The Root Base was as dim as usual.
"I understand. You may leave." Danzo Shimura waved his hand, signaling the Root member to retreat.
This Root member had just come to report everything that had happened at the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Before the Third Hokage arrived, this Root member had already returned. Clearly, Root had also infiltrated the Anbu.
Or rather, some people who had joined the Anbu were actually still loyal to Danzo Shimura.
As soon as that Root member left, another Root member came to report:
"Lord Danzō, the Hokage is here."
Before he finished speaking, the Third Hokage had already appeared in the room. Besides two Anbu members, he hadn't brought anyone else.
Danzo Shimura didn't show any displeasure at Hiruzen Sarutobi barging in, knowing that Root couldn't stop Hiruzen Sarutobi either.
"You may leave."
Danzo Shimura tapped his staff once, creating a crisp sound on the floor.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also waved his hand, telling the Anbu to leave first.
Only Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the room.
"How did you cooperate with Kumogakure?" the Third Hokage asked in a deep voice.
"I gave them the Hyuga Clan's map and patrol routes. That's all."
Danzo Shimura sneered after speaking. "What's wrong? Didn't you tell me to teach the Hyuga a lesson?"
"What is the meaning of questioning me now?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi angrily rebuked him:
"Not in this manner! Now Kumogakure is using this opportunity to make outrageous demands. Konoha will have to pay an unknown amount of resources."
Danzo Shimura could tell that Hiruzen Sarutobi was genuinely angry, which only improved his mood.
After all, he had previously been forced to turn in Orochimaru, losing the people who conducted research for him. Naturally, he didn't mind giving Hiruzen Sarutobi a subtle jab.
However, since it was a subtle jab, he naturally knew where to draw the line.
"The Hyuga are the ones who caused the problem, so any excessive compensation should naturally be demanded from the Hyuga."
"Why are you panicking?"
Danzo Shimura said unhurriedly, clearly intending to separate the responsibility between Konoha and the Hyuga.
"The Hyuga are still a part of Konoha. It is not advisable to pressure them too much."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and warned Danzo Shimura.
Danzo Shimura gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a strange look, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's demeanor suggested he had some reservations.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke slowly, engaging in a stalling tactic with Hiruzen Sarutobi:
"The Hyuga Clan has been allied with Konoha for many years. They cannot leave us."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's purpose in coming here, besides admonishing Danzo Shimura, was also to see if Danzo Shimura knew about his clan members' affairs.
Hearing Danzo Shimura's words, he realized that Danzo Shimura did not know too much about the situation.
"Targeting them excessively is not good either. We must prevent them from becoming a second Uchiha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning was clear: the matter should end here, and Danzo Shimura should not take any further action.
Doubt flashed in Danzo Shimura's eyes, but he still replied, "I understand."
After achieving his goal, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly left the room.
Danzo Shimura looked in the direction Hiruzen Sarutobi had left and pondered:
[Hiruzen, what exactly are your reservations?]
...At the Hyuga Clan Compound, inside Hyuga Hizashi's home.
Hizashi, Hayato, and Aoran had watched the entire incident unfold from beginning to end.
Although they couldn't hear the audio, they were all excellent combat personnel, and lip-reading was a basic reconnaissance skill, so they all naturally knew how to do it.
Hizashi's already pale face was now as black as the bottom of a pot.
Hayato's expression changed drastically. "Those damn Kumogakure ninja! How dare they turn around and blame us!?"
"It was clearly Kumogakure's fault, yet Konoha won't even speak up for us!?"
Aoran interrupted Hayato. "Uncle Hizashi, do you realize the severity of today's incident?"
Hizashi, however, hadn't considered the long-term implications.
He said gravely, "Konoha isn't protecting us; they even seem willing to push us out."
"If our compensation doesn't satisfy Kumogakure, war might break out again."
Hayato said indignantly, "If they want war, let's fight! Are we afraid of Kumogakure!?"
"Hehehe..."
"Uncle Hizashi, you are thinking too simply." Aoran knew what would happen next, so his expression was much darker.
Hizashi was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Aoran said calmly, "If nothing unexpected happens, Kumogakure's condition will be a life for a life."
Hizashi had seen Hiashi strike and kill the opponent.
"They want my older brother's life?"
Aoran's lips curled into a cold smile.
[You treat him as your older brother, but he might not feel the same way.]
"Kumogakure's actual target this time is the Byakugan."
"The Byakugan!? Impossible!" Hizashi's pupils suddenly constricted.
What he meant by "impossible" was that the Hyuga Clan could never surrender Hiashi's Byakugan as compensation.
"That's why the role of the Branch Family scapegoat becomes apparent."
Aoran's words struck Hizashi's mind like a bolt of lightning.
Hayato was stunned for several seconds before suddenly understanding.
"Lord Hizashi?" Hayato began to ask.
But he was interrupted by Hizashi, whose face was filled with exhaustion and distress. "These are all just your speculations."
"It doesn't matter. Lord Hizashi should receive the news very soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside the door.
"Hayato, is Lord Hizashi awake? The Clan Head wants him to go over there."
Aoran shook his hand toward Hayato, gesturing to him.
Hayato wasn't too slow; he immediately got up and went to the door.
He didn't open the door, but lowered his voice at the entrance and said, "Lord Hizashi is still unconscious and cannot go for now."
"I understand." The clan member outside acknowledged the order and left.
This was Hizashi's home, so the person giving the notice at the door was naturally one of Hizashi's subordinates.
Therefore, they wouldn't come in to check. Whatever Hayato said was taken as truth... Meanwhile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Hyuga Clan after leaving.
Utatane Koharu was already waiting for him there.
"Kumogakure is demanding the body of the murderer, Hyuga Hiashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly. He had guessed as much, knowing that Kumogakure must have been plotting something to go through all this trouble.
"You go back first. I'm going to see Hiashi. This is a mess he created, so let the Hyuga Clan resolve it."
Upon hearing this, Utatane Koharu understood the Third Hokage's intention.
"Then I will head back now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lifted his foot and walked toward the Hyuga Main Family Courtyard.
The Main Family compound was already brightly lit, with shadows everywhere.
The high-ranking members basically all knew about the incident. The Great Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder had all rushed over.
They were currently talking in low voices.
"...Kumogakure came prepared. Since they paid the price of one life, it means they are scheming for something significant."
The Great Elder Sōshu's expression was calm. At his age, having experienced so much, he naturally wouldn't panic.
"No matter what Kumogakure intends to do, we will meet them head-on."
Hiashi, who had been gloomy all along, felt a slight sense of reassurance.
"Yes, Great Elder."
"Clan Head, Lord Hizashi is still unconscious and cannot come."
The clan member who had gone to deliver the message had now returned.
Hyuga Hiashi didn't yet know Kumogakure's conditions and hadn't thought much about it. He had simply called Hizashi over because Hizashi was also a high-ranking member of the Hyuga.
Hearing that Hizashi hadn't come, he didn't say anything further.
Only the Great Elder raised his eyes slightly.
"Clan Head, Hokage-sama has arrived."
...