https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-400-Cloud-Ninja-No-Acting-Pure-Emotion-/12936339/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-402-Dirty-Water-and-the-Prince-of-the-Leaf-Village-/12936341/
Chapter 401: The Honest Man: Hyuga Natsuki!
Chapter 401: The Honest Man: Hyuga Natsuki!
In the Hokage's office!
"Hokage-sama, the Cloud Village Ninja kidnapped my daughter from the Hyuga Clan. We must demand an explanation from them on behalf of Konoha!"
Even before the meeting began, Hyuga Natsuki spoke up with an aggressive tone.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
The Cloud Village Embassy had dared to come to Konoha and kidnap his daughter. If they didn't teach them a lesson, who knew what they might do next? After their clan elders' meeting last night, they had decided that the village must take action and teach the Cloud Village a lesson.
The clan elders had their reasons to believe that the Konoha higher-ups would definitely side with them. After all, the Hyuga Clan wasn't as high-profile as the Uchiha, and they had always been closely aligned with the Hokage lineage. Furthermore, the Byakugan was an indispensable Kekkei Genkai for Konoha, so it made sense for the higher-ups to support them, right?
However, what they didn't know was that the Konoha Foursome had also discussed this matter beforehand and ultimately decided to "wrong" the Hyuga Clan slightly.
After all, Konoha was currently facing both internal and external troubles.
Not only was there the rebellious Skyguard, but there was also the Uchiha 'traitor' within the village, and on top of that, the food crisis. They simply didn't have the strength to go to war with the Cloud Village.
Therefore, aside from Danzo, the other members shared the same opinion.
They wanted to appease the Cloud Hidden Village and avoid escalating the conflict.
Even with localized wars, Konoha was already struggling. If a full-scale war broke out, not only would Konoha lack the strength to respond, but even if they had the power, it would give the other Great Ninja Villages an opportunity to attack directly.
Attacking Konoha at every chance had become an unspoken consensus among the remaining four Great Ninja Villages.
If it were just the Cloud Village, there would be no need to worry.
No matter how severe Konoha's internal problems were, even a starving camel was bigger than a horse, and the Cloud Hidden Village wouldn't dare provoke them.
It was precisely because they considered the current state of the Ninja World that they made this decision.
Of course, there was also the intention to take this opportunity to teach the Hyuga Clan a lesson. After all, they were plotting to obtain the Sage Mode without sharing it with the Hokage lineage. Were they getting too arrogant?
Inside the Hokage's office.
In response to Hyuga Natsuki's anger, Choshin Kokoro spoke in a gentle tone.
"Natsuki, it's true that the Cloud Village Ninja was in the wrong for kidnapping Hinata, but were you not at fault for killing them right away? And there's no one to testify that they kidnapped Hinata, is there?"
These words were both soothing and disarming.
First, she acknowledged that the Cloud Village Ninja was indeed wrong for kidnapping Hinata, but was Natsuki not also at fault for killing them immediately?
The key point was that there was no one to testify that they had kidnapped Hinata.
As for the Hyuga Clan members?
In this matter, they couldn't serve as witnesses because everyone knew that the Hyuga Clan was like a 'caged bird'.
No one would believe the Hyuga Clan members as witnesses.
It was true that there were ways in the Ninja World to make the dead speak, but the Cloud Village wouldn't hand over their Ninja Leader's body. After all, the body held too many secrets related to the Cloud Hidden Village, and they couldn't risk having those memories extracted.
There was no proof!
And because of the identity of the deceased, even the option of using the body as evidence was cut off.
It was an absolute no!
The Cloud Village Ninja had played their cards perfectly.
However, they couldn't help but covet the strategic Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.
On the battlefield, having the Byakugan was like having an 'all-seeing eye' cheat, and its advantages were well understood.
Konoha's repeated victories against stronger opponents were not unrelated to the Byakugan.
Furthermore, with the Lightning Chakra Mode, only the Byakugan could assist in taking it to the next level, so it was no wonder the Cloud Village Ninja had their eyes on it.
As mentioned earlier, the Cloud Village Ninja's style was straightforward.
They took what they wanted by force.
If they couldn't get it by force, they would resort to threats, theft...
This time, they had stolen and then bumped cans to threaten, directly setting up the Hyuga Clan for a fall.
"But..."
Hyuga Natsuki might be a 'good clan leader' and a 'good father,' but he was certainly not skilled in verbal manipulation. After hearing Choshin Kokoro's words, he froze.
Yes, he had no evidence to prove that the Cloud Village Ninja had kidnapped his daughter.
Even though it was a fact, he couldn't prove it.
Instead, the Cloud Village Ninja had died at his hands.
Seeing Hyuga Natsuki's stunned expression.
'Bullying an honest man!'
Dong Ping sighed in his heart.
It was no wonder the Konoha Foursome could firmly suppress the various ninja clans; they had their tricks.
Their methods were well-planned.
After just a few words, Hyuga Natsuki, who had been full of anger and ready to confront the Cloud Village Ninja, became worried.
Whoosh!
Just then, a member of the Shadow Division appeared in the office.
"Hokage-sama, we've just received intelligence that the Lightning Shadow has led the Shadow Guard and appeared at the border of the Land of Lightning!"
The Shadow Division member knelt on one knee as they delivered this crucial message.
A Cloud Village Ninja!
And the Lightning Shadow himself was leading the charge, making the threat all too clear.
Their purpose was also evident.
A show of force!
They were making it clear that if the Leaf Village didn't provide an explanation to the Cloud Village, the Cloud Village would come to demand it themselves.
"You may leave now!"
Mizuhara Monen gestured for the Shadow Division member to depart.
Whoosh!
The Shadow Division member vanished from the office using the Teleportation Jutsu.
"Kazumi, it seems that if we don't give the Cloud Village Ninja an explanation, the Lightning Shadow is preparing to attack the Leaf Village!"
Mizuhara Monen's tone carried a hint of concern.
Of course, these words were also meant for a certain 'honest' individual.
But as they bullied this honest person, Dong Ping couldn't bear to watch, and he directly boasted, "It's just a mere Cloud Village Ninja. Leave it to me!"
He wasn't afraid that the higher-ups would actually agree to his request to go into battle.
Once he was allowed to fight, it would be equivalent to letting him boost his own achievements.
What use were achievements?
Naturally, they were for aspiring to become the next Hokage.
The prerequisite for becoming the Hokage was to have sufficient achievements.
The former White Fang had no intention of becoming the Hokage, but due to his exceptionally high achievements, Sarutobi Kazumi had no choice but to bestow upon him the title of 'Hokage Half Sleeve,' essentially making him the next Hokage.
The problem was that the other party wasn't from the Hokage lineage!
So, no matter how highly Sarutobi Kazumi regarded White Fang, he couldn't possibly allow him to succeed as the Hokage.
In the end, the result was that Danzo plotted against White Fang.
Sarutobi Kazumi had initially thought that he would only lose the chance to become the Hokage, and by helping White Fang, he could ensure that White Fang wouldn't become the Hokage and would be forever grateful to him.
However, what he hadn't anticipated was that White Fang would be 'unyielding,' preferring to use his own life to provide an explanation to everyone rather than bow down.
After this lesson, there was no way Sarutobi Kazumi and the others would allow Dong Ping to walk the same path as White Fang again.
"No need," Sarutobi Kazumi immediately rejected Dong Ping's eagerness, saying, "We're not necessarily going to go to war, so we won't trouble you!"
Indeed, the more proactive Dong Ping was, the less likely Sarutobi Kazumi would give him such an opportunity.
"Natsuki, what do you think we should do?"
Choshin Kokoro turned to Hyuga Natsuki for an answer.
"Dormitory Elder..."
Hyuga Natsuki wasn't one to make quick decisions, so naturally, he couldn't provide an answer right away.
"Actually, there is a way!"
Danzo, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone's attention.
"The Cloud Village Ninja wants an explanation, right?"
"Then let's give them one!"
As he spoke, he looked at Hyuga Natsuki, the honest one.
"Danzo, what kind of plan is this?"
Sarutobi Kazumi 'raged.'
The implication in Danzo's words was all too clear.
It meant using Hyuga Natsuki's life as the explanation to the Cloud Village Ninja.
The leader of the prestigious Hyuga Clan, a life far more valuable than that of a mere Cloud Village Ninja leader, would undoubtedly silence everyone if used as the explanation.
Even if the Lightning Shadow was dissatisfied, he wouldn't be able to use it as an excuse to invade.
The plan was a good one, but naturally, Sarutobi Kazumi couldn't agree. So, after scolding Danzo, he turned to Hyuga Natsuki and said,
"Natsuki, you may go back. Leave this matter to me!"
He genuinely didn't approve of Danzo's plan.
As an honest person, Hyuga Natsuki was naturally grateful to Sarutobi Kazumi.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
After saying this, he left the office.
"During this time, you'll be responsible for 'hosting' the Cloud Village Embassy!"
Sarutobi Kazumi gave Dong Ping another order.
Apparently, he intended to use Dong Ping to suppress the Cloud Village Embassy and make them behave.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Dong Ping nodded lightly, sensing that the plot was somewhat off.
So it wasn't the Cloud Village Ninja who had requested the Hyuga Clan to hand over the 'culprit,' but the Leaf Village who had proposed it?
No wonder, during the future Chuunin Exam, the Hyuga Clan openly acted as if they were Sarutobi Kazumi.
It could only be said that the true Shinobi World was quite different from the one he knew before his time-travel.
And now, it remained to be seen how the village would maneuver to make the Hyuga Clan willingly hand over the 'culprit.'
(End of Chapter)
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