Where there is light, there must also be darkness. Without both, the world cannot function.
This had always been the belief of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was also the reason he repeatedly forgave Danzo, no matter how many times he crossed the line.
Especially on the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki had perished, along with countless lives throughout the village.
That tragedy forced Hiruzen to reluctantly approve Danzo's proposal to conduct human experiments — specifically, transplanting the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's cells into ordinary people in hopes of reviving Mokuton (Wood Release), a power strong enough to suppress tailed beasts.
Even if he had harbored optimism at the start, deep down Hiruzen knew the truth: such experimentation would cost many lives.
In other words, when faced with a choice between protecting the village and protecting human lives, the balance in Hiruzen's heart had ultimately tipped.
In that moment, a shadow fell over his soul.
But the results had been the opposite of what he hoped. Every test subject failed without exception. No one could endure the power of Hashirama's cells.
Forget regaining Mokuton — the experiments had been a complete disaster.
Even Hiruzen, who had made up his mind, was shaken and ultimately gave up on the project.
But...
Hiruzen and Danzo were not just childhood friends. They were two sides of the same coin — the light and shadow of Konoha.
Hiruzen understood perfectly: even if he chose to stop, Danzo would continue the experiments until Mokuton was achieved.
And that's exactly what happened. Danzo and Orochimaru joined forces, abducted children from nearby villages, and eventually succeeded in creating Yamato — a subject who could wield Wood Release.
The moment Hiruzen saw Yamato, he publicly denounced Danzo's methods. But inwardly... he was thrilled.
Because now, the village had regained Mokuton.
Now, there was once again power strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails.
This would unquestionably benefit Naruto's growth and contribute to the village's long-term peace.
Most importantly, Hiruzen seized the opportunity to bring Yamato into his own ANBU forces — pulling him away from Danzo's control and grooming him as the next inheritor of the Will of Fire.
To value comrades. To value the village.
This reaffirmed Hiruzen's conviction in his own ideology:
Where there is light, there must also be darkness. Without both, the world cannot function.
To obtain the First Hokage's power, he had allowed his hands to be stained with blood, his heart to grow dark, and Danzo to continue his inhumane experiments. But in the end... from that same Konoha soil, a towering tree had grown.
Now, Hiruzen's eyes were wide with shock — overwhelmed by the sheer impact of what Senju Haruto had just displayed.
If Haruto had revealed his Mokuton abilities from the very beginning, would he or Danzo have needed to experiment on anyone?
Haruto himself... was the true heir of Hashirama!
The God of the Ninja World — reborn in a new era!
Gulp.
Hiruzen swallowed nervously, his throat tightening with tension.
But it wasn't just Hiruzen.
As fellow disciples of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, both Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were equally shaken — and filled with expectation for Haruto's future.
Their political instincts were even sharper than Hiruzen's.
Haruto's mastery of Wood Release alone was enough reason for them to side with him.
To put it bluntly, if they had to choose between the Hyūga clan's main family and Haruto...
They wouldn't hesitate to support Haruto.
Even if the entire main branch of the Hyūga perished, the branch family could simply be elevated in their place. After all, children born to the branch family outside the caged bird seal system would possess pure Byakugan and be unaffected by the curse mark.
So even as Haruto bore down aggressively on the Hyūga main family, neither Koharu nor Homura made any move to stop him.
They simply exchanged glances and chose silence — staying completely out of it.
"What... what exactly are you trying to do?"At last, one of the Hyūga elders could no longer hold back.
It had already been several minutes since Senju Haruto immobilized the Hyūga clansmen.
And yet the so-called Konoha leadership hadn't said a word. They didn't stop him. They didn't reprimand him.
They didn't even offer a token protest.
It was clear — they were letting Haruto do as he pleased.
"I will not allow Hiashi to die."
Haruto's voice rang out like a thunderclap — not just aimed at the Hyūga, but directed clearly at the Konoha leadership standing behind him.
What surprised Haruto, though, was the reaction — or lack thereof.
He had expected the Third Hokage to step in and side with the Hyūga after such a declaration.
But... the old man didn't say a word.
Even now, after Haruto openly stated he would not allow Hiashi to die, the higher-ups behind him just continued to watch in silence, like spectators at a show.
Could it be...?
Was there another way — a path besides Hiashi's sacrifice — that the higher-ups had kept hidden all along?
Could this entire arrangement have been a ploy to pressure the Hyūga?
Maybe... from the very beginning, the goal wasn't Hiashi's death at all.
Perhaps the real aim was to use this incident as leverage — to remind the Hyūga that without the village's protection, they would be utterly powerless.
On the surface, it would appear the Hyūga handed over Hiashi's body... but in truth, they would simply be bowing to the Konoha leadership.
But of course, this was all speculation on Haruto's part.
Still, judging by how things were unfolding, it was clear that to the elders, Hiashi's life or death didn't seem particularly important — and that led Haruto to these conclusions.
Regardless, the situation wasn't over yet.
The Hyūga elder looked at Haruto. Then he turned to the watching Konoha council.
Hissss...
After a long breath, the elder could only sigh — and speak in a tone of tragic resolve.
"Whether main or branch, we are all members of the Hyūga clan."
"What we've done — it was only to protect the clan's secrets. And for the stability of the village, we had no choice but to compromise with the Cloud Ninja."
"I raised Hiashi myself. Watched him grow up. Do you think I want him to die?"
"Everything we've done... was for the village."
His expression was solemn, like a martyr speaking in the name of justice.
But Haruto could only find it laughable.
If he hadn't seen the events of Naruto firsthand, maybe he would've been fooled.
But in reality, the branch family had always been treated as little more than tools by the main family.
If they truly saw the branch members as equals — if it was all done in the village's name — then why had they kept the truth from Neji for years?
Even the Third Hokage's choices were suspect in Haruto's eyes.
A system that protected peace by sacrificing its own people — this was the Will of Fire?
Dress it up however you want — call it a compromise for the sake of the village...
But in truth, it was weakness.
In the world Haruto came from, the Chinese people had always been shielded by their bravest.
That was what it meant to be a great nation.
"Hyūga clan — listen to me."
"We seek peace, yes. But if you want peace, you must fight for it. If you try to beg for peace through compromise..."
"There will be no peace."
"There will be annihilation."