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

"It was the war that Kumogakure chose, not me!"

"Konoha can no longer bear the pain of a war," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice. "This is the worst-case scenario, and we must do everything in our power to prevent war from breaking out."

"This is the responsibility that the Hokage must fulfill for the village."

Just as Danzo was about to retort, Mitomon Homura stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, Hiruzen, Danzo, now is the time to unite against a common enemy, so let's stop arguing."

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hiruzen, we need to see how the Cloud Village delegation reacts tomorrow before we can make a response."

“You’re right.” Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. “Let’s hand the body over to the intelligence department and see if we can get any evidence that’s in our favor.”

The next day, the Konoha F4 and the Hokage Building were on high alert.

Sure enough, not long after, the Cloud Hidden Envoy arrived in a menacing manner.

"Lord Hokage, we came to Konoha with the sincerity of peace, yet you killed our leader. Do you look down on Kumogakure, or do you have no intention of negotiating at all?"

"That's what I should be asking you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, a cigarette dangling from his lips, coldly stared at the Cloud Village envoy. "Why would an envoy sneak into the Hyuga clan and Shimura Gengetsu's house at night? If you want peace talks, why resort to these petty tricks?"

"I can pretend this never happened and sign the agreement according to the terms we agreed on. You Cloud Village should not push your luck."

"What infiltration of the Hyuga clan? Hokage, this is slander!"

The shameless envoy from the Hidden Cloud Village said, "Hand over the murderer who killed my village's envoy, or you can expect Lord Raikage to come and take him away in person with his army!"

After saying that, he walked out of the office with an arrogant expression, completely ignoring Hiruzen Sarutobi's livid face.

"laugh--!"

As soon as the door opened, before the smile on the Cloud Envoy's face had even faded, a flash of sword light slashed across his neck.

The Cloud Envoy reached out to cover his wound, but he couldn't stop the gushing blood from flowing out, and he fell backward helplessly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned by this turn of events, and stared blankly for a while before looking at the boy who walked in with disbelief.

"Xuan Yue! What are you doing!"

"He is an envoy from Kumogakure!"

“I already killed one messenger yesterday, so killing another one today won’t make a difference.” Shimura Gengetsu was completely unconcerned about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s anger. “What, does the Third Hokage, Noboru, really intend to hand me and the Hyuga clan head over?”

The Third Hokage remained silent, a conflicted look flashing across his face, which Danzo keenly noticed.

"Old monkey, you're actually tempted?"

"Are you crazy? This is clearly a trap set up by the Hidden Cloud Village. If anyone can use this trick to carve a piece of flesh out of Konoha, and missions come every now and then, are you going to send all the ninjas to apologize?"

To be fair, Danzo was undoubtedly a pro-war figure in Konoha, both internally and externally.

Otherwise, how do you think he lost his right eye?

He had thought that Hiruzen Sarutobi had become weak, but he hadn't expected him to be this weak.

So soft it's limp it's practically boneless.

"Enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi roared. "You haven't made your final decision yet, what nonsense are you spouting!"

"Danzo! I am the Hokage. All you need to do is obey the Hokage's orders!"

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

Danzo stared at him intently for two seconds, then got up and left the room.

"Xuan Yue, let's go."

"If Hiruzen Sarutobi is really going to kill you, then betray the village and go find Asuma."

"Sacrificing the son of a Hokage would probably appease the anger of the Cloud Village."

"Old man, it's rare that you've come up with such a brilliant idea."

The conversation between the grandfather and grandson reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears, causing him to change color several times.

Mitokado Yan and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance and sighed.

Ugh...

The once-powerful Ren Xiong has truly grown old.

Soon, news of the Cloud Envoy's murder spread like wildfire throughout the village, but no further details were revealed.

[The host establishes a bond of guilt with Hiruzen Sarutobi, and is rewarded with the special talent of Ninja Doctor.]

[Ninjutsu Doctor: When the host learns a new ninjutsu, the training speed increases by 100%, and the difficulty of attribute fusion training is reduced.]

Guilt?

When Shimura Gengetsu returned home and saw the system notification, he smiled contemptuously.

He trusted the system's judgment; at that time, he did feel guilty for taking action against Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had handed him over to quell the anger of the Cloud Village.

but...

What does a politician's remorse matter?

What Hiruzen Sarutobi is best at is saying things like, "I'm full of self-blame, but I'm also telling others that it's all for Konoha, and that you're a hero, kid," while simultaneously blaming himself.

But he's different from the Hyuga clan.

Although they are a prestigious family with a history of thousands of years, for such families, inheritance is the most important thing. The head of the family can be sacrificed, and the branch family can be sacrificed even more.

But what about him.

He is the heir of the Shimura family.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi really dares to hand him over, Danzo won't become a rogue ninja, but he will treat Hiruzen Sarutobi as a rogue ninja and fight him to the death from then on.

The damage inflicted on Konoha at that time was far greater than that of a war.

"I'll go check on Mr. Hizashi."

Looking at the girls around him who were watching him with concern, Shimura Gengetsu smiled and said, "What's there to worry about? I just killed a piece of trash who trespassed into my house."

"Hong, Xiyan, let's go back and prepare. We'll probably be going to the battlefield soon."

"I understand." Uzuki Yugao nodded solemnly, her killing intent almost overflowing. Yuhi Kurenai also lost her usual playful big sister demeanor, her face full of seriousness.

Soon, Shimura Gengetsu arrived at the Hyuga residence.

The atmosphere in the Hyuga family was very heavy today. Several branch family members stood on the roof, keeping their Byakugan activated at all times to prevent any outsiders from intruding.

Shimura Gengetsu did not encounter any obstacles. He first found Hyuga Hiashi, who was having a meeting with a group of clan elders, and then led him to the door of Hyuga Hizashi's house. He gestured for Hiashi to stay outside 747 and went inside himself.

Hyuga Hizashi, who was writing something on a scroll, thought Neji, who was receiving his family's early education, had returned, and quickly put his things away.

Looking back, I realized it was Xuan Yue.

"Xuan Yue Jun, what brings you here?" Hyuga Hizashi asked in surprise.

“Rishashi-sensei, stop hiding it.” Xuan Yue didn’t answer, but walked behind him and glanced at the scroll.

"Is this your suicide note?"

The two brothers, one inside and one outside the house, were both startled at the same time.

Hyuga Hizashi forced a smile and said, "What are you talking about, Gengetsu? I don't have any illness, why would I need a will?"

"The elders of the main family should have approached you, asking you to take the blame for Hyuga Hiashi."

Shimura Gengetsu revealed Hyuga Hizashi's biggest secret at that moment. Hyuga Hiashi, who was outside, almost rushed in, but he managed to hold back. He wanted to know what had happened.

"You know?" Hyuga Hizashi finally couldn't keep up the act anymore and gave a wry smile.

"What else can we do?"

“My brother and I look almost exactly alike. After we die, the caged bird mark will also disappear, and the Hidden Cloud Village won’t be able to find us for a while.”

"By the time they got back to the village, it was already too late."

"However, this has nothing to do with those elders; it was my idea." Hyuga Hizashi looked at the mirror beside the bed, removed the ninja headband from his forehead, revealing the blue Caged Bird mark.

"I died to protect my brother, not for the head of the main family. This was my own choice, and the only time I was free to choose."

"Deceiving yourself."

After listening, Shimura Gengetsu belittled Hyuga Hizashi's emotions to nothing, saying, "Those main family elders won't think that way. They will only use your death as a typical example of loyalty to the branch family after you die to brainwash all the branch families."

"From now on, even Ning will think that you sacrificed yourself for the main family and completely gave up resisting your fate."

"The Hokage's son is the Hokage, the Hokage's disciple is the Hokage, and the scapegoat's son is the scapegoat."

"Hizashi-sensei, is Michizane truly resigned to this?"

"Do you want Neji to follow in your footsteps and become a sacrifice that can be killed at any time?"

Hyuga Hizashi was deeply shaken and speechless for a long time.

Seeing that it was almost time, Shimura Gengetsu called out to the door, "Hyuga clan leader, you may come in now."

"Although you are from the main branch of the family, are you truly willing to accept the fate that the Third Hokage has arranged for you?"

"elder brother!"

The door was violently pushed open, and Hiashi Hyuga walked in resolutely.