"I've come to see Lord Hizashi off."
"This..."
The people present couldn't help but fall silent. A Main Family elder sighed and said, "If Hiashi had captured that Kumo ninja alive, the situation might be better."
"It wouldn't," Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, shattering his naive fantasy. "According to intelligence we gathered previously, the Fourth Raikage has a new secretary named Mabui. Not only is she one of the few female Jonin, but she is also calm, intelligent, and talented."
"This plan likely came from her. The Kumogakure delegation had already made up their minds before coming. They would either succeed in taking Hyuga Hinata or die at the hands of a Main Family member. This is a blatant, overt conspiracy."
This time, Konoha had truly been played.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi had not expected that the habitually rough and reckless Kumogakure would now resort to such cunning schemes.
Just based on the words Yurui shouted before he escaped, plus the fact that so many villagers had witnessed it, and finally, that Yurui had died at the hands of Hyuga Hiashi, the situation had become like "yellow mud stuck in the pants"—impossible to clear one's name.
Except for those present who knew all the details, no one would believe that Konoha was not responsible. Even the villagers of Konoha would not believe it. Konoha was now firmly saddled with the blame.
Now, Konoha had only two choices.
Either protect Hyuga Hiashi at all costs and go to war with Kumogakure, or sacrifice Hyuga Hiashi and compromise with Kumogakure.
"..."
Hyuga Hiashi and the six Main Family elders also understood this. All but Hyuga Hiago had grim expressions.
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had given them the "choice," it meant that the Hyuga clan actually no longer had a choice.
War means people die. A lot of people die.
The Land of Lightning had specifically named Hyuga Hiashi as the murderer. On what grounds could they ask the village to risk war to protect him?
One could imagine that once war broke out again, Konoha, in its extremely weakened state, would be the target of a concentrated attack from other ninja villages. Anyone could die in the war.
Human nature is selfish. No one was willing to die for the Hyuga clan.
"In that case."
After a long silence, Hyuga Hiashi finally spoke. His voice, though he tried to keep it calm, was still a little hoarse. "If my life alone can save the village..."
"Wait."
Before Hiashi could finish, Hyuga Hiago suddenly interrupted, shaking his head. "Hiashi, don't be so impulsive."
"The Hyuga's Byakugan does not belong to the Hyuga clan alone. It is also very important to the village. It absolutely cannot fall into the hands of Kumogakure from the Land of Lightning."
As he said this, Hyuga Hiago glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting in the seat of honor.
Hiruzen simply remained silent. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with the Hyuga clan and wanted to shift the blame to them, he had to admit that this statement was not wrong.
The Hyuga clan's Byakugan had played a huge strategic role in the previous two Great Ninja Wars. If Kumogakure, which was skilled at researching ninjutsu, were to obtain it and decipher any secrets from it, it would be a disastrous loss for Konoha.
Of course, even if Hiruzen agreed with this statement, it was impossible for him to voice his opinion.
Right now, the blame for inciting war was on the Hyuga clan. If he took the initiative to take the blame, he would then have to choose between abandoning a "comrade" or starting a war. The deaths that followed would be on his head.
This was a "trolley problem." No matter which choice he made, he would be responsible for lives.
Even he didn't know how to choose. He was actually a little curious about what this old man, Hyuga Hiago, was planning by saying this now.
"But, we can't let Konoha be plunged into a desperate war for this reason," Hyuga Hiashi said with a frown.
It wasn't that he cared so much about Konoha. He was more concerned about the future of the Hyuga clan in Konoha.
Sacrifice one person, avoid war, save thousands.
This was not only the choice of the Konoha leadership but also the pressure from the entire village's public opinion. It was a choice the Hyuga clan could not refuse. If Hyuga Hiashi really chose to evade it, he would surely become a public enemy in Konoha, and the Hyuga clan would find it difficult to survive in the village.
Because every person who died in the war would be blamed on them.
So, it seemed like there were two choices, but in reality, there was only one from the very beginning.
"Of course, I know that."
Hyuga Hiago's face was hard to read in the flickering candlelight. His tone was cold. "That's why the people of the Branch Family exist, isn't it?"
"..."
Hyuga Hiashi slowly raised his head and looked at the Main Family elder before him. He asked in a daze, "What?"
Hyuga Hiago ignored his gaze, turned to the closed door, and said, "Come in."
Click.
A cold, rainy wind blew in as the door opened, as if someone was unveiling a reality they were unwilling to admit. The candlelight before them flickered and dimmed, and the swaying light scrambled the shadows on the wall.
"Hizashi?"
Hyuga Hiashi stared blankly at the person who walked into the room, then at the unfamiliar face that followed closely behind.
The former was, of course, a complex-faced Hyuga Hizashi, but the latter was a youth with red-rimmed eyes.
"Hyuga Kumo?"
Seeing the person who followed Hyuga Hizashi into the room, the calm expression on Hyuga Hiago's face finally changed. He frowned and snapped, "Get out! Who let you in..."
"I let him come with me."
Before Hiago could finish, Hyuga Hizashi interrupted, causing Hiago's old face to darken.
Hizashi would never have dared to interrupt me before. He must think he's about to die, so he's lost his reverence for me.
Everyone present fixed their gaze on Hizashi and the youth behind him. Meeting these heavy, scrutinizing gazes, Hyuga Kumo raised his head without any hesitation or burden.
Hyuga Kumo's eyes were red-rimmed, clearly having cried. His pure white eyes were bloodshot as he scanned the people present.
"I've come to see Lord Hizashi off on his final journey."
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's surprised look, he gave him an apologetic glance, then looked at the other Main Family members and said coldly, "I'm sure the 'highly respected' Main Family head and elders wouldn't deny a dying man his last bit of dignity, would they?"
He enunciated the words "highly respected" very heavily, his tone clearly laced with sharp, biting sarcasm. He might as well have been pointing at their noses and calling them shameless old fools.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, didn't feel offended. Because of the apologetic glance he had received, he knew that Kumo's words were not directed at him. He was instead surprised by Kumo's audacity.
Is this child speaking out against the injustice for Hyuga Hizashi?
Is he so resentful that he's disregarding the difference in status?
As expected, the faces of the six Main Family elders darkened, and Hyuga Hiago's eyes glinted with coldness.
Hyuga Hizashi was one thing; his transgression could be overlooked since he was already a dead man.
But who do you, Hyuga Kumo, think you are, to be so rude in front of me?