As Hiashi Hyuga's voice fell, the gazes of the Third Hokage and the two advisors all turned toward him.
"As an older brother, I absolutely cannot allow my younger brother to die in my place. That's something I just can't do!"
Raising his head, Hiashi looked at the assembled clan leaders.
"Though this is clearly a premeditated scheme by the Hidden Cloud, if war does break out, Hizashi and I will be the first to head to the frontlines. Either the war ends, or we both fall in battle!"
His words rang out with conviction. Hizashi, who had previously looked defeated, now silently stood behind his brother, using his actions to support Hiashi's stance.
Koharu Utatane frowned and said, "If Hizashi dies in your place, we only lose one branch family member. But if war begins, both of you could die."
Uchiha Yun stepped forward and countered: "Dying on the battlefield while killing the enemy is not the same as being forced by the village to commit suicide and handed over to the enemy!"
Looking at the other clan leaders behind him, Yun continued: "The clans together form the Hidden Leaf Village. We are willing to die on missions for Konoha. But to be forced into death by the village itself? That, we will not accept!"
Homura Mitokado looked at Yun and challenged him:
"These are all clan leaders. Uchiha Yun, in what capacity are you standing here? Can you even represent the Uchiha?"
Just as Shisui was about to speak, Yun raised a hand to stop him.
Then he turned to the advisors and said: "Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The shadow of the fire will illuminate the village and help new leaves grow…"
"I'm just one of those new leaves. And so is Hizashi!"
"But what I see now is not the fire burning bright or illuminating the village. What I see… is you, the old generation, transformed into monsters made of flame, trying to devour the new growth of Konoha!"
Akimichi Choza stepped forward.
"We created Konoha so our children wouldn't be forced onto the battlefield at a young age. But that doesn't mean we fear war!"
Yamanaka Inoichi added, "Today it's Hizashi dying for peace. What about tomorrow? Will one of us also have to die for peace to continue?"
Even the quiet Aburame Shibi stepped behind Yun and said, "I don't want to be forced to die one day either… like how Tatsuma was sent to Root."
The support from the clan leaders left the two advisors stunned.
Finally, Nara Shikaku spoke, "Peace has never come from begging. If the Hidden Cloud wants war, then we'll give them war!"
"The Ino-Shika-Cho trio will fight alongside the Hyuga and Uchiha on the battlefield!"
Hiruzen frowned deeply. "You all…"
But Yun cut him off.
"Lord Third, from the founding of Konoha until now, the village's victories in the three Great Ninja Wars were never won through compromise."
"I've heard that during the First Hokage's era, no one dared to provoke the Leaf. Peace has always been built upon overwhelming strength."
"Only by fighting back and making the Hidden Cloud afraid to overreach can we make the right choice!"
As Yun's voice faded, Hiruzen looked at the people before him. After a long sigh, his gaze landed on Kakashi.
"Is this Minato's decision as well?"
This time, Kakashi didn't hesitate. He nodded.
"Sensei has already had the messenger toad inform Lord Jiraiya to return. The Hatake Clan may only have me left, but I agree with Uchiha Yun."
"If peace demands our comrades be sacrificed by the village… that kind of peace is not the one Konoha or the Hatake Clan wants! If that's the case, I'm ready to fight the Hidden Cloud myself!"
Hiruzen nodded slowly. Looking at the others, he ordered, "My personal ANBU will return to Minato's command. The surveillance on the Hyuga is lifted. Prepare for war at any time."
"Hiruzen!" Homura tried to object, but the Third raised a hand to silence him.
Looking at Kakashi, Hiruzen said, "Tell Minato that while I am the Third Hokage, the moment war begins, I'll be just like any other ninja of Konoha, under his command."
Then he turned to Shisui and Yun.
"This time, I will trust you as I once trusted your ancestor, Uchiha Kagami. Uchiha… do not disappoint me."
With that, Hiruzen walked through the crowd and left.
Though his back was hunched and aged, he was still the same hero who once stayed behind to cover his comrades' retreat.
The two advisors exchanged glances and silently followed him.
They understood now: Uchiha Yun was no madman; he had rallied all the clans to apply pressure. And if he wasn't mad, he wouldn't use this opportunity to rebel.
That's why Hiruzen ultimately gave his support.
This generation of Uchiha not only had Shisui, who was like Kagami, but also Yun, whose wisdom rivaled the Second Hokage's.
After they left, Hiashi Hyuga lowered his head and declared:
"Hiten, from this moment on, you are stripped of your position as an elder of the main house. The Hyuga, today or in the future, will never again sacrifice the branch family in our place!"
For the first time, Hizashi looked his brother in the eyes.
Though Hiashi had always spoken of brotherhood, never before had that bond felt so real.
"Brother… the branch family will always follow the main house."
Hiashi nodded slightly, then looked at the stunned elder, Hiten.
How could someone poisoned by such rigid ideology ever earn the loyalty of the branch family?
"You'll regret this, Hiashi!"
The disgraced elder was dragged away.
Hiashi stepped forward, bowed deeply to the assembled clan leaders, and said:
"No matter what, this all started because of the Hyuga. I promise you, so long as the war continues, the Hyuga Clan will not leave the battlefield!"
After a few polite responses, Nara Shikaku smiled and said:
"If you want to thank someone, thank the Uchiha. If Yun hadn't informed us, we wouldn't have known until everything was already decided."
Hiashi turned to Shisui and Yun and bowed again, this time, ninety degrees. But both men stepped aside to avoid the bow.
Shisui waved his hand.
"The Uchiha are also a clan of the Leaf. We were before, and we always will be."
The meaning was clear.
From today onward, among the Leaf's allied clans, there would be a new member, one that had long been rejected: the Uchiha.