章 23: Hyuga Affair (3)
Shrouded in moonbeams, the village outside remained oblivious to the drama that unfolded. However, the night only brought tension in the Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a furrowed brow, the weight of the situation pressing heavily upon him. He glanced briefly at Mirai, a hint of tension flickering in his eyes. This was the first time they had met since Danzo's death, and the old wounds still felt fresh, and his anger is still shimmering.
Hiruzen's mind raced. He wondered why Mirai had to intervene in this situation and silently lamented the apparent inadequacy of the personnel monitoring him.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to Hiashi, whose face was a mask of barely controlled anger.
Breaking the silence, Hiruzen took a deep breath, his voice strict and firm. "This incident has the potential to cause an international problem, so we must act delicately. We need to handle this with evidence."
Hiashi's eyes flared with anger. "Hokage-sama, this man attempted to kidnap my daughter. The Hyuga clan demands immediate justice!"
Mirai remained silent, watching the exchange with a calm demeanor.
Hiruzen raised a hand to calm Hiashi. "I understand your anger, Hiashi, but we must think of the greater good. Any rash action could lead to war with Kumo."
Hiashi's jaw tightened, his fists clenching. "Hokage-sama, this is not just an attack on my family but on Konoha's honor. How can we trust Kumo after this?"
Hiruzen's eyes softened slightly, though his tone remained firm. "I share your concerns, Hiashi. We will address this breach of trust, but we must do so in a way that ensures the safety of our village and avoids unnecessary bloodshed."
Mirai, who had been silent until now, suddenly scoffed loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Trust between Konoha and Kumo? There was never any trust to begin with. All this peace talk was a scheme to infiltrate Konoha and uncover the secrets of the Byakugan."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, though he remained calm. "Mirai, your perspective is noted, but we must still handle this situation with care. Accusations without proof will only serve to escalate tensions."
Mirai stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. "Proof? The proof is right here in front of us." He gestured toward the kneeling G. "He was caught in the act. What more proof do we need?"
Hiashi nodded in agreement, his anger still simmering. "This man's actions speak louder than any words of peace Kumo might offer."
Hiruzen sighed. "While I agree that this act is a grave breach of trust, we must still pursue diplomatic channels to avoid war. Kumo must answer for this, but it must be done in a way that protects our village and its people."
Mirai's expression hardened. "Diplomacy? With those who seek to betray us at every turn? The Raikage will never honor any agreement. This is the time to show strength, not weakness."
Hiruzen met Mirai's gaze, his own steely resolve evident. "Strength is not only shown through force, Mirai. It is also shown through wisdom and restraint. We will address this breach, but it will be done through proper channels."
Mirai scoffed again, louder this time. "Even if we present evidence, Kumo will deny all accusations and claim innocence. They will turn the tables and demand compensation for the supposed mistreatment of their envoy."
Hiashi, his face a mask of fury, looked at Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, Mirai-san is right. Kumo will never admit their wrongdoing. They will twist this to their advantage."
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. "Our priority is to protect Konoha and its people. Any rash actions could lead to unnecessary bloodshed."
As the tension in the Hokage's office thickened, the door creaked open and an ANBU operative stepped inside, his mask obscuring his features but his urgency clear. "Hokage-sama." He said, kneeling respectfully. "The remaining Kumo envoys are now held in their residence. They are demanding to free their leader."
Hiruzen's expression tightened. "This complicates things further." He murmured. Turning to the ANBU, he gave a curt order.
"Summon the elders. This situation requires their counsel."
Mirai's eyes narrowed. "This is exactly what I warned about. Kumo will use this as a pretext for further demands."
The ANBU nodded and disappeared as swiftly as he had arrived. Within minutes, the advisors, Homura and Koharu arrived. They exchanged a brief, scrutinizing glance at Mirai before turning their attention to Hiruzen, their expressions growing increasingly serious and grave as they took in the situation.
Hiruzen wasted no time in briefing them. "The Kumo envoy attempted to kidnap the Hyuga heiress." He explained with a measured tone. "Mirai intervened, and we now have their leader in custody."
Homura frowned deeply. "This is a serious breach of trust. The Kumo envoy's actions are a clear violation of our recently signed peace treaty."
Koharu nodded, her eyes cold. "We must proceed carefully. Kumo will deny everything and turn this into a diplomatic nightmare."
Homura, a mixture of concern and disbelief crossing his face, added with a hint of frustration "This is outrageous."
Koharu's expression hardened as she declared. "Kumo's betrayal undermines everything we've worked towards." Her voice tinged with disappointment.
Mirai, arms crossed and a sardonic smirk playing on his lips, interjected mockingly. "It wasn't a peace treaty." He declared pointedly. "It was an invitation for our enemies to walk right into our midst."
Mirai's blunt words and tone immediately elicited a frown from Hiruzen and the elders, their expressions reflecting a mix of frustration and contemplation. Hiashi, however, maintained his stoic demeanor, silently observing the unfolding drama with inscrutable thoughts.
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