Hyūga Hizashi looked at Senju Haruto for a long moment… and in the end, he didn't refuse him.
The discussion to settle the conflict with the Hidden Cloud Village had just concluded.
The decision?
Hizashi would die in place of his twin brother, Hiashi, and his body would be handed over to the Cloud as a political offering.
It was over. The decision was final.
"Follow me."
Hizashi instructed Neji to stay behind and continue protecting his younger cousin Hinata, then turned and began walking ahead.
"Thank you."
They walked in silence, Haruto a step behind. But halfway to their destination, Hizashi suddenly broke the silence.
"Thank you," he repeated, unexpectedly.
Haruto glanced sideways at him but said nothing.
"No, really," Hizashi continued, shaking his head. "Lady Hinata isn't just the hope of the main house. She's also my niece—Hiashi's daughter."
"And that night… I was the one on guard duty. If I had been more vigilant—"
"Let's not talk about this anymore," Haruto interrupted sharply.
There was no need to dig up regrets now.
"Maybe this is what people become when they're close to death…"
Although Hizashi didn't have much screen time in Naruto, Haruto had always thought of him as a man of few words—serious, burdened by the weight of the Caged Bird Seal.
A man who had lived his entire life with his head bowed.
It was hard to imagine someone like that opening up to a stranger.
"Yeah… I spoke out of turn." Hizashi nodded, falling silent again as he led Haruto toward the meeting room.
Haruto didn't speak either. His mind was moving too fast—already crafting what he was going to say.
After all, he was just an ordinary person at heart. Even with the power he had now, he wasn't the calculating, strategic type.
If he were dropped into the world of Death Note or Hunter x Hunter, the kind of universes that revolved around tactical mind games, he'd probably be dead in a week.
"Who am I? Where am I? How did I die?"
How could he convince the Hyūga clan—and the Konoha leadership—to give up on sacrificing Hizashi?
It was going to take careful wording.
Before long, Haruto followed Hizashi through the Hyūga compound's grand entrance and into the meeting room where the elders had finalized their decision.
But what Haruto hadn't expected was that it wasn't just the Third Hokage present.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—Konoha's top advisors—were also there.
As soon as they noticed Haruto walking in behind Hizashi, a flicker of surprise flashed across their faces.
"What are you doing here?"
One of the Hyūga clan leaders narrowed his eyes in displeasure. Before the situation could escalate, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in quickly.
He shot Haruto a glance—clear and firm—urging him to leave.
Yes, Hiashi was grateful that Haruto had saved his daughter.
But that didn't mean the Hyūga elders felt the same way.
Especially considering how timid Hinata had turned out—more disappointment than pride to them. Her fragility made them doubt she was fit to inherit the main house.
And this meeting?
This was a conversation between the highest decision-makers of the Hyūga clan and the village.
Haruto wasn't even a ninja, much less someone with political weight.
What right did he have to be here?
"Hizashi, what's going on?" one of the Hyūga elders demanded coldly.
There wasn't a shred of guilt in his voice over condemning Hizashi to die—only arrogance and scorn.
"I—" Hizashi was about to explain that Haruto had something urgent to say to the Third Hokage, which was why he had brought him.
But before he could get the words out…
"Are you seriously planning to send Hizashi to his death?!"
Haruto's voice rang out—loud and direct.
For a moment, the entire room froze.
Not just the Hyūga elders—even Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura stared at him in disbelief.
Was this boy… questioning their decision?
And more importantly—how did he even know about it?
Had Hizashi told him?
But that didn't make sense. Hizashi had just solemnly agreed to the plan. Why would he turn around and tell a civilian outsider about something this sensitive?
"HIZASHI!"
The elder who had spoken earlier slammed his palm on the table, veins bulging at his temples as he glared at Hizashi with fury—like a prosecutor ready to deliver a sentence.
Hiruzen also raised his voice sharply, trying to rein Haruto in.
"Enough. This isn't your place to speak."
They didn't know why Hizashi might have confided in him—but regardless, this matter was far above Haruto's pay grade.
Meanwhile, Hizashi himself was just… stunned.
He hadn't told Haruto anything. Not a word.
So how the hell did this boy know?
Could he… read minds?
But even more pressing was the current situation.
"Elder, I—"
Hizashi began, trying to explain, but once again—
"This is the great Hyūga clan, huh?" Haruto cut in, voice thick with disdain. "No evidence, just wild accusations. And when trouble comes, you hide behind the branch family and huddle together in fear. Where's your honor? Is this all you've got?"
BOOM.
His words hit like a stone dropped into still water—ripples turned to waves in an instant.
Even members of the branch family turned to glare at him.
What was with him today?
Why was Senju Haruto acting so out of line?
Hiruzen stared at Haruto, shock written all over his face. It was hard to believe this was the same quiet, respectful boy he'd met before.
"You say Hizashi didn't tell you—then how do you know about this decision?" one of the elder Hyūga remained calm, sitting seiza-style on the tatami, though fury still burned behind his eyes.
"You're from the Senju clan. If you can't give a reasonable explanation, this isn't something that can be brushed aside with a simple apology."
The elder's gaze met Haruto's squarely. His words were sharp, cold—like blades made of ice.
If Hiruzen hadn't been here to keep the peace, Haruto wouldn't have made it out of this room alive after what he just said.
In fact, the only reason this Senju brat was still standing was because of the Hokage's presence.
But Haruto?
He didn't flinch. He stepped forward boldly, placing himself between Hizashi and the others.
"I'm Senju Haruto. My clan doesn't answer to you."
His voice echoed through the chamber.
In that moment, his sheer presence crushed the entire Hyūga main family.
And this wasn't just empty bravado.
Haruto had the power to back it up.
Right now, he possessed chakra on par with Senju Hashirama.
He had the Wood Release—a bloodline limit unique to the First Hokage himself.
Chakra + Wood Release = The First Hokage.
An explanation?
He was being generous by not dropping a Deep Forest Emergence on their heads right then and there.
"Enough!"
Sensing the situation spiraling out of control, Hiruzen finally shouted, trying to restore order.
Hizashi, who had just opened his mouth to speak again, was cut off for the third time.
"Lord Hokage," the Hyūga elder growled, "I cannot let that last comment go unanswered."
He had hoped Haruto would come in, see how serious the room was, and adjust his tone.
Even a simple explanation from Haruto would have given everyone a way to de-escalate.
He could have let it go—for the Hokage's sake.
After all, Hizashi's death was a done deal. Why cause more trouble?
But now?
Haruto had doubled down, spitting in the clan's face.
If they let this slide, what message would it send?
Would every outsider start treating the Hyūga like doormats?
Even if he personally wanted to hold back, his position within the clan wouldn't allow it.
And so…
The elder made a hand sign.
In an instant, countless Hyūga branch members moved to surround Haruto.