Malphegor
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HGBW: Ch. 61
🕑 Added 2025-03-07 03:03:46 +0000 UTCSeeing the sharp edge of Hizashi, the people present completely changed their view of him. They no longer saw him as just the shadow or tool.
Instead, they now saw him as a bold and determined great clan leader with extraordinary means.
"The Hyūga clan's contributions to Konoha are well known to all," Hiruzen addressed Hizashi.
"Your clan has dedicated both manpower and effort to the village, Hiashi. I am deeply gratified."
Turning to the assembled clan leaders, he gestured toward Hizashi. "You should all learn from Hizashi. After all, in his eyes, there is not just the clan—there is also the village."
"A hundred people—that's one-third of the entire Hyūga clan!"
Hiruzen gave Hizashi a deep look, but he did not engage in further debate. Instead, he shifted the topic and highly praised him, without the slightest hint of suppression.
However, to the other clan heads in the meeting room, his words took on a different meaning.
Some of them, upon looking at Hizashi, revealed dissatisfaction in their eyes.
As expected of you. With just a few words, you've isolated Hizashi.
And at the same time, used this to pressure the ninja clans of Konoha to send even more of their people.
Orochimaru watched this unfold and secretly admired his teacher's methods.
Konoha… When did it become like this?
Tsunade looked at Hiruzen, who sat in the central seat, feeling an overwhelming sense of disgust. Gone was the respect she once had for him.
Others might not know, but she was well aware...
That man who always preached about righteousness and the Will of Fire was the same one who, during the Second Great Ninja War, merely sent a dozen Sarutobi ninjas to the battlefield as a token effort.
All in the name of "Konoha needs the Sarutobi clan to remain in command."
What was even more disgusting was that while the leaders of other ninja villages personally fought in the war, the Hokage of Konoha cowered inside the Hokage office.
Hizashi naturally noticed the dissatisfied gazes around him, but he only sneered in his heart and paid them no mind.
You could never satisfy everyone.
He understood this well.
If he were to yield to Hiruzen's pressure and once again send almost all of his branch house members to the battlefield, just as he had during the main house's rule, there would certainly be consequences.
Rather than caring about the dissatisfaction of others, he was more focused on the fact that the branch house had changed under his leadership.
A hundred people—it may be one-third of the clan, but it was still much better than the past, when they would send out everyone and leave nothing behind.
Moreover, he had participated in the war before. He understood the bigger picture.
When the nest was overturned, no egg remained unbroken.
If Konoha were to lose in the Great Ninja War, the branch house would be destroyed along with it.
So, he did not refuse to send his people to battle or on missions. What he resented was Konoha's endless exploitation—draining the branch house dry without giving anything in return.
The peak of the Third Hokage… truly remarkable! Tanaka had now witnessed Hiruzen's tactics firsthand.
But he was not angry.
Unless the entire branch house left Konoha, once war broke out, they would never be able to stay uninvolved.
If they refused to contribute at all, the Konoha Council would seize the opportunity to exploit them even more.
Of course, there was another way—to become the Fourth Hokage, one with real power. Then, he could do as Hiruzen did now and let the branch house live like the Sarutobi clan, feeding off Konoha while avoiding the battlefield.
There's still time. The news of White Fang's death should be suppressed for a while longer.
When the war truly reignites, will it still be a hundred from the branch house sent to battle, or will it be three thousand from the Sarutobi clan? That remains to be seen.
Having suffered the fate of being branded with the Caged Bird—a devastating start to his journey—he remained as calm as still water. There was not a trace of impatience in him.
For someone who had consumed the Op-Op Fruit, the truth of Konoha was already within the reach of his ROOM ability.
As long as he awakened the power of his fruit, or if his ROOM could expand to cover all of Konoha, then whether it was the "Sarutobi Collapse Plan" or the "Konoha Council Collapse Plan," he could execute them all with a single slash.
For now, the flames of war needed more time to ferment before they reignited.
During this time, he would continue to grow and develop.
At this moment, Hiruzen had no idea that the man standing before him, Tanaka, had already set his sights on the 3,000 Sarutobi troops.
After subtly applying pressure on the Hyūga clan and ensuring that many clan heads became dissatisfied with Hizashi, their initial displeasure over the clan's reduced contributions to the village began to dissipate significantly.
"Besides the news of White Fang's death, the changes in the ANBU commander, and the Hyūga clan's matters, there is one more issue to discuss."
"That is the proposal Tsunade once put forward—to establish a medical ninja training system and restructure mission assignments to include medical-nin."
"Considering the current tense situation in the ninja world and the potential resurgence of the war at any time, the village's financial situation simply cannot support such an extensive reform."
"I propose to postpone this plan and reconsider it once the situation stabilizes."
Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the table a few times and continued, "Of course, this is just my personal opinion."
"The medical ninja training system and the restructuring of mission assignments impact the entire village and concern every Konoha ninjas. It should not be decided by the Hokage alone. Instead, we should listen to the opinions of others."
"So, since all of you present are the foundation of the village, let us vote on the matter."
"The minority shall obey the majority."
"Those in favor of implementing the medical ninja training system, please raise your hands."
After he finished speaking, he scanned the room, remaining silent.
"..."
Everyone exchanged glances, yet no one spoke.
Each person present was a shrewd strategist.
They understood that this was a political battle between the Third Hokage and Tsunade.
He did not want to upset Tsunade outright, nor did he want to be the one playing the villain. By putting the matter to a vote, he used the various clan leaders as a shield to force Tsunade into abandoning her plan.
On one side stood Hiruzen, at the peak of his power.
On the other side was Tsunade, now alone, with no support from the Senju clan.
The outcome was obvious.
"Hiruzen-sensei, can't you see how much my proposal would reduce unnecessary sacrifices in the village?"
"Can't you see how much benefit a medical ninja training system would bring to Konoha?"
"In your eyes, does a ninja's life really matter less than a bit of money?"
Seeing that no one voted in favor, Tsunade could no longer suppress her temper. She suddenly stood up and slammed her fist on the conference table, shattering it into pieces.
"Tsunade, Hiruzen-sensei didn't mean it that way. Calm down."
Jiraiya, afraid that Tsunade and Hiruzen would become mortal enemies from this moment on, immediately stepped in to mediate.
"Tsunade, I understand how you feel. In my heart, Konoha comes before everything else. But as Hokage, sometimes I must accept reality."
"In Konoha's current state, there truly aren't enough financial and human resources to support your plan."
Hiruzen looked at the furious Tsunade without anger. Instead, he spoke with a heavy and sincere tone, trying to persuade her.
Boom!
Tsunade didn't respond with words. Instead, she clenched her fist, her gaze turning cold. Chakra surged within her, erupting into a chaotic storm inside the meeting room.
The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, as if a battle was about to break out.
Comments
Malphegor
Your perk gives you access to 20 chapters
Sviatoslav Saharuk
Почему у меня только 20 глав если я только это и читаю?
