Chapter 72: Who Is Truly Being Selfish?

Sarutobi Hiruzen was incomparably vexed, saying with regret: "I misjudged Hyuga Hiashi; I never expected him to be so fixated on right and wrong and on face."

"The East Front has been pushed to the Land of Fire by the Cloud Hidden Army, and the East Front is deadlocked with Kirigakure; we have exhausted our resources fighting on two fronts."

"Fortunately, Orochimaru and Yamanaka Chujiu defeated the Cloud Hidden Army, but as long as they do not sign a peace treaty, we must continue to deplete ourselves."

"In order to completely end the war with Kumogakure, it is necessary and worthwhile for Konoha to make a few concessions."

Shimura Danzo sneered as he pushed the door open and entered, saying with a cold face: "Hehehe, concessions? Necessary? Worthwhile?"

"Hiruzen, what is the use of telling us? Go persuade Hyuga Hiashi, go persuade the Konoha ninja!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned for a moment: "What do you mean by that?"

Shimura Danzo: "Hyuga Hiashi has blown this matter up; the ninja of the Hyuga Branch Family are spreading what happened last night everywhere, saying that you forced them to die just for the peace you want."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was thoroughly enraged: "Hiashi is muddled, how could he do such a thing?"

He did not understand!

Clearly, he had already restored his position as Hokage and held all power in both substance and name; why did Hyuga Hiashi not only dare to defy his will, but also dare to openly challenge him?

The furious Third Hokage found Hyuga Hiashi and summoned a large number of ninja and villagers, asking his question in front of everyone.

He wanted to make Hyuga Hiashi bear the pressure of public opinion!

Hyuga Hiashi's reply was: "Concessions? Lord Hokage, your so-called concession is to hand over my life!"

"The dead Cloud Ninja brought it upon themselves; I was protecting my daughter and, even more, practicing the Will of Fire. Not only do you not commend me, you actually demand that I die!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen had not expected that he would only have to ask one sentence for Hyuga Hiashi to forcefully push back.

He even felt aggrieved; why did Hyuga Hiashi insist on saying that he wanted his life?

According to the aristocratic style the Hyuga Clan insisted upon, wouldn't it be enough to just hand over the "Shadow Warrior" Hyuga Hizashi to account for it?

But Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that the one who killed was Hyuga Hiashi, and he absolutely could not say "hand over Hyuga Hizashi."

This tragedy must be caused by the antiquated and corrupt customs within the Hyuga Clan.

But after Hyuga Hiashi was awakened by Yamanaka Chujiu, he insisted on taking responsibility for his own actions and absolutely refused to sacrifice himself for Kumogakure, which left Sarutobi Hiruzen in a bind.

Because everything Hyuga Hiashi did was not wrong; as long as he did not make mistakes or admit fault from here on, Sarutobi Hiruzen could do nothing to him.

Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan was not opened for nothing; even without activating the X-ray state, his gaze was extremely sharp.

He clearly captured Sarutobi Hiruzen's helplessness, and thus became even more confident, even daring to turn the question back: "Lord Third Hokage, how does your behavior yesterday conform to the Will of Fire you speak of?"

"Since when I fought for the village, the Hokage demanded I die to appease the enemy, how can the Hyuga Clan continue to protect the village?"

"Silence!" Sarutobi Hiruzen scolded sternly: "The survival of Konoha is more important than your personal reputation, and more important than the grievances of the Hyuga Clan!"

"Most importantly, you actually dare to make my decision as Hokage public, violating the code of the ninja..."

Hyuga Hiashi sneered: "You are forcing me to die, why should I keep secrets for you?"

"A decision that cannot be made public shows that it is shameful and a thorough conspiracy!"

"All the policies of the First Hokage did not have any concealment!"

"Lord Third Hokage, has our Konohagakure been defeated, or has Kumogakure been defeated?"

"In this world, where is the logic of a victor bowing their head to the defeated, offering apologies, and even allowing themselves to be blackmailed in order to beg for peace?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally discovered that he simply could not win a debate against Hyuga Hiashi.

So he did not intend to argue with Hyuga Hiashi any further.

In many cases, there is no need to reason with the parties involved; as long as the onlookers are made to believe that what one says is correct, the final victory is achieved.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze swept across the surroundings, saying to the Konoha ninja: "I am not targeting the Hyuga Clan."

"But it is a fact that Hyuga Hiashi killed the Cloud envoy, and it is a fact that Kumogakure is using this as a threat to refuse peace."

"If Kumogakure and Kirigakure join forces to attack, Konoha will be fighting on two fronts simultaneously; at that time, it will not just be Hyuga Hiashi who dies, but many, many Konoha ninja!"

These words were like a basin of cold water poured over the hearts of all the ninja.

Some had complex expressions but stubbornly refused to lower their heads; they could not accept such a compromise.

Some showed indignation but dared to be angry without speaking, not even daring to think, because the majesty of the Hokage was not to be questioned.

But more people lowered their heads in panic; they were ordinary villagers terrified by the Nine-Tails Incident, and ninja driven mad by the seven-year-long Third Shinobi World War.

Relying on his prestige and his grasp of the human heart, the Third Hokage occupied the absolute upper hand in this debate.

But this was also the first time his golden reputation as Hokage had been broken.

Because this kind of "cruel to one's own, tolerant to outsiders" approach, once exposed, could ultimately not win people's hearts.

Hyuga Hiashi stood where he was, the firmness in his eyes completely gone, leaving only deep disappointment.

But his spine straightened even further: "Lord Hokage, I understand."

"What you want is not justice, not fairness, but only the peace and tranquility of Konoha."

"Have you ever thought that if you sacrifice my Hyuga Clan today, tomorrow you will surely sacrifice any Konoha ninja; does Konohagakure still have ninja who will risk their lives to protect Konoha?"

Mitokado Homura scolded sternly: "Hyuga Hiashi, you are presumptuous!"

"Lord Hokage is thinking of the big picture; as a Konoha ninja, how can you selfishly oppose the Hokage?"

"Selfish?"

Hyuga Hiashi laughed, his laughter full of desolation and firmness: "I protect Hinata, is that selfish?"

"I protect the Hyuga Clan, is that selfish?"

"I am unwilling to let an unrelated younger brother die in my place, is that selfish?"

"Fellow Konoha ninja and villagers, ask yourselves, do you want to bow your heads to the Cloud Ninja?"

"Admit it, you do not want to!"

"We are all noble people of Konoha, why should we bow our heads to invaders?"

"The Third Hokage goes against the wishes of our vast number of ninja and villagers, using his own ideas to force my Hyuga Clan to bow, tolerating the Byakugan falling into the hands of Kumogakure, ignoring the loss of Konoha's face, and making Konoha ninja endure humiliation—is that not selfish?"

"The Hokage disregards the will of the people, only for the stability he wants; that is also selfishness!!"

The scene fell into absolute silence, with only heavy breathing echoing in the air.

Several Hokage Assistants wore grave expressions, yet they were powerless to refute, because Hyuga Hiashi was right.

The Konoha Ninjas and villagers showed shame on their faces, because Hyuga Hiashi had spoken to the bottom of their hearts; who wouldn't be proud to be a part of Konoha?

Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes, his fingers trembling slightly underneath, as if he were bearing an incomparable weight.