Only I can make Konoha Village great again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers trembled, but the resolute look in his eyes as he glanced at the villagers of Konoha before leaving chilled Hiashi Hyuga's heart.

That look revealed the Third Hokage's decision.

He was determined to make peace talks, even if it meant sacrificing Hiashi Hyuga and chilling the hearts of the Hyuga clan.

At the same time, he believed that the villagers of Konoha would understand him and stand with him.

Back in the office, Koharu Utatane couldn't help but suggest, "Hiruzen, how about we take a break..."

"shut up!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted sternly, "The survival of Konoha is far more important than the innocence of one person, and more important than the grievances of one clan!"

His gaze swept over his three classmates, and he said in an icy tone, "It is a fact that Hyuga Hiashi killed the Cloud Village envoy, and it is also a fact that Cloud Village used this as leverage."

"Of course I know the Cloud Village ninjas are in the wrong, but if we don't compromise, that madman Fourth Raikage will definitely join forces with the Hidden Mist Village."

"Orochimaru is powerful, and his new student, Yamanaka Hatsuku, is also powerful, but can they simultaneously withstand the attacks from both Kumogakure and Kirigakure?"

Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Hiruzen Sarutobi all looked at Danzo Shimura.

Danzo Shimura: "..."

Danzo: Why do I feel like you guys are resenting me for not being able to fight, letting Kirigakure shit on Hiruzen's head?

Hiruzen: Damn it, it's not a misunderstanding, that's exactly what we meant!

If Shimura Danzo could inflict heavy losses on Kumogakure, killing three to five thousand ninjas, like Orochimaru did, forcing them to come to Konoha for negotiations, Kumogakure would have no room to bargain with him!

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath: "I must stop the rampage of Kumogakure and prevent Konoha from being attacked from both sides at all costs."

"Once Orochimaru is caught in a desperate situation with enemies on both sides, his victory will be in vain, and the Cloud Village army may approach the absolute defensive perimeter of Konoha Village, which is 1,000 kilometers away."

"By then, who can guarantee that Sunagakure and Iwagakure won't break the agreement?"

"If the four great ninja villages were to attack again, Konoha wouldn't just lose Hiashi Hyuga, but tens of thousands of Konoha ninja!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the spirits of the three old men.

They understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's concerns.

Danzo Shimura was dissatisfied, but lacking any battle record to support his tough stance, he could only show his resentment and dare not speak out.

Mitokado Homura found it hard to accept the practice of "external ninjas harming internal forces," fearing it would completely chill the hearts of the people in Konoha. He also kept quiet because he had no military achievements.

Xiaochun, who was turning over to her new room, kept her eyes closed and didn't say anything.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Shinnosuke, send an ANBU ninja to convey my message to Hiashi Hyuga."

"I want a Hyuga corpse, otherwise the Hyuga clan will be my enemy, the Third Hokage."

A few minutes later, Hiashi Hyuga stood in his living room, his back still straight, but the determination in his eyes was gone, replaced by deep disappointment: "I understand what the Hokage means."

"But has he ever considered that if he sacrifices my Hyuga clan today, he could sacrifice any ninja who protects Konoha tomorrow?"

"By then, who will still be willing to sacrifice themselves for Konoha?"

"Without ninjas willing to sacrifice themselves, is Konoha still Konoha?"

The ANBU ninja who delivered the message greatly admired the Third Hokage. Upon hearing this, his eyes widened in fury. "Hyuga Hiashi, how dare you!"

"The Hokage was also thinking of the bigger picture. As the head of the Hyuga clan, you should prioritize Konoha. How can you be so selfish?"

"Selfish?" Hiashi Hyuga laughed self-deprecatingly, his laughter filled with sorrow: "You should leave. I have no reason to talk to an ANBU like you, and it's not appropriate for you, as an ANBU, to say such things."

The ANBU ninja was startled; as an ANBU member, openly expressing his opinion was a serious violation of regulations.

He didn't expect that after he contradicted the Hyuga clan leader, he would still try not to embarrass him too much.

Heavy breathing echoed in the air. The young ANBU ninja had mixed feelings, but in the end, he left without saying a word.

After today's public confrontation, the elders of the Hyuga main family finally understood the Hyuga's predicament: it was like being stranded on the side of the road.

Not only did the Third Hokage trample on their dignity, but the Konoha elders also disregarded them. Even an unknown ANBU ninja dared to contradict the clan leader.

How embarrassing and frustrating!

The Hyuga elders looked solemn; the pride of the Hyuga clan was truly shattered.

Hiashi Hyuga sneered, "Fine, just as Orochimaru and Yamanaka Hatsuyu predicted. They're really pushing me relentlessly!"

Several clan elders looked apprehensive: "Clan leader, perhaps we should listen to the Third Hokage..."

Hyuga Hizashi's face was ashen: "For the sake of the Hyuga clan, for the sake of my elder brother, perhaps I should..."

Hiashi Hyuga roared, "Shut up, all of you!"

"The wisdom of Yamanaka Chujiu is astonishing; he foresaw the foolish decisions you idiots would make!"

"From this moment forward, all of you are to abandon your thinking and simply obey my orders!"

"I am the head of the Hyuga clan, and I am responsible for the fate of the Hyuga clan!"

Hyuga Hizashi was very obedient and docile. Upon receiving his elder brother's order, he immediately took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and asked, "Clan Chief, what should we do?"

Hiashi Hyuga said, "It's simple. Announce everything, post big-character posters, send ninjas to give announcements, and let everyone in Konoha know what happened."

Hyuga Hizashi's brain went blank again: "Huh?"

Hiashi Hyuga sneered, "Hatsukyu Yamanaka is right. No matter what the Third Hokage says, his actions are essentially a shady conspiracy."

"All conspiracies, once exposed to the light of day, will melt away like ice cream in summer, leaving the instigators with sticky hands that will never be clean."

Hyuga Hizashi stammered, "But we are ninjas."

"Ninjas don't keep secrets; they just reveal everything. Really, really, is there no problem?"

Hiashi Hyuga said helplessly, "Little brother, I've already told you, don't think about it anymore, just do it."

"Besides, even if you ask me, I can't tell you!"

"I heard it from Shan Zhong Chu Jiu myself, and I think what he said makes a lot of sense, but if you ask me to explain it, I can't."

"In short, just follow the orders."

Just as Yamanaka Hatsukyu predicted, it was wrong for Konoha to compromise with the defeated Kumogakure, who cheated on the battlefield, even though Konoha had won the battle.

When information is confined to the ninja circle, ninjas whose minds are full of conspiracies, assassinations, intelligence, and secrecy can easily be persuaded by the Third Hokage even if they sense that something is wrong.

In fact, they hadn't figured it out; they just habitually trusted the Hokage's authority and denied their own judgment.

But the ordinary villagers were not so easily persuaded.

Young ninjas who haven't yet accepted that ninjas are tools and that ninjas must walk in the darkness cannot be convinced by a simple "for Konoha".

After the public outcry, the Konoha ninjas who had been persuaded also realized what was happening.

Hinata is right, why should we suffer?

Are we, Konoha Village, the defeated ones who sought peace?