The Hyuga Shall Stand Above, In The Heavens!

Night falls.

Compared to the daytime, the atmosphere in Konohagakure Village has settled somewhat.

The news of the Third's reinstatement was naturally and widely disseminated after the meeting's conclusion.

Although the village under the old Hokage's leadership had suffered through the previous wars, if not for the emergence of talented individuals from Konohagakure, they might have been scattered by other ninja villages.

But after the old Hokage's speech, he was still able to stabilize morale, giving everyone a pillar to lean on.

This is the legacy of the Will of Fire!

"The reconstruction of the village is indeed important, but we must also guard the borders."

The temporarily constructed command center of Konohagakure now serves the function of the Hokage's building.

Danzo, with a stern face, hands over intelligence to Sarutobi.

"Kumogakure Village harbors wolfish ambitions; they won't let this opportunity slip by."

The village has suffered a great calamity, with the Fourth meeting an untimely death. Anyone can see that now is an opportune moment to strike at the Land of Fire.

Kirigakure Village, Sunagakure Village, and Iwagakure Village have all been significantly weakened in the previous great war. Even if they wanted to act, they lack the strength to do so. Only the Land of Thunder, brimming with ambition, is not content to sit quietly.

After inheriting his father's legacy, the Fourth Raikage also needs an opportunity to prove himself.

The previous probing by the A and B combination at the border was thwarted by Namikaze Minato, and Kumogakure Village had not acted rashly. But now, the Fourth Hokage is dead!

Even if Konohagakure has an old village chief who could send the Nine-Tails flying out of the village with a single blow, who in the ninja world doesn't know that their Third Hokage is a gentleman who doesn't build walls?

You want the old village chief to take to the front lines while the battle rages fiercely?

That's impossible!

Without a doubt, once the situation in Konohagakure reaches Kumogakure Village, there's a high likelihood that the A and B combination will lead an invasion. Who then can stop them in Konohagakure?

One misstep, and the flames of war might be rekindled.

Danzo does have some insight on this matter, of course, not ruling out that he might want to take advantage of the situation.

"They've already started probing," Sarutobi said, lighting his pipe, a shadow of worry crossing his face.

"Intelligence from the border reports that a group of suspicious individuals has taken a detour into the Land of Fire, attempting to gather information on Konohagakure. However, their route was discovered by the Hyuga clan's scouts and they didn't penetrate too deeply into our territory."

Under the watchful eye of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan, any action hidden in the shadows is revealed!

This is the strategic importance of the Byakugan.

"Unless we increase our efforts and send more Hyuga ninjas to guard the border, they will eventually obtain information about Konohagakure," Sarutobi sighed.

The rampage of the Nine-Tails and the death of the Fourth cannot be hidden by any means.

Especially with the village's reconstruction, we will inevitably need to purchase materials from the outside world. Instead of thinking about how to hide it, we should consider how Konohagakure will respond if war truly comes.

"I disagree with sending more Hyuga clan members to the border," Danzo said gravely.

"Hiruzen, you saw Hyuga Hitoshi's attitude today. It's possible he has already formed an alliance with Uchiha Fugaku, or even plotting a coup is not out of the question!"

"We must keep the Hyuga clan under close watch. I'll arrange for the Root to monitor them, just like your Anbu watches the Uchiha!"

Old friend, that's all the vision you have.

Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe, his gaze shifting as he turned to face his old comrade with a stern expression.

"No! Keep your Root in line! They absolutely must not monitor the Hyuga clan!"

Do you think their Byakugan is just for show? How would you explain it if they were discovered? Claim that the Byakugan can also control the Nine-Tails' strict guardianship? That's nonsense!

How could such words come from your mouth?

Clearly, Danzo has some understanding of the ninja world's battle situation, but it's just a little, very little indeed.

"Hiruzen, I'm doing this for the village! The Hyuga clan must..."

"Enough, Danzo! I am the Hokage!"

Hmm?

Danzo shuddered instinctively upon hearing this, then scratched his head in confusion.

Well, well!

He had just reclaimed the throne, and they were already plotting against him?

He really wasn't used to this!

"Sarutobi! You will regret this!"

After gritting his teeth and delivering his line, Danzo turned and stormed off.

You don't understand a thing about doing this for the village; I don't even want to expose you! It's me who truly does it for the village!

After Danzo left, Sarutobi stood up and walked to the window, frowning in thought.

Without a doubt, in his view, Danzo's intention to monitor the Hyuga clan was utterly foolish!

The Byakugan could easily detect any surveillance. What if the Hyuga, in a fit of anger, really joined forces with the Uchiha? How should they respond?

Not to mention without a legitimate reason.

The village was still in the rebuilding phase, with external enemies coveting it. Even though he was adept at striking hard internally, he couldn't suppress both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans at such a critical juncture!

Moreover, the best approach would be to win over the Hyuga clan, to have them stand up and charge at the Uchiha.

Of course, that would be the ideal state. In reality, Sarutobi was baffled by Hyuga Hitoshi speaking up for Uchiha Fugaku, completely unsure of what the Hyuga clan's Patriarch was thinking.

Even before Danzo's arrival, he had specifically requested Hyuga Hitoshi's file and analyzed it thoroughly.

Hyuga Hitoshi's record wasn't complicated, and even his rise to Patriarch was low-key, so Sarutobi didn't glean any useful information.

But even without Danzo's reminder, Sarutobi had his own considerations and had thought about how to deal with the Hyuga clan.

Anyone who threatens my position will find themselves on the path to their demise.

Not sending the Hyuga clan to the front lines?

Ha, Danzo is foolish.

The battlefield cannot be without the Byakugan. Moreover, to weaken the Hyuga clan and force them to align with him, he must send more of them to the battlefield.

Just like a certain clan that "disappeared" during the Second Great Ninja War.

Integrate into Konohagakure?

Integrating into Konohagakure is excellent, my teacher's vision is indeed admirable.

How else to follow the Hokage's orders if not integrated?

Who knows how dangerous it is to have all these elites in the village.

If something goes wrong, the price would be unbearable!

Naturally, regarding the best and worst scenarios for the Hyuga clan, the old village chief had finished his analysis, ultimately deeming it a situation worth monitoring but not worrying about.

"I do everything for the village."

The choice is entirely up to the Hyuga clan.

He tapped his smoking pipe and settled back into his seat.

The position of Hokage had ultimately returned to his hands.

The Fourth's ascension and his own resignation made Sarutobi fully aware of what this chair represents.

From the previous war period to now, it's been a rollercoaster for him.

Does he still remember the declaration he made when he took over the mantle of Hokage from the Second?

What does he truly want now in his old age?

All of this, only the old village chief himself knows.

"Scram, scram, scram! You're the beast, I'm a person! Don't treat me like an animal!"

Let's not mention the old village chief pondering over new internal martial arts techniques.

It's late at night.

In the separate residence of the Hyuga clan's Patriarch, the Hitoshi brothers were kicked out of bed.

Every year around this season, the Patriarch would ponder life.

And his mind would wander back to the classic lines from nature documentaries he watched in his previous life.

Spring has arrived, and it's the season for mating.

Poor Hyuga Pakura, fighting a lonely battle, couldn't adapt to the intensity of the time management master and finally erupted.

Hyuga Hitoshi wasn't angry, though. He chuckled, put on his clothes, and pulled out the map that Hyuga Hiashi had given him earlier, then glanced up at the sky.

The moon shone bright and the stars were sparse, a perfect night for a tryst!

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