Naruto: Fooling the Ninja World, I'm Hailed as a Savior

"Impudent!"

Hyuga Higo's gaze turned cold as he stared intently at Hyuga Kawa and sternly rebuked him, "The Byakugan concerns the Hyuga clan's century-long foundation. This is a choice concerning the clan's destiny! How dare you meddle!"

"'Clan's destiny,' indeed."

Hyuga Kawa's gaze swept across the faces of each elder. His pure white pupils reflected the faint gold and black silhouettes of the candlelight as he sneered, "Was my father being tortured to death by your cursed seal also because of the clan's destiny?"

The few Main House elders present instantly flinched. Their hands on their laps tightened slightly, and their peripheral vision instinctively darted towards the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi beside them.

This matter, if spoken aloud, wasn't pleasant to hear. Some things seem insignificant until weighed, but once on the scale, they become unbearably heavy. Hyuga Kawa's father, after all, was a registered jōnin of Konoha.

Therefore, regarding his father's cause of death, they had consistently declared to the outside world that he sacrificed himself to protect the Main House. Hyuga Kawa had even received "welfare benefits" because of this.

Now, with Hyuga Kawa suddenly bringing it up in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the elders felt a surge of anger, like their dirty laundry had been aired in front of outsiders.

"It is the Branch House's duty to protect the Main House. The Main House is the root of the Hyuga clan. Your father died a worthy death!"

Hyuga Higo's expression was terrifyingly grim. He felt provoked, and his arrogance as a superior was no longer concealed.

"Died a worthy death?" Hyuga Kawa retorted coldly, "I, my father, Lord Hizashi—our bodies carry the same blood as yours, yet we cannot even obtain the clan's inherited ninjutsu. Now you want us to sacrifice our lives, and suddenly you remember we're from the same root?"

"Impudent!"

"Arrogant!"

Two hot-tempered Main House elders rose in anger. If not for Hiruzen Sarutobi still being present, they would have already activated their cursed seals to severely punish him. Meeting their enraged rebukes, Hyuga Kawa stood his ground, neck stiff, not retreating an inch. Yet, deep in his eyes, his gaze flickered.

The reason he was putting on this act was certainly not because he genuinely wanted to die. Instead, he was well aware that if his upcoming plan proceeded smoothly, he wouldn't be able to stay in the Hyuga clan himself.

Even without this performance today, he would become an object of suspicion for the Main House and would likely be mysteriously "suicided." He could, of course, remove the Caged Bird seal, but he couldn't expose that fact yet.

Therefore, what he needed to do was make the Hyuga Main House hesitant to act against him. He needed to find a new patron, one stronger than the Hyuga Main House. He needed a new springboard, one larger than the Hyuga clan.

At this thought, Hyuga Kawa glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat silently like a statue, seemingly deep in thought.

At this moment, a flash of understanding crossed Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes. His gaze slightly lifted, sweeping past Hyuga Kawa's sorrowful face behind Hizashi.

Indeed, he's speaking out for his father and Hizashi, isn't he? This child is truly loyal and righteous, but too naive, unable to hide his emotions.

However, isn't this precisely the kind of subordinate those in power prefer?

"It's a pity, though," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. "If only his strength were a bit greater." The Hyuga clan's recent arrogance, coupled with the Uchiha clan's growing discontent, had made the Hokage wary.

His control over these two major Konoha clans was still too weak. Thus, he had already considered promoting subordinates from both clans.

Regardless, he needed to plant a few nails within both clans to prevent any unforeseen movements in the future from catching him unaware. This was the almost instinctive caution of one in power.

On the Uchiha side, through various intelligence investigations and analyses, he had already chosen Uchiha Shisui, a descendant of Uchiha Kagami. However, on the Hyuga side, he simply couldn't find a suitable candidate.

Main House members would never obey him, and Branch House members dared not defy the Main House. Servitude had long been firmly etched into their souls by the Caged Bird seal; most Branch House members had grown accustomed to the Main House's elevated status.

Now, it seemed Hyuga Kawa was a perfect fit, though his strength felt somewhat lacking.

"Alright, Kawa, that's enough."

Hyuga Hizashi spoke, neither too harshly nor too gently. His peripheral vision caught Kawa's bloodshot eyes and the sorrowful, resentful expression on his face. Hyuga Kawa had followed because he had recently come to return the ninjutsu scroll, and it happened that Hyuga Higo was also in the guest room.

At that time, Hyuga Higo and Hizashi were discussing in the guest room about Hizashi taking Hiashi's place to die. Hyuga Hizashi, with his more extensive combat experience, timely detected the hurried breathing from outside the room. He found an excuse to send Hyuga Higo away, then walked out, only to find Hyuga Kawa standing outside the guest room as if struck by lightning.

Fortunately, he managed to stop the suddenly enraged Hyuga Kawa in time; otherwise, the child, in his emotional state, would surely have burst in directly, perhaps even daring to rage and strike at Hyuga Higo.

"Sigh."

Thinking of Hyuga Kawa's emotional breakdown at the time, and now seeing the child's still deeply resentful expression, he knew the boy truly considered him "family." Hyuga Hizashi couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart.

He never expected that his recent concern for this child would make the orphaned boy so close to him, to the point of being unable to hide his resentment upon hearing about his impending sacrifice.

This child was truly too loyal and righteous; he wondered if that was a good or bad thing.

"Wait, wait a minute."

Hyuga Hiashi snapped back to attention, seemingly realizing something. He quickly rose and said, "What do you mean by 'last send-off' and 'dying man'? You…"

Hyuga Higo forcefully suppressed his offended anger, no longer looking at the utterly repulsive boy, and said coldly, "We will hand over Hizashi's body as your substitute."

"Hizashi has already agreed."

These words made Hyuga Hiashi look at Hizashi in disbelief. How could this be? How could Hizashi agree? Doesn't Hizashi only feel hatred for me, his older brother?

"But, but…" In his shock and confusion, Hyuga Hiashi spoke without thinking, "Didn't the Land of Lightning and Hidden Cloud Village want the Byakugan? If Hizashi dies, his Byakugan will also be destroyed. If that's the case, the Land of Lightning and Hidden Cloud Village won't accept it."

"From the Hidden Cloud ninja's attempt to abduct Hinata, it's clear the Hidden Cloud Village intended to do so," a grim look flashed in Hyuga Higo's eyes. "But the condition set by the Land of Lightning was to 'hand over the corpse of the culprit, Hyuga Hiashi'."

"As long as we pretend to accept this condition and then hand over Hizashi, who looks identical to you, the Hidden Cloud Village will have no legitimate reason to continue their aggressive demands."

At these words, Hyuga Hiashi opened his mouth but couldn't speak. He instinctively looked at Hizashi, who remained silent. Hyuga Hizashi's expression was calm, as if he had completely resigned himself to fate.

But in fact, he was waiting. Waiting for an answer, waiting for a choice. He was waiting for his good brother to give the same choice and answer, just as that person had predicted.