Bab 73: Chapter 71: Sarutobi’s Loyal Disciple, Jiraiya!
Chapter 71: Sarutobi's Loyal Disciple, Jiraiya!
"Neji… he…"
Sigh.
Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth as if to say something, but after a moment's hesitation, he stayed silent.
Deep down, he felt overwhelming guilt toward Hizashi and his son. This guilt had silenced him, making him a mere observer while "Neji" openly voiced radical and seemingly treasonous thoughts. Hiashi did nothing to intervene, letting the young man represent the Hyuga clan without restraint.
But in truth, Hiashi had another reason for staying quiet.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hypocrisy.
Back then, he had coerced the Hyuga into sacrificing Hizashi to appease the Cloud Village, claiming Konoha couldn't withstand a war.
And now? Faced with his son Asuma's involvement, Sarutobi suddenly claimed Konoha wasn't afraid of conflict?
When the Uchiha clan was still around, Sarutobi hadn't dared to take such a stance. But now, with the Uchiha gone, he had the audacity to act brave?
Hiashi's lips curled into a cold sneer. To hell with your so-called Will of Fire. Do whatever you want.
For once, the usually docile Hyuga clan leader exuded an air of defiance. When Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Hiashi for support, the latter met his gaze with a scornful smile.
Figure it out yourself, Hiashi's expression seemed to say.
Realizing he wouldn't get any help from Hiashi, Hiruzen's face darkened. His gaze shifted to the trio of Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi, silently questioning their stance.
The Nara clan leader, Shikaku, sighed heavily, muttering under his breath, I knew this was a mess I shouldn't have gotten involved in. But there was no avoiding it now.
"Pig-Deer-Butterfly has always stood firmly behind the Hokage," Shikaku said cautiously. "However, regarding other matters… we choose not to participate."
His words brought a faint smile to Hiruzen's face, but the meaning behind them made his expression quickly sour again.
Shikaku's loyalty was to the Hokage, not necessarily to Hiruzen himself. The implication stung: they no longer fully supported him as their leader.
While Shikaku's diplomatic stance may have appeased some, it left others uncomfortable. Fence-sitting rarely won admiration.
Hiruzen's mind raced, struggling to consolidate power. Suddenly, an energetic voice rang out from the crowd.
"Old man! What's all the commotion here?"
Before anyone could respond, a tall figure appeared beside Hiruzen. Towering and broad-shouldered, with long white hair and a forehead protector emblazoned with the kanji for "oil," it was none other than Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya!"
"It's one of the Legendary Sannin!"
"The Toad Sage is back! At a time like this, no less!"
Excited whispers spread through the crowd as they recognized the renowned shinobi.
Jiraiya waved off their admiration, turning to Hiruzen with a more serious expression. "Old man, what's going on here?" he asked, his voice low but commanding.
Hiruzen quickly recounted the situation with a pained, sorrowful tone, presenting himself as a victim of circumstances. It was a masterful act, leaving the crowd unsure of how to respond.
"Ah, I see," Jiraiya said after listening intently. "If Asuma isn't the culprit, then we should take our time investigating and find the true killer. What does everyone think?"
His suggestion seemed impartial on the surface, but Uchiha Yi saw through it immediately.
Classic Jiraiya, Yi thought. Stalling to buy time for Sarutobi.
"Nonsense!" Yi retorted sharply, still in his guise as Neji. "If that's the case, I, representing the Hyuga clan, declare our immediate withdrawal from Konoha. We'll join the Rain Village instead.
"What do you think about that, Jiraiya-sama?"
The room fell silent.
Jiraiya frowned, ignoring "Neji" and turning to Hyuga Hiashi. "Clan Leader Hiashi, is this your official stance?" he asked pointedly.
Clearly, Jiraiya didn't take the young boy's words seriously. What mattered to him was Hiashi's opinion.
Hiashi hesitated, visibly torn.
If he denied "Neji's" declaration, it would mean abandoning his nephew's bold defiance. The Hyuga would become a joke within Konoha, forever subjugated by the village's higher-ups.
But if he agreed, it meant cutting ties with Konoha entirely—a risky move with no guarantee of survival.
"Clan Leader Hiashi," "Neji" interjected, his voice steady and reassuring. "Trust me."
Hiashi glanced at "Neji." The boy's calm demeanor, eloquence, and unwavering determination stood in stark contrast to his youth.
Hiashi's doubts wavered. If anyone could lead the Hyuga to a brighter future, it was this "Neji."
Taking a deep breath, Hiashi finally spoke.
"This is no longer Konoha. It's Sarutobi Village," he said coldly. "We have no other choice. From now on, the Hyuga clan will follow Neji's lead."
His declaration sent shockwaves through the crowd, cementing the Hyuga clan's stance against Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Jiraiya's smile faltered for the first time. For the briefest moment, he looked unsure—then determined once more.
The battle lines had been drawn.
---
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone