novel-bin Chapter 195 Mobilization
Chapter 195 Mobilization
A tranquil and harmonious atmosphere permeates Konoha Village. Sunlight filters through the leaves, dappling the ground like golden raindrops and creating a tapestry of light and shadow. The houses are arranged in a pleasing, orderly fashion, and the wide, clean streets present a picture of perfect harmony, evoking a sense of warmth and comfort.
Villagers strolled through the streets and alleys, their faces beaming with genuine smiles, greeting each other warmly and exuding kindness. This harmonious scene was like a beautiful painting, showcasing the unique charm of Konoha Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood quietly by the window, his gaze calm and profound, seemingly seeing through everything. Despite the recent incident where Danzo Shimura overstepped his authority by ordering the Root ninjas to attack Hiashi Hyuga, he felt no anger. On the contrary, a barely perceptible sense of smugness welled up within him.
Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi is quietly waiting for Danzo Shimura to make his move. He wants to see what trump cards Hiashi Hyuga still has that will allow him to remain confident when facing the Konoha leadership. Ideally, he wants to force his old comrade Danzo to reveal all of the Hyuga clan's trump cards.
In fact, during their discussion in the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew that no matter what choice he made, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him. His apparent hesitation was actually a prelude to Danzo's actions. He understood Danzo's personality perfectly; he knew that if he showed any hesitation, Danzo would definitely take action, trying to prove himself superior. However, Danzo's greatest weakness was his arrogance; he believed himself to be more capable than everyone else, and that the Hokage position of Konoha should be his for the taking. Unfortunately for Danzo, in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Danzo was best suited to be his henchman.
Regardless of the success or failure of Danzo's operation, it wouldn't affect his own power. If he succeeded in taking over the Hyuga clan, their entire collection would become his spoils, and Danzo would be the perfect scapegoat when Hyuga Kanan returned to Konoha. Even if Danzo failed, it would at least force the Hyuga clan to reveal their hidden plans, allowing him to be on guard. After all, as Hokage, he had never issued orders for the Hyuga clan's actions; it was Shimura Danzo who overstepped his authority by attacking the Hyuga clan. He could use this as punishment to force Danzo to relinquish his control of Root, preventing the Hyuga clan from holding him accountable. His only worry was whether Hyuga Kanan would consider Konoha's situation and force him to relinquish the Hokage's power. But this was the best outcome. Even if he lost power, Konoha wouldn't experience any turmoil and would continue to exist peacefully. He would still have a chance to regain power in the future. After all, Hyuga Kanan's personality meant he wouldn't stay in Konoha forever; he would leave sooner or later, and his opportunity would return.
While Hiruzen Sarutobi was still pondering the complex situation facing Konoha, Danzo Shimura had already returned to the Root base. The moment he stepped inside, he eagerly mobilized all of Root's combat personnel, their target the Hyuga clan. More than five hundred well-trained, battle-hardened Root ninjas swiftly surrounded the entire Hyuga clan compound like a whirlwind.
Once everything was ready, Danzo leisurely approached the Hyuga clan's main gate, a smug smile on his face, his eyes greedily fixed on the tightly closed door. At that moment, he seemed to already see the Hyuga clan about to fall under his control, and Hyuga Kanan becoming his puppet, at his beck and call. More importantly, he felt the Hokage position was within reach, almost attainable. This feeling was both unfamiliar and exciting to him, for it was the first time in his life he had so vividly felt the Hokage position so close!
Hiashi Hyuga, rushing back to his clan's territory, was extremely anxious and had no time to continue discussing matters with the main branch members. He knew the situation was urgent and could not be delayed. Therefore, he made a decisive decision and immediately notified all combat personnel still within the clan to assemble quickly.
At the same time, he immediately sent an emergency signal to Konoha, summoning clansmen who were on missions outside the clan to return as soon as possible. This series of tense but orderly actions filled the entire Hyuga clan with a solemn atmosphere, as if a great battle was about to begin.
Hiashi Hyuga was well aware of the gravity of the situation. The fact that Danzo Shimura had attacked him clearly indicated that the Konoha leadership had not abandoned their hostile intentions towards the Hyuga clan. Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi's lack of attempt to stop him further suggested that he might also harbor thoughts of annihilating the Hyuga clan.
Faced with such a perilous situation, Hiashi Hyuga did not back down. He firmly believed that only by uniting and going all out could they protect the dignity and right to survival of his clan. Therefore, he took decisive action, actively preparing for battle, determined to engage in a life-or-death struggle with Konoha Village. No matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead, he would lead the Hyuga clan forward bravely, never yielding to any pressure or threat.
Looking at the Hyuga clan members gradually gathering before him, Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but exhale a deep breath. Although the Hyuga clan had never anticipated Konoha's attack, in the past few years, thanks to the methods taught by Hyuga Kanan and through long-term training, the clan's strength had increased by at least 30%! The Hyuga clan of today was not what it used to be and would not be easily manipulated by Konoha.
Moreover, Hiashi Hyuga understood perfectly well that with such a massive upheaval in Konoha, how could the other clans possibly remain completely unaware? The Uchiha clan, in particular, bearing the heavy responsibility of the Konoha police force, would undoubtedly be the first to notice the changing situation. The Uchiha clan's current predicament was far worse than the Hyuga clan's; the entire Konoha seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally excluding them. Years of propaganda and education by Konoha's high-ranking officials, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, had instilled a deep hostility towards the Uchiha clan in the villagers, making their situation in Konoha exceptionally difficult. Now, upon learning of the Hyuga clan's attack by Konoha's high command, the hawkish members of the Uchiha clan would likely be unable to contain their emotions. They would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to hinder Konoha's actions and attempt to win over the Hyuga clan, making them their allies to fight against Konoha's leadership.
While the Konoha leadership possessed immense strength, they dared not easily confront the village's two most powerful clans. These clans held deep foundations, and a direct defeat would come at a devastating cost, severely weakening the village and potentially creating an opportunity for other ninja villages to launch a catastrophic attack. Hyuga Hiashi was acutely aware of the war's cruelty and had prepared for the worst, even at the cost of his entire clan's fighting force, to protect the children and women. If they could hold out until Hyuga Kanan returned to Konoha, the Hyuga clan would have a chance. Under Kanan's protection, given time, the clan would surely rise again, perhaps even surpassing its former glory, becoming the undisputed number one clan in the ninja world!
Seeing the puzzled expressions on the faces of his family members, Hiashi Hyuga took a deep breath and swept his gaze firmly over each of them. He knew that he had to be honest with them and let them know the crisis they were facing without reservation. Only in this way could he unite the family's strength and face the challenges to come together.
"Today, the Konoha leadership summoned me to discuss matters. However, to my utter surprise, it turned out to be a complete conspiracy! When I stepped into the Hokage's office, a group of Anbu ninjas suddenly appeared and attacked me, attempting to kill me. But they clearly underestimated my strength, and I managed to escape by sheer luck." Hiashi Hyuga's voice carried a hint of anger and resentment.
He paused briefly, composed himself, and continued, “However, judging from their attitude and actions, it seems the Konoha leadership is determined to exterminate our Hyuga clan. At this very moment, our residence is likely surrounded by Konoha's Anbu ninja, completely encircling us. As one of Konoha's most prestigious clans, countless members of our Hyuga clan have sacrificed their precious lives for the village's stability and peace. Yet now, our reward is an attack and slaughter from the higher-ups. So, I ask you, as members of the Hyuga clan, how will you face this situation?”
His gaze swept across the entire area once more, his eyes revealing anticipation and trust. He believed that at this crucial moment, his family members would not back down, but would bravely stand up and jointly defend the dignity and honor of the Hyuga clan.
When the clansmen present heard that the Konoha leadership had attacked their clan leader in the Hokage's office and now mobilized Anbu ninja to surround their clan, their hearts were filled with rage. Just as Hiashi Hyuga had said, their Hyuga clan had paid an immeasurable price in the numerous wars Konoha had fought against external threats. Moreover, they had suffered heavy losses in the various difficult missions assigned by Konoha. And now, what awaited them was an attack by the Konoha leadership against their entire clan!
The events of the past remain vivid in their minds: Back then, the Hidden Cloud Village used force to coerce the Hidden Leaf Village's leadership into handing over the Hyuga clan's head. Faced with such an unreasonable demand, the Hidden Leaf Village's leadership didn't hesitate to pressure them! This action deeply angered and resentful the entire Hyuga clan. Their Hidden Leaf Village was, after all, one of the most powerful ninja villages in the ninja world! Yet now, this once glorious place was being threatened with war by a mere Hidden Cloud Village, even being forced to hand over the head of one of Hidden Leaf's most prestigious clans! And shockingly, the Hidden Leaf Village's leadership actually complied with their wishes, putting pressure on the Hyuga clan! So why did the Hyuga clan sacrifice so much for Hidden Leaf Village? Didn't they risk their lives and fight bloody battles precisely so that Hidden Leaf Village could protect the various clans living there?