Jiraiya was relatively clear-headed and voiced his concerns.

With New Konoha's emergence, the situation had turned grim for their Village. Apart from the four Ninja Clans led by the Sarutobi, the Hyuga were the only clan left.

Though he favored supporting the civilians, he had to admit that in real combat, Ninja from the clans were simply stronger—strong enough to crush civilians in every aspect.

Drive the Hyuga away and the Village would instantly drop to second-rate.

As for the Four Sarutobi Clans?

He'd never paid them much attention before, but after taking office as Fifth Hokage and meeting their Ninja in person, even Jiraiya couldn't help shaking his head.

Too weak!

They had no Bloodline Limits, no secret techniques. Though the four old Sarutobi had fattened them up, their actual combat strength was a joke—inferior to elite Civilian Ninja.

With those four pathetic clans plus some civilians, they couldn't compare to the Four Great Shinobi Villages; they were barely a match for Hidden Rain or Hidden Dragon.

Did someone like him, the Fifth, even deserve the title of Kage?

So now Jiraiya might not want war, and a small step back in negotiations with Cloud was acceptable, but endless retreat was out of the question.

"Jiraiya, you worry too much."

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the anxious Jiraiya, took a puff of his pipe, and spoke slowly, "New Konoha will never allow the Main-Branch system. That alone keeps the Hyuga from joining them."

His gaze was resolute.

Exactly!

If the Hyuga had wanted to defect, they'd had two whole years and countless chances, yet they hadn't. That alone proved his point.

The clan wasn't being cornered; they were merely being asked to pay a price.

Big deal.

Jiraiya opened his mouth, then sighed and shook his head, saying no more.

Perhaps Hiruzen was right—this Village truly couldn't afford a war now.

…The night passed in silence. The next morning.

The Cloud envoy arrived at the Hokage Office and immediately demanded Hiashi Hyuga's life in recompense, along with his corpse.

Gasp!

Everyone inhaled sharply at the Cloud's opening bid.

Jiraiya slammed the table. "Absolutely impossible—forget it!"

"Hmph, suit yourself." The Cloud envoy was unperturbed.

He swept the room with a disdainful glance and spoke icily, "This is the Raikage's final word. The Ninja who died last night was our Tetsurai Maru, one of Cloud's elite Jonin and a rare possessor of the Storm Release Bloodline Limit."

"If Konoha won't even grant this, then the so-called peace talks are meaningless. Prepare for war."

"Our delegation gives you one day. If there's no answer by this time tomorrow—"

"Then—humph!"

With that, the Cloud delegation strode out without further haggling.

Every Village knew of Old and New Konoha; spies were everywhere. With two Mangekyo Experts and many clans, New Konoha wasn't easily provoked… but Old Konoha?

Hah, so what?

We're bullying you openly—fight us if you dare.

Once the envoy left, Jiraiya slammed the table again. "Cloud goes too far! Storm Release? Hiashi used thirty percent of his strength and still killed him?"

"This is pure blackmail!"

Meanwhile, Hiruzen, still puffing smoke, waved over an Anbu. "Ask Danzo if that man really was a Storm Release user."

"Yes, sir." The Anbu bowed and left.

Not long after, the Anbu returned, knelt, and reported, "Cloud's Tetsurai Maru did wield Storm Release, but two years ago he was diagnosed with a Bloodline Disease. According to Root's spy in Cloud, he would have died within this year regardless."

Almost instantly, the office fell so quiet a needle could be heard.

The so-called Storm Release user was actually real?

Now things were troublesome.

Jiraiya slammed the desk in fury. "Using a dying Storm Release Ninja to trade for our Hyuga Clan head—those Cloud bastards did the math!"

"Everyone knows a Bloodline Disease is incurable; the man was just waiting to die."

Hiruzen's eyes flickered.

His mind raced; after a long silence he coughed.

"Jiraiya, calm down."

"Anger solves nothing. Even if he was sick, we can't prove it. He did die by Hiashi's hand, and that gives Cloud a pretext for war—one we mustn't hand them. This Village can't survive another war."

At those words, Jiraiya slumped.

Had Uchiha Jin not created New Konoha and the clans had stayed, he would never have swallowed such humiliation.

But… sigh.

They'd already gone off to build New Konoha, leaving him helpless. "Old Man, what do you think?"

"Hiashi Hyuga cannot die—that's non-negotiable."

Hiruzen set the bottom line first, then continued after a pause, "Send the news to the Hyuga first; see how they react."

"If they can settle it themselves, so much the better for the Village."

With that, he ordered an Anbu to inform the Hyuga, without even asking Jiraiya, the Hokage.

The Anbu bowed and left.

He knew very well who truly held power in the Village.

Though he preferred to follow Jiraiya's orders, he realized Jiraiya had no authority—nor seemed to want any. So, forget it.

He was only a lowly Anbu; he dared not get involved.

He feared that if he pledged loyalty to Jiraiya, Hiruzen would eliminate him the next moment.

He doubted this Hokage would stand against his own teacher for the sake of one small Anbu.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com