But as the Hyuga Clan Chief, he also understood that this was the Hokage's high recognition of and reliance on the Hyuga Clan, especially Hinata's abilities. To some extent, it was also a form of 'trust' and 'responsibility' that could not be easily refused.
"Does Hokage-sama mean for Hinata to be that hand?" Hiashi asked slowly.
"More accurately, an insurance policy," the Sandaime corrected, his gaze deep.
"You won't be bound by conventional organization; you can act freely, using your own methods and judgment to discover problems, assess risks, and take action when you deem it necessary and within your capability."
This authority was immense, but also extremely vague. Act freely, judge for yourself, and decide for yourself whether to intervene.
This was both a sign of great trust in Hinata's abilities and a move that pushed her into an extremely delicate and dangerous position.
If she succeeded, there might not be much public credit; if she failed or caused other problems, it might be difficult to clear her of responsibility.
This old man even came in person to say it. If he had sent someone else, Hiashi might have declined. But now that Konoha was facing a crisis and the Hokage himself had visited, Hiashi couldn't easily refuse.
The System whispered in Hinata's mind.
[host, the Sandaime is treating you like a beast of burden and a potential Scapegoat. It sounds great—acting freely and judging for yourself—but if anything goes wrong, you'll definitely be the first one they look for.]
Hinata fell silent and thought for a while.
"Alright," Hinata said, her voice cool and steady.
"If I discover anything, I will report to Hokage-sama. As for taking action, that will depend on the situation."
She didn't take on everything, but she gave a promise. This was already the best response the Sandaime could have hoped for at the moment.
As for 'depending on the situation,' that would be up to her. She would agree first, but how she actually did it would still be her call.
A genuine look of relief appeared on the Sandaime's face.
"In that case, thank you." He took out a small, specially made Token from his robes and placed it on the table.
"This Token will facilitate your movements. You can use it to mobilize a small number of personnel or obtain basic intelligence support. How you use it is up to your own discretion."
Leaving the Token behind, the Sandaime exchanged a few more brief words with Hiashi regarding the details of the Village's defense cooperation before getting up to leave. Hiashi personally escorted him outside the Guest Greeting Pavilion.
Once the Sandaime's figure disappeared, Hiashi turned back into the room. Looking at the Token on the table, which symbolized great authority but also significant risk, his brow was deeply furrowed.
"Hinata," he said solemnly, "the task Hokage-sama has entrusted to you is very heavy. You should know the dangers involved. Uchiha Sasuke has gone completely mad, and there might be someone like Orochimaru behind him. You must be extremely cautious and prioritize your own safety above all else."
"Yes, I'll be careful." Hinata picked up the Token and went back to the courtyard, glancing in the direction the Sandaime had left.
Now these high-ups are going to have something to worry about. In a few days, all the factions will know, and all sorts of spies, informants, and plans for invasion will come one after another.
Let all the conspiracies begin, begin, begin!
And this! Rebellion!
It's just that the Uchiha are gone and there's no one left to rebel; otherwise, I'd show you what it means to be attacked from both sides.
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