radicalducati Chapter 245 Reunion
Chapter 245 Reunion
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was filled with anxiety and unease. He knew perfectly well that once Hyuga Kanan returned, not only would his authority as Hokage vanish, but the very government he controlled could be easily overthrown. His primary task now was to ease tensions with the Hyuga clan and prevent Kanan from returning to Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. He knew he had to remain calm, carefully analyze the current situation, and find a solution. In this struggle for power and interests, he needed to weigh the pros and cons and make a wise decision to ensure the peace and stability of Konoha. Hiashi Hyuga's direct refusal to meet with him was undoubtedly a warning shot. This meant that the Hyuga clan did not fully acknowledge his authority as Hokage; they had their own ideas and plans. This made Hiruzen realize that he could no longer sit idly by and had to take the initiative to engage in dialogue with the Hyuga clan.
"It seems I need to personally go to the Hyuga clan and have a proper talk with them to ease the current situation," Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, his eyes firm and resolute. He understood that this negotiation with the Hyuga clan would be a difficult challenge, but also the key to resolving the issue. Only through communication with the Hyuga clan, understanding their needs and concerns, could a mutually acceptable solution be found. Without hesitation, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked steadily towards the Hyuga clan's territory. His figure appeared exceptionally small in the sunlight, seemingly carrying an invisible pressure that drew attention. At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his authority as Hokage severely challenged, but he was powerless to do anything about it.
Hyuga Hiashi returned to his residence and continued to inquire with Hyuga Neji about his experiences over the years. Neji readily recounted the basic situation of their training grounds and the relocation of the Hyuga clan members there. He also mentioned that their teacher, Hyuga Kanan, spent most of his time in seclusion, rarely venturing out, much like a hermit sage.
Finally, Hyuga Neji took out the letter his father had asked him to deliver to his uncle and handed it to Hyuga Hiashi. Hyuga Hiashi took the envelope but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he turned to Hyuga Neji and asked, "Is there anything important in this letter?" Hyuga Neji shook his head, indicating that he didn't know the specific contents of the letter, but his father had instructed him to deliver it to his uncle personally.
Hearing Hyuga Neji's answer, Hyuga Hiashi nodded, then fell into deep thought again. After a while, he looked at Hyuga Neji again, his tone softening, and said, "Neji, you haven't seen Hinata since you came back, have you? She misses you very much, her older brother!" Hyuga Neji quickly shook his head, smiling, and said, "I miss Hinata very much too." Hyuga Hiashi looked at Hyuga Neji, a relieved smile on his face, secretly marveling at how much this child had grown up.
Hyuga Hiashi continued, "Then you'll have to guide Hinata's training properly from now on." Hyuga Neji scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, "I will. After all, I'm her brother, and I'll definitely give her the greatest help." Hyuga Hiashi nodded and encouraged, "That's good. You should help Hinata improve her strength as much as possible. She'll have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the clan in the future." Hyuga Neji nodded vigorously, firmly stating that he would fully support Hinata's growth.
But before the two could continue their conversation, a message came from outside from their subordinates.
"Clan Chief, the Hokage has come in person, hoping to have a discussion with you. He also suggested that Hyuga Neji accompany you!"
Hiashi Hyuga frowned slightly. He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to come in person so quickly, completely disregarding his status as Hokage. It seemed Neji Hyuga's return had put a lot of pressure on him! He had been so disrespectful, ignoring Neji's orders to go to the Hokage Building, yet Neji had come in person so soon. He wondered what Neji's purpose was.
Hyuga Neji, however, remained unconcerned. He had been studying under Hyuga Kanan, and naturally, his personality and attitude towards the Hokage were largely influenced by Kanan. He held no respect for the Third Hokage of Konoha, Hyuga Kanan, and even harbored considerable contempt for him. Neji had witnessed Kanan's disdainful attitude when discussing the Third Hokage with his father, Hyuga Hizashi, and wholeheartedly agreed with his teacher's stance. After all, he strongly agreed with his teacher's view that for a military organization, strength was the most important asset. His encounters along the way had fostered a lack of goodwill towards the Third Hokage, who had ruled Konoha for many years, leading Neji to believe that Kanan had completely failed in governing the Hidden Leaf Village, the military organization of the Land of Fire. Furthermore, Kanan's continued suppression of the Hyuga clan only intensified Neji's contempt for the Third Hokage.
“Uncle, let’s go and meet the Third Hokage of Konoha Village and see what he’s up to,” Hyuga Neji said disdainfully to Hyuga Hiashi.
The disdain in his tone surprised even Hiashi Hyuga. However, Hiashi quickly recovered; Neji Hyuga had always been trained by Kanan Hyuga, so such an attitude was perfectly normal. Kanan Hyuga had suppressed Hiruzen Sarutobi and other high-ranking Konoha officials, and even threatened them. It was easy to understand Kanan Hyuga's attitude towards the Konoha leadership.
“Let’s go together then! I also want to know what their plans are, coming here so hastily.” Hyuga Hiashi thought for a moment and then agreed to Hyuga Neji’s suggestion. Even if the other party wanted to do something to Hyuga Neji, it would be impossible. This was Hyuga clan territory, and ensuring Hyuga Neji’s safety was not a problem.
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly in the Hyuga clan's reception room, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his brow slightly furrowed, pondering how to resolve the conflict with the Hyuga clan. He understood that this incident not only concerned the Hyuga clan's reputation but also the Hokage's prestige. If handled improperly, it would have serious consequences for Konoha.
Recalling how Hiashi Hyuga had disregarded his orders and refused to meet him at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. From this, it was clear that the Hyuga clan no longer respected him as the Hokage as before; in fact, the entire clan's attitude towards him seemed arrogant and rude. After all, as the leader of Konoha, he deserved everyone's respect. Yet, the Hyuga clan's current disregard for his authority truly displeased him.
Recalling his arrival at the Hyuga clan's territory, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a pang of helplessness. He had expected to be taken directly to the Hyuga clan head, but instead, he was merely led to a simple reception room to wait. What displeased him even more was that the Hyuga clan members he encountered along the way didn't greet him with the usual respect; instead, they completely ignored him. This coldness even surpassed that of the Uchiha clan in the past. While the Uchiha clan harbored resentment, they at least maintained a basic level of courtesy towards the Hokage. But now, the Hyuga clan wouldn't even bother with such formalities, openly choosing to disregard his existence.
In reality, if it were merely a matter of oppressing the Hyuga clan, they might not have fallen to their current state of ignoring the Hokage. However, the annihilation of the Uchiha clan served as a wake-up call for the Hyuga members, making them acutely aware that they were in a similar predicament to the Uchiha. Those clan members with keen insight into the situation in Konoha clearly realized that Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was attempting to lead the Hyuga clan down the same path as the Uchiha. Therefore, the Hyuga clan no longer harbored any illusions about this Hokage and naturally showed him no mercy. The reason why armed conflict has not yet erupted is entirely due to Hiashi Hyuga's strong suppression. Without Hiashi Hyuga's relentless restraint, the Hyuga clan would likely have already engaged in fierce armed conflict with Konoha, possibly even escalating into a full-scale war.
After much deliberation, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained clueless. The Hyuga clan's attitude towards the Hokage now far surpassed that of the Uchiha clan in the past, and they harbored none of the illusions the Uchiha clan held about the Hokage lineage. It seemed the Uchiha clan's annihilation had instilled a profound sense of threat in the Hyuga clan, making them determined not to allow anything similar to happen again. If the oppression of the Hyuga clan continued, they might rise up in rebellion, potentially even sparking a war.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew all too well that the Hyuga clan was one of the most powerful clans in Konoha, and that if they decided to oppose the Hokage's faction, it would bring unbearable losses to the village. He couldn't risk leaving this threat in the village, but he couldn't find a suitable solution. This troubled him greatly.
Just then, a voice interrupted his thoughts: "Lord Hokage, what brings you to my Hyuga clan!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up and saw Hiashi Hyuga standing before him with Neji Hyuga. However, the voice lacked any respect, even carrying a hint of mockery and sarcasm.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. Hiashi Hyuga's tone revealed the Hyuga clan's attitude towards him as Hokage, and most importantly, he still didn't know how to handle the situation. He needed to communicate effectively with Hiashi and devise a strategy, but given Hiashi's current behavior and attitude, the situation was far from optimistic.
When his gaze turned to Hyuga Neji, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows furrowed even more. He sensed the same aura emanating from Hyuga Neji as that of Hyuga Kanan back then. Although it wasn't nearly as powerful, it was definitely the same, making him feel even more threatened.