Perhaps it was karma for something or other.

  At night, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was nursing a headache.

  He'd swapped out his pipe again and again, but no matter how much nicotine he inhaled, his brow remained furrowed…

  "Is there really no room for compromise?"

  Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh.

  He was long past regur working hours… At his age, staying healthy demanded extra care.

  He'd been in a good mood earlier today.

  Three first-year ninja academy students had applied for early graduation.

  Two Uchihas, plus the son of White Fang.

  Setting aside their cns and backgrounds, as the principal of Konoha's ninja academy, he'd felt a surge of pride…

  It would've made great dinner table conversation with Biwako.

  But before he could clock out, his good mood evaporated…

  The reason? The group of Hyuga cnsmen before him.

  Led by the current Hyuga cn head, with the young heir and a throng of young cnsmen in tow—a formidable presence!

  "My apologies, Lord Hokage."

  Hyuga Nissei gave a slight bow.

  His manners were impeccable—the Hyuga's upbringing was beyond reproach.

  But his tone and words made Hiruzen's brow twitch.

  "Most of the cnsmen heading to the Mist Vilge front are young, and Hizashi was one of the leaders for this mission."

  "This isn't just about giving Hizashi justice—it's about giving the cn's youth an expnation."

  "I can't have them shedding blood on the battlefield while worrying about safety back home…"

  Hyuga Nissei spoke slowly, delivering the firmest of statements.

  Hiruzen inwardly cursed the situation, taking several more drags from his pipe.

  This was indeed tricky.

  The future branch family head of the Hyuga being crippled right before deployment— their uproar wasn't unreasonable.

  The problem was the culprits…

  Hiruzen's gaze drifted to the files on his desk.

  Three of them.

  Two were explicitly named by the Hyuga cn for handover…

  Yuto Souta and Obito Uchiha.

  He'd gotten a rough idea of these two from the graduation applications submitted by their homeroom teacher, Kuroshu Nen.

  Perennial underachievers…

  Bottom of the css in both academics and practicals—textbook failures.

  This early graduation attempt was likely Obito's stubborn refusal to let Kakashi Hatake outpace him, dragging a cnmate along in a fit of pique.

  "I understand Cn Head Hyuga's desire to protect his people," Hiruzen said slowly.

  "But… are you certain, Cn Head, that Hizashi was injured by those two kids?"

  "From what I know, Hizashi is a special jonin. The two of them together…"

  "Of course not," Hyuga Nissei interrupted, his voice rising slightly.

  "Two Uchihas who aren't even ninja couldn't possibly match Hizashi!"

  "But they're still Uchihas!"

  "Those brats even broke the arms of our cn's youths in a spar! Hizashi's injuries must've been caused by one of their cn's ninja!"

  Hyuga Nissei was furious—and certain.

  The Hyuga cn couldn't possibly be inferior to the Uchiha!

  His second son might be a special jonin, but that was still jonin-level!

  To leave him in such a state… it had to be an Uchiha jonin! No doubt about it!

  Hiruzen paused mid-puff.

  Facing the enraged Hyuga cn head, he felt a bit outmatched…

  Looked at this way… it did seem like something the Uchiha might do?

  The motive didn't need much expnation.

  The Uchiha were a warlike cn, long suppressed by the vilge's higher-ups, likely harboring plenty of resentment.

  With war breaking out suddenly and the Hyuga taking the lead in deployment…

  Retaliating against the Hyuga? Highly pusible.

  Hiruzen began weighing his options.

  Suppressing the Uchiha had been a policy set by his teacher, the Second Hokage.

  But their combat strength was undeniable…

  With war looming, he found himself torn.

  "Sarutobi, you're too soft!"

  Right then.

  An untimely voice cut through the room.

  Accompanied by the heavy thud of a cane striking the floor, a cold figure stepped inside.

  Konoha Elder and leader of Root, Shimura Danzo.

  Danzo's arrival chilled the office further.

  Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.

  Of course it's you.

  Always showing up when he faced the toughest decisions.

  Thoughtful, yet never welcome—something he'd rather avoid!

  "What are you doing here?" Hiruzen asked coldly.

  "Hmph!"

  With a disdainful snort, Danzo gave his old comrade a chilly gnce but didn't reply. Instead, he turned to Hyuga Hiashi.

  "The Hyuga young heir should've already departed by now."

  Danzo's tone was frigid.

  His blunt words made everyone frown, some Hyuga even activating their Byakugan!

  If not for the cn's strict discipline, they might've attacked on the spot!

  Hyuga Nissei simply closed his eyes.

  Not out of fear of this Konoha Elder… but because, in his view, the future Hyuga head would have to face such situations eventually.

  Hiashi's response didn't disappoint.

  "My brother Hizashi, one of the leaders for this Hyuga mission, was attacked."

  Hiashi stood firm, repeating his father's words to the Hokage.

  It was the right move…

  What the cn head said to the Hokage, the young heir should say to an elder.

  Too bad.

  He wasn't the cn head, and Danzo wasn't your average elder.

  "When a ninja in the vilge is attacked, that's my Root's responsibility."

  "I'll swear on Root's name to give your Hyuga cn an expnation!"

  "But right now… if the Hyuga dey the war effort, how will you answer to the Hokage?"