Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

"Elder Danzo, I am willing to atone with my death."

Are you trying to fool a fool?

Shimura Gengetsu rested his chin on his hand, looking at Hyuga Akira with sarcasm, "With the wealth and resources of your Hyuga clan, how could you possibly be short of money? Even if you were, it wouldn't be something that could be solved by selling information once."

Why not give the real reason?

"Could it be... that there's someone even more deeply hidden behind you?"

Gengetsu Shimura calmly shifted his gaze to Hiashi Hyuga.

Despite being just a child, Shimura Gengetsu's gaze made Hyuga Hiashi feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.

He quickly defended himself, saying, "Young Master Xuan Yue, I knew nothing about what Hyuga Mingyao did, and I would never betray the village's interests."

“Words are meaningless.” Danzo raised his eyes slightly. “As the clan leader, Hiashi, are you unaware of Hyuga Meiyou’s actions?”

Riji opened his mouth.

He really wants to play the victim with Danzo right now.

So what if he's the clan leader? Outside the clan, he's the highest-ranking person in the Hyuga clan, but inside the clan, all the elders of the main family act like they're old and domineering, and he can't control them at all.

However, Nisashi ultimately did not reveal the situation.

It's too embarrassing. This is no clan leader; he's just a mascot pushed to the forefront.

"Hyuga Meiyou!"

Hyuga Hizashi, seething with anger, could only vent his frustration on Hyuga Meiyou, yelling, "Tell us the whole truth! Do you really want to drag the whole clan down with you?!"

The other elders also offered their advice:

"Hyuga Meiyou, you should take responsibility for your mistakes and not implicate innocent clansmen."

"That's right. What exactly is your motive for betraying Young Master Xuan Yue's information? Don't use such an excuse that no one would believe."

"Short of money? Any one of those teapots you collect could sell for hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. How could you possibly be short of money? The family has never shortchanged you financially!"

Faced with the accusations from the crowd, Hinata Akira's face began to show a struggle, as if he was hesitating.

But at that moment, Danzo slowly delivered another blow.

"It's fine if you don't talk, we can just kill you. But if we do that, it won't just be you who dies, but everyone in your lineage, whether from the main family or the branch family, will have to pay for your mistakes with their lives."

"do not want!"

Hinata Meiyou shouted, "They know nothing, this is all my fault!"

"If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know they weren't involved?" Danzo chuckled sinisterly. "The Root organization never needs evidence; all they need is a target."

"I'll talk, I'll talk..."

Hinata Akira stammered, his mental defenses completely shattered, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Suddenly, he looked at Hyuga Hizashi with hatred in his eyes, "Lord Danzo, I never intended to kill Young Master Gengetsu. My only target has always been Hyuga Hizashi!"

Everyone in the room turned to look at Hyuga Hizashi in the corner.

Well, most of the time they just roll their eyes at you.

"......"

Hyuga Hizashi, who had been in a daze ever since he entered, was now even more confused.

"Elder Mingyao, why?"

"Shut up!"

Hinata Meiyou was like a raging beast, shouting, "Why was it me who was captured back then, and not you!"

"If it weren't for you, you piece of trash, failing to save me, I wouldn't have lived my whole life in humiliation! And now you've gained the Third Hokage's favor and can serve as a Jonin instructor. Why, why!"

Hinata Akira stunned everyone by unleashing the emotions he had suppressed for decades.

"Lord Danzo, I only revealed the time of the supply transport to Iwagakure, I did not tell them that Hyuga Hizashi would be leading the team."

"Therefore... there is a high probability that the Hizashi squad will be discovered in advance, and there will be no casualties, but he will also be punished by the village for failing the mission."

"I really just wanted to get revenge on Hyuga Hizashi, I had no intention of harming Young Master Gengetsu."

"My old life is not worth losing, please spare Hiroki and the others!"

Hinata Meiyou prostrated himself, his voice filled with pleading. He knew he was going to die, but he had to preserve his lineage.

"......"

"Elder Mingyao..." Hyuga Hizashi finally understood where the hatred came from, and his feelings were complicated.

When Hyuga Meiyou was captured, he was in the same squad as him. At that time, Hyuga Meiyou relied on his Byakugan's observational abilities to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines, hoping to gain greater merit. However, he was outmaneuvered and captured.

But he actually took all the blame upon himself.

People always like to blame others for their mistakes, but never want to look for the reasons within themselves.

"But you're still my grandson, and you've schemed against me."

Danzo's expression remained unchanged, and he showed no interest in the internal strife within the Hyuga clan.

"Gengetsu, I'm leaving this to you." Danzo turned his head and whispered to Shimura Gengetsu.

"Shh!"

Shimura Gengetsu's figure twisted for a moment, and a gust of wind suddenly swept through the room. By the time everyone noticed, a long bloodstain had appeared on Hinata Akira's neck.

What a great speed!

Hiashi Hyuga was secretly alarmed; he had only been able to catch a vague trajectory of movement.

thump!

Hinata Akira's body lay limply on the ground.

Danzo smiled, quite satisfied with Gengetsu's decisive and ruthless actions.

The other elders remained silent, expressing no dissatisfaction; on the contrary, they felt much more at ease.

Fortunately, the situation was not escalated and they were not implicated.

"Give me another 100 million taels as compensation, and I will not pursue this matter further," Shimura Gengetsu stated his final condition.

Although it was painful, Hiashi Hyuga agreed.

"Let's leave it at that. I believe in the Hyuga clan's loyalty to Konoha, but I also hope that the Hyuga clan leader can restrain his clansmen."

Danzo gave Hyuga Hiashi a warning, then left with Gengetsu, with Hyuga Hiashi escorting them to the door.

As he passed by a quaint courtyard, Shimura Gengetsu sensed that someone was watching him.

Following his intuition, he saw a small figure hiding inside the door, with only one large eye peeking out, looking at him curiously.

Seeing Shimura Gengetsu look over, the owner of the large eyes was startled and quickly slammed the half-closed door shut.

Chapter 61 Hinata's Big Gift: The Chunin Exams

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever, especially for a group of ninjas who make a living from intelligence.

Soon, many ninjas learned of the commotion at the Hyuga clan's territory, which was also a rare joint operation between the Root and Anbu.

But that's all the information we have.

If we investigate further, then it just shows a lack of understanding.

However, to everyone's surprise, the Hyuga clan actually self-destructed.

At the regular Jonin meeting the next day, Hiashi Hyuga sincerely apologized to the Third Hokage and brought up Hyuga Akira's actions.

The Jonin then understood why Danzo had gone to such lengths.

It almost caused the Shimura family line to end.

Immediately, many people looked at Hiashi Hyuga with pity. He had been tricked to death by the clan elders, and being the clan leader was truly a humiliating experience.

Hiashi Hyuga remained unmoved by these gazes.

The reason he brought it up in front of so many people was to demonstrate the Hyuga clan's subservience, which also damaged his own reputation.

As expected, the Third Hokage was very satisfied with Hiashi Hyuga's pragmatism. Not only did he not blame him, he also reprimanded Danzo on his behalf, saying that he had made too much of a fuss and should have resolved the matter privately so as not to damage the reputation of the noble clan.

Hiashi Hyuga could only laugh at this.

If you can't let the reputation of a prominent family be damaged, then why the hell did you send the secret service here? Just to watch the show?

On the surface, Hiashi Hyuga could only feign gratitude, indicating that the Hyuga clan harbored absolutely no resentment.

The result was a happy one for everyone.

The Third Hokage's reputation was further enhanced, and Hiashi understood that the Hyuga clan would not be targeted in the future, thus completely resolving the crisis.

No one suffered any loss of interest, except that Danzo's reputation was tarnished a bit more.

"Should I kill some of Hyuga Meiyou's descendants?"

After learning the whole story, Yekura asked softly, his voice filled with murderous intent.

"Need not."