Chapter 86: Debate
The conference room was filled with nearly every senior figure in Konoha.
At the head of the table sat the five highest-ranking leaders of the village. Seated in the center was, of course, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
To his left and right were Yusuke, the Chief Advisor to the Hokage, and the Honorary Advisor representing the Land of Fire's Daimyō. Next to them sat the other two longtime Hokage advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Beyond these top five were the clan heads of Konoha's major families, as well as the leaders of key departments and institutions.
Ringed around the long table, the average age of the attendees hovered around forty. In stark contrast, Yusuke, still not yet twenty, sat near the very top—his youth making him stand out immediately.
Yet despite his age, no one in the room dared underestimate him. Through both overwhelming personal strength and deft political maneuvering, Yusuke had proven his worth time and again—both as a warrior and a statesman.
"The details of the recent incident with Kumogakure should be clear to everyone by now," Hiruzen began slowly, once everyone was seated. "This meeting has been called so we can pool our thoughts and decide how best to respond."
Though he spoke of seeking input, the truth was that Hiruzen had already made his decision the night before. He had secretly visited the Hyuga Clan, reaching an agreement with them to offer Hizashi Hyuga, a branch family member and the twin brother of the clan leader, as a political sacrifice. Hizashi would be executed and sent to Kumogakure as a token of Konoha's regret and desire for peace.
As expected, the room quickly erupted in debate. Some advocated for compromise, arguing that peace with Kumogakure was vital for the village's stability. Others insisted that Konoha must not give in to such unjust demands—better to risk war than bend the knee.
Yusuke remained silent throughout the commotion, calmly observing each speaker as they voiced their opinions.
His position now carried immense weight. He could not afford to speak lightly. If he chose to voice an opinion, it would be a decisive one, capable of shifting the entire direction of the village.
As his eyes swept the room, he paused momentarily on Hiashi Hyuga, the clan leader. A thought surfaced—perhaps it was time to draw the Hyuga Clan closer.
Hiashi was only just over thirty—an age when most shinobi still hungered for merit and legacy. From his demeanor, Yusuke could tell that Hiashi didn't want to sacrifice his brother. He was yielding only under pressure from the Third Hokage and the Hyuga elders.
As the meeting dragged on, Hiruzen subtly guided the discussion toward one outcome: appeasement. Slowly but surely, voices in support of making peace with Kumogakure grew louder and more frequent.
Some of the more defiant attendees had also seen through the Third Hokage's intentions. But without a strong leader among them to take the lead, they had no choice but to fall silent, however reluctantly.
Once the discussion had run its course, Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. He exchanged a knowing glance with Koharu and Homura, then prepared to deliver the meeting's final conclusion.
"Since no further objections remain, then for the sake of the village, we must ask the Hyuga Clan to make a sacrifice—"
Before he could finish, a calm voice interrupted him.
"Hold on a moment."
Yusuke had spoken.
The Third Hokage's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly—alert, cautious. The very outcome he had feared was now unfolding.
"Lord Hokage, your approach is indeed prudent and restrained. From a purely material standpoint, seeking reconciliation would minimize losses for the village. Sacrificing a single branch member of the Hyuga Clan in exchange for peace seems, on the surface, a worthwhile trade."
Yusuke paused. Everyone in the room knew what was coming next—the true heart of his message.
"But, Lord Hokage, there are things more important than profits or even lives. If we concede here, we're not just sacrificing a person—we are throwing away the village's dignity, and trampling on the will of our predecessors who built Konoha with their blood."
"Kumo shinobi infiltrated our village and attempted to kidnap the heir of the Hyuga main family. Their plan failed, and now we're supposed to apologize? Worse yet, we're expected to execute the younger brother of the Hyuga clan head and send his corpse to Kumo?"
"This disgrace—you may endure it as Hokage, but as Chief Advisor of Konoha, I absolutely refuse to agree!"
The Third Hokage's face darkened, his composure cracking slightly despite his years of political mastery. Meanwhile, the more militant faction in the room stirred with renewed energy.
After all, they were shinobi. Blood still ran hot in their veins. To accept such humiliation without resistance was an insult not just to themselves, but to everything they stood for.
If Konoha had been truly powerless, the situation might have been different. But even in its weakened state, it remained arguably the strongest of the five great villages. Kumo was powerful—but not so powerful that Konoha had to bow its head.
At that moment, Hiashi Hyuga opened his eyes. His hands trembled slightly.
Seeing Yusuke stand his ground even against the Hokage, Hiashi couldn't help but feel a surge of respect—and with it, a flicker of hope that his brother might yet be saved.
"You speak boldly," Hiruzen said darkly. "But do you understand how many lives will be lost if war breaks out?"
Yusuke's reply was immediate:
"A nation—or a village—without dignity is like a man without a spine. And we are still Konoha. We do not bow to the likes of Kumo."
"Perhaps, Lord Hokage, you should ask yourself—what would the First or Second Hokage have done in this situation?"
With those final words, Yusuke didn't wait for a reply. He turned and left the room, with Itachi silently following behind.
The Honorary Advisor, appointed by the Daimyō and aligned fully with Yusuke, also rose and exited without a word.
With Yusuke's departure, the meeting could no longer continue. Hiruzen had no choice but to adjourn it temporarily, setting a new time for further discussion. He immediately summoned Koharu and Homura to privately strategize how to counter Yusuke's powerful intervention.
Back at the Uchiha compound, Itachi couldn't help but voice his confusion.
"Sensei," he asked, "why didn't you press the issue in the meeting? You had already swayed most of them—especially Clan Head Hiashi."
Yusuke smiled faintly. "Settling the matter would've been easy. But more important than resolving the issue is using this opportunity to weaken the Third Hokage's authority. That takes time."
"Then what's your plan?" Itachi asked, curious.
Yusuke's expression turned solemn.
"Itachi, do you know what the most terrifying thing in this world is?"
Itachi thought for a moment, then shook his head. He sensed the question held more weight than he could grasp.
Yusuke sighed. "Public opinion. Even someone as heroic as the White Fang fell to it."
He had lived through that era—he knew just how brilliant and respected Sakumo Hatake had been. And yet even he had been destroyed by whispers and scorn.
His voice hardened. "Itachi, I have an important mission for you."