Hyūga Hizashi, questioned by the Third Hokage, stubbornly insisted that the assailant had to be Ao of Kirigakure. As for why his Byakugan hadn't worked, he was vague and evasive with his words.
The Third Hokage didn't pursue the matter further, merely instructing Hizashi to tighten security and not let such an incident happen again.
After all, the Third was currently preoccupied with negotiations with Kumogakure, busy drafting a peace treaty. With all the back-and-forth, he was exhausted and had no energy left to bother about this matter.
After returning to the Hyūga compound and consulting with Hiashi, Hizashi indeed went that evening to the Uchiha compound to seek an audience with Fugaku.
"Captain Fugaku, the Guard Force is a little short on manpower for defense right now."
"Do you think we could call back some of the Uchiha who were suspended from duty?"
Fugaku waved his hand dismissively. "My clansmen aren't exactly obedient. Getting them to return now won't be easy. Besides, transferring clan personnel isn't so simple."
It was clear Fugaku no longer wanted to wade into muddy waters.
Hizashi gave a bitter smile. "Captain Fugaku, only now do I understand the grievances your Guard Force usually suffers. I get complaints from my clansmen every single day. Even when I do what's simply within my duty, I get criticized."
"Captain Fugaku, I really need your help this time. Otherwise, we Hyūga won't be able to hold onto the Guard Force."
Fugaku sipped his tea. "Hizashi, you don't understand. The reason you're all being criticized is because of comparison."
"Comparison?" Hizashi asked in confusion.
"That's right. Because you aren't doing as well as us Uchiha, the villagers are dissatisfied with you."
Hizashi fell silent, deep in thought.
Fugaku's words weren't wrong. The Uchiha, as the foremost shinobi clan in the world, had always acted with an uncompromising sense of authority—arresting who needed arresting, locking up who needed locking up, regardless of backing.
The Hyūga, on the other hand, weren't weaker in ability, but the branch family's awkward position forced them to constantly look to the main family's will. And everyone knew what kind of people the main family were.
Thus, the branch family always acted with fear and hesitation.
Now, with the Guard Force's outer patrol team ambushed outside Konoha, the main family had flown into a rage, demanding that the branch family resolve the matter no matter what.
Although Hizashi had thought of combining two branch families' manpower, there were only so many people to go around. If more were added to the patrol teams, then the security squads inside the village would be undermanned.
That's why Hizashi had no choice but to seek Fugaku's help.
"I don't have a good solution," Fugaku said flatly, essentially rejecting him.
Hizashi was just starting to feel disappointed when Fugaku suddenly changed his tone.
"However, you could go ask Xiamu. He's always full of clever ideas."
"Oh?" Hizashi gave Fugaku a look, but Fugaku's face was as expressionless as ever.
Hizashi suspected Fugaku had an idea himself but couldn't say so directly, so he used Xiamu as a mouthpiece.
"Alright, then where can I find Vice Chief Xiamu? I'll pay him a visit."
Fugaku stood up. "We did cooperate on the battlefield once; no need to be so formal. I'll call him here. Just wait a moment."
He stepped out, and after only a few moments, Uchiha Xiamu walked into the room.
Sure enough. Seeing Xiamu appear so quickly, Hizashi was certain of his suspicion.
Xiamu entered warmly. "Lord Hizashi, is it? I'm Uchiha Xiamu. I've long heard of your reputation. We should definitely spend more time together when we get the chance."
Xiamu's impression of Hyūga Hizashi was a good one. Hizashi was blindly loyal, yes, but he was also bound by the era's constraints. To take his brother's place in death was something beyond what ordinary men could do.
And besides, he was Neji's father. Even among commoners, Neji's talent was rare indeed.
If there was an opportunity to befriend Hizashi, Xiamu felt it would be worth it.
What's more, the Third Shinobi World War had only just ended. The incident of Hinata's attempted abduction by the Cloud had not yet occurred. Xiamu intended to help Hizashi—letting him die so soon would be too much of a waste.
Though puzzled by Xiamu's friendliness, Hizashi couldn't refuse such kindness. Since Xiamu was so easygoing, he welcomed it.
"Vice Chief Xiamu, you flatter me. I don't deserve such respect."
"Haha, then let's drop the formalities. Just call me Xiamu, and I'll call you Hizashi."
Hizashi smiled faintly. This Xiamu really knew how to get close to people. But since Hizashi himself had a good temperament, he agreed.
He then repeated to Xiamu everything he had said earlier to Fugaku.
Xiamu already had an answer prepared. "Hizashi, it's very simple. Since the villagers are comparing, then just bring in someone who's bound to do worse than you—and use them as cannon fodder."
Someone bound to do worse than us Hyūga? Hizashi ran through the clans in his head but couldn't think of a suitable one.
"I can't think of any clan that fits…" Hizashi shook his head.
Xiamu smiled slyly. "Then why not ask Danzō for men? Hasn't he always wanted to insert his people into the Guard Force?"
Hizashi was startled. Danzō's men—that meant Root!
"That can't be right. Those killers from Root—how could they handle this kind of work?"
"Ah, but that's exactly it! Killers are perfect for maintaining public order. If they're handling security, then you'll be free to assign more people to the patrol teams."
"Hmm…" Hizashi began to see the logic.
Root might be ruthless, but they couldn't exactly kill villagers. And a man like Danzō would never let go once he got his hands on power.
Whether Root could actually handle security duties… well, the answer to that seemed obvious.
But since the Hyūga were already at odds with Danzō, there was no harm in pushing this thundercloud onto him.
Hizashi soon returned to the Hyūga compound and discussed the idea with his elder brother, Hiashi.
Hiashi was impressed. "That Uchiha Xiamu is something else. Perhaps Fugaku sent him precisely to cultivate him through negotiations with you. This time, our entry into the Guard Force was thanks to Xiamu's and Fugaku's recommendation. You should stay close to him—there may be more opportunities to cooperate in the future."
Hizashi nodded in agreement.
Not long after, he sent a visiting card to Shimura Danzō.
Everyone knew of Root, but Danzō rarely allowed outsiders to step foot inside. He usually received guests at the Shimura clan compound instead.
When Hizashi's visiting card arrived, Danzō was a little surprised.
The Hyūga were notoriously closed off and rarely associated with outsiders. Personally, he had never had much private contact with them either.
Still, Hizashi was the head of the branch family. Danzō couldn't refuse him so easily.
Before long, he received Hizashi in person.
After a few words of courtesy, Hizashi went straight to the point. "Elder Danzō, as you know, our Hyūga clan has recently taken on many of the Guard Force's duties from the Uchiha. But yesterday, a patrol team outside Konoha was ambushed, and I've realized that our Hyūga lack sufficient manpower. I hear Root has plenty of men. I'd like to borrow some of yours to supplement the Guard Force. What do you think?"
"Oh?" Danzō's heart leapt with joy. He had long wanted to put his people into the Guard Force, but the Third Hokage had always kept him in check. Now Hizashi had come to him on his own. That couldn't possibly be blamed on him.
Hmph. Useless fools—can't even handle patrol duty properly.
"No problem, Hizashi. This old man has plenty of men in Root. How many would you like to borrow?"
Hizashi thought for a moment. "How about thirty? But let's be clear, Lord Danzō—once your men join the Guard Force, they'll have to follow my command. Otherwise, Fugaku won't approve."
Danzō, of course, agreed readily. "No problem. If they're being seconded to you, then naturally they'll obey your orders."
The two quickly struck a deal, and Hizashi took his leave.
Watching his back as he departed, Danzō sneered to himself. "Once my Root people are inside, it won't be up to you anymore."
With his Byakugan, Hizashi could clearly see Danzō watching him from behind. He snorted inwardly. "This burden is all yours to carry!"