Sarutobi Hiruzen left first.
And Jiraiya, on whom Hyuga Hiashi had placed high hopes, just sighed softly and left directly, without giving Hyuga Hiashi any guarantee or promise.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also left the Hyuga clan grounds without saying a word in the end.
Yes.
Since Jiraiya became Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo cooperated seamlessly, leaving no room for the two of them to be useful.
The two of them now were just tools!
They would do whatever Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo ordered.
This was also their only use value. Only by listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen could they ensure the stability of their two clans, and even get some resources for their clans in the distribution of resources within the village.
Otherwise...
What else could they do?
Defect to that idiot Jiraiya?
Leaving aside that that guy had already been sidelined by Sarutobi Hiruzen, even if the two of them were willing to help Jiraiya, would he be willing to share some resources with their two clans?
Impossible!
Jiraiya was too naive. He would definitely handle things impartially and wouldn't share resources and the cake with them.
Besides that, what else?
Defect to Uchiha's new Konoha?
Hehe!
That was no different from seeking death, so better play it safe and continue to hang out with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Except for not being able to continue holding power, it was no different from before.
This was also the reason why they didn't express their opinions on the Hyuga clan's matter today, because they had completely lost power now. Their power had long been grasped by Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had stepped down, all at once.
So, now.
The two just came to see the situation. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen left, they naturally wouldn't stay any longer.
Hyuga Hiashi: "..."
At this moment, his face was gloomy. Looking at the crowd leaving arrogantly, his heart sank to the bottom instantly.
He was not stupid!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's words before leaving actually implicitly expressed the village's stance.
Even if this matter was indeed provoked by the Cloud Village, for the sake of the overall situation of the village's peace talks, the village could only choose to endure this time.
Wait for the Cloud Village to make an offer, and the village would bargain at most.
But, essentially.
Even if the Cloud Village asked for an exorbitant price, the Hyuga clan would have to pay in the end.
"Clan Head, the village higher-ups are untrustworthy!"
"Let's just defect to the Uchiha directly. Anyway, all the ninja clans have defected there."
"The village has become increasingly inhumane in the past two years. I think it will be swallowed by the new Konoha sooner or later."
"..."
Hyuga clansmen spoke up one after another.
They were angered to laughter by the village's actions. Clearly, the Cloud Village did wrong first. The Hyuga clan couldn't just let the Cloud Village snatch their bloodline and stand aside watching others snatch it, right?
But, what about now?
Clearly, the Hyuga clan did nothing wrong. Now with this move by the village, all Hyuga clansmen couldn't stand it anymore.
This point was different from the original story!
In the original story, because there was no new Konoha, the Hyuga clan, which had no way out, could naturally let Hyuga Hizashi die for his brother.
Now with the new Konoha, no one would choose that path.
On one hand.
The Hyuga clan also wanted face. Clearly, the Cloud Village was wrong, yet they let their own clansmen go to die directly?
And dying as the Clan Head, even handing over the corpse to the Cloud Village side?
Are you kidding?
On the other hand.
They had to consider the internal stability of the Hyuga clan. The problem between the main family and the branch family was already big. If they really chose to let the branch family head die, would it make the remaining branch family completely desperate?
There was no such possibility in the original story. After all, without the new Konoha, unless the branch family united to die, the main family could absolutely control the branch family.
Now, it won't work.
The policy of the new Konoha was there, respecting everyone who joined, and welcoming the Hyuga clan to join.
However.
If the Hyuga clan truly joined the new Konoha, the new Konoha might not call a halt to the Caged Bird Seal, but it would definitely abolish the control right of the Hyuga main family and develop new sealing jutsu to prevent the main family from controlling the branch family.
It was precisely for this reason that the Hyuga clan did not defect to the new Konoha within these two years.
But, what about now?
If the Hyuga clan dared to say letting the branch family head go to die, then the angry Hyuga branch family members might defect to the new Konoha in batches and organized groups.
They could do this!
Although there were open and hidden sentries, patrol teams, and even sealing barriers around Konoha, the Hyuga clan all possessed the Byakugan bloodline.
Even if the branch family's Byakugan had a 1° blind spot due to the Caged Bird Seal, dodging various monitoring of the village was still no problem. Once these branch family members joined the new Konoha, these branch family members would be naturally protected by the new Konoha.
The new Konoha was different from the old Konoha; their leader was Uchiha Jin!
He wouldn't back down.
As long as the main family dared to use the curse seal to kill the branch family members who joined the new Konoha, Uchiha Jin would definitely dare to use this excuse to start a war. And judging from the current attitude of the old Konoha higher-ups...
They didn't dare to start a war with the Cloud Village; would they dare to start a war with the new Konoha?
"Alright, stop arguing."
"Elders enter the conference room to discuss; others just disperse."
After speaking.
Hyuga Hiashi handed his daughter to the maid and headed towards the Hyuga clan conference room first. Many main and branch family elders also went one after another. As for other Hyuga clansmen, although angry in their hearts, they finally chose to go home one after another.
Not long after, in the conference room.
Hyuga Hiashi sat high in the seat of honor, looking at the elders below, and took the initiative to speak.
"Elders, the situation is like this!"
"Now we should discuss properly, how should the Hyuga clan proceed next?"
"Everyone has seen the situation of the old Konoha in the past two years. First of all, in my opinion, the old Konoha won't last long. After all, the new Konoha is brightly placed in front of everyone. Anyone who is not stupid knows how to choose."
"Now the old Konoha seems to be able to persist, which relies on Sarutobi Hiruzen's strong power to maintain."
"The Hyuga clan joined Konoha before because they valued the village's ability to protect the clan and allow the clan to live and develop better."
"But, what about now?"
"The old Konoha obviously cannot provide this point. The implicit choice of the Konoha higher-ups just now has also proven this to us."
"They want to admit defeat, but the price is to be paid by the Hyuga clan!"
"The new Konoha side is also troublesome."
"Everyone also knows the policy promoted by Uchiha Jin. Although the new Konoha does not forcibly cancel the Caged Bird Seal, it strictly prohibits the main family from using the curse seal to control the branch family."
"So, let's discuss."
"Should the Hyuga clan defect to the new Konoha next?"