Chapter 87: 84: Dealing with the Hyuga Situation
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A member of the Hyuga main family had vanished.
Two branch family guards who accompanied him were also missing.
In the eyes of the Hyuga clan, this was unquestionably a matter of great concern.
This incident had finally raised suspicions amongst the elders of the Hyuga clan.
Regrettably, no matter how they investigated or searched for survivors from the cruise ship, there was only one consistent account:
Three suspected Hyuga clan ninja were on a cruise ship traveling from the Land of Rainbow to the Land of Fire's port. During the journey, they were attacked by ninjas using the Water Dragon Jutsu.
Their current whereabouts remained unknown, and no information had surfaced regarding their fates.
This uncertainty was the most troubling aspect of it all.
The deaths of the two branch guards were not particularly significant. Much like Hyuga Shingo before them, his absence wouldn't grant the enemy any advantage.
The only way to release the caged bird curse was through death, and after death, the caged bird would destroy the brain nerves and eyes of the branch ninja, rendering them useless to the enemy.
At best, their disappearance was a mild inconvenience, and it hadn't yet reached a point of no return.
However, the disappearance of a main clan member was a grave issue.
Hyuga Kare belonged to the main clan, and the seal within his brain nerves was less secure than the caged bird, making it vulnerable to compromise.
If the enemy acquired Hyuga's Byakugan, it would be disastrous news for both Hyuga and Konoha as a whole.
The strategic value of the Byakugan was immense.
This incident had also come to the attention of Konoha's top brass.
Over the past few days, they had convened more than a dozen meetings to address the situation.
Hyuga Kare had disappeared in the waters between the Land of Rainbow and the Land of Fire. Witnesses reported that they had clashed with ninja skilled in water jutsus just before vanishing.
"This might be a plot by Kirigakure, and we must remain vigilant" remarked Danzo, the leader of the Root and a shadowy figure in Konoha.
Danzo habitually approached such matters with the darkest possible suspicions.
Empathizing with the situation, he believed that if a high-ranking individual from the Kirigakure happened to discover traces of Hyuga clan ninja in the neighboring Land of Rainbow, they would undoubtedly spare no effort to capture these clan members and gain possession of the precious Kekkei Genkai for research.
"The witnesses on the cruise ship stated that the ninja using water jutsus were not wearing Kirigakure attire. While we can't confirm the identity of the assailants, it's highly likely that the Kirigakure ninja were in disguise."
This ninja village, which remained relatively isolated from other mainland countries, represented the military might of the Land of Water, one of the Five Great Nations.
Underestimating their strength was ill-advised at any time.
Since the First Ninja World War, when Kirigakure battled Iwagakure in the Land of Earth, Kirigakure has been regaining its strength. Just like Kumogakure in the Land of Thunder during the previous Second Ninja World War, Kirigakure has remained relatively inactive.
They've been covertly amassing power and training skilled ninja, just like most other villages. They harbor a deep-seated hostility towards Konoha.
"Even when the Hyuga clan's elders were seeking me out, I had already dispatched Anbu to negotiate with Kirigakure's leadership," Hiruzen interjected.
"How does Kirigakure plan to address this?" Danzo asked.
"They were unaware of the incident, and there were no Kirigakure ninja on missions in the sea area between the Land of Rainbow and the Land of Fire. They've expressed their condolences," Hiruzen replied.
Danzo, however, was resolute. "Actions speak louder than words. They targeted the Hyuga clan, and they'll pose a threat to the Land of Fire and Konoha in the future. Hiruzen, let's make Kirigakure pay for this."
"In the last ninja world war, Konoha suffered significant manpower losses. Going to war now might not be appropriate," Hiruzen countered.
Despite the speedy recovery funded by the Land of fire's daimyo and the emergence of young prodigies, Konoha's strength, while surpassing that of the Second Ninja World War, was still unknown compared to Kirigakure. The village from the Land of Water hadn't participated in a World War since the First Ninja World War, but this didn't imply a decline in its strength.
"Hiruzen is correct. We lack concrete evidence, and relying on speculation, even from a moral standpoint, wouldn't be justifiable. It's too easy to spark a war"
Konoha had always been mindful of its reputation. This reputation, along with its high-quality ninja, attracted many prominent businessmen willing to collaborate with Konoha and hire its ninja for various tasks. Engaging in an unfounded conflict with Kirigakure would tarnish this reputation.
"You can think about the consequences later. You don't need to emphasize the importance of the Byakugan. We cannot allow it to fall into the hand of our enemies; otherwise, they'll use it against us in the near future. We must prevent that at all costs," Danzo declared, considering the village's future.
"I will reconsider," Hiruzen sighed. Danzo's argument had merit, and the possibility of such an event couldn't be dismissed.
Previous wars had brought headaches for other villages due to the Byakugan's power. If the enemy used a similar tactic against them, it would indeed be a serious concern.
However, suddenly escalating hostilities with Kirigakure might leave Konoha isolated and vulnerable.
Recognizing Hiruzen's dilemma, Danzo and the two advisers understood that he needed time to weigh his options.
Lacking concrete evidence and unsure of the perpetrator's identity, if this was a trap to pit Konoha against Kirigakure, they needed to be cautious. This seemed a more appropriate course of action.
The village had dedicated significant resources to find the missing Hyuga ninjas. Still, in the absence of conclusive evidence and uncertainty about the enemy's identity, they were at an impasse.
Even the Hyuga clan's elders and patriarchs found themselves in a bind. They wanted to advocate for their clan, but that required solid evidence and confirmation of the enemy's identity.
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"Has Hokage-sama given up?" questioned one of the elders in the Hyuga Clan's meeting room, where the current leader and all the elders had gathered.
They were acutely aware of the significance of Hyuga Kare's disappearance for their clan; losing a Byakugan was a severe blow.
"The Anbu and our branch personnel sent to investigate haven't uncovered any news. There's no valid evidence about the enemy's identity, so we've hit a dead end," reasoned one elder.
"Last time, Shingo disappeared suddenly, and now Kare and the accompanying guards... I can't help but find it suspicious," mused another elder, intertwining his fingers in deep thought.
"Is there a connection between these two disappearances?" inquired another.
"They occurred within days of each other, so it does raise suspicion," another elder added.
"True, but without evidence confirming the enemy's identity, we're at an impasse," concluded the patriarch.
Despite their deep disdain for the assailants, the elders couldn't find any leads and felt powerless in seeking revenge.
This wasn't an issue that could be placed solely on Hokage and other high-ranking leaders; the lack of evidence made it a challenging matter to address.
"I've heard that Elder Danzo wants to support our Hyuga clan," another elder chimed in.
The current patriarch, Hiashi's father, immediately furrowed his brows and questioned, "Who told you this?"
"People outside are spreading it," the elder replied, casting his gaze downward.
"In the future, we'll distance ourselves from the common pe6. Let them handle high-level affairs themselves. We, the Hyuga clan, should stay out of such matters," the patriarch stated seriously.
Danzo, that old man, was spreading rumors for the next Hokage candidate, wasn't he?
The Third Hokage was nearing fifty years old, and the time for the next Hokage candidate was approaching.
The Hyuga clan's rise hadn't been easy, and they didn't need to get entangled in political strife; all they needed was to remain indifferent to worldly matters.
Regardless of the Hokage generation, none of them would give up the Hyuga clan's eyes. As long as there were ninja and warfare, the Hyuga clan's defense was guaranteed by Konoha.
This premise, however, didn't include any involvement in sensitive affairs, particularly Hokage.
"If anyone becomes entangled in the machinations of high-ranking officials, don't blame me for taking severe action. Let's not fall into the Uchiha clan's pitfalls."
"Yes!" chorused two or three elders, bowing their heads guiltily, while the rest echoed their agreement.
"Continue investigating the Kare's disappearance. Regardless, we owe the clan an explanation. Hiashi, I'm entrusting you with this matter. Handle it as you see fit. I won't interfere, just follow your judgment," the patriarch said to his eldest son, Hyuga Hiashi, who was the clan's future heir.
In recent years, the patriarch hadn't interfered much in his eldest son's affairs. He wanted a capable Hyuga clan patriarch, not a puppet. He knew he'd grow old eventually, and the Hyuga clan's future depended on these young individuals to sustain it.
In any case, a competent patriarch needed to exercise independent judgment rather than being a mere figurehead.
The elders understood this and recognized that Hizuru's ascension to the patriarch's role was imminent.
"Yes, Father, I'll handle it," Hiashi replied solemnly. He understood that a swift resolution to this matter was essential for the clan's well-being.
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Shiraishi, reviewing the information Ayane had relayed, continued his research on Sage Mode.
"It seems that Hokage-sama isn't pursuing Hyuga Kare's disappearance. Well, that saves me a lot of effort," he remarked.
Even if the investigation continued, it would require significant time and manpower. Moreover, there was no evidence left at the scene.
Those ninja who use Water Jutsu happened to replace Shiraishi as the prime suspects in Konoha and Hyuga's eyes.
Although he was curious about the identities of these Water Jutsu users, Shiraishi had no intention of delving deeper into the matter.
Such trivial matters didn't warrant his attention; his sole goal was to release the caged bird. Their identities held no value for him.
Whether they were from Kirigakure or any other ninja village, it was of no concern to him.
Shiraishi, burning this information on an alcohol lamp, refocused on his study of Sage Mode.
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