章 165: Chapter 164
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Just as Toshiro was puzzled by the strange looks from the Konoha ninjas, the rapid clicking of heels echoed outside the office of the Fourth Raikage. A striking woman with silver-white hair styled in an elegant updo, a flattering side-swept fringe, and a slender, graceful figure walked in. Her appearance exuded an air of intelligence and elegance.
Had Toshiro been present, he would have undoubtedly admired her beauty— she would be his ideal type.
"Lord Raikage! Urgent news from the border—something has happened to Yugito!"
When she reached the Raikage's office, Mabui didn't even pause to knock. She pushed the door open and addressed the shirtless, muscular man inside, who was lifting dumbbells mid-workout.
There was no need to see his face to identify him—the distinctive tattoo on his arm and the signature slicked-back hairstyle made it clear that this was none other than the current Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village, A.
Boom!
"What did you say? Something happened to Yugito?"
The Raikage threw the dumbbell to the ground with a thunderous roar, the impact leaving a large dent. He paid no attention to the damage, instead fixing his gaze on his secretary with a furious expression.
"Yes, this information comes from Darui," Mabui responded, handing him the scroll. She remained unfazed by his shirtless appearance, focusing solely on the task at hand.
As Raikage absorbed the news that the two-tailed Jinchūriki had been captured by Konoha, the same information was simultaneously relayed to Konoha itself.
However, unlike the Raikage, who was lifting dumbbells in his office, the Third Hokage was, at that moment, a guest at the Hyūga household.
In a spacious, traditional Japanese-style room, the floor was made of polished wooden planks, smooth and reflective like a mirror, capturing the shadows of people and objects under the soft moonlight. The texture of the wood was clearly visible, adding to the room's serene ambiance.
The room was largely empty, save for a few futons arranged in the center. Instead of modern electric lights, the roof was illuminated by old-fashioned oil lamps hanging from the weathered walls, casting a warm, flickering glow.
Everything had an aged quality, much like the owner of the room.
"I cannot agree to this. No matter what, I cannot allow Hizashi to die because of my mistakes. Hokage-sama, isn't there another solution to this matter?"
"Cloud-nin were the ones who infiltrated the Hyūga estate and attempted to kidnap my child. Why should we be the ones who have to explain ourselves?"
In the spacious, traditional Japanese-style room, the Third Hokage sat at the center, clad in his red and white Hokage robes, his hat resting atop his head. Flanking him on either side were three high-ranking Hyūga elders, all with similar stern expressions.
Hiashi Hyūga was furious. The situation was clearly not his fault, yet those Cloud Ninjas expected him to pay with his life—it was beyond unreasonable.
The clan elders, insisting that his own brother should die in his place, only fueled the anger and resentment simmering in his heart.
"Hiashi, this is for the peace of the village!"
"The Cloud Village insists on a life for a life. If we don't hand over the one who killed their ninja, they won't relent."
"If we refuse, more Konoha Shinobi—our young ones—will be sent to the battlefield. Have you truly considered the consequences of that?"
The Third Hokage took a long drag from his pipe, his eyes unfocused as he stared ahead, avoiding Hiashi's gaze. He was no longer the formidable Shinobi he once was, now weighed down by age and the burden of maintaining this fragile peace. If it meant preserving Konoha's tranquility by surrendering one of their own... He wouldn't hesitate, regardless of who that shinobi might be.
"Patriarch..."
Just after the Third Hokage made his statement, Hizashi, who sat beside Hiashi and looked strikingly similar, spoke up.
Looking at his brother, he opened his mouth and continued, "Brother... for the peace of Konoha and for the Hyuga clan, I'm prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice."
For the first time in nearly twenty years, Hizashi didn't address Hiashi as the clan leader but simply as his brother. Despite the deep-seated resentment he held towards his brother, the clan, he knew he had no other choice. He only hoped that, for the sake of their bond, Hiashi would ensure Neji could grow up safely, even if it meant living as a slave like him.
"The village will remember the Hyuga's sacrifice... It's all for the greater good, for the sake of the village. Hizashi's death will not be in vain."
Feeling a sense of relief, the Third Hokage was pleased with Hizashi's decision. With Hizashi's compliance secured, the only matter left was dealing with the situation with the Cloud Village. Once Hizashi's body was handed over, Kumo would have no grounds for further demands.
Finally, the heavy burden in his heart eased, and the Third Hokage rose to leave the somber, old house. However, just as he was about to step outside, a piece of explosive news shattered all his carefully laid plans.
Uchiha Toshiro had actually captured the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and was now holding her in the Konoha camp. This shocking news was accompanied by an urgent letter from Shikaku Nara, urging an immediate increase in troop strength to guard against a possible retaliation from the Cloud Village.
The letter also included a reminder from Toshiro, pressing the Third Hokage to fulfill his promise. After quickly reading through the report, the Third Hokage adjusted his hat, letting its brim cast a shadow over his face, obscuring his expression in the night.
Meanwhile, in the Cloud Village camp, after a flash of blinding light, two tall figures appeared, stepping into the midst of the gathered shinobi.
"Where's Darui? What's his status?"
As soon as he landed, the Fourth Raikage bellowed furiously at the still-dazed Cloud Ninjas in the camp.
"Raikage-sama! Darui-sama is currently discussing countermeasures with the senior ninjas in the camp..."
After confirming that it was indeed the Raikage, the startled Cloud Ninja wasted no time and led him directly toward a brightly lit tent. They knew their leader was impatient, and any hesitation would not end well.
"Darui, what in the world happened? Who dared to kidnap Yugito?"
Ignoring the guards outside, the Raikage threw open the tent's curtain, his voice booming into the room before he even stepped inside, reaching the ears of the assembled Jounins.
"BOSS!"
"According to the intelligence team, we have confirmed that the kidnapper of Yugito is Uchiha Toshiro from the Uchiha clan, a well-known clan in the ninja world!"
The Cloud Ninjas in the room were not surprised by their leader's sudden arrival, but they were taken aback by the person accompanying him. Weren't they supposed to be protected by the Raikage in the Yunlei Gorge? How did they end up here?
"Yo... Yo... Uchiha... Uncle Octo has arrived... Relax...and Kill!"
Before the Raikage could address the situation, Killer Bee, who had come with him, burst out in his signature rap.
Syllable!
"Shut up already!"
The Raikage, irritated by his brother's incessant rapping, couldn't hold back his frustration and delivered a solid punch to Killer Bee's head, producing a dull thud.
And then, the entire room fell silent.
This time, the Raikage hadn't intended to bring his younger brother to the front lines. Unfortunately, while Mabui was preparing the Heavenly Transfer Technique, Kirabi, feeling restless after a long stay in the mountains, decided to visit the village for some relaxation.
When Kirabi learned that the Raikage was heading to the front lines, he insisted on joining him. Using his distinctive rap to persuade A, Kirabi convinced her to use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to bring both of them to the frontline camp.
Unlike Raikage's direct approach of using the Lightning armor, Kirabi had wrapped himself in the chakra of the Eight Tails to withstand the pressure of long-distance teleportation.
"Uchiha Toshiro? From the Uchiha clan? Do we have any detailed information about him?"
Upon hearing Toshiro's name, A remained composed but quickly inquired about specific details. Gathering intelligence on the opponent's strength was fundamental to his role as a ninja.
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