As soon as the idea was broken, the Hyuga Main Family, who had just been racking their brains, suddenly had a breakthrough.
That's right.
The situation is already so dangerous; if they don't quickly shift the blame, are they really going to wait until the Hyuga Clan is annihilated before doing anything?
As long as they can temporarily shift the blame, whether it's dragging the Daimyo into it or making the Shinobi Clans contribute more, what difference does it make to them?
Will Hiruzen Sarutobi really let them off after they make a move against Hiashi?
Moreover, if Hiashi continues to kill five people today and ten people tomorrow, how many people in the entire Hyuga Clan will be left for him to kill?
Their clan's survival cannot depend on the mercy of others.
As long as they don't directly fight Hiruzen Sarutobi, what method isn't usable?
"Not just the Daimyo!"
"No matter how this matter is decided, it will inevitably offend Hiruzen Sarutobi. If we're going to do it, we must go all out!"
The Third Elder said with a serious expression, "In my opinion, the Hyuga Clan has made such great contributions to the Shinobi Clans; they should at least do something."
"And Danzo!" The Second Elder, who had remained silent, also offered an idea. "Even within the Hokage faction, it's not entirely unified."
"Danzo Shimura wants to be Hokage, doesn't he? Then we can fully support him in challenging Hiruzen!"
"Oh, and Homura Mitokado is an old acquaintance of mine. I refuse to believe they are truly a united front and will just stand by and watch the Hyuga Clan become like this."
Several Main Family Elders spoke one after another, offering advice.
Ideally, they could depose Hiruzen Sarutobi in one go.
If not, then they should at least make that scoundrel temporarily shift his attention to other matters, allowing the Hyuga Clan to return to its original neutral stance.
—As long as it's not directed at their clan.
It must be said that, by virtue of their identity as the Hyuga Main Family, these three to five people, gathered as a group, essentially pooled all the power the Hyuga Clan commanded.
As for what would happen to Konoha if they continued to stir up trouble?
The Hyuga Clan themselves were on the verge of collapse; why should they care about the Village!
After this discussion, the uneasy hearts of the Main Family members finally calmed down.
Soon, several messengers departed from the Hyuga Compound, heading to various parts of Konoha... It wasn't just the Hyuga Main Family who were feeling anxious due to Hyuga Hiashi's recent series of actions; Hiruzen Sarutobi was as well.
These Main Family members possessed the purest Byakugan and could immediately tell that Hyuga Hiashi was under a Genjutsu and had begun slaughtering his own clansmen. However, in the eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was subtly at odds with the Hyuga Clan, it took on a different meaning.
"It's only been a few days since the Uchiha Clan incident. Does that brat Hyuga Hiashi really intend to continue attacking the Hokage Building?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the series of intelligence reports delivered by the Anbu on his desk, an expression of bewilderment on his face, and muttered to himself:
"But if he isn't planning to start a civil war in Konoha, why would he use such extreme methods to quickly unify the clan's opinion?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't understand.
In his eyes, Hyuga Hiashi must have discovered some clues during an internal clan meeting, or perhaps realized his own power was unstable, which led him to use such a purge to eliminate opposition within the clan.
By projecting his own thoughts, the only possibility Hiruzen Sarutobi could conceive was that 'Hyuga Hiashi wanted to start a civil war but faced opposition.'
But where did he get the courage?
Just as he was pondering this in confusion,
A figure completely clad in black suddenly appeared in the center of the office.
"Third Hokage, emergency situation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi first sensed the other person's Chakra, found it somewhat unfamiliar, and then remembered it must be a young man recently brought in from the Root.
"Fu Yamanaka, I should have remembered correctly, right?"
As he spoke, the pensive expression on his face turned into the benevolent smile unique to an elder, as if he cared more about remembering the other's name than the emergency report.
Fu Yamanaka's expression beneath his mask seemed somewhat moved, but he quickly recovered and nodded:
"Yes, Third Hokage."
"This subordinate received a family letter today, concerning... Danzo-sama's news."
"Danzo?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled at first.
Probably due to Kotoamatsukami, after Danzo was confined, he had been guarded by Anbu and had barely moved for half a month, with the Root also under his own control.
What else could involve him?
"Yes."
Fu Yamanaka's tone was respectful: "The Hyuga Clan sent a letter inviting the senior elders of the Yamanaka Clan and the Aburame Clan to a secret meeting at the Hyuga Compound."
"According to what this subordinate has learned, it seems that several elders of the Hyuga Main Family wish to express their support for Danzo-sama through the Yamanaka and Aburame Clans, who have always been on good terms with the Root."
"Additionally, the Hyuga Main Family is extensively contacting various Shinobi Clans, but their purpose is unclear."
Listening to Fu Yamanaka's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately became serious.
Having been Hokage for so many years, putting aside other aspects, Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite outstanding in terms of political sensitivity.
In an instant, he realized that his previous conjecture seemed to truly have a chance of becoming reality.
The Hyuga Clan, a Ninja Clan force, was befriending Danzo Shimura, who was directly subordinate to the Hokage.
What were they trying to do?
However, he then gradually relaxed.
Fortunately, Danzo was already under Kotoamatsukami.
Moreover, this information was currently known only to himself and Shisui, making it one of the highest classified secrets in the entire Village.
The only other secret of such high classification was his daily peeping into the women's bathhouse with a crystal ball.
"Fu, you did very well."
Hiruzen Sarutobi first nodded slightly, then pondered for a while.
Even he, as Hokage, was unwilling to continue the conflict with a top Ninja Clan like the Hyuga Clan.
However, this was not something he could stop just by saying he wanted to.
The chain of suspicion between the Shinobi Clans and the Hokage forced both sides to always maintain the highest degree of vigilance.
Political issues never had a concept of a halftime break.
The only thing to be thankful for was that he currently held the initiative.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was profound.
If handled properly, perhaps through Danzo, their current confrontation could gradually ease.
"Fu-kun."
"Yes."
Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed, "Please ask Elder Danzo Shimura to come here."
"Yes!"
...Outskirts of Konoha.
A Ninja team consisting of several dozen people was moving at a considerable speed along the main road.
The entire team was divided into three parts: the vanguard scouting team moved ahead, the middle section was surrounded by over a dozen Hyuga clansmen, all at least Chunin level, and the rear team had at least one person keeping their Byakugan activated.
The area within a ten-kilometer radius was entirely within their sensory range.
The group was arrayed in a complete military formation; even a regular thousand-man unit would not have such lavish security.
Under this thorough protection, even if a Kage personally led an Anbu squad to pursue them, it would be impossible to capture them.
And protected at the very center were three young Hyuga men and women.
They appeared to be in their early twenties, dressed in long robes, with arrogant expressions. When their guards gave them instructions, their eyes clearly showed some impatience, mixed with a hint of curiosity about the outside world.
The only feature distinguishing them from those around them was their smooth foreheads, not covered by headbands.
Halfway through their journey, one of the young people protected in the center, seeing the road open up, finally couldn't resist jumping out of the guards' encirclement and excitedly ran to the front.
Accompanying him was an old butler, who kept trying to dissuade him.
"Enough! Have you said enough?!"
Hyuga Shin'ya shook off his steward's hand and scolded impatiently, "There are thirty Branch Family Guards here, and the surrounding ten kilometers are under our surveillance. Forget people, even animals are rare! What danger are you talking about?"
"If you ask me, you scoundrels who always act on behalf of your master should have been disciplined a long time ago!"
"The Head of the Clan should have let you know the power of the Caged Bird Seal sooner."
Upon hearing this, the old butler immediately dared not speak further.
The other Branch Family Guards around them all lowered their heads, not one daring to open their mouths.
In recent days, due to Hyuga Hiashi's aggressive policies, the entire Hyuga Compound was in a state of extreme tension, and the Main Family's authority had been elevated to its highest point in recent years.
The other two Main Family members protected in the center, seeing the guards' resentful but unspoken expressions, also felt a stir of excitement and completely disregarded the resentment in the eyes of those around them.
Evidently, these Main Family members, who had been protected in the very center of the Hyuga Compound since childhood, were inferior to even a child like Hyuga Neji in their understanding of human nature.
They were completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
Hyuga Shin'ya even treated this mission of delivering a letter as a rare outing.
This was an opportunity that other Main Family members couldn't even snatch away.
However, just as he turned a corner along this main road,
His footsteps involuntarily halted.
Blocking the road ahead were three unfamiliar figures.
They stood there quietly, as if specifically waiting for his group's arrival.
Why hadn't the vanguard ahead sent a signal?
And even the Byakugan hadn't detected their presence... What was this?
Just as many guards suddenly became alert and simultaneously adopted battle-ready stances,
The figure in the middle opposite them had already leisurely stepped forward, his tone gentle and polite:
"It's truly arduous for all of you to travel here so late."
"For our convenience, please hand over the items directly."
His smile was gentle, his tone calm.
There was no hint of coercion.
Hyuga Shin'ya, hearing this, asked blankly:
"What items?"
Aizen first looked at him with some surprise, and then, maintaining his polite expression, he stated plainly:
"Of course, your eyes."