The Hyuga clan had always leaned toward a softer approach. But that didn't mean they were stupid—it just meant they used their smarts in the wrong way.
"Konohagakure is the strongest among the Five Great Ninja Villages, and the jutsu it holds are countless. For pirates, that kind of intel isn't even considered secret. They could easily get their hands on it."
"When that happens, Konohagakure will be the one getting targeted. And the other villages? They'll probably be happy to see it."
The real threat that the World Government and the ninja villages are focused on is Shanks. They don't care if we're attacked by ordinary pirates.
Hyuga Hiashi sighed helplessly.
And that's not even the worst part. The worst part is, right now, the Hyuga clan is the biggest power in Konohagakure—so when trouble comes, they'll be the first to suffer.
As for Konohagakure starting something like this on their own… we've already said it: with the size and position Konohagakure has, they really can't afford to mess around.
It's not just about whether the other villages trust them, or whether the World Government believes them.
Just based on what Shanks declared to the world, Konohagakure is clearly in the position to get the biggest slice of the pie. Shanks basically threw the cake right in Konohagakure's face.
But in a situation like this, does Konohagakure even dare to eat it?
Everyone's watching. Even if Shikaku, Chiriku, and Tsunade have the guts to go through with it—what about the other clans? If Konohagakure ends up under siege, the other clans will pay the price too.
Who would be willing to risk that? No one. No one dares.
That's the awkward part about Konohagakure. They're in the best position to gain the most—but they don't dare take it. In fact, now they might even have to share their intel with others just to prove they're not a threat.
"That's exactly what Shanks planned. He wants to force Konohagakure's power to spread outward."
"In short, Konohagakure is in a very dangerous spot right now.
It's totally possible that the World Government is already suspecting us of being allies with Shanks. When you consider the connection between the Uzumaki clan and Konohagakure, and how we've basically taken the lead in helping them rebuild their country—it all points to Konohagakure being deeply involved."
"Right now, Konohagakure is right in the middle of the storm. What we do next depends on how everyone here decides to act."
Shikaku looked around the room. The reason he had called everyone together was so that each clan could be prepared.
Konohagakure had no more room to retreat. Every plan and every move they had made was now locked down by the info Shanks had suddenly released.
This is what it means when the tide turns.
And this is why Shanks is terrifying.
Even if you know the path of history, even if you know how the world works—Shanks still has the power to change the course of it all.
Thinking of Shanks' terrifying Observation Haki, doing something like this didn't seem impossible at all.
"There are two paths we can take right now."
"One is to stall for time. We wait until the other villages and the World Government start putting pressure on us. The longer we can hold out, the more we can get out of it."
"The second is to send ninja from each clan out to different places across the ninja world to join the Marines. That way, both the World Government and the other villages can feel at ease."
Chiriku spoke slowly. With the Nine-Tails still around, they did have a reason to buy some time.
"Is there a third option?"
Hyuga Hiashi asked, still a bit unwilling to accept the situation.
Because no matter what, the Hyuga clan would be the ones to suffer.
"There is."
Chiriku nodded.
As soon as he said that, the clan leaders all perked up.
"But the third option takes real guts. Most people wouldn't be able to handle it."
Chiriku's voice was calm, but his sharp gaze swept across the room. Konohagakure's backbone? Do they really have what it takes?
"Our Hyuga clan is the biggest in Konohagakure. As the clan head, even death doesn't scare me.
Courage? I have never lacked it."
A strong presence burst from Hyuga Hiashi. For his clan, he was ready to give up everything. As a ninja, he had the resolve expected of one.
A life only has meaning when it's offered up for something.
Hiashi carried the burden of both the main and branch families. With that kind of weight on his shoulders, how could he be just an ordinary man?
"Calling us 'ordinary people' is really looking down on us, don't you think, Chiriku?"
Inuzuka Tsume, head of the Inuzuka clan, also stepped forward with a cold grin.
If you don't even have this kind of resolve, you don't deserve to be a ninja. You might as well go sell ramen.
Other ninja started stepping up too.
"Chiriku, we've all been through war. Don't underestimate us."
"Ninja from Konohagakure have never been afraid of anything. If there's a third option, just say it.
Even if it costs my life, I won't back down."
"..."
Everyone was fired up by Chiriku's words. Only Shikaku, standing next to him, had quietly formed a hand sign, activating a smaller barrier beneath the Hokage building's main defense system.
Chiriku looked at everyone and laughed.
"Hahaha!!"
"As expected of Konohagakure. Then, I acknowledge your courage."
"The third option—leave the village behind immediately. Cut ties with the World Government. Cut ties with the Land of Fire.
Gather all our strength and head for the New World. Raise the Konohagakure banner, and become one of the Four Emperors."
A powerful presence also burst out from Chiriku.
This was his decision. This was his resolve.
He'd seen Konohagakure rise and fall, left it behind, and became close friends with "Great Buddha" of the Revolutionary Army, hearing their grand ideals.
Back then, Chiriku didn't have the strength or courage for something like this.
But with Shanks' arrival, he finally saw the world beginning to change.
The time had come. It was time to welcome a new era.
Chiriku left the Temple of Fire because he had already made up his mind about this new future.
At this moment, his voice rang out loud and clear, and the force of his will completely overpowered the rest of the room.
After hearing him speak, everyone went silent.
Even Hyuga Hiashi and Inuzuka Tsume, who had just stepped up, now looked unsure and troubled.
"There's no way… we can actually do this."
Tsume spoke up bitterly.
"Yeah, if it were just me, I'd be fine. But this… which clan in Konohagakure could actually go through with something like this?"
Hiashi tried to explain—but really, it wasn't even an excuse. He was willing to give up his own life, but doing this would ruin the entire Hyuga clan.
"Yeah… there's no way we could actually pull this off."
"Everyone here has a family, so many people like that."
"..."
Even Tsunade could tell Chiriku was intentionally making things hard when she heard what he said.
"This guy Chiriku is just full of bad intentions."
Asuma muttered, and that pretty much summed up what everyone was thinking—Chiriku was clearly doing this on purpose.
But after hearing their responses, Chiriku just gave a bitter smile.
"You're not wrong."
"Shanks of the Uzumaki clan is one of today's Four Emperors—no, the only one. He's a man who changed the world."
"The leader of the Revolutionary Army, Nagato, has also been working to overthrow the rule of nations. He's just as much a thorn in the World Government's side."
"And there's one more from the Uzumaki clan—Uzumaki Karin."
"She's not as well-known, but she's already stepped into the New World."
"Is the Uzumaki clan just that big, or are they just that bold? If it were just Shanks, then he alone would still be the greatest in the history of the ninja world—no one before or after could match him. A Four Emperor with unmatched spirit."
"But this new era doesn't just have Shanks. There's also the Revolutionary Army."
"I'm sure everyone here understands the connection between the Uzumaki clan and Konohagakure."
"If the Will of Fire had a color, it would be the Uzumaki clan's color—the color red."
After Chiriku finished, the room went completely quiet. Even Tsunade could only sit still and listen seriously.
Chiriku wasn't scolding just one person. He was calling out the whole of Konohagakure—and even Shikaku, sitting next to him, wasn't spared.
The thing was, Shikaku knew exactly where he fell short. He just wasn't capable of doing what Chiriku could.
In fact, Shikaku understood this better than anyone.
What Chiriku had just said was like tearing the cover off everyone's excuses.
Weren't they just talking about Shanks? Fine. But there's also Nagato. Why is it that Nagato could reach that level too?
Was Nagato just as strong as Shanks?
When it comes to Shanks, people can come up with all kinds of reasons and justifications.
But besides Shanks, the Uzumaki clan also has Nagato—and his achievements have always been overshadowed by Shanks.
Now that Chiriku had brought up Nagato, a lot of people couldn't hide their shame, because Nagato didn't even seem that impressive on the surface.
And even when he did shine, it was still under Shanks' shadow.
Of course, normally Chiriku wouldn't have brought up Nagato at all—but the guy is part of the Revolutionary Army.
And Nagato has absolute trust in Chiriku as their "strategist."
To be honest, everyone's a little emotional in some way.
Chiriku was sure Nagato didn't even know his real identity. The Revolutionary Army had more than one spy planted in Konohagakure.
But Nagato still placed full trust in him. That might seem a little dumb on the surface, but to Chiriku, it wasn't dumb at all.
Under Shanks' overwhelming presence, anyone else might seem lacking—and that included Nagato.
Nagato might not be smart, but he had a strong spirit, and his complete trust in Chiriku showed that. That kind of spirit was what made him just as great as Shanks.
And Chiriku was moved by it. Their Revolutionary Army wasn't necessarily weaker than the Four Emperors.
"But his Uzumaki clan was wiped out. How's that even a fair comparison?"
Hyuga Hiashi spoke in a low voice.
"Hiashi, that's enough!"
Tsunade cut in.
There are some things in Konohagakure that simply can't be said out loud. That's just how it is.
"In that case, let's drag things out as long as we can. As for Naruto… we'll deal with it tomorrow."
"Now that all of you clan leaders understand the situation, go back and prepare on your end."
Tsunade waved her hand to dismiss the meeting.
As the barrier faded, the important figures from each clan began to leave the Hokage building one after another.
Among the crowd, only the small figures of Naruto and Sasuke stood out. While everyone else walked away quickly, the two of them stood there deep in thought.
"The color of the Will of Fire… is it the color of the Uzumaki clan?"
Naruto looked into the distance, where the setting sun was slowly disappearing behind the mountains.
A soft breeze lifted his short yellow hair, glowing in the sunset like a small flame.
A hand reached out and gently ruffled that "flame." Kakashi's voice followed.
"Naruto, let's go home."
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