Chapter 224: This is the Village We Once Protected Together!
In the Land of Rain, an oppressive silence filled the large tent used as a temporary meeting place. Even the faint sound of breathing from those inside was unusually distinct.
Outside, the ninja troops stationed by the various forces were just as quiet.
Moments ago, everyone had watched with wide eyes as a young official named Asahi respectfully nodded to Iroha and invited him in.
What did this mean? Why was the Hyuga clan being invited to attend a meeting of all the major forces?
Everyone—including the Konoha delegation—looked utterly confused, with the sole exception of the Hyuga.
Inside the tent, all eyes fell on Hyuga Iroha, who now stood beside Kusanagi. Their expressions ranged from curious to wary, and soon, all gazes shifted toward Utatane Koharu seated at the conference table.
"Hyuga Iroha, what is the meaning of this?"
Koharu's frown deepened as she rose abruptly. Her voice was sharp, her stare unforgiving. "Can you take responsibility for what you've said today?"
Her tone was more than angry—it was panicked.
"I cannot be held personally responsible," Iroha replied, his voice calm and composed. "But this is the will of the clan head. His order represents the Hyuga. This is the decision made by the clan's upper echelon."
As he spoke, he handed a sealed letter to Utatane Koharu.
When Iroha had first received that letter, even he had been taken aback. For a moment, he had doubted its authenticity.
As a senior figure in the Hyuga, he was no stranger to the clan's long-term plans. The idea that Hyuga would abandon everything it had built up over the years to support the impoverished Land of Rain felt unbelievable.
But the letter was real.
The ninja beasts used for communication had been specially trained by the Hyuga's intelligence division. They only responded to Hyuga bloodlines.
The clan head's unique pattern seal was etched into the wax. These two features alone confirmed the letter's authenticity beyond doubt.
Clearly, something major had shifted within the clan. The details weren't explained in the letter—it wasn't safe to write them—but Iroha could guess.
Koharu, who snatched the letter from his hand, seemed to come to a similar conclusion.
"…This meeting needs to be suspended," she said coldly, her expression darkening. "I must verify the truth of this information. Give me three days."
Unlike earlier, Koharu now appeared composed, masking her panic behind a façade of calm. It was a performance for the other powers present.
Whether true or not, this information held more weight than the Rain Country's application to join the Allied Nations.
The Hyuga were no ordinary clan. As the top family of Konoha—and a legendary name in the ninja world—their influence was enormous.
If they were truly preparing to leave Konoha and relocate to the Land of Rain, it would send shockwaves through every power present.
"…Indeed. I must also report to the Daimyo," muttered Tokugawa Tani, the Fire Nation's representative. His face was pale.
The other representatives slowly nodded. They too would need to consult with their leadership. The Hyuga's shift of allegiance could alter the entire political landscape.
The Rain Country, with Hyuga backing, was no longer the helpless land it once was. Negotiations would need to be revised.
As the murmurs of agreement faded, Utatane Koharu turned without ceremony and approached Iroha.
"I need to speak with you. Alone."
"And I should be present as well," Tokugawa Tani added, stepping forward.
"It's pointless to question me," Iroha replied flatly. "Contact Konoha. If you want answers, speak with our clan head."
"I'm simply following orders. That's all I can tell you."
As a Hyuga elder, he certainly knew more than he let on. After accepting the letter's legitimacy, he had begun to piece things together.
Something had shifted regarding the other world—the realm only a few in Hyuga's inner circle knew of. That could explain the clan's sudden urgency for independence.
But none of that needed to be explained here. And Iroha wouldn't waste his breath.
Silence was the clearest message of all.
"…Tch."
Koharu's wrinkled face twitched, lips thinning as she struggled to contain her fury.
Her eyes swept across the tent, where the representatives of other powers were still seated.
"Please leave us. This concerns only the Land of Fire."
Her tone was cold and commanding. She no longer bothered with diplomacy.
Though she hadn't seen combat in decades, Koharu had not forgotten how to wield power.
Arrogant from her years of authority, she now flaunted her status as a former leader of the strongest village in the ninja world.
Without waiting for permission, she dismissed everyone.
Though the representatives were irritated, they held their tongues. Konoha was still the dominant force in the alliance.
Had the Sand Village been present, they might have resisted. But ever since the Akatsuki had stolen their tailed beasts, both the Land of Wind and the Sand Village had withdrawn from the Land of Rain.
With no one to support them, the others remained silent.
One by one, the others filed out, leaving only four figures in the tent.
Iroha moved to leave as well—but Koharu blocked his path.
"I now suspect that you're in secret communication with the Land of Rain 's leadership," she declared flatly, her tone icy. Her sharp eyes flicked between Iroha and Kusanagi.
Tokugawa Tani stepped closer, not speaking—but his intent was clear.
This was no longer just a Konoha issue. It was now a matter of national security for the Land of Fire.
Only four people remained in the tent, standing across from one another.
"The letter bears the clan's crest," Iroha said, his voice as steady as ever. "You're free to verify its authenticity with Konoha."
He still refused to engage directly with Koharu.
"Your objective is to sabotage this meeting. You're working with the Sand Village," Koharu snapped, eyes narrowing.
"Because the Rain Country's conditions don't benefit them, the Sand and Wind factions have long opposed this alliance."
"But after losing their tailed beasts to the Akatsuki, they were forced to withdraw. Before leaving, they either bribed you—or your Hyuga clan."
"You pretend to support the Rain Country, but you're just stalling for time."
Her voice grew colder with every word.
"I don't know if you betrayed the Hyuga, or if you and your clan took the Wind Country's offer together—but I do know this: You're trying to derail the alliance."
"You deserve to die."
The final word echoed like steel through the tent.
In that instant, the atmosphere froze—thick with killing intent and distrust.
A murderous aura radiated from her. Even ordinary people like Kusanagi and Tokugawa Tani instinctively sensed it and took several steps back.
Was she planning to take direct action?
They didn't have time to dwell on the implications of her presence. The moment the two individuals in front of them made a move, they were ready to open the tent flap and bolt.
Yet, despite being less than two meters apart, neither of the two made a single move.
"What a despicable tactic," Iroha finally broke the silence, his voice sharp. "Did you plan to paralyze me with poison and quietly eliminate me?"
"Advisor Utatane Koharu," he continued, eyes narrowed, "though you haven't been on the frontlines in years, the Hyuga clan is well informed about your past. You're not just a skilled medical ninja—you're also highly proficient in poisons. Did you think I wouldn't be cautious around you?"
He calmly pulled over a chair and sat down.
Since he had been stopped from leaving, there was no need to rush anymore.
Iroha's tone was composed, devoid of panic. Now that the weight of titles and reputation was lifted, Utatane Koharu held little authority over him. She had the experience of age, yes—but in combat? He had the edge.
Poisoning?
Kusanagi and Tokugawa Tani froze, subconsciously holding their breath.
"Don't worry," Iroha said, his voice softer as he noticed their reaction. "Her poison was crafted with precision—intended only for me."
"If I hadn't prepared in advance, I might've been fooled."
As he spoke, his Byakugan activated, the veins around his eyes bulging as he locked eyes with the silent Utatane Koharu.
Although he had been cautious, he hadn't anticipated that she would act so directly—so he hadn't activated his eyes immediately.
"Perhaps you're trying to eliminate me and then blame it on the Rain Country?" Iroha speculated, probing gently. "Or maybe... you intend to silence all the Hyuga I brought with me. Kill us here, then allow the other factions in the alliance to report it as an external incident."
"You've already decided to abandon the Rain Country. What you're truly trying to do is sabotage our Hyuga clan's plan to settle here."
"In your heart, you know the letter was genuine. It was an order issued directly by Hyuga Hiashi himself."
He paused, then shook his head.
"But the truth is, no matter what you're scheming, the Hyuga clan's departure from Konoha is already in motion. It's inevitable."
"Even if our destination wasn't the Rain Country, other forces would gladly welcome the Hyuga. What you're doing now is meaningless. Worse, it threatens to sever the bond between Konoha and our clan."
"You can't erase all traces of what's happened here. Hyuga will uncover the truth eventually."
Despite Koharu's attempt to poison and kill him, Iroha remained calm. He had no intention of retaliating.
Even if the Hyuga clan had decided to leave Konoha, acting on impulse—especially in this tense moment—would only damage the clan's future.
Not far away, Utatane Koharu remained expressionless and silent.
After a long silence, she finally turned and walked away.
She neither confirmed nor denied Iroha's accusations.
In truth, the moment she had poisoned the tree, she realized she had gone too far. But Iroha was crucial to Konoha's interests. Since she couldn't resolve this matter alone, her only choice was to return the message to Konoha—so that the Fifth Hokage and Mitokado Homura could decide how to proceed.
---
"Hiashi, I still remember when we fought side by side on the battlefield. You were just a timid boy back then, trembling when facing the enemy," Jiraiya said with a nostalgic smile. "Who would've thought you'd one day become the clan head?"
At the heart of the Hyuga compound, inside the main ancestral residence, Jiraiya had come alone as a friend, not a messenger.
In the spacious room, the only one seated across from him was Hyuga Hiashi. Ryosuke and Hinata were absent, busy with their own responsibilities.
"Weren't you just a kid back then too, Master Jiraiya?" Hiashi replied, the corner of his lips curving slightly.
His expression softened with the memory. Jiraiya had been a full generation older, already an experienced shinobi when Hiashi first entered the battlefield. He had witnessed many of Hiashi's early mistakes—some of which were quite embarrassing.
But as time passed, those memories no longer stung. Now, they evoked something closer to warmth.
"True enough," Jiraiya chuckled. "I'd just started apprenticing under Sarutobi-sensei. It was the first time I was allowed to run missions on my own."
His smile faded a little as he exhaled deeply.
"Of those of us who fought to protect Konoha… not many of the old guard are left now."
"You know, the younger generation has never seen real war. They think they're ready—they talk about honor and fighting for the village. But they've never known what it costs."
Hiashi remained quiet, then replied softly, "Perhaps that's a good thing. Their naivety is a sign that we succeeded in creating peace."
"Yes. Peace..." Jiraiya echoed, though a complicated expression lingered on his face.
"Then tell me—why is Hyuga, of all people, not going to enjoy the peace we fought so hard to earn? Why is she abandoning this village we bled to protect?"
The nostalgia faded completely from Hiashi's face.
"...Hokage-sama is well informed."
Jiraiya didn't press. His gentle demeanor remained unchanged.
"You've already begun. You're backing the Land of Rain's application to join the alliance. You've even helped stabilize their internal affairs. And the Hyuga clan is making plans to relocate."
Before he left, he had given Koharu a small toad to send urgent messages back to Konoha. Thanks to that, the news from the Rain Country had reached him swiftly.
Still, the situation weighed heavily on him.
Konoha needed the Hyuga—but at the same time, they feared the Hyuga.
"Hiashi," Jiraiya said quietly, "just call me Jiraiya. I'm here today not as a messenger, but as a friend."
"Is there really no turning back? After all these years, all these shared bonds… are you really prepared to leave it all behind?"
"People strive for something greater," Hiashi said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Hyuga is no different."
"The Hyuga clan needs a larger stage to grow. The Land of Fire belongs to Konoha. We do not wish to oppose Konoha—so we must leave."
"But we will never forget the friends we made here or the bonds we forged. As long as Konoha doesn't forget the Hyuga, then we will always remain your ally."
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