Hiruzen, Danzo, and a few others agreed to use Hizashi Hyuga’s body to appease Raikage’s anger.
As a branch family member, Hizashi had the Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird, which would destroy his Byakugan upon death.
There was no worry about the Byakugan leaking out.
Moreover, with Hizashi looking identical to Hiashi, they could use his body to fool the Raikage into believing it was Hiashi’s.
This would likely be enough to satisfy the Raikage.
It was the perfect solution.
But they didn’t expect Hiashi Hyuga to reveal their private decision so quickly.
He did it in a meeting and expressly set up to pressure Mirai.
This kind of thing shouldn’t be exposed publicly!
Hiruzen’s eyes flared with anger.
What was Hiashi thinking?
Hadn’t he been warned not to mention this in the meeting?
As Hiruzen glared at Hiashi furiously, the conference room was filled with shocked discussions.
“Using Hiashi’s brother to appease the Raikage? Since when has Konoha become so weak?”
“The Hyuga are Konoha’s largest clan. If this happened to my clan…”
“Is it wrong for a father to protect his daughter?”
Amid the shocked and noisy voices, Hiashi did not avoid Hiruzen’s angry gaze.
His eyes were calm.
Hokage-sama, forgive me for going against you this time.
His mind flashed back to the day before the meeting.
…
“No!”
“How can I let Hizashi die in my place? Neji is only four years old!”
“This is a decision made by the elders and approved by the Hokage. As a branch family member, isn’t Hizashi meant to serve the main family in times like this?”
“I could never agree to this, letting my own brother die in my place…”
Hiashi Hyuga collapsed on the tatami mat, unable to believe things had come to this.
“Brother, I’ve already agreed.”
Hizashi, who looked almost identical to Hiashi but had a bandage on his forehead, knelt before him with a gentle gaze.
“As a branch family member, I’m meant to protect the main family.”
“Dying to protect you, my brother, is the best outcome for me.”
Hiashi clenched his fists in frustration.
“Damn it! How did it come to this?”
How could they accept such a thing?
“So, do you want to change this?”
The sliding door opened slowly, and a calm but heavy voice came from outside.
Hiashi looked up, staring in shock at the blonde figure who appeared.
“Mirai, what are you doing here?”
This was the Hyuga’s council chamber. How did Mirai get here?
Had he heard their entire conversation?
“Can you really accept your brother dying in your place?”
Mirai looked down at Hiashi.
His biofield perception covered the entire Hyuga compound. Nothing here escaped his notice.
Hiashi’s eyes filled with tears as he clenched his fists.
“If I could, I would never choose this. But the Hokage…”
“Leave the Hokage to me. From now on, do exactly as I say.”
After hearing Mirai’s words, Hiashi’s eyes went from confused to surprised to shocked.
“Why are you helping me?”
“I’m not helping you; I’m helping your brother.”
“Me?”
Hizashi, who had prepared himself for death, stared at Mirai in astonishment, looking for answers in his face.
Mirai’s deep blue eyes showed a hint of sadness.
A rare emotion that contrasted with his usual stern demeanor.
“Maybe it’s because, as a younger brother, I understand the desire to protect your older brother.”
Hizashi, seeing Mirai’s pensive expression, suddenly trembled.
He remembered.
That night, when it all happened, Mirai wasn’t in the village and could only watch as Minato died.
There was nothing he could do.
…
Hiashi! Why?
Why are you doing this?
Hiruzen stared at Hiashi, eyes blazing with fury. The heavy, angry look seemed to question him repeatedly.
Hadn’t they already decided on Hizashi?
How could such a matter be exposed publicly?
She was revealed to all of Konoha’s high-ranking officials!
Did he want everyone to see that their Hokage was using Hiashi’s brother’s death to appease the Raikage?
“Hokage-sama, is what Hiashi said true?”
The question came from the head of the Inuzuka clan.
What would happen to the smaller clans if the Hyuga could be treated this way?
All eyes were now on Hiruzen.
His sweaty palms clenched tightly, and his gaze shifted from struggle to hesitation and finally to resignation…
“Yes.”
Uproar!
The room erupted!
Konoha was using the life of the Hyuga clan leader’s brother to appease the Raikage.
Unbelievable!
Konoha was supposed to be the most substantial ninja village!
Why were they bending over backward, almost shamefully sacrificing the interests of one of their clans?
And besides, wasn’t it the Hidden Cloud Village’s fault in the first place?
Hiashi was just protecting his daughter!
Mirai continued leaning back casually in his chair, his posture unchanged since entering.
It was as if he had anticipated this outcome.
“My dear Hokage, when did Konoha become so weak that we need to sacrifice the life of a clan leader’s brother to appease a mere Hidden Cloud Village?”
Mirai’s seemingly casual words hit Hiruzen like an invisible fire, burning his spirit and body.
The other clan leaders also felt a deep sense of frustration.
Humiliation!
Utter humiliation!
“This is for Konoha.”
Hiruzen looked sorrowful and sighed deeply.
“Hizashi truly embodied the Will of Fire. For his beliefs, he chose this path.”
As soon as he finished speaking, laughter broke out—first a chuckle, then a laugh, and finally uncontrollable, raucous laughter!
“Hahaha! What a joke of the Will of Fire!”
Mirai laughed uproariously, his shoulders shaking violently.
His laugh caught the attention of those around him, their eyes widening.
Mirai’s laugh was even more intense than theirs!
“You managed to make cowardice sound noble, Hiruzen. Your shamelessness exceeds my expectations!”
“The Hidden Cloud Village’s peace treaty was always a façade, meant to steal Konoha’s bloodline limits! As Hokage, you knew this and still wanted to sacrifice Hizashi’s life to beg for the Raikage’s forgiveness!”
“Third Hokage, you are too weak! Where is the strength of a true leader?”
“If I were Hokage, I would never be this weak!”
With those words, Danzo could no longer contain himself, glaring furiously at Mirai.
“Mirai, do you even know what you’re saying?”
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