Naruto, your uncle is going to be Hokage!

Didn't I already remind him not to mention this in the meeting?

As Hiruzen Sarutobi glared angrily at Hiashi, a shocked discussion erupted in the conference room.

"Using Hiashi's brother to please the Raikage? When did Konoha become so weak?"

"The Hyuga is the largest ninja clan in Konoha. If this were to happen to our clan..."

Is it wrong for a father to protect his daughter?

Amidst the clamor and shock, Hiashi Hyuga met Hiruzen Sarutobi's angry gaze directly, without flinching.

His gaze was calm.

Hokage-sama, please forgive me for going against you this time.

His memory went back to the day before the meeting.

……

"No!"

"How can you let Hizashi die in my place? Neji is only four years old!"

"This is the result of discussions among the elders. The Hokage has already agreed. Isn't this the kind of situation where the branch family comes into play?"

"How could I possibly agree to this, to let my own brother die in my place..."

Hiashi Hyuga collapsed onto the futon, completely unprepared for things to turn out this way.

"Brother, I've already agreed."

With an almost identical appearance, Hyuga Hizashi, whose forehead was wrapped in bandages, knelt on the futon in front of him, his eyes gentle.

"As a branch family, wasn't it created to protect the main family?"

"Being able to die protecting my brother is the best outcome for me as his younger brother."

Hiashi Hyuga clenched his fists in frustration.

"Damn it! How could it have turned out like this?"

How could they possibly accept something like this!

So, do you want to change all of this?

The tightly closed door slid open slowly, and a calm yet somewhat heavy voice rang out from outside the room.

Hiashi Hyuga raised his head and looked at the blond figure that had suddenly appeared.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Future, how did you end up here?"

This is the Hinata council chamber. Why would Namikaze Mirai be here?

So he heard the whole conversation just now?

"Can you really accept having your own brother die in your place?"

Namikaze Mirai looked down at Hyuga Hiashi.

His biomagnetic field perception covered the entire Hyuga region; nothing that happened here could escape his eyes.

Hiashi Hyuga's eyes were filled with tears as he clenched his fists in resentment.

"If possible, I would never make this choice, but it's about the Hokage..."

"Leave the Hokage situation to me. From now on, please do exactly as I say."

After listening to Namikaze Mirai's words, Hyuga Hiashi's eyes went from confusion to surprise, and then to shock.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I'm not helping you, I'm helping your brother."

"I?"

Hijiri, who had prepared herself for death, was completely taken aback by the unexpected turn of events and stared in astonishment at Namikaze Mirai.

I wanted to find the answer to what was going on in his face.

A hint of sadness subtly appeared in Miki Namikaze's azure eyes.

That was an emotion completely different from his tough exterior.

"Perhaps it's because he's also a younger brother and wants to protect his older brother?"

Hyuga Hizashi gazed at the melancholy Namikaze Mirai, and his body suddenly trembled.

He suddenly remembered.

When that night happened, Mirai Namikaze was not in the village and could only watch Minato die.

Nothing can be done.

……

Japan! Why?

Why do this!

As Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Hiashi Hyuga, flames seemed to burn in his eyes, his heavy, angry gaze conveying a barrage of questions.

Hasn't the matter of the Japanese trade route already been decided?

How could something like this be brought into the open?

Put it under the watchful eyes of all the high-ranking officials in Konoha!

Are you suggesting they see their Hokage using your brother's death to appease the Raikage?

"Hokage, I would like to ask if what Hiashi Hyuga said is true?"

The question was asked by the head of the Inuzuka clan.

If even the Hyuga clan is treated this way, how would it turn out if it happened to smaller clans like theirs?

All eyes were focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his sweaty hands, his eyes shifting from struggle to hesitation, and finally to exhaustion...

"Yes."

Of course!

An uproar!

Konoha is actually willing to sacrifice the life of the Hyuga clan leader's younger brother to appease the Raikage?

The big joke of slipping the world!

Konoha is the strongest ninja village!

To make such concessions is almost a disgrace to relinquish the interests of the village's ninja clan!

Besides, wasn't it clearly Kumogakure that was at fault first?

Hiashi was only doing it to protect his daughter!

Namikaze Mirai remained casually leaning back in her chair, her posture unchanged since she entered.

It was as if this outcome had been anticipated all along.

"My Hokage, when did Konoha become so weak? To exchange the life of the clan head's younger brother for the forgiveness of a mere Kumogakure village?"

What seemed like a casual remark from Mirai Namikaze sounded like an invisible fire to Hiruzen Sarutobi, scorching his mind and body.

The patriarchs of the surrounding ninja clans were also filled with resentment.

Wrong!

So damn frustrating!

"This is for Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked reluctant and sighed.

"Hizashi is a ninja who truly embodies the Will of Fire. He chose this path because of the beliefs in his heart."

His voice had barely faded when a sudden burst of laughter erupted, first a sneer, then a loud laugh, and finally an uncontrollable maniacal laugh!

"Hahahaha!!! What a damn Fire Will!"

Namikaze Mirai threw her head back and laughed wildly, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

This wild laughter caught the attention of Uchiha Setsuna and the others nearby, and their eyes immediately lit up!

Namikaze Mirai's maniacal laughter was even more standard than theirs!

"To be able to call cowardice so elegant and refined, Hiruzen Sarutobi, your skin is thicker than I imagined!"

"The peace treaty signed by Kumogakure was just a smokescreen from the beginning. Its real purpose was to seize Konoha's bloodline limit! As the Hokage, you knew this perfectly well, yet you still wanted to sacrifice the life of an unrelated Hizashi to beg for the Raikage's forgiveness!"

"Third Hokage, you're too weak! Where is even a trace of the spirit of Oshio?"

"If I were the Hokage, I would never be so weak!"

As soon as he said that, Danzo, who was standing next to him, could no longer hold back and glared at him angrily.