Using the body of Hyuga Hizashi, Hiashi's younger brother, in exchange for Raikage's satisfaction was a choice he and Hiruzen agreed on.
As a member of the branch house, Hizashi was marked with the [Curse Mark ∙ Caged Bird], which would activate upon his death and destroy his Byakugan.
They won't have to worry about Bykugan getting leaked.
Moreover, as Hizashi had the same appearance as Hiashi, it was enough to pass his body off as real and send it to Raikage as Hiashi's corpse.
This much should be enough to satisfy Raikage.
This was the perfect choice.
But something they didn't expect happened. They never thought that Hiashi would reveal their private discussions so easily and it was in this meeting that was specifically designed to put pressure on Mirai.
How can such a thing be brought to light?
There was a trace of undisguised anger in Hiruzen's eyes.
What's going on with this guy Hiashi?
Hadn't he been reminded not to mention this matter in the meeting?
As Hiruzen looked at Hiashi angrily, discussions filled with shock rang out in the conference room.
"Exchanging Hiashi's younger brother for the Raikage's satisfaction? When did we, Konoha, become so weak!?"
"Hyuga is the largest ninja clan in Konoha. If this happens to our clan..."
"Is it wrong for a father to protect his daughter?"
Amidst the noisy and shocked voices, Hiashi directly met the angry gaze of Hiruzen without avoiding it.
His eyes were calm.
'Hokage-sama, forgive me but I am going against you this time.'
His memory went back to the day before this meeting.
…
"No!"
"How can I let Hizashi die in my place?! Neji is only four years old!"
"This is the result of discussions between us elders. The Hokage has already agreed. As a member of the branch house, isn't it just at times like this that they come into play?"
"How could I agree to such a thing and let my own brother die on my behalf!"
Hiashi slumped on the floor, never expecting that things would develop into such a situation.
"Nii-sama, I have also agreed."
Hizashi, who had almost the same appearance as Hiashi, with a bandage wrapped on his forehead, was kneeling on the tuft in front of him, his eyes gentle.
"As a member of the branch house, isn't it just right for me to protect the main house?"
"Being able to die protecting my brother is the best outcome for me as a younger brother."
Hiashi clenched his fists unwillingly.
'Damn it! How did it come to this?'
How could they accept this kind of thing!
"So, do you want to change that?"
The closed door slowly slid open, and a calm but heavy voice sounded outside the room.
Hiashi raised his head and looked at the blond figure that suddenly appeared.
"Mirai, why are you here?"
This was Hyuga's meeting hall. How could Mirai come here?
'So he heard all the conversation just now?'
"Can you really accept letting your own brother die on your behalf?"
Mirai looked at Hiashi.
His [Bio-Magnetic Field Perception] had enveloped the entire Hyuga clan, and what happened there could not be hidden from his eyes and ears.
Hiashi had almost tears in his eyes and clenched his hands unwillingly.
"If possible, I would never make this choice. It's just the Hokage's side..."
"About the Hokage's side, just leave it to me. From here on, please do exactly as I say."
After listening to Mirai's words, Hiashi's eyes went from confusion to surprise to shock.
"Why are you helping me?"
"I'm not helping you, I'm helping your brother."
"Me?"
Hizashi, who was ready to die, did not expect that things would change like this, and looked at Mirai in astonishment.
There was a hint of sadness in Mirai's blue eyes.
That was a completely different emotion from his usual cold and calm appearance.
Mirai saw his own shadow in Hizashi.
Perhaps it's because they both were younger brothers who wanted to protect their siblings, and he had failed to protect Minato which led to a tragic childhood for Naruto, so he didn't want such a thing happen again.
Hizashi looked at Mirai who was looking sad, and his body suddenly trembled.
He suddenly remembered.
When that incident happened, Mirai was not in the village and could only learn about Minato death helplessly and could do nothing about it.
…
'Hiashi! Why!'
'Why do this?'
Hiruzen looked at Hinashi with almost fire burning in his eyes, and his heavy and angry eyes seemed to be questioning him repeatedly.
Hasn't the matter about Hizashi been decided?
How could such a thing be brought to light and put it under the eyes of all of Konoha's high-level officials?!
Could it be that you want them to see that their Hokage used your brother's death in exchange for the Raikage's appeasement?
"Hokage-sama, I would like to ask, is what Hiashi said true?"
The question was asked by the head of the Inuzuka clan.
If even Hyuga was treated like this, what would happen to a small clan like them?
Everyone's eyes were focused on Hiruzen.
Hiruzen clenched his sweaty palms, his eyes changed from struggling, to hesitating, to finally tired.
"Yes."
And with that, it was confirmed.
Konoha actually had to sacrifice the life of the Hyuga clan head's younger brother in order to calm down the Raikage?
This should be the most ridiculous thing they have heard in the world!
Konoha is the strongest ninja village!
This was taking tolerance to a whole different degree, it was almost shameful, to sacrifice the interests, the people of one of the major ninja clan in the village.
Besides, Kumogakure was obviously at fault in this matter, right?
Hiashi was just trying to protect his daughter!
Mirai was still leaning back casually on the chair, and his sitting posture had not changed since he came in until now.
It seemed that this result was expected by him.
"Hokage-sama, when did Konoha become so weak that we have to use the life of the brother of a clan head in exchange for the forgiveness for the likes of Kumogakure?"
Mirai's seemingly casual words fell into Hiruzen's ears, and they seemed to have an effect of invisible fire, burning his spirit and body.
The heads of the various ninja clans around him were also filled with dissatisfaction.
They were frustrated!
And they were agtated!
"This is for Konoha."
Hiruzen looked like it was unbearable for him too and he sighed sadly.
"Hizashi is a ninja who truly implements the will of fire. He chose this path for the sake of his beliefs."
As soon as his voice fell, laughter suddenly sounded, first a sneer, then a laugh, and finally an uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahahahahaha! What the fuck do mean by Will of Fire!"
Mirai leaned his head back and laughed crazily, his shoulders shaking violently and uncontrollably.
This wild laughter fell into the eyes of the Setsuna and other Uchiha nearby, and their eyes suddenly lit up.
Mirai's wild laughter was even more standard than theirs.
"You can express cowardice in such a refreshing and refined way, Sarutobi Hiruzen, you are thicker-skinned than I thought!"
"The peace agreement signed by Kumogakure was obviously a pretense from the beginning. The purpose was to plot against the Hyuga of Konoha! As the Hokage, you clearly know and understand this, but you instead want to sacrifice the life of the unrelated Hizashi to pray for the Raikage's forgive using his death!"
"You are too weak! Where happened to your shinobi blood?"
"If I were the Hokage, I would have never been so weak!"
As soon as he said this, Danzo next to him couldn't bear it anymore and glared at him.
"Namikaze Mirai, do you know what you are saying?"
*****
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