Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

"This…"

Everyone present fell silent. A Main House elder couldn't help but sigh, "If Hiashi had captured that Hidden Cloud ninja alive, the situation might have been better."

"No, it wouldn't have," Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head, shattering the elder's naive fantasy. "According to the intelligence gathered earlier, the Fourth Raikage has a new secretary named Mabui. She's not only one of the few female jōnin but also a calm individual, full of wisdom and talent."

"This plan must have come from her. The Hidden Cloud envoy team had already made up their minds before arriving: either successfully abduct Hyuga Hinata, or die at the hands of a Main House member. This is a blatant, open conspiracy."

This time, Konoha had truly been entrapped. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected the usually rough and reckless Hidden Cloud Village to resort to such underhanded tactics. Just based on the words Yūrui shouted before escaping, coupled with the fact that so many villagers witnessed it, and then Yūrui's subsequent death at Hyuga Hiashi's hands, it was completely a case of "mud in the crotch"—impossible to clear one's name.

Aside from those present who knew all the details, no one would believe that this incident wasn't Konoha's doing. Even Konoha villagers wouldn't believe it. Konoha had been firmly saddled with this blame.

Now, Konoha had only two choices. Either staunchly protect Hyuga Hiashi and go to war with the Hidden Cloud Village, or sacrifice Hyuga Hiashi and compromise with the Hidden Cloud Village.

"..."

Hyuga Hiashi and the six Main House elders understood this as well. All six of them, excluding Hyuga Higo, had grim expressions. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had given them this "choice," it meant that the Hyuga clan effectively had no choice at all.

War means death. Many, many deaths. The Land of Lightning had explicitly named Hyuga Hiashi as the culprit. On what grounds could they ask the village to risk war to protect him? One could imagine that if war erupted again, the currently weakened Konoha would surely be the target of concentrated attacks from other ninja villages. Anyone could die in such a war.

Human nature is selfish. No one was willing to die for the Hyuga clan.

"If that's the case…"

After a long silence, Hyuga Hiashi finally spoke, his voice still somewhat hoarse despite his efforts to remain calm. "If my life alone can save the village…"

"Wait."

Before Hyuga Hiashi could finish, Hyuga Higo suddenly interrupted him, shaking his head. "Hiashi, don't be so impulsive."

"The Hyuga Byakugan is not just for the Hyuga clan; it is also extremely important to the village. It absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the Land of Lightning's Hidden Cloud Village."

As he spoke, Hyuga Higo subtly glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was seated at the head. Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent. Although he harbored some dissatisfaction with the Hyuga clan and wished to push the responsibility onto them, he had to admit that Higo's words were not wrong. The Hyuga clan's Byakugan had played a significant strategic role in the previous two Great Ninja Wars. If it fell into the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village, which excelled at studying ninjutsu, and they managed to decipher its secrets, it would undoubtedly be a disastrous loss for Konoha.

Of course, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed with this argument, it was impossible for him to voice his opinion. The blame for starting the war was currently on the Hyuga clan. If he were to actively take on that responsibility, he would then have to choose between abandoning "comrades" or starting a war. At that point, the lives lost would be on his head. This was fundamentally a "trolley problem"; no matter which choice he made, he would bear the burden of lives. He himself didn't know how to choose, and was instead somewhat curious about old Higo's intentions in saying all this now.

"But we also can't let Konoha be dragged into a desperate war again because of this," Hyuga Hiashi frowned. If he had to say how much he cared about Konoha, it might not be much; he cared more about the Hyuga clan's future in Konoha.

Sacrifice one person to avoid war, save thousands. This was not just a choice from Konoha's higher-ups, but also the pressure of the village's public sentiment, and a choice the Hyuga clan simply could not refuse. If Hyuga Hiashi truly chose to evade, he would surely become the target of scorn in Konoha, and the Hyuga clan would face immense difficulties in the village. Because every life lost in the war would be attributed to them.

So, while there seemed to be two choices, in reality, there was only ever one.

"Of course, I know that."

Hyuga Higo's face was obscured by the candlelight, his voice cold. "That's why… the Branch House members, aren't they precisely for this purpose?"

"..."

Hyuga Hiashi slowly raised his head, looking at the Main House elder before him, his expression blank as he asked in a daze, "What?"

Hyuga Higo paid no mind to his gaze. He turned his head towards the tightly shut door and spoke, "Come in."

Click.

Cold, rain-laden wind blew in as the door opened, as if someone had unveiled an unwelcome reality. The candlelight before them flickered and dimmed, its dancing light scrambling shadows across the walls.

"Hizashi?"

Hyuga Hiashi stared blankly at the person who entered the room, then at the unfamiliar face that followed closely behind. The former was, of course, Hyuga Hizashi, his expression complex, but the latter was a young boy with bloodshot eyes.

"Hyuga Kawa?"

Seeing the person who entered the room alongside Hyuga Hizashi, the calm expression on Hyuga Higo's face finally changed. He frowned and reprimanded, "Get out! Who let you in…"

"I let him come with me."

Before Hyuga Higo could finish, Hyuga Hizashi interrupted him, making Higo's aged face darken. Hizashi had never dared to interrupt him before. He must think that since he was about to die, he had lost his reverence for him.

Everyone present shifted their gaze to Hizashi and the young boy behind him. Meeting those heavy, scrutinizing looks, Hyuga Kawa raised his head without any hesitation or burden. Hyuga Kawa's eyes were bloodshot, clearly having wept, his pure white Byakugan veined with red. His gaze swept over everyone present.

"I'm here to send Lord Hizashi off."

He met Hiruzen Sarutobi's surprised gaze, offering an apologetic look, then turned to the other Main House members, his voice cold. "I imagine the 'virtuous and highly respected' Main House head and elders wouldn't deny a dying man his last shred of dignity, would they?"

He heavily emphasized the words "virtuous and highly respected," his tone clearly laced with biting sarcasm, almost pointing his finger and calling them shameless old fogeys. Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, didn't feel offended. Because of the apologetic glance, he naturally knew Kawa wasn't cursing him. Instead, he was surprised by Kawa's audacity.

Is this child speaking out for Hyuga Hizashi? Has his resentment grown so strong that he disregards the difference in status?

Indeed, the six Main House elders' faces darkened, and Hyuga Higo's eyes gleamed with a cold light. Hizashi was one thing; if he overstepped, he overstepped, he was a dead man anyway. But Hyuga Kawa, what right did he have to be so rude in front of an elder like him?