Chapter 98

As the discussion continued, an ANBU ninja materialized beside the two Hyuga members, producing a scroll for the Grand Elder without uttering a single word before vanishing as swiftly as he had arrived.

The Grand Elder unfurled the scroll, and his expression soured as he absorbed the contents. "Grand Elder, is everything alright?" The other elder inquired, unable to conceal his concern.

Maintaining a stoic demeanor, the Grand Elder responded, "I'm going to meet Hokage-sama. You can return and ensure that all my instructions are carried out. Have Hiashi come and meet me immediately; it appears he has been summoned as well."

Acknowledging the command, the main branch elder swiftly departed to inform Hiashi and execute the Grand Elder's directives. An hour later, Tsunade was leisurely walking atop the Hokage mountain, her ANBU guards stealthily traversing the shadows to maintain a tight perimeter around her. Hiashi and the Hyuga Grand Elder walked silently beside her as Tsunade meticulously inspected the location where her likeness was to be carved as the Godaime Hokage.

"Hiashi, what do you think? Will my likeness be as majestic as the one made for my grandfather?" Tsunade casually questioned. 

"Ah, Hokage-sama, with all due respect," Hiashi began, his tone teasing yet respectful. "I believe your likeness will surpass even the majesty of the Hokage monument itself! After all, they say that with age comes wisdom and, um, a few extra wrinkles."

Tsunade's brows furrowed slightly at the mention of wrinkles, her expression turning grumpy. She muttered under her breath, "Perhaps I should tell the sculptor to capture my likeness from my younger days. We wouldn't want future generations to think the Godaime Hokage resembled a prune."

Hiashi stifled a chuckle, trying to maintain his composure. "Of course, Hokage-sama. I'll be sure to pass along your request for a more... youthful representation."

On the side, the Hyuga Grand Elder's patience was wearing thin. He had followed behind the Hokage, surveying the site for her likeness, expecting a discussion of paramount importance in the presence of village elders. As time passed without any significant discussion, his unease grew.

"Ahem, Hokage-sama, may I know the reason for inviting us? I thought we were going to discuss something important. If this is about getting opinions on the likeness, I'm sure Hiashi will accompany you," the Grand Elder inquired, his frustration evident.

"Ah, the Hyuga Grand Elder is indeed hardworking, all for the benefit of the clan," Tsunade remarked, her tone shifting from casual to unreadable. "I'm curious, Elder Hyuga; you have been around since the times even before Konoha was established, yes? If I'm not mistaken, you should be close to a century old now, right?"

On the side, the Hyuga Grand Elder's pride swelled within him as he responded affirmatively, boasting of his long history. "Yes, indeed. I have been around since the period of the Warring States. I fought alongside our clan against other prominent clans during that tumultuous time. I even witnessed the Hyuga joining Konoha under the leadership of the Shodaime Hokage. It was a pivotal moment in our history."

Tsunade's smirk was unmistakable as she interrupted him, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You're mistaken, Grand Elder. It wasn't an invitation extended to the Hyuga clan. Rather, the Hyuga joined to seek refuge under the shadows of the behemoth known as Konoha. A move made for your own survival, not out of some noble invitation."

The Grand Elder's face contorted with anger at Tsunade's words. His pride wounded, he retorted sharply, "Is that how the Godaime thinks? That the Hyuga have not contributed anything to Konoha all these years since its inception?"

Tsunade's gaze remained steady, her demeanor unwavering. "Contributions, Grand Elder? Yes, there have been contributions, but let's not forget where those contributions originated from. Konoha has nurtured and supported many clans, including the Hyuga, but it was built upon the foundations laid by the Senju and Uchiha, not the Hyuga."

"Godaime-sama, our Hyuga clan has always worked for the benefit of the village. Do you know how the other clans would react if they were to know that the clans were being insulted in such a manner?" The Grand Elder's tone was cunning, attempting to deflect Tsunade's pointed remarks by broadening the issue to encompass all clans, not just the Hyuga.

"Heh, is that so?" Tsunade's response was deceptively calm, her eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a shiver down the Grand Elder's spine. "Hyuga Grand Elder, in that case, can you help me clarify something? As someone from the Warring States period, can you tell me what happens to a clan that betrays its allies?"

Tsunade's aura turned dangerously cold, causing even Hiashi to instinctively take a few steps away from her. As for the Grand Elder, his blood ran cold as he stood frozen in place, memories of the harsh consequences faced by traitorous clans flooding his mind.

As the Grand Elder stood silent, Tsunade's gaze sharpened like a cold blade, making it clear that she expected an answer. The old man couldn't help but gulp, feeling like a helpless lamb being toyed with by a dangerous predator under Tsunade's intense scrutiny.

"Th-this, Godaime-sama... back then, times were harsh," the Grand Elder stammered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "If a clan were to betray their allies, the consequences were severe. The entire clan would be eradicated, root and stem, with every single record burned to ashes. Even infants from the clan would meet a grim fate, buried six feet under after having their throats slit. Essentially, the clan would be completely erased from history."

Tsunade's expression remained inscrutable as she absorbed the Grand Elder's explanation. Then, with calculated precision, she posed her next question. "So tell me, Grand Elder, if a clan from within Konoha were to attempt to harm the village by betraying their fellow clans, what do you think their punishment should be?"

The weight of Tsunade's inquiry hung heavily in the air, and the Grand Elder felt a cold dread creeping over him. He knew that his response could seal the fate of the Hyuga clan, and he struggled to find the right words under the pressure of the Hokage's piercing gaze.

"Tsunade-sama, is there truly a need for such a discussion?" The Grand Elder's voice wavered slightly, betraying the unease that lurked beneath his composed exterior. "Surely, no clan would dare to jeopardize the village's interests. We are all well aware of the dire consequences that would follow such an act."

His words were laced with false righteousness, an attempt to deflect suspicion and absolve the Hyuga clan of any wrongdoing. But Tsunade was not so easily swayed. With a steely resolve, she confronted the Grand Elder with a chilling intensity that sent shivers down the spines of all who bore witness.

"So tell me, Hyuga! Despite the certainty of your clan's destruction, you dared to conspire against my village!" Tsunade's voice cut through the air like a blade, her words laden with disdain.

Her wrath seemed to engulf the entire village, a silent warning of the impending storm. In that moment, the Grand Elder realized the gravity of his folly. Despite his delusions of innocence, he stood exposed before Tsunade's righteous fury, trembling in the face of her unyielding resolve.

Being a veteran Shinobi himself, his body instinctively reacted, and he wanted to make a move. However, he suddenly froze as Tsunade eyed him dangerously. He knew for a fact that if he even made the slightest move to resist or retaliate, he would feel the full wrath of the Senju Princess.

"Oh, please try something, Elder Hyuga. Give me a reason to bury your entire Hyuga clan alongside you and erase the name Hyuga from history." Tsunade's tone was dangerous, as if promising that she would keep her word and destroy the entire Hyuga clan if the Grand Elder tried something foolish. Even Hiashi, after collecting himself from shock, was eyeing the Grand Elder wearily to ensure that the old man didn't do anything stupid and doom the entire Hyuga.

"Tsunade sama, you cannot blame the Hyuga without..." The Grand Elder started, but he recoiled under Tsunade's glare, his composure crumbling like fragile parchment in a raging tempest.

"The only reason that you and the Hyuga clan are still alive is because of your clan head. If not for him, I wouldn't have blinked twice while massacring your entire clan for this treachery." Tsunade's words flared dangerously close to what she really wanted to do, and if he said something stupid again, she might as well pass that order.

Tsunade then started listing the crimes one by one, especially the ones where the Hyuga clan had helped train an enemy force within the Fire Country that was loyal to the Daimyo. They had helped them train close to two thousand shinobi, which was a staggering number, and they had even shared the village jutsus that the Hyuga members had been awarded all these years for their contribution. One by one, Tsunade started listing the crimes of the Hyuga during the reign of Sandaime.

As Tsunade spoke more, the Grand Elder grew paler. Now he was sure Hiashi had completely defected and had disclosed everything that they had thought was hidden. The old man couldn't help but look at Hiashi with a betrayed look, but Hiashi did not hide. He simply looked the Grand Elder straight in the eye because Hiashi believed firmly in his heart that if the Hyuga continued down their current path, then sooner or later their entire clan would be eradicated. Seeing Hiashi's defiance, the old man felt bitter, but he also felt relief that, because of Hiashi's choice, the Hyuga now at least had a way for survival.

The grand elder, now completely aware that there was no way out, resigned himself. "Sigh, Tsunade Sama, I understand that you wouldn't have called me here unless you wanted to give us Hyuga a way out, so tell me what you expect of us Hyuga so that you can provide us with a chance of survival." The grand elder was a practical man, and he held no hope of coming out of this alive. As the one who instigated all this, he knew his fate was sealed. He just wanted to minimize the damage to the Hyuga clan as much as possible, and in order to do that, he could only plead with the Senju princess for mercy.

"Hmm." Tsunade, although angry, did not lose sight of what she wanted to achieve. "You, Hyuga, will remove the threat that you have nurtured within the Fire Country. I want the Hyuga to personally eliminate the entire Daimyo faction, including anyone remotely connected to the power grab during the reign of my Sensei. I need you to put down every single Shinobi that you helped the Daimyo train, all two thousand of them. And remember, for every single Shinobi from that faction that escapes, a surviving Hyuga will lose his or her life."

Tsunade then passed a scroll to the Grand Elder: "Here, I want every Hyuga member listed to be part of the casualties when you cleanse the Daimyo faction. I don't care how you achieve it, but then again, remember, I will know even if one Hyuga from this list escapes." Tsunade gave her ultimatum; she was having the Hyuga clan shed their own blood to clear out the problems they had created.

This was a huge ask; even Hiashi was worried. He wondered whether the Hyuga would still remain a major clan after carrying out such a dangerous task. The name list that the Hokage shared contained names among the Hyuga main branch who had been supporters of the Daimyo faction.

"Tsunade sama, this... this is a suicide mission, and the list has more than sixty percent of the main branch members. Doing this will destroy the Hyuga clan." The old man couldn't help but stutter, as what Tsunade was asking for was to cripple almost more than half of the main branch.

"Elder Hyuga, do I look like I care how you achieve it? This is just the way out you asked for. On the contrary, you can also try to rebel and maybe try fighting the village. The choice is up to you." Tsunade nonchalantly said that the Hyuga could opt for a coup if they were confident in their strength.

Although the old man kept a stoic expression, resigning himself to death, he was still simmering with anger on the inside, and his mind was making plans so that the Hyuga could pay them back in the future.

"Tsunade sama, I understand. I will carry out the orders to the letter, but I hope you can promise us something to ensure our survival." The Grand Elder picked out the best option that he could come up with in his limited time.