Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 27 Hiruzen Sarutobi: What a loyal and righteous boy!

"presumptuous!"

Higo Hyuga looked over with a cold gaze, staring intently at Higuchi Hyuga and said in a deep voice, "The Byakugan is related to the Hyuga clan's century-old foundation. This is a choice that concerns the fate of the family. How dare you interfere!"

"What a family fate."

Hinata Kumokawa's gaze swept across the faces of each elder, his white pupils flickering with the pale gold of candlelight and the black shadows, and he sneered, "Was my father tortured to death by you with a cursed seal because it concerned the fate of the family?"

The elders of the clan present were instantly jolted, their hands on their laps tightening slightly, and they glanced instinctively at the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi to the side.

This story doesn't sound good when it gets out.

Some things may seem insignificant on the scale, but can weigh a ton even on a scale.

Hyuga Kumokawa's father was, after all, a registered Jonin of Konoha, so the official explanation for his death was that he sacrificed himself to protect the main clan. This is why Hyuga Kumokawa was able to enjoy "benefits" as a result.

Now that Hyuga Kumokawa had suddenly revealed this in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the group felt a sense of irritation at having their shameful secret exposed in front of outsiders.

“It is our duty to protect our master while we are in the main family. The main family is the root of the Hyuga clan. Your father died a worthy death!”

Higo Hyuga's expression was terrifyingly gloomy, as if he had been provoked, and his arrogance as a superior was no longer concealed.

"A worthy death?" Hyuga Kumokawa said coldly. "I, my father, Lord Hizashi, we have the same blood flowing in our veins as you, yet we cannot even obtain the ninjutsu passed down in our clans. Now you want us to pay with our lives, do you think we share the same roots?"

"presumptuous!"

"Insanity!"

The two hot-tempered elders of the clan stood up in anger. If it weren't for the fact that Hiruzen Sarutobi was still there, they would have already activated their curse seals to severely punish him.

Facing their furious rebukes, Hinata Kumokawa stubbornly refused to back down, but a glint of light flickered deep in his eyes.

The reason he's putting on this act isn't because he's truly reckless; it's because he's very clear that if the upcoming plan proceeds smoothly, the Hyuga clan won't be able to stay.

Even without today's performance, he would still be someone the main family fears, and there's a high probability he would be inexplicably driven to suicide.

He could certainly break the spell on the caged bird, but he couldn't reveal that right now.

Therefore, what he needs to do is to prevent the Hyuga main family from attacking him.

He needs to find himself a new backer, a backer stronger than the Hyuga main family; he needs to find himself a new springboard, a springboard even larger than the Hyuga clan.

Thinking of this, Hyuga Kumokawa glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was kneeling there silently like a stone statue, seemingly deep in thought.

At that moment, a look of understanding flashed across Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes. He raised his gaze slightly and swept it over the sorrowful face of Hyuga Kumokawa behind Hizashi.

Is she really speaking out for her father and Hizashi?
This child is indeed a loyal and affectionate child, but he is too naive and cannot hide his emotions.

But isn't this exactly the kind of subordinate that superiors like best?

"It's just a pity," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. "If only I were a little stronger."

The recent arrogance of the Hyuga clan and the growing dissatisfaction of the Uchiha clan have made this Hokage wary.

His control over the two major Konoha clans was still too weak, so he was already considering promoting subordinates from both clans. In any case, he needed to plant some spies in the two clans to prevent them from being completely unaware of any unusual movements they might make in the future.

This was an almost instinctive sense of vigilance from those in power. The Uchiha clan, through various intelligence gathering and analysis, had already chosen Uchiha Shisui, a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, while the Hyuga clan simply couldn't find a suitable candidate.

The main family members would not obey him, and the branch family members would not dare to rebel against the main family.

Servility, along with the curse of the caged bird, has long been etched into their souls, and most of the branch family members have long been accustomed to the superiority of the main family.

Now it seems that Hinata Kumokawa is the perfect candidate, but I feel that his strength is still a bit lacking.

"Alright, Yun Chuan, stop talking."

Hyuga Hizashi said something in a low voice, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Yun Chuan's red eyes and the sorrowful and resentful expression on his face.

Hyuga Kumokawa followed him because he had recently returned a ninjutsu scroll to him, and Hyuga Higo happened to be in the guest room as well.

At that time, Hyuga Higo and Hizashi were discussing in the guest room that Hizashi should die in place of Hiashi. Hyuga Hizashi, who had more combat experience, noticed the rapid breathing coming from outside the room.

He made an excuse to send Hyuga Higo away and came out, only to find Hyuga Kumokawa standing outside the guest room, looking as if struck by lightning.

Fortunately, he stopped Hyuga Unkawa in time, whose face suddenly turned furious. Otherwise, the boy would have definitely barged in when he was emotional, and might even have dared to attack Hyuga Higo.

"Ugh."

Thinking of how Hinata Kumokawa had lost control and collapsed back then, and seeing the child's still resentful expression, Hinata Hizashi knew that the other party truly regarded him as "family," and he couldn't help but feel a little touched.

He never expected that his concern for the child in the past few days would make this orphan so close to him, and that the child could no longer hide his resentment upon hearing that he was to die in his place.

This child is far too loyal and devoted; I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

"Wait, wait a minute."

Hiashi Hyuga snapped out of his daze, seemingly realizing something, and quickly stood up, saying, "What do you mean by 'the last journey'? What do you mean by 'a dying person'? You..."

Higo Hyuga forcibly suppressed the anger that had been offended him, no longer looking at the boy he loathed, and said coldly, "We will hand over Hizashi's corpse as your substitute."

"Hisashi has agreed."

These words made Hiashi Hyuga look at Hizashi in disbelief.

How could this be? How could the Japanese governor agree to this?
Hasn't Hijiri only felt hatred towards me, his elder brother?
"But, but..." In his surprise and doubt, Hiashi Hyuga blurted out, "Isn't what the Land of Lightning and the Hidden Cloud Village want the Byakugan? After Hizashi dies, the Byakugan will also be destroyed. If that's the case, the Land of Lightning and the Hidden Cloud Village will not accept it."

"Judging from the Cloud Village ninja's attempt to kidnap Hinata, that's indeed what the Cloud Village intended." A shadowy look flashed across Hyuga Higo's eyes. "But the Land of Lightning's condition is that we 'hand over the body of the murderer, Hyuga Hiashi.'"

“If we just pretend to accept this condition and hand over the Hizashi who looks just like you, then the Hidden Cloud Village will have no legitimate reason to continue its aggressive behavior.”

Upon hearing this, Hiashi opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word, and then subconsciously looked at Hizashi, who remained silent.

Hyuga Hizashi's expression was calm, as if he had completely resigned himself to his fate.

But in fact, he was waiting.

Waiting for an answer, waiting for a choice.

He was waiting to see if his good older brother would make the same choice and answer as that adult had said.

(End of this chapter)