Upon seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi enter the room, several Hyuga elders immediately stood up and bowed.
Hiashi and Hizashi quickly stood up and bowed respectfully in greeting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities, and walked straight into the room.
At this moment, Minato Namikaze was sitting next to the Hyuga clan leader, his divine robes standing out prominently.
"The Third Hokage is here. Please continue."
Minato said softly, a hint of relief in his voice.
He dismissed the crowd who were about to bow, and turned his gaze back to the Hyuga clan chief and his brother. "Clan chief Hiashi, you just said—that sacrificing yourself alone could save the entire village?"
Hiashi Hyuga took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "That's right. Since sacrificing my life is enough to save the entire village, then there's nothing we can do about it!"
"Hiashi! Don't talk nonsense!" A Hyuga elder interrupted sharply, slamming his cane down heavily.
His eyebrows furrowed, his face filled with urgency and dissatisfaction. "The Byakugan bloodline limit of the Hyuga clan is an extremely important trump card for Konoha! The main family's responsibility is to protect this bloodline forever—"
Upon hearing this, Riji paused, a look of pain appearing on his handsome face.
He certainly understood the elder's meaning—he bore the heavy responsibility of passing on the Baiyan lineage to the main family and could not allow the main family's bloodline to fall into the hands of another village.
The Hidden Cloud Village has been eyeing the Byakugan for a long time. This time, they feigned an alliance but secretly kidnapped Hinata, their purpose is obvious.
If we hand over the patriarch's corpse now, it would be tantamount to offering up our white eyes!
However, if they do not hand over the person, the envoy from Kumogakure will be killed within Konoha's territory, which will also trigger a huge diplomatic conflict and may even lead to war!
"But—if we don't do this, Kumogakure will never let this go!" Another older Hyuga elder sighed softly, his voice filled with deep weariness. "The Third Shinobi World War only ended a few years ago, and we Hyuga really don't want to see any more of our clan members sacrificed on the battlefield—"
The atmosphere inside the room became even more oppressive.
Whether to fight or not, this choice will come at a heavy price, no matter which side you choose.
Minato Namikaze frowned.
He opened his mouth, then finally spoke in a deep voice: "Chief Rizu, please calm down. I believe that sacrificing a life is not always necessary."
Only then can this matter be resolved.
"No sacrifices?" The Hyuga elder sneered upon hearing this, shaking his head. "Fourth Hokage, forgive my bluntness, but the envoy from Kumogakure died in Konoha. They will not rest until an explanation is given! The situation is critical now. Do you think you can persuade the other major clans in the village to join us in fighting Kumogakure at this crucial juncture?"
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent. Minato remained speechless for a moment, his expression blank.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood aside, quietly watching the heated debate unfold before him, his thoughts drifting back to that day in reality.
The timing of Kumogakure's attack was far too insidious and ruthless.
At that time, Konoha had just experienced the Third Shinobi World War, and the Nine-Tails' attack had not been over for long. The village was severely weakened, and all the major clans suffered heavy losses.
The wounds of the great war had not yet healed, and most people instinctively resisted and feared being drawn into war again.
Given the internal and external troubles, even as the Hokage, it would be incredibly difficult to incite the other major clans to join Konoha in declaring war on Kumogakure simply because of the Hyuga clan's situation.
Perhaps it was precisely because he considered the bigger picture that he chose to let things slide and quell the incident back then. Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his gaze slightly.
He sighed inwardly.
A hint of sadness flashed in his cloudy eyes as he silently tightened his grip on his pipe.
in the audience.
Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief: "Isn't Father the Hokage? Why does that Hyuga elder dare to disobey the Hokage?"
In his mind, the Hokage's orders were supreme, so Elder Hyuga's tough attitude was really unexpected.
[Ding! Naruto's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +400!]
Jiraiya sat with his arms crossed in a row of chairs, and said calmly, "The Hyuga clan is, after all, a major clan in Konoha, and has a significant influence in the village. Even the Hokage cannot interfere excessively with their clan's decisions."
He shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness appearing on his face.
There was a sentence that Jiraiya never uttered aloud: At that time, Minato Namikaze had only recently become Hokage, his foundation was still weak, and he was of commoner origin.
It is indeed difficult to get a word in at such a large clan meeting.
It's likely that Minato invited the old man here to leverage the Third Hokage's prestige and increase his influence.
"Hmph!" Shimura Danzo snorted disdainfully upon hearing this, and interjected sarcastically, "That Hiruzen guy, back then, just because of that one 'no,' caused the Hyuga clan to lose an elite member for nothing, and alienated them from the village."
Although the Hyuga clan doesn't have the same rebellious spirit as the Uchiha, they have become much more detached from village affairs in recent years. It's impossible to say that they don't care about what happened back then!
Kakashi sighed softly upon hearing this: "Alas—after all, the Hyuga clan is the victim in this matter. Instead of receiving compensation, they were sacrificed by handing over the clan head's younger brother." The scene shows the ongoing argument in the Hyuga residence's meeting room.
After a round of back-and-forth debate, the two sides are now deadlocked.
Hiashi Hyuga insisted on dying as the head of the clan to quell the trouble, while the elders of the Hyuga clan firmly opposed the head of the clan committing suicide, preferring to have a member of the branch family take the blame.
For a moment, the hall fell into a suffocating silence.
Hiashi's face was ashen, and the Hyuga elders exchanged glances, the atmosphere as tense as a fully drawn bowstring.
Suddenly.
"Thump!" Hyuga Hizashi suddenly took a step forward and slammed his fist into his older brother's abdomen with lightning speed!
"Ugh!" Hiashi only managed to let out a muffled groan before his eyes widened suddenly and his body fell backward like a kite with a broken string.
This punch was swift and precise, containing the skillful power of the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist. Although not fatal, it was enough to instantly render the person powerless to resist.
Hiashi's pupils were dilated, and he knelt on one knee on the tatami mat, then fell backward and lost consciousness!
"Brother, I'm sorry." Hizashi supported his brother's fallen body with one hand and gently placed him on the cushion behind him, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes.
But soon, only a resolute look remained in his eyes.
This series of changes happened in the blink of an eye, so fast that no one could react!
Everyone inside was utterly shocked. Several elders abruptly stood up: "Richie, what are you doing?!"
Hyuga Hizashi straightened up and slowly took two steps toward the center of the hall.
His expression was calm and resolute. He bowed deeply and said loudly, "Elder, please allow me to go this time! I am willing to risk my life..."
To bring peace to the village!
The short sentence, though brief, resonated powerfully and lingered in the silent hall for a long time.
During the banquet, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was stunned by what they saw, and no one spoke for a moment.
This sudden action left everyone with mixed feelings.
The elder remained silent, and the other Hyuga clan members lowered their heads, their eyes red.
Seeing this, Minato Namikaze became even more anxious.
His gaze involuntarily fell upon the Third Hokage beside him, as if hoping that the battle-hardened Hiruzen Sarutobi would step forward and say a few words to stabilize the situation.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply stood with his eyes lowered, seemingly oblivious to the pleading look in Minato's eyes, and remained silent for a long time.
To this day, he still firmly believes that he did not do anything wrong.
He did the same thing back then in exchange for the Hidden Cloud Village's concession.
After all, sacrificing just one member of the Hyuga clan's branch family would not only thwart the Hidden Cloud Village's plot to steal the Byakugan, but also prevent a major war.
If Konoha and Kumogakure were to truly clash, the number of deaths would only increase.
All things considered, Hiruzen Sarutobi has a clear conscience.
"Sacrificing one person is worthwhile for the sake of the entire Hidden Leaf Village," Hiruzen Sarutobi told himself.
However, looking at the unconscious Hiashi and the brave Hizashi, a heavy shadow still passed through his heart.
In the audience, Naruto could no longer contain himself and shouted, "Is...is Neji's father really going to die like this?!"
Kakashi nodded slowly, his voice low: "In reality—Neji's father, Hyuga Hizashi, died in the same way."
"What?!" Naruto's mind went blank for a moment, and he almost jumped up. "How could this be! Those bastards from Kumogakure did something bad, and now Uncle Hyuga has to pay with his life? That's so unfair!"
[Ding! Naruto's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +400!]
"Hmph, of course it's because the Hokage back then was cowardly and weak!" Danzo crossed his arms and sneered coldly. "That kind of Hokage..."
"If it were me, Shimura Danzo, I wouldn't have allowed Kumogakure to be so arrogant!"
He recalled that this incident had caused a huge disagreement within the advisory group, and his proposal to fight was rejected by Hiruzen Sarutobi. He couldn't help but feel indignant, "The Hidden Cloud Village is a wolf in sheep's clothing. They even killed the Second Hokage back then! For a village like that, we should just have a good, decisive war and make them pay the price!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Jiraiya glanced at Danzo, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "If you had been the Hokage back then, what did you plan to do? Lead your Shimura and Hyuga clans into a full-scale war against the Hidden Cloud Village, led by the Raikage?"
Danzo was choked by the words, his face turning pale and then red. His lips moved, but he was speechless for a moment.
After a long pause, he stubbornly insisted, "That's still better than Hiruzen Sarutobi watching his comrades die!"
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +400!]
In the scene, Hyuga Hizashi has already made up his mind.
He took a deep breath, his expression unusually calm and serene, as if facing death was a trivial matter to him.
Everyone present watched him with bated breath, some filled with sorrow, some with admiration, and some with guilt—
A mix of complex emotions welled up inside, yet no one dared to speak up to stop them.
The tacit approval in the eyes of the elders of the main family and the silent acceptance of Hiruzen Sarutobi all told Hizashi that his death was a foregone conclusion.
The next instant, he suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with determination.
Hyuga Hizashi suddenly raised his right hand, his five fingers together, and swiftly slapped it hard against his forehead!
A flash of golden light!
In the blink of an eye, a golden figure seemed to traverse space and appeared beside Hizashi!
At the critical moment, the man stretched out his palm and gripped Hizashi's right wrist, which was about to strike downwards, like an iron clamp, freezing his movement in mid-air!
Caught off guard, Hiyashi stared wide-eyed in astonishment: "Hokage-sama?!"
That's right, the one holding his wrist was none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
Minato's short blond hair shone like flames under the lights, and his handsome face was solemn and dignified.
A pair of deep blue eyes were fixed on the sun, their gaze firm and sharp.
He spoke in a deep, resolute voice: "I must say, I cannot agree to this decision!"
These words shocked the entire audience!
Hizashi was stunned, and several Hyuga elders also gaped open.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils constricted slightly as he looked at Minato Namikaze with disbelief: He actually intervened directly?!
He never expected that Minato Namikaze would still be dissatisfied with what he considered the best solution and would try to obstruct it.
Could it be that Minato is really planning to go to war with Kumogakure?
Minato Namikaze probably doesn't have the power to persuade the other major clans to send troops now. Seeing the Hyuga clan's still worried expressions, Hizashi Hyuga stubbornly shook his head and said, "We appreciate the Hokage's kindness. But sacrificing my life to atone for my sins to Kumogakure is the best choice for the village!"
Having said that, he lowered his eyes, his expression stern. Minato Namikaze, upon hearing this, released his grip on Hizashi's wrist, his determination unwavering: "I will not allow you to die for something like this! This is the Hokage's order!"
As he said this, his eyes suddenly sharpened: "As for Kumogakure—humph!"
Minato Namikaze abruptly flicked his sleeves, turned around, and his white Hokage robes traced an arc. "The people of Kumogakure dared to kidnap a child from Konoha first, and then made such an outrageous demand. Do they really think we'd just let them slaughter us?! I'd also like to see if the Kumogakure AB brothers have improved these past few years!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was dumbfounded.
Clearly, Minato Namikaze intends to personally confront the Raikage, and might even be preparing for a major confrontation!
Nonsense!
This is utter nonsense!
How could the Hokage risk his life alone like this!
What if something goes wrong?
[Ding! An emotional fluctuation from Hiruzen Sarutobi has been detected! Emotional value +500!]
He disregarded everything else and abruptly stood up, ready to speak and stop Minato Namikaze's reckless actions.
However, the next second, with a soft "whoosh", Minato Namikaze's figure disappeared into thin air!
That was the sound of the Flying Thunder God Technique being activated!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was both shocked and furious.
Minato Namikaze was clearly determined and didn't give anyone a chance to dissuade him.
In the vast Hyuga council hall, only the Hyuga clansmen remained, their faces blank with astonishment.
After a long while, the elders looked at each other, all showing expressions of being moved.
Clearly, none of those present were fools—everyone knew perfectly well what the Hokage intended to do.
For the sake of their Hyuga clan, the Fourth Hokage risked his life to go alone to negotiate with the Raikage.
"The Hokage actually went to such lengths for us—"
A member of the clan sighed, a hint of moisture welling in his eyes.
"To go and negotiate with the Raikage alone for the sake of the Hyuga clan?"
"Who in the entire ninja world doesn't know that the Raikage has a fiery temper? To be honest, the Hidden Cloud Village is the most unreasonable and difficult to deal with among the five great ninja villages."
Everyone chimed in with a mix of gratitude and worry.