Most members of the Uchiha Clan were rigid and inflexible by nature. Compared to the adaptable ANBU, villagers punished by the police force in Konoha rarely liked the Uchiha's rulings.
As a result, ANBU and the police force often clashed and argued over law enforcement issues. Hiruzen Sarutobi's firm yet restrained handling of these disputes only deepened the Uchiha Clan's dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage, and even the steady Yashiro Uchiha was influenced by the clan's mood.
Thinking of all this made Fugaku Uchiha's head ache, and he even found himself missing the time when Minato served as the Fourth Hokage. It was not only because he and his wife were friends with the Fourth and his wife, but also because the Uchiha Clan genuinely respected that commoner-born Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already stepped down, yet after the Fourth's death he returned to the position and showed no intention of choosing a successor. No matter how one looked at it, the move appeared unbecoming.
"I will wait until the alliance is signed and the Third is in a good mood, then raise a few suggestions," Fugaku Uchiha thought as he looked toward Hiruzen Sarutobi ahead.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly was in high spirits. Listening to the excited chatter and praise from the villagers behind him, he felt deeply satisfied and completely ignored the sour expression on Danzo's face nearby.
However, noticing the empty spot behind him from the corner of his eye, he frowned slightly.
"Has Hiashi Hyuga not arrived yet?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked without turning his head.
Standing behind him, Nara Clan's Nara Shikaku forced a bitter smile and stepped forward, lowering his voice. "We already sent someone to urge him half an hour ago, but…"
Before he could say anything in defense of the Hyuga Clan, an ANBU member used Shunshin to appear beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and whispered a report into his ear. Shikaku only vaguely caught the words "today is the third birthday of the Hyuga Main Family's eldest daughter," and he let out a deep sigh.
The Hyuga Clan's approach this time was rather foolish. In terms of self-preservation, they might be better than the Uchiha Clan, but neither clan truly possessed political insight, and today's matter made that clear.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered slightly, and a trace of displeasure flashed through his cloudy gaze. As a father and clan head, Hiashi Hyuga could choose not to come, but if the Hyuga Clan truly cared, they could have sent a respected Main Family elder instead.
In their eyes, the third birthday of the Main Family's daughter represented the future of the Hyuga Clan, far more important than the "small matter" of an alliance between Kumogakure and Konoha. What Hiruzen Sarutobi hated most was clans placing their own interests above those of the village.
The Uchiha Clan did so, and the Hyuga Clan was no different.
"The Hyuga Clan has important matters and cannot attend," Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly despite his displeasure. "Fill the position and prepare to receive the delegation from Kumogakure."
Many people present were startled. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado frowned, while Danzo let out a faint scoff, intentional or not, darkening Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression.
This time, however, Danzo had indeed rendered service. Since he had picked the fruit, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not openly vent his anger, and could only place his resentment on the Hyuga.
"They're here, they're here!"
Among the tightly packed villagers lining the street, a child who had climbed a tree to look into the distance suddenly shouted, and the noisy crowd immediately erupted.
In the distance, several figures entered the gates of Konoha under the guidance of Konoha ninja. The three leading shinobi from Kumogakure wore forehead protectors of Kumogakure, their dark and rugged features forming a sharp contrast with the people of Konoha.
Women leaning out from the buildings on both sides scattered flower petals from their baskets into the air. Amid the crowd, Yunchuan Hyuga watched calmly, a cold smile forming in his heart.
What a splendid scene of celebration and praise. The happier they laughed now, the greater their fear would be later.
Peace through compromise? There would be no such chance.
"The world is already a maze. Why build another one?" Yunchuan Hyuga's eyes flickered slightly.
There were too many secrets in the shinobi world, enough for him to do many things. Only by stirring this stagnant water could he find a chance to profit from the chaos.
So he would make war arrive ahead of time.
Click, click, click.
The tall and wide main gate slowly opened, and the hinges made a faint sound. The delegation led by three Kumogakure Ninja stepped onto Konoha Gate, and the moment they entered Konoha, bright sunlight fell across their faces.
The rising sun broke through the clouds and shone directly on them, making the three narrow their eyes slightly. From afar, they looked toward the welcoming ranks of Konoha and the scenery behind them.
Layers of dense tree canopies spread out like flowing jade, rolling with gold and green patterns in the early autumn breeze. The carved stone faces on Hokage Rock looked down from above, casting shadows as massive walls tens of meters high wrapped the whole of Konoha in their embrace.
The entire world felt loud and bright, with shouting voices carried by clean air and drifting flower petals. Warmth seemed to reach from the tops of their heads down to their toes.
The same thought rose in the minds of the three Kumogakure Ninja at once. Konoha was indeed just as prosperous and wealthy as the rumors claimed.
It was prosperous enough to stir greed and jealousy. The Land of Lightning where Kumogakure was located was built among towering mountains, vast in land but sparse in people, and aside from electrical resources, it was poor in nearly everything else.
Only the Land of Fire where Konoha stood occupied the richest region in the entire Ninja World. With rolling hills, mild weather, ample sunlight, fertile land, developed trade, and a large population, it also sat at the center of continental routes.
Konohagakure was called a village, but it was more like an administrative region than a settlement. Many residents lived their entire lives within Konoha without ever leaving its borders, relying solely on its resources for a comfortable life.
In contrast, hundreds died each year in Kumogakure due to lightning strikes alone. Every resource, including Ninjutsu, had to be seized at the cost of human lives.
Jealousy burned in their chests like heat, making their breathing grow tight. One of them spoke in a low voice.
"If Mabui and Raikage's plan succeeds, maybe this wealth of Konoha can belong to Kumogakure as well."
The three Kumogakure Ninja exchanged looks and saw the same greed reflected in each other's eyes. Members of the Hyuga Main Family rarely left the village, and when they did, Branch Family Jonin always followed as guards.
Because of this, other villages found it nearly impossible to capture a living member of the Hyuga Main Family. Even if a Branch Family was taken, the Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the Main Family using the Caged Bird Seal.
However, things changed during the Third Shinobi World War. A Kirigakure Jonin named Ao somehow obtained a Byakugan and completed the transplant with ease, greatly improving his reconnaissance and overall strength.
From then on, all major villages understood the difference between Byakugan and Sharingan. Like the styles of Uchiha and Hyuga, Sharingan was more aggressive, while Byakugan was gentler and adapted better to the body.