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Hyuga Clan Head, Hyuga Hiashi…
No, now he was the one posing as Hiashi—Hyuga Hizashi.
Currently, Hyuga Hizashi felt anxious in his new role.
He had confined himself to his room for a prolonged period, practicing the habits and traits of Hiashi.
Fortunately, due to Hiashi's already stern and rigid personality, coupled with a lack of warmth toward family and clan members, his behavior had not aroused any suspicion; others merely thought he was grieving and didn't want to reveal his sadness.
This allowed Hyuga Hizashi ample time to familiarize himself with his new identity.
At this point, he could already mimic Hiashi convincingly, and even any errors could be explained adequately.
Don't ask why—the answer would be that he was mourning the death of his "younger brother," which altered his mindset and temperament, and no one would blame or question a grieving brother.
Still, Hyuga Hizashi felt unsettled, not because of other matters, but because of Hyuga Kumo and that esteemed person.
The escort team had been gone from Konoha for three days without any news; the atmosphere within the village and Hyuga Clan was changing.
He hoped that person's mission would go smoothly, while also wishing for Hyuga Kumo's safe return.
Thus, upon receiving news of the jōnin council meeting, he hurried over immediately.
However, upon pushing the door open, he found he wasn't among the earliest arrivals; Danzo, Koharu, Water Gate, Uchiha bloodline users, Nara, Yamanaka, and heads of various clans were already present, clearly eager to learn the outcome of Kumogakure's mission.
Previously, Hyuga Hizashi took part in council meetings, standing respectfully behind Hiashi, but this was his first time attending such a high-profile meeting as a clan leader, leaving him both nervous and excited.
Until Hiruzen entered, and the moment Hyuga Kumo followed closely behind him, Hizashi's mouth dropped open in shock.
"Kumo? What is he doing here…"
Not only Hizashi, but others in attendance also exhibited confusion and astonishment upon seeing Hyuga Kumo.
Danzo, who had already received reports from Oil Woman Ryoma regarding Kumo's display of talent, along with Koharu's acknowledgment of Kumo's earlier words in the hospital, felt deeply impressed.
"They want war, so we'll give them war!"
Such a bold proclamation! If he could, Danzo would have loved to express that himself instead of saying, "You'll regret it, Hiruzen!"
As he thought of this, Danzo's gaze sharpened on Hyuga Kumo, and when he noticed Kumo looking at him, a hard, almost congenial smile crept onto his face.
"???"
Koharu observed this exchange and was taken aback, her face bearing the look of someone witnessing a ghost.
Danzo was actually smiling?
And in such a warm manner?!
What on earth was happening in this world?
Receiving the benevolent smile from Danzo, Hyuga Kumo responded with a polite smile of his own before sweeping his gaze across the assembly of figures.
The core of Konoha's leadership had gathered in this meeting room. If there were spies infiltrating this critical gathering to orchestrate a suicide bombing, Konoha would be buried right along with the collapsing edifice.
After confirming that the ratio of ninjas without clan symbols was roughly equal to those with them, Hyuga Kumo felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Indeed, it was as he thought.
With this arrangement in place, there shouldn't be any issues now.
Not only would he steer Konoha towards war, but he aimed to elevate his own political standing significantly.
The mere anticipation of his next actions sent a shiver down Hyuga Kumo's spine.
Such a wicked thrill, such electrifying excitement; the delight it brought…
—— The feeling of manipulating everyone...
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped through the gathering, the focus of their gazes—is placed squarely on him.
And also, the figure that followed closely behind him.
Creak.
As he observed Hyuga Kumo pulling out a chair for Hiruzen, who showed no surprise and simply sat down, Nara Shikaku's expression changed subtly, the glances exchanged with the nearby "Hyuga Hizashi" transformed into one filled with nuance.
Realizing Hizashi's stunned face, Shikaku found himself slightly troubled.
Trouble was brewing; it appeared this council meeting would not go smoothly.
"Please take a seat; I appreciate everyone's efforts this late, and I'm grateful you could come."
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed his hat on the table in front of him, nodding to the gathered ninjas. "I believe everyone should be present by now, aside from those engaged in missions. Is that correct?"
Koharu stood up to provide a count, and Hiruzen nodded, directly addressing the main point of the meeting.
"I believe everyone is aware that, in order to offer Kumogakure an explanation, Hizashi Hyuga, the branch family head of the Hyuga clan, voluntarily sacrificed himself, and his body has recently been delivered to Kumogakure by the escort team. However…"
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold: "According to reports, Kumogakure dispatched the magnet release ninja, Toroi, along with dozens of Anbu ninjas to meet with the escort team. After receiving Hizashi's body, the Kumogakure ninjas ambushed the escort team.
"Furthermore, after Todo and others successfully resisted until reinforcements arrived at the border, nearly a hundred Kumogakure ninjas ambushed them, resulting in the deaths of an upper ninja, ten special jōnin, and countless chūnin!"
"It was precisely because of their sacrifice that Todo and the others were able to return safely; otherwise, the escort team would have likely been wiped out by Kumogakure without a soul to learn the truth!"
As he spoke, Hiruzen's tone was filled with a mix of righteous fury and feigned anger.
"What?!"
The expressions of those present immediately changed, scarcely believing their ears.
Had the reckless buffoons of Kumogakure truly lost their minds?
Had they discovered that the corpse was Hizashi rather than Hiashi?
But even so, they shouldn't have immediately torn apart diplomatic ties! Wouldn't that destroy their own reputation?
"How could they dare to act so recklessly?"
"Without the support of the Land of Lightning's daimyo and the populace, would the Fourth Raikage really be insane?"
The atmosphere of the meeting room shifted dramatically from solemnity to chaos.
Hyuga Kumo stood behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, coolly watching the noisy scene erupt.
This was Hiruzen's lie—an unavoidable fabrication.
People are complicated creatures; when individuals align themselves with a notion, they inadvertently criticize its opposite. Conversely, when they chastise something, they instinctively endorse its counterpart.
Positions will gather various individuals together, but no one deems themselves as the villain. The ninja world has as many stances as it has justifications.
Hiruzen couldn't possibly divulge that Kumogakure ninjas and Konoha ninjas fell to the hands of a "monster," nor could he expect anyone to believe it; only by placing all blame on Kumogakure could they gain the moral high ground.
It has to be expressed this way—only then could Kumogakure be cast as the villain while Konoha assumed the role of righteousness.
Cough cough.
Hiruzen lightly coughed, drawing everyone's attention as he quietly surveyed their expressions.
"I plan to mobilize troops and declare war on Kumogakure." He paused, studying the faces around him, and intoned solemnly, "What do you all think about that?"
At this pronouncement, the meeting room plunged into an eerie silence, with the chandeliers casting soft light, and the polished marble floor gleaming like a mirror.
The earlier tumult had vanished as if it never existed; the previously boisterous crowd fell silent, with only the sounds of hurried breaths and racing hearts audible.
Especially among the clan heads present, minds raced as their gazes met, each perfectly aware that the Hokage was seeking their input.
No one desired to be the first to take the risk; they had evidently decided to meet Hiruzen's call with silence.
Until one voice cut through the stillness.
"Third Hokage, please allow me to join the forces!"
Hyuga Kumo stepped forward, stating firmly, "I believe that if we are already hanging by the tiger's jaws, reasoning won't help us escape!"
As those words left his lips, the expressions of many turned grim.
Among them was Hyuga Hiashi's brother, standing behind Hizashi.
"Hyuga Kumo!" His gaze fixing on Kumo, he coldly remarked, "Know your place! This is a jōnin council meeting; you have no right to speak!"
Cough cough.
Before Kumo could respond, Hiruzen interrupted with a light cough.
"Forget to mention," he squinted at Kumo with a smile, "Hyuga Kumo has already been promoted to jōnin; he will receive his appointment notice tomorrow, and he is now qualified to attend the meeting and speak."
Upon hearing this, the flickering gazes of the gathered individuals froze, their attention shifting toward Hyuga Kumo as if they were seeing the "waste" of the Hyuga clan for the first time.
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