Chapter 35
Inside the hall.
Danzo had already made his move.
Killing eight Kumogakure Ninja is a minor matter. Why are you, the Hyuga Clan, sheltering Uzumaki Naruto? You even 'invited' him to your residence. What are your intentions, Hyuga?
Faced with Danzo's sudden attack, everyone, including Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was stunned.
It wasn't until Danzo opened his eyes, and a captivating gleam shot out from them, that the atmosphere on site immediately became more tense.
"Could it be... that you, Hyuga, are planning a rebellion?!"
Privately controlling the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, concealing the facts... all of this... "Or... have you, Hyuga, colluded with Kumogakure?!"
Danzo's accusation immediately put the Hyuga Clan on the defensive.
Because this matter was indeed as Danzo said.
It was Hyuga who lied, claiming that the killing of eight Kumogakure Ninja was their doing.
It was also Hyuga who invited Naruto into the Hyuga Clan Residence.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead.
The Hyuga Clan could not bear either of these two charges.
Not being very eloquent, he was at a loss for how to refute the aggressive'Shinobi of the Darkness'.
The discussion about who would sacrifice themselves for peace between the two villages instantly turned into a script where the Hyuga Clanwas plotting rebellion or colluding with the enemy.
At this moment, even the well-informed Main Family Elder couldn't help but be shocked and disheartened by the darkness of Konoha's high-ranking officials.
"Hokage-sama, it's not like that..."
Seeing this, Hyuga Hazuki immediately pleaded.
Although she was a woman and didn't possess much ability, she wouldn't stand idly by when her clan's survival was at stake.
Seeing Hyuga Hazuki, who was pregnant and had a naturally weak constitution, breathing rapidly and showing signs of premature labor, the Main Family Elder immediately ordered a servant to escort her away.
Hyuga Hazuki's plea had no effect whatsoever.
The evidence Danzo presented confirmed Hyuga's various actions... The Main Family Elder couldn't help but feel sorrowful.
He had originally intended to praise the Fourth Hokage's son to demonstrate loyalty to Konoha's high-ranking officials.
However, it backfired, and now he couldn't clear his name even if he jumped into the Valley of the End.
"Hokage-sama~~!"
Hyuga Hazuki turned her head, about to shout a second time.
But then she suddenly heard... *thump~! thump~!* Two heavy thuds of something falling in front of her.
Being closer to the door, she heard it first.
The others present didn't miss it by more than a few tenths of a second.
The murderous atmosphere instantly dissipated, and everyone couldn't help but look towards the direction of the door.
Immediately after, there were sounds of hurried footsteps and exclamations from outside.
What happened? What's going on?
As everyone wondered, the door creaked open.
A small, childish figure appeared, backlit by the midday sun.
The bright light formed a stark contrast with the shadowy human figure.
Naruto, standing in the center of the doorway, looked around the inner living room and said naively, "Having a tea party? Count me in."
Everyone: "..."
Chapter 28. Danzo: Uzumaki Naruto, that little rascal!
The two thuds of heavy objects falling were, of course, from the two Root Ninja responsible for guarding the door.
However, they were caught off guard by Naruto's sudden attack and were knocked to the ground before they could react.
Theoretically, this was impossible.
But if the opponent was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then the situation was completely different.
Just as Hyuga Natsu and the others were shocked by Naruto's instant takedown of two skilled Root members, Naruto also successfully stepped into the room.
"Naruto..."
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind went blank for a moment when he saw Naruto appear.
The manipulation of Naruto by Hyuga, as everyone had imagined, had not happened.
Judging by Naruto's arrogant, walk-like-he-owns-the-place stride, it was definitely his free will.
"Grandpa Hokage~, it's been a few days."
Naruto immediately greeted Hiruzen Sarutobi, essentially trying to get on his good side.
The latter's expression visibly softened.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a smile, "Naruto, are you doing well?"
"Mm."
Naruto struck while the iron was hot, understanding exactly what the old man was thinking.
"These past two days... the Hyuga Clan treated me very well, I ate a lot of good food, and they even gave me new clothes for the New Year..."
Naruto's description served to clear the Hyuga Clan of suspicion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was beaming, and his eyes looked towards his three colleagues, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo, implying... See? The Hyuga Clan is very loyal!
As he spoke, Naruto walked further in, soon reaching the center of the hall.
And as Naruto's speech abruptly stopped.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately realized something.
Utatane Koharu also understood; she gave a look to the people around her.
Irrelevant individuals began to exit.
This fully demonstrated that no one who could become a high-ranking official was a fool.
"Everyone, let's go."
Hyuga Hizashi walked to the door and instructed Hyuga Natsu, Suikeido, and the others.
Still in shock, Hyuga Natsu then came to her senses and said, "Yes..." She walked out while looking back, her preoccupied expression quite appropriate for the occasion.
Because the other clan members were equally bewildered, or shocked by Naruto's skill.
Hyuga Natsu blended in, and her dumbfounded expression seemed very much in tune with the crowd.
Just before the door closed.
What Hyuga Natsu saw was Naruto casually chatting and laughing with the four high-ranking officials.
At this moment, she completely understood how terribly wrong she had been.
Uzumaki Naruto... was a benefactor she absolutely could not offend.
"Naruto-kun~." Hinata looked back, her heart filled with worry.
"Lady Hinata, please don't worry. Naruto-kun is no ordinary person; Hokage-sama will not make things difficult for him..."
Hyuga Hizashi bowed slightly, his attitude respectful.
"Uncle Hizashi~." Hinata looked up at this elder whose face was almost identical to her father's, but whose demeanor was very gloomy.
She wondered if it was her imagination.
With Naruto-kun's arrival, Uncle Hizashi's mood seemed to have improved a lot... *Thump*.
The door closed completely.
Silence immediately fell in the living room.
The four high-ranking officials—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura—all had different expressions.
The Main Family Elder, Hyuga Hiashi, and Hyuga Hazuki, on the other hand, showed joy in their eyes.
Everyone present was a person of importance, and only they could get Naruto to speak the truth of the matter.
As the saying goes, hard work pays off.
Hyuga Hazuki frequently exchanged glances with her husband, proving that the Hyuga Clan had not done anything wrong. And Naruto-kun's arrival was enough to confirm this.
"Uzumaki Naruto, do you have something to say?"
Utatane Koharu, the most impatient, was the first to speak.
Just as in the original story... the first to call for the destruction of the Uchiha was neither Danzo nor Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Naruto: "Old Lady Koharu..."
Utatane Koharu: "..."
Naruto's first words stabbed Utatane Koharu.
But whatever, she was indeed an old hag.
The old woman began to give up on herself. She comforted herself, saying she couldn't get angry, after all... Uzumaki Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's kid... just give Minato Namikaze some face... The remaining three high-ranking officials listened intently, wanting to hear what profound insights Naruto had.
The Hyuga Clan wouldn't escape anyway, right?
"That night, a few days ago, I was planning to attend Hinata's birthday party..."
It was well known that the Kumogakure Mission arrived that day, and only the Hyuga Clan did not attend the celebration. The reason, of course, was as Naruto said, the Main Family's eldest daughter's birthday... "After the party ended, everyone rested, and I was also preparing to go back. Halfway there, I met a group of people. They were very enthusiastic and wanted to invite me to 'Hidden Cloud Village' as a guest. I said it was too late and suggested we talk about it tomorrow..."
The four high-ranking officials: "..."
Nine-Tailed: "..."
"But they were too enthusiastic, and I couldn't refuse, so I had no choice but to follow them to Hidden Cloud Village..."
Naruto was spouting nonsense; Danzo didn't believe a word of it.
This kid... is very mischievous.
As a fellow rascal, the old rascal Danzoimmediately saw that Uzumaki Naruto was a little rascal.
However, being extremely cunning, he wouldn't be so easily fooled.
So, Danzo asked in a calm, low tone, "Then why are you still here now?"
"Because I saw their leader inviting Hinata again. Maybe they were afraid I wouldn't adapt to Hidden Cloud Village, since I'm not familiar with the place. If Hinata was invited along, it would be good to have a companion..."
Naruto stroked his chin, saying innocently.
"They're really nice people~!"
Naruto added another sentence.
"Enough!"
Utatane Koharu abruptly stood up.
Although Naruto was spouting nonsense, and even had a dark sense of humor, the content of his simple narration was clear to anyone.
"Those guys from Kumogakure not only want to obtain the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, but they also want to abduct our Jinchuriki!"
In this way, the nature of the matter was completely different.