Why hasn't my sister come yet?
The standoff continued.
Aziyi had a large head—both in physique and in responsibility.
Things had gone according to plan. Everything moved smoothly.
But as expected, Samui had been rescued, and the anticipated scene of Konoha being pressured by unified forces did not appear.
What now?
Aziyi frowned. There was no turning back.
His stance had to be firm.
That was explicitly emphasized in the plan.
Glancing at the Third Hokage not far away, Aziyi narrowed his eyes.
Hokage's reaction was not what he had expected.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen inhaled from his pipe, his aged eyes flashing as he contemplated something.
"Third Hokage."
Aziyi's voice was cold and deliberate.
"Today's incident requires an explanation to Cloud Shinobi Village."
He paused, his tone sharpening.
"Why did our envoy from Cloud disappear without reason, only to die within the Hyuga Clan's estate?"
"Is this Konoha's idea of negotiation?"
"First, your so-called Konoha Guards unlawfully arrest people, and now, you forcefully resolve matters by killing them outright?"
"It seems Konoha truly does not take Cloud Shinobi Village seriously."
The implied threat was unmistakable.
"This is a misunderstanding," Sarutobi Hiruzen said smoothly, taking another puff from his pipe. "Konoha is a village that yearns for peace. We would never intentionally harm an envoy."
"Even if I believed that, our Raikage would not." Aziyi's expression remained severe.
"If this is Konoha's response to diplomacy, I guarantee that Cloud Shinobi Village will ensure Konoha pays a heavy price."
"I won't hide it from you. Before I left, Raikage had already issued his stance—he was greatly displeased with Konoha's unjust detention of my sister. Right now, he is mobilizing forces, prepared to invade the Land of Fire at any moment."
Raikage had already made a move?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes darkened as he glanced at Hyuga Hiashi, who stood nearby, holding Hyuga Hinata protectively.
"Lord Hokage, do not listen to this man's words!"
Hyuga Hiashi's voice was firm, his presence unwavering as the head of the Hyuga Clan.
"Today was my daughter's birthday. This was the moment the thieves chose to attempt her kidnapping."
"I acted in the heat of the moment and—"
He faltered.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's sharp gaze was locked onto him.
"Patriarch Hiashi, are you admitting to killing Cloud's envoy?"
What?
Hyuga Hiashi stiffened.
Why was Hokage addressing him this way?
As Hokage, shouldn't his priority be his own people?
"I struck down an intruder," Hiashi said, regaining his composure. "But I did not even know he was an envoy—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Realization hit him like a storm.
This was an attempt to make him the scapegoat.
To bear the consequences of Cloud Shinobi's envoy's death.
"Envoy, rest assured." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was calm, yet decisive. "Since a Cloud shinobi died within the Hyuga Clan's estate, I will ensure you receive a satisfactory explanation."
"That's right," chimed in Utatane Koharu, standing beside the Hokage. "To put it plainly, Hyuga Hiashi was reckless. It is he who must bear responsibility."
"To kill an envoy by mistake… does the Hyuga Patriarch even realize the consequences of his actions?" Mitokado Homura added.
The message was clear.
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned back to Aziyi, his sharp expression from earlier vanishing, replaced by a falsely placating smile.
It was astonishing—how differently he treated his enemies compared to his own people.
"So, according to Lord Hokage… I killed the wrong person?" Hiashi's voice wavered.
For the first time, his unwavering faith in Konoha's leadership was shaken.
The betrayal stung.
Yet, this was reality.
Even in the original history, the events played out the same way.
Hiashi clenched his fists.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to speak again—
Footsteps echoed.
Steady. Purposeful.
A powerful presence swept over the gathering.
The Konoha Guard had arrived.
"Uchiha Sanyo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened as he recognized the man leading the force.
"The Guard received intel that there was an incident in the Hyuga compound." Uchiha Sanyo's voice was calm, his demeanor unreadable. "Patriarch Hiashi, where is the culprit?"
Hyuga Hiashi hesitated.
The guards… were on his side?
This was unexpected.
"They have been dealt with." His voice steadied. "I struck them down on the spot."
Uchiha Satoshi, the Guard's sub-commander, smirked.
"Well done."
He gestured toward Itachi, nudging him forward.
Itachi's expression remained composed, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
This was an "opportunity" his squad leader had handed him.
A moment of silence passed.
Then, Itachi exhaled softly, understanding the situation at hand.
"I agree," he murmured.
"There was nothing wrong with Hiashi-senpai's actions."
His words rang with sincerity.
If someone tried to kidnap another's child, wouldn't any father react the same way?
And if Hiashi had failed to stop them—
What fate would have awaited Hinata?
A bloodline stolen.
A future as nothing more than a breeding tool.
If anything, killing the intruder was justified.
Hyuga Hiashi's breath hitched, his eyes misting.
For the first time tonight, someone had spoken in his defense.
"Uchiha Sanyo! Uchiha Itachi! Uchiha Satoshi!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice boomed with restrained fury.
"What do you think you're doing?! I am still Hokage! I will be the one to decide what is right and wrong!"
His anger was palpable.
The situation was slipping from his grasp.
"This is none of your concern!" His tone sharpened. "I am ordering you to stand down. In the name of Hokage, you will retreat immediately!"
The Uchiha Guards exchanged glances.
They sneered.
Only Itachi hesitated, uncertain.
He was a triple agent.
But right now—
What was Hokage truly trying to accomplish?
Should he obey and withdraw?
Or stand firm with his clan?
A complicated question.
One that mirrored the rift between Uchiha and Konoha.
Itachi sighed, lowering his gaze.
But before he could decide—
The Guard moved as one.
A synchronized, rehearsed motion.
They parted, forming a path down the middle.
And through that opening—
A lone figure strode forward.
Calm. Unhurried.
The air thickened with tension.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flashed with ice.
His voice dropped into a low growl.
"Uchiha… Bai Ye."
He had arrived.