Naruto: Godly Career System

Early the next morning, Kai Mitarashi stepped into the Hokage's office right on time, accompanied by Kimimaro, Haku, and Itachi Uchiha.

"Hokage-sama, I've brought them here to accept a mission," Kai said directly.

"Hmm..." The Third Hokage glanced at Kai and his team, a look of slight consternation on his face. Although they were officially a genin squad, even without Kai, the team's overall strength was no less than that of an elite ANBU unit.

And with Kai included... The Third Hokage hesitated to even imagine it. Frankly, he couldn't think of anyone in the ninja world capable of standing against them.

After pondering for a long while, the Third Hokage finally spoke, "The negotiation delegations from Iwagakure and Kumogakure will be arriving in Konoha shortly. During this period, your squad will be responsible for ensuring the village's security."

Negotiators from Iwagakure and Kumogakure? Kai stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Understood," Kai replied nonchalantly.

The negotiations between Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure proceeded surprisingly smoothly. After all, Iwagakure and Kumogakure were the defeated parties in the war, and with the daimyos of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning already having conceded, the delegations from the two villages were merely going through the motions.

In one of Konoha's inns.

The leader of the Kumogakure delegation was Yagetsu Saki, a member of the Kumogakure Elder Council. He stared at the scroll containing the terms of the surrender treaty in his hands, his expression grim. After a long silence, he slammed the scroll onto the table and glared at Iwamon, the assistant to the Tsuchikage, with fury in his eyes.

"Iwamon, are you seriously willing to accept a treaty like this on behalf of Iwagakure?" Saki demanded angrily.

Iwamon glanced at Saki, his tone indifferent. "What other choice do we have? This is a decision our two nations' daimyos have already finalized. There's no changing it."

"Hmph! Even if it can't be changed, we must make Konoha pay a price!" Saki spat venomously.

Iwamon frowned and asked, "What exactly do you Kumogakure ninja intend to do?"

A glint of malice flashed in Saki's eyes. "Konoha has so many clans with kekkei genkai. We'll find a way to capture some of their bloodline limit users and bring them back to our village."

"And you're not afraid of Konoha's retaliation?" Iwamon's gaze turned icy as he looked at Saki.

Saki sneered dismissively. "Even if Konoha is the victor, do you think they'd dare to start another war over one or two bloodline limit users?"

Iwamon's expression shifted to one of disdain, as if he were looking at a dead man.

Saki might not have witnessed it firsthand, but Iwamon had seen with his own eyes how Kai had obliterated an allied force of nearly thirty thousand Iwagakure and Kumogakure ninja with a single technique. The sheer terror of that memory was deeply etched into Iwamon's soul.

"Whatever you Kumogakure ninja plan to do, don't drag us Iwagakure ninja into it," Iwamon said coldly before turning and leaving.

Anger flashed across Saki's face as he muttered bitterly, "Typical Iwagakure—useless in both victory and defeat. We should never have allied with them in the first place."

He clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "It seems I'll need to plan this carefully. For the sake of Kumogakure, even if a few ninja have to die, so be it."

Back in the Hokage's office.

"What? You're saying two members of the Kumogakure delegation were found dead in Konoha last night?" The Third Hokage's face darkened as he questioned the ANBU operative delivering the report.

"Yes," the ANBU ninja confirmed.

"Do we know who did it?" the Third Hokage asked, his brows furrowed.

"According to ANBU surveillance, no Konoha ninja entered the inn where the Kumogakure delegation was staying last night. Furthermore, the Kumogakure delegation has refused to allow us to investigate the cause of death," the operative replied.

"I see... Did they say anything else?" The Third Hokage's unease grew.

"They're adamant that it was Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga clan, who killed their people. They've demanded that we hand him over to them. If we refuse, they claim they'll go to war with Konoha again," the ANBU ninja reported swiftly.

"Hiashi Hyuga? That's impossible," the Third Hokage said, his expression filled with doubt. If it had been the Uchiha clan, he might have believed it. But the Hyuga clan was far too conservative to act recklessly, especially during such a sensitive time. And for the clan head himself to be involved? It was unthinkable.

After a moment of contemplation, the Third Hokage ordered, "Summon Hiashi Hyuga... No, I'll go to the Hyuga compound myself."

At the Hyuga compound.

Today was supposed to be a day of celebration for the Hyuga clan. It was the third birthday of Hinata Hyuga, the eldest daughter of the main family, and the day she would be officially recognized as the heir. However, the festive atmosphere was abruptly interrupted by the Third Hokage's sudden arrival.

Facing the Hokage, Hiashi Hyuga wore a troubled expression. "Hokage-sama, are you saying that Kumogakure is accusing me of murdering their delegation members?"

The Third Hokage nodded gravely. "Yes."

"Impossible! My brother was with me the entire night!" Hizashi Hyuga suddenly interjected loudly.

"Are you certain?" The Third Hokage's sharp gaze turned to Hizashi.

"I'm certain because..." Hizashi hesitated, his face turning even more troubled than Hiashi's.

After a long pause, Hizashi gritted his teeth and said, "Because last night was the night we branded Neji with the Caged Bird Seal. Not only was I there, but most of the clan elders can also attest to it."

The Third Hokage could tell that Hizashi was telling the truth. His years of political experience allowed him to immediately recognize this as a plot by Kumogakure targeting the Hyuga clan.

"As the head of the Hyuga clan, Hiashi must not be handed over," one of the Hyuga elders suddenly declared.

"That's right. We cannot allow it!"

"Hiashi must not be surrendered!"

The other elders quickly voiced their agreement.

"Enough," Hiashi said after a moment of silence, his voice heavy. "If sacrificing myself can bring peace to the village, I am willing."

"Hiashi..." one of the elders behind him spoke up. "The main family's bloodline must never be allowed to fall into enemy hands. Even the Hokage would not permit such a thing, correct, Hokage-sama?"

The Third Hokage nodded solemnly but said nothing further.

"Then what do we do? Are we to let the village descend into war again?" Hiashi's voice grew agitated as he raised his concerns.

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