Naruto: The Primal Hyuga Pierces the Shinobi World

Since others were giving him face, Hyuga Shin naturally wouldn't put on airs. He bowed slightly to Minato and said politely.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the prisoners and corpses were taken away by the Anbu, and Kakashi also suspended his guard duty and returned with Minato.

He is one of the parties involved and needs to inform Watergate of the most specific details.

The following day, Konoha publicly announced the attack by the Cloud Ninja and condemned their despicable act.

It was thought that the Cloud Ninja would not dare to respond publicly because of their guilty conscience, but unexpectedly, the Cloud Ninja directly accused Konoha of lacking sincerity in peace talks, openly killing the envoy, and shouting that Konoha should hand over the culprit, or else they would start a war with Konoha.

The audacious act of turning the tables only fueled Minato's anger, but before he could even unleash his fury, people within the village began to sabotage him.

The war threat from the Cloud Ninja has caused widespread panic in Konoha, and public opinion has put the Hyuga clan in the spotlight.

"Go to war? No way! We've already been fighting for so long, do we really want to fight again?"

"Hyuga is really something. He could have just repelled the enemy. Why did he have to kill them?"

"Are we going to start a war for the Hyuga and the Cloud Ninja?"

No one knows where these voices came from, but they swept through the village's public opinion and did indeed change the minds of some people.

Kakashi overheard some rumors and felt that this was so similar to the public outcry against his father back then...

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Chapter 84: High-Level Team Selection!

It's unclear who started this public opinion storm in Konoha, but after the Cloud Ninja made a strong public statement, calls arose within the village for the Hyuga to hand over the envoy who killed the Cloud Ninja.

The values ​​of this village and this community seem to have been distorted in just a few days. Even though Hyuga was clearly the passive victim, he became the culprit who would bring disaster to Konoha in the eyes of some people.

And this voice is gradually influencing other ordinary people in Konoha Village who originally sided with the Hyuga.

Although Shinichi Hyuga has always lived a secluded life with very limited interaction with the outside world, the village's gossip still influences the Hyuga family, and even he has heard some rumors.

Some might think that the people of Konoha, who often talk about the Will of Fire, would fight to the death to protect their comrades and uphold justice.

However, in reality, Konoha Village has never advocated the so-called "protecting comrades".

The concept that the top leadership has been instilling in the public is "protecting the village." As long as the most fundamental purpose is to protect the village, then any cost is acceptable.

Anyone or anything that brings harm to the village is considered unjust by most ninjas.

Just like the White Fang of Konoha who abandoned his mission in his early years to protect his comrades, causing great losses to the village.

Regardless of his status or power, anyone who causes losses to the village, regardless of his motives, will become the target of condemnation by some of the villagers.

The Hyuga of today is just like the White Fang of Konoha back then.

Being tough on external forces is not easy; in comparison, it is easier to be more flexible and exert pressure internally.

Minato Namikaze's original intention was to say no to the demanding requirements of the Cloud Ninja, but there were also many people who stood on the opposite side and tried to persuade him.

On this day, not only did the previous Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, come to Minato's office, but three advisors and Nara Shikaku, the leader of the Jonin class, also came to Minato's office.

Their purpose in coming was to discuss corresponding countermeasures.

The incident took place in the Hyuga clan. Shin Hyuga, the current head of the Hyuga clan, was naturally invited to attend. Shinichi, as the heir of the Hyuga clan, also appeared in the Hokage's office as an observer, participating in this high-level meeting of Konoha.

Before Minato Namikaze could even speak at the start of the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi set the tone:

"Konoha no longer has the potential for war. Under no circumstances should we start another war with the Cloud Village."

"On this basis, we must find a way to appease the Cloud Ninja. We absolutely cannot allow Konoha to be bogged down in war again!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, Hyuga Shinichi and Hyuga Shinichi, the old man and the young man sitting on one side of the sofa, frowned, exchanged a glance, and sensed something was wrong.

Judging from this, Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to swallow this humiliation.

However, we can also understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's idea from another perspective: this problem is the most classic train problem.

Is it better to sacrifice a few members of the Hyuga clan to maintain the current peace, or to gamble on war and sacrifice a large number of Konoha ninja to start another war with the Cloud Ninja, all for the sake of pride?

For this question... Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was not involved, naturally chose the former.

After all, it wasn't his clansmen who died, so he didn't care. Moreover, given his carelessness, as the former Hokage, how could anyone say he was wrong to make such a decision?!

If anyone is wrong, then let them go to the battlefield to protect the interests of the Hyuga clan!

"Hiruzen is right, Hyuga Shin. For the sake of Konoha, I'm afraid the Hyuga clan will have to suffer this time!"

"It's all for the village, I think you can understand that, right?"

Danzo Shimura sat quietly in his seat without speaking, but Homura Mitokado spoke up at the opportune moment. On this matter, the advisors shared the same thoughts as Hiruzen Sarutobi; they hoped that the Hyuga clan could sacrifice their own interests for the greater good of the village.

The compliment was bestowed upon him, but Hyuga Shin remained silent, instead turning his head slightly to look at Namikaze Minato.

While the opinions of the Third Hokage and the advisory group are important, the final decision rests with the current Fourth Hokage!

"Don't make a decision so quickly, Lord Danzo."

“This matter has a huge impact; it’s no longer just a matter for our village.”

"Many other countries and ninja villages are also paying attention to how we handle this."

"I do not agree to compromise with the Cloud Ninja like this."

"Our concessions will only embolden them to take advantage of us!"

"My suggestion is to strengthen the defenses in the Land of Lightning and make preparations in advance."

Minato Namikaze noticed the gaze that Shin Hyuga was giving him. The two exchanged only a brief glance, but their thoughts were already in agreement.

Minato was not a puppet of the Third Hokage or Danzo. Perhaps his ability to overpower Orochimaru and become the new Hokage of Konoha when he was young was partly due to that, but Minato Namikaze was never the kind of person who could be manipulated by others.

Having been Hokage for so many years, he had long understood that power must be earned through struggle.

The attack by the Cloud Ninja was a good opportunity for a young and promising figure like him. Coincidentally, the opinions of the Third Hokage and the advisory group, the older generation of high-ranking officials, differed from his. If he could carry out his will on this matter and ensure the continued prosperity of Konoha, his future influence and power in Konoha would be completely different.

Another important point is that Minato doesn't have many political allies, while the Hyuga are the Konoha clans he is closest to.

The Cloud Ninja's demand was not only a slap in the face to the Hyuga clan, but also a slap in the face to him, the Fourth Hokage.

If he has to swallow this anger, it's hard to imagine what outsiders would think of him as a young Hokage.

If villages like Iwagakure and Kirigakure, who previously had conflicts with Konoha, see Konoha showing weakness towards Kumogakure, will they start to have other ideas?

Minato's vision was not limited to the immediate peace; he thought one step further than others.

But do you think Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura wouldn't know these things?!

Not necessarily!

They are indeed high-ranking officials in Konoha, but they are also representatives of the smaller Konoha clans. If they can sacrifice a few members of the Hyuga clan in exchange for peace, they are naturally willing to do so. As for other consequences... since they are not in charge now, they don't need to worry about them.

The fact that Minato had opened his mouth and stood in line also relieved Shinichi Hyuga.

With the support of the Fourth Hokage, Shin Hyuga straightened his back and spoke with renewed vigor:

"This whole thing was a conspiracy by the Cloud Ninja! Our Hyuga clan is the victim."

"They deserved to be killed for breaking into the Hyuga clan! We didn't do anything wrong!"

"The Fourth Raikage wanted to use the Byakugan, didn't he?! Then let him come and get it himself!"

"We, the Hyuga, will never compromise!"

As he spoke, Hyuga Shin exuded a powerful aura. Although he had never received the title of Kage, no one present would underestimate this former head of the Hyuga clan.

Both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's expressions changed. Danzo also stared intently at Hyuga Shin, remaining silent. Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly. Instead of looking at Hyuga Shin, he looked at Minato, seemingly intending to put pressure on him.

Minato Namikaze smiled and nodded, seemingly agreeing with Shin Hyuga's statement, without looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Shinichi Hyuga kept his head down, seemingly detached from the meeting, but his Byakugan's unobstructed view allowed him to take in everyone's expressions.

The power struggle among Konoha's high-ranking officials... is gradually coming to light!

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Chapter 85 A Strong Stance: The Influence of the Ninja Clan!

Hinata Shin's tough stance silenced the entire conference room. After a moment, the one who reacted the most was not the Third Hokage or Danzo, but the most impatient Mitokado Homura.

The consultant slammed his hand on the coffee table, stood up abruptly with a furious expression, pointed at Hyuga Shin, and demanded angrily:

"Hyuga Shin! What do you mean by that?!"

"Are you going to make the village pay the price for your Hyuga clan's impulsiveness?!"

"The village has finally emerged from the quagmire of war. For the sake of you Hyuga, do you want the village to be plunged into war again?"

"You are selfish!"

Mitokado Homura confronted and berated him with an air of righteous indignation, his words devoid of any of the respect he once showed Hyuga Shin. To say such things in this setting was tantamount to Mitokado Homura breaking ties with the Hyuga clan.

The sudden outbreak of Mitokaku inflammation was also unexpected by everyone.

Those present were all high-ranking officials of Konoha. Even the young Shinichi Hyuga was destined to become one of Konoha's high-ranking officials in the future. Everyone was a "respectable" person. No matter how much they had conflicts, they had to maintain appearances, right?

However, Mitokado Enoki seems to have always considered himself an "advisor," completely forgetting his own identity and the identity of the person standing on the opposite side of him at this moment.

"selfishness?!"

"Mitokado Homura, get your facts straight, who are you talking to!?"