Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

This refers not only to the extra attention that Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and others paid to this aspect after the Uchiha clan left Konoha, but also to the Hyuga clan itself. If this clan were truly principled, they would not have made such a decision, either in the original story or in this life. Perhaps some people will say that it's because the Hyuga clan is not as strong as the Uchiha!

But this reason is completely untenable, because the Hyuga clan's decline to this extent was ultimately their own doing.

The Uchiha clan are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, so isn't the Hyuga clan also descendants of Hamura Otsutsuki?

Even if Hamura is slightly inferior to Hagoromo, they are both Kaguya Otsutsuki's biological sons, so in terms of bloodline, they should be no different!

Hamura's own Tenseigan is comparable to the Rinnegan!

Moreover, Kaguya's own original eyes are Byakugan!

This is enough to prove that, in terms of bloodline, the Hyuga clan is not inferior to the Uchiha clan at all. It's not that their eyes are inferior, but that their descendants are inferior. It's no wonder that no one in the Hyuga clan has awakened the Tenseigan in the past thousand years. There's a saying that goes, even though the descendants of Hamura on the moon aren't that great, at least they can awaken the Tenseigan, which makes them much stronger than the Hyuga clan.

This is what is meant by Hamura's true lineage being on the moon, while the Hyuga clan is more like an incomplete entity. Therefore, Shoji doesn't really expect the Hyuga clan to cause trouble. Ultimately, it's just an extra option, and there's also a tiny bit of Shoji's own agenda involved.

What exactly is it, and how should it be done?

That depends on how things unfold.

When circumstances change, the approach will naturally be different. No matter how well the plan is made now, if the situation changes, the previous plan will have to be scrapped and started all over again.

So, this time we just need to see if there's a more suitable opportunity!

Within the Land of Fire, not far from the main gate of Konohagakure.

Jiang Si followed closely behind Huang Tu, gazing at the giant gate. A faint glimmer of light shone in his clear black and white pupils as he thought to himself.

It was the beginning of the sweltering summer in July of Konoha Year 51.

More than a month later, Shoji once again set foot on Konoha Village's territory, and the Cloud Village, led by Tsuchida, arrived around the same time as Shoji and his group. The three great ninja villages once again restarted the so-called peace negotiations!

366. On the surface and in private

Inside the Hokage's office building in Konoha.

"The delegations from the two great ninja villages have arrived, right? Then let's proceed according to the established plan. There's no need to change anything regarding Kumogakure; we just need to confirm a few details. As for Iwagakure, we need to pay closer attention to them. En, you'll be in charge of this. Shikaku, you'll assist Elder Mitokado!"

The Third Hokage sat upright in his main seat, looking at Mitokado Homura beside him, and Shikaku, who had just returned to the village with the Iwagakure delegation. He then spoke to them.

As for Jiraiya, he returned to Konoha a while earlier, when the main force of Iwagakure withdrew to Iwagakure after the Third Tsuchikage. However, he has not yet shown up. These mundane matters are not something Jiraiya likes to get involved in. This hero is definitely the type to avoid such things if possible.

"Ok!"

"Yes, Lord Third Generation!"

Mitokado Homura and Nara Shikaku responded in unison.

"In addition, we must pay close attention to strengthening the village's security during this period. Notify the barrier team and the perception team to ensure that the previous problems do not occur again!"

learn from mistakes.

The incident with the Iwagakure delegation was Danzo's doing, but Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to go through the same thing with the Kumogakure delegation again. External surveillance and internal security were things that needed to be done simultaneously!

"The defense of the area near the hotel where the mission is staying will be your responsibility, Haiyi, Leitong!"

The Third Hokage looked at Yamanaka Inoichi, and another young man with a scar on his face said the same thing. The scarred man was Namishita Raito, one of the Fourth Hokage's close bodyguards.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Yamanaka Inoichi and Namiashi Raido responded in unison.

To be honest, before, everyone on the Konoha side, from Hiruzen Sarutobi down to any ordinary Konoha ninja, had become somewhat lax in their mindset, revealing obvious gaps in the village's defenses. This seemingly very tight security, in the eyes of Jonin who are skilled in stealth, still had obvious loopholes that could be exploited. Putting aside the fact that they hadn't deployed sensory ninjas in advance, that was the biggest mistake. Even if it wasn't Hyuga clan ninjas using the Byakugan to monitor them 24 hours a day, any Jonin with a slightly higher level of sensory ability would have made it impossible for anyone from the Kumogakure to easily escape the Konoha side's sight.

Just like in the original work, even Jonin who reached the level of Maki and Kabuto Yakushi were still detected by Konoha. This is a good example. Including Kage-level figures like Kyoto and Shoji, once they are monitored closely by the Byakugan 24 hours a day, there is a certain probability that they will have a hard time avoiding it.

This time, the Third Hokage has learned his lesson and is determined to comprehensively strengthen the security and awareness of all aspects of his village, and do everything in his power to prevent any further accidents from happening to the Cloud Ninja delegation and the Iwa Ninja delegation.

"Alright, then, I'll leave it to you to handle!"

The Third Hokage nodded slightly and spoke softly.

"Yes!"

After responding to their respective responses, Mitokado Homura, Shikaku, Inoichi, and Raido all left the Hokage's office building to carry out their assigned tasks.

At the same time.

Having already arrived at their lodging, Huang Tu and Jiang Si's group could clearly notice the significant increase in Konoha security personnel around the lodging. Among these personnel, a few with strikingly white eyes stood out. These were clearly Jonin from the Hyuga clan, seemingly telling them, these outsiders, that once they arrived in Konoha, they shouldn't try to cause trouble; they would be closely watched!

'That's truly luxurious treatment!'

A faint glint of light appeared in Jiang Si's pupils as he murmured softly, "Although the Hyuga clan's Byakugan is indeed quite troublesome, and last time when I infiltrated the Hyuga clan's territory, I was even spotted by Hyuga Hiashi at close range, that's all. If all these Hyuga clan ninjas could stay inside the inn, then Jiang Si would indeed have a hard time making any progress."

Otherwise, Jiang Si still has ways to evade these people's surveillance and sneak away to carry out his plan.

In fact, these Konoha ninjas, ostensibly guards but actually there to keep an eye on and monitor the Iwa ninja delegation, could not possibly enter the inn. They couldn't even stand guard at the four corners of the inn; that would be far too blatant.

Diplomatic activities between nations and ninja villages should not be conducted in this way. This time, Konoha's actions are only considered "reasonable" because of the previous incident involving Kumogakure. If they were to go any further...

Huang Tu and Jiang Si had every reason to erupt!

This is a superficial relationship of courtesy that Konoha must maintain. The most important point is that these people still have full confidence in the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. No matter how strong Uchiha Shoji is, personal strength is one thing, but being able to stay hidden, conceal one's tracks, and sense and investigate are another matter entirely.

Therefore, from the perspective of these Konoha ninjas, there is absolutely no problem if they keep a slight distance. In addition, there is another factor: in the last incident, the main party was the Cloud Ninja delegation, not the Iwa Ninja delegation. The Cloud Ninja delegation was attacked by their own side. The lower and middle-ranking Konoha ninjas were unaware of this, but the Konoha's high-ranking members and the leaders of the major clans knew a little about it.

This time, the focus is more on keeping an eye on the Cloud Ninja delegation; the Iwagakure village is just a side project!

Prevention is better than cure!

"It seems that the Cloud Ninja delegation incident last time really gave Konoha a big shock. This time it's blatant, full-scale surveillance!"

Upon entering the inn, Akatsuchi, who had followed him, looked at the Konoha ninjas guarding the area not far away and spoke with a peculiar expression.

"Once bitten by a snake, twice shy; this is practically standard practice in Konoha!"

Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and said in a slightly flippant tone, "Although my eyesight has deteriorated significantly, I can still see the vigilance and seriousness of the Konoha ninjas at this distance."

"Then what will you do, Commander?"

The other ordinary members of the delegation returned to their rooms. Only Huang Tu, Jiang Si, and Akatsuchi were together. As high-ranking or near-high-ranking members of Iwagakure, they knew that Jiang Si's return to Konohagakure was for a special purpose, but they were not entirely clear about the specifics. The area was under strict surveillance by Konoha ninjas, which was enough to make most people nervous, not to mention the Jonin of the Hyuga clan!

Even Huang Tu wasn't entirely confident that he could completely evade the Byakugan surveillance of these Hyuga clan Jonin!

"At this distance, there's still a chance, and it all depends on the specific situation. No matter how tight the security and surveillance are, there will always be some gaps!"

Jiang Si smiled lightly and said.

Peace negotiations between ninja villages are not something that can be resolved in a day or two. Even though Konoha and Kumogakure have almost finalized all the terms, and Konoha has already implemented most of them, it will still take several more days to finalize the agreement. Let alone the peace agreement between Iwagakure and Konohagakure.

Even the smallest point of interest is absolutely worth fighting for. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi is willing to give up a certain amount of benefits to Iwagakure in exchange for the signing of a peace agreement, it does not mean that Iwagakure will give them whatever they want. They will definitely fight for what they want!

The Third Hokage's choice to compromise and endure does not mean he was a complete fool who would take whatever he wanted. It is foreseeable that the negotiations between the two villages will be protracted, and it would be strange if they did not last for ten days or half a month!

Therefore, Shoji has ample time to execute his plan. He should at least spend some time understanding the general situation in Konoha Village, especially the Hyuga clan. Shoji must begin reconnaissance work and collect as much useful information as possible.

For example, determining the whereabouts of certain people is a top priority. Unless absolutely necessary, Si is not very willing to infiltrate the Hyuga clan's territory alone again. It's obvious that after the last Cloud Ninja infiltration incident, the Hyuga clan will definitely strengthen the security of their territory. And since he is not the kind of person who is particularly good at stealth and infiltration, the probability of being discovered will definitely increase a lot.

"Well, you can handle it yourself. Leave the negotiations to me and Akatsuchi. If you need anything, just let me know. Kito and Shimono can also provide you with necessary assistance. However, if it's too much to bear, Shoji, I suggest you choose to give up when the time is right. There's no need to take risks!"

Huang Tu nodded slightly and said.

Kito and Shimono were also members of the Iwagakure delegation. One was skilled in barrier techniques, and the other was a sensory ninja. In the vast Iwagakure village, they were already outstanding individuals.

Jiang Si was well aware of this as well, and replied with the same serious expression, "Yes, I understand. Don't worry, Huang Tu-san, this is Konoha. I will know my limits and will definitely not take any risks!"

"Okay, that's good. Get some rest today. The negotiations will probably have to wait until tomorrow!"

As Huang Tu said, although the arrival of the two major ninja villages was only in the afternoon, giving them ample time to begin the first round of negotiations, Konoha clearly did not intend to do so. It is very likely that they wanted to give all three parties time to prepare psychologically. On the day the delegations from Iwagakure and Kumogakure arrived, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, as representatives of the Hokage, received the delegations from Iwagakure and Kumogakure respectively, and directly informed the leaders of the two delegations, Huang Tu and Tsuchida, that the formal talks would be held tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, respectively.

The negotiations were clearly going to be conducted separately. When Tsuchida and Kyoto faced Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu respectively, they both frowned slightly, but did not say much. As newcomers, they wanted to see how things went before making any decisions. In particular, Kyoto, as the leader of the Iwa ninja delegation, had previously been somewhat hostile to the Kumo ninja.

While their own side was fighting tooth and nail, the Cloud Ninja were reaping the benefits. By all accounts, they were the ones who had been blacklisted by their own side. If they were to go along with their subjective feelings, negotiating separately would be in line with the Iwa Ninja's wishes. However, since both sides share the same goal of Konoha, and it involves national interests, it would be the best option for the two villages to further join forces and exert pressure in the negotiations.

However, there are too many things to consider and worry about. Anyway, it's only the first day, and we can adjust slowly later. There's no need to rush. This is the view of the Iwagakure side. However, this is obviously not the attitude of the Kumogakure side. It can be said that the Kumogakure side is already reaping huge profits because they obtained their gains too easily before.

The Fourth Raikage, with a somewhat insatiable ambition, hoped to seize even more benefits. His decision to dispatch Tsuchida, one of the most senior high-ranking advisors in Kumogakure, demonstrates that his aspirations extend far beyond the present.

However, after weighing the situation, it would be somewhat difficult for them to directly attack Konoha; they would have to continue to involve Iwagakure.

Therefore!

After Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu finished entertaining their respective guests and returned from the inns in Iwagakure and Kumogakure, Tsuchida, the leader of the Kumogakure delegation, openly paid a visit to the inn where Iwagakure was staying!

The moment I received the message.

Huang Tu and Jiang Si were both slightly taken aback.

"It seems the Cloud Ninja have some ulterior motives after all!"

A hint of contemplation flickered in Huang Tu's eyes as he spoke softly.

"And it's an open conspiracy, they want to use the power of our Iwagakure Village, what a shameless bunch of brats!"

Jiang Si snorted coldly, a hint of mockery clearly appearing on his face. Although it is true that countries are based on interests, and the five great ninja villages are full of intrigue and backstabbing, with the Cloud Village and the Iwa Village having a blood feud, it is common for one to scheme against the other. However, it is rare for the Cloud Village to be so shameless.

"So, should we meet or not?"

Akato, sitting to the side, asked with a hint of doubt.

Huang Tu and Jiang Si exchanged a glance and nodded slowly.

"We still need to meet them. Our main target is Konoha. Even if we don't know what the Cloud Ninja is planning, we at least need them to put pressure on Konoha so that we can secure the greatest benefit for ourselves!"

Emotion is one aspect, and reason is another.

What they think and how they see things in their hearts will not affect Huang Tu and Jiang Si's ability to make the most correct judgment. However, this time they must be more vigilant and absolutely cannot be fooled by those two bastards, Yun Ren.

Once you've been taught a lesson, that's enough. If you do it again, it just makes you look a bit crazy!

"Huang Tu-san, let me accompany you to meet this senior Tsuchida. I am quite interested in this strategist who has been the highest strategist of Kumogakure since the time of the Third Raikage!"

Although Tsuchida doesn't have many scenes in the original work and isn't considered a very important character, that's because it's from Naruto's perspective, so it's difficult to delve into the descriptions of other characters. After arriving in this world, Tsuchida himself gained a thorough understanding of the power dynamics among the major nations and developed a deep knowledge of some important figures, such as Baki from Sunagakure and Genji from Kirigakure.

This Tsuchidae from Kumogakure is one of them.

This is a figure that Kumogakure absolutely cannot ignore right now. Shoji has the highest ambitions for this ninja world, so he cannot ignore any of these figures. Today is a great opportunity to get close to this highest strategist of Kumogakure, and Shoji will naturally not miss it.

"Well, it's good to get to know him. This guy caused quite a bit of trouble for our Iwagakure back in the day!"

Huang Tu was not surprised and nodded.

Then.

The two of them headed straight for the reception room that the hotel had. When they arrived, Tsuchida was already sitting on the sofa on the left side of the reception room, led by the Iwa ninja guarding the perimeter.

The moment I saw the yellow earth and the figure of the general appeared.