Stupid.
This adjective is perfectly suited to describe the Konoha Leadership's probing this time.
But it happens all the time.
Proposals publicly issued by superiors being pushed back by subordinates are common everywhere.
The reason is simple.
The image the Leadership has of themselves is completely different from the image the middle management has of them.
Sometimes, just a small misunderstanding and the right timing are enough to create a huge, misaligned perception between the two sides.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, he was the leader who led Konoha to victory in the Third Great Ninja War and had just easily quelled the Uchiha crisis, undoubtedly the will of the people.
It was just that at a critical moment in the battle not long ago, he was met with some skepticism from a portion of the Shinobi Clans, which gave rise to a dangerous trend that made him feel uneasy.
Killing a chicken to warn the monkeys and consolidating power was an almost inevitable choice.
At the same time, Danzo Shimura's proposal at this moment happened to be the one with the lowest cost and highest return.
Not only that, the message proactively sent by the Hyuga Clan Head clearly showed that the other party was a soft target.
Given this, during this period when Konoha was eager for stability, what would it matter to execute an order, using the identity of a mere Hyuga Main Family member as a symbol and price for their submission?
As long as Hyuga Shinma's identity remained, the brand of loyalty would still exist on the Hyuga.
All you're giving up is just one person!
What you're gaining is my trust!
At the moment he made this decision, Hiruzen Sarutobi's self-logic was coherent.
Clearly, Aizen also wanted him to think that way.
"Urgent time, limited ability, conservative thinking, yet an unconscious, unparalleled desire to expand the boundaries of power..."
Aizen stood on the edge of the Konoha Hospital rooftop, gazing in the direction of the Hokage Building, watching the figures quickly entering the main gate and their serious expressions, and couldn't help but shake his head.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was a typical example of someone with extremely conservative traits and an intense desire for power.
Even compared to the former Captain Yamamoto, the gap was incomparable.
His weaknesses on a human level were simply too easy to exploit.
Precisely because of this, he hoped that this leader could remain in this position for a long time.
Often, just a gentle push was enough to make him move in the desired direction.
But unfortunately.
The boundaries of power are often vague and confusing until they are touched, but the moment they are truly contacted, an incredibly fierce resistance arises.
Was the Hyuga Clan truly afraid of just one more Main Family member?
No.
The rules were broken, and it was done by the Hokage's hand.
This was their true catastrophe.
"Third Hokage."
His gaze under those heavy eyes was slightly lost in thought, and Aizen softly murmured, "You must have felt it, haven't you?"
That increasingly deep rift that exists between you and the Shinobi Clans..."Hiruzen!"
"You've gone too far this time!"
In the conference room, a thick voice echoed throughout the room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat calmly in the main seat, his gaze slowly sweeping over each figure before him, finally resting on the person who was speaking.
Akimichi Torifu.
His former teammate and close friend.
However, at this very moment, driven by the others, he stood on the opposite side.
Everyone present was a Clan Head.
Sitting next to Akimichi Torifu was the person involved in this incident, Hyuga Hiashi.
How could a Hokage's order be refuted by a mere Jonin?
He had no hope for Hyuga Shinma from the start.
However, the moment he returned to the Hokage Building with the Hokage's order under the 'protection' of the Hyuga Clan members, this matter was no longer confined to the Hyuga Clan.
Only by making a big fuss did the Hyuga have hope of resistance.
Clearly, his strategy succeeded.
Akimichi Torifu, standing before him now, was the best proof.
"How can the Hyuga Clan's millennium-old clan rules be arbitrarily interfered with due to a mere Ninja's private request!" Akimichi Torifu's expression was stern, speaking with righteous indignation, "You must know that the Shinobi Clans are the true foundation of Konoha's Will of Fire!"
Despite his severe tone, his words offered him a moderate way out.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face remained as calm as water.
In the short twenty minutes since Hyuga Shinma arrived at the Hokage Building, the number of Ninja Clan Heads who appeared before him exceeded seventy percent of the entire village.
Every face was filled with righteous indignation.
Counting from the generation of Tobirama-sensei, the Ninja Academy had been established for over thirty years, and the number of lower and middle-class civilian Ninja had reached the majority of the village.
Originally, Hiruzen Sarutobi, relying on this power, believed he had the ability to control Hyuga Hiashi, this 'soft target'.
He didn't expect that the other party, once inactive, would strike with a killing blow.
His brain recorded the face of everyone present through his gaze.
Just twenty minutes... Shinobi Clans.
How vast a power was this group, usually so quiet?
At this moment, it was overwhelmingly clear.
Almost instantly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's vigilance reached its critical point.
However, when he spoke, he suddenly changed his tone, naturally reverting to his usual gentle and slightly relaxed demeanor:
"Torifu, you also know how important the Hyuga Clan's efforts for the village were that night. I personally asked Shinma-kun, and only then did I try to make a personal request to the Hyuga Clan Head."
"That night, Shinma-kun was the Hyuga Clan's full representative."
"Besides, how could this old man possibly have thoughts of shaking the traditions of the Shinobi Clans?"
"You must know, this old man, the Hokage, is also the head of the Sarutobi Clan."
"Without the Will of Fire passed down through stable bloodlines, how can it be passed on to the next generation?"
"Torifu, you've misunderstood me!"
In just a few sentences, the temperature in the conference room, which had been extremely chilly since the start of the meeting, seemed to rise a few degrees, gaining a bit of warmth.
This skill of passing the buck was simply masterful, clearly the result of years of practice.
Personal opinion?
That means it's just for reference, then.
Akimichi Torifu's tone immediately softened, following suit: "Hyuga's full representative... made a request alone?"
He said, turning his head as if in confusion.
The Ino–Shika–Chō, after all, was Sarutobi's Ino–Shika–Chō.
In an instant, Hyuga Hiashi's face turned somewhat green.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, at this moment, also looked at Hyuga Hiashi with a kind smile: "This old man thought there was another emergency. Now that Clan Head Hiashi has other plans, simply communicate directly with the Hokage Office. Why bring everyone here to inquire?"
"Such a grand display..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice paused, looking at everyone present, leaving a perfectly timed blank.
What do you want to do?
In an instant, the Clan Heads' hair stood on end.
Damn it.
They came too hastily and were caught by this old fox.
As for his statement?
Those who truly believed it likely wouldn't be in this room.
Greed is greed.
When it comes to dealing with these Shinobi Clans, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been clashing with them happily for years, was exceptionally skilled.
With just a few words of push and pull, the situation returned to his hands as the Hokage.
The offense and defense had shifted.
And Hyuga Hiashi, who had 'led' everyone there, immediately stood up and bowed, his face tense: "I never imagined the truth was like this."
"Hiashi misunderstood Third Hokage's painstaking efforts."
"Hiashi failed to properly discipline his clan members and made hasty decisions, disturbing everyone. I am truly sorry."
As his voice fell, he performed a standard ninety-degree bow.
It was both a way to gracefully retreat and to solidify this outcome, not allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to change it further.
As long as the Main Family's power could be preserved, losing some face was a minor matter.
At this point in the discussion, the outcome was already determined.
The only sacrifice was that 'self-assertive' Hyuga Shinma.
Soon, a meeting that started with a bang and ended with a whimper concluded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly at the conference table, watching the retreating figures, his gaze deep.
Shrouded in shadows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly lit his pipe, but in his heart, for the first time, he placed the option of truly becoming an enemy of the Shinobi Clans in the most urgent position.
He smoked quietly, the faint yellow flame burning the twisted tobacco, leaving a heavy haze in the room.
After a long time, he was heard to mumble softly:
"The decision of a mere individual can pull out so many big fish, huh."
"It seems I need to give Danzo more responsibilities."
"Also."
"It's time for Jiraiya to return."
He spoke to himself, then suddenly fell silent, exhaling a heavy puff of smoke.
Tobirama-sensei, even in this era, the path to building the Konoha you envisioned is truly long and arduous.
This is the power of the Shinobi Clans...Upon Hyuga Hiashi's return to the clan compound.
What greeted his eyes was a dense crowd of people.
Hundreds of branch family members stood at the entrance of the compound, their pure white eyes filled with both eager anticipation and fear of the unknown.
In their center was Hyuga Shinma, already bound and kneeling.
They were all waiting.
Waiting for that faint hope that might exist, or the usual heavy despair.
Only Hyuga Hizashi, kneeling there, knew.
Whether it was hope or despair, peace or conflict, elation or frustration.
Everything was merely a series of attempts, just like how Aizen-sama remotely controlled the Uchiha situation.
Before, it was an attempt on the Sharingan; this time, it was an attempt on the Byakugan.
Only a continuously advancing situation, like an irreversible torrent.
It was clear that once the spark of hope was ignited, it would not be so easily extinguished.
And then, it was destined to be watered by countless people and blood.
Until that person obtained everything he desired.