[Hyuga Clan Land, Branch Family Courtyard]
"The night before last, Hiashi went to the Uchiha clan land in the middle of the night. Has he already sent letters to several other shinobi clans today?"
Hyuga Koshin looked at the Sota in front of him and sighed as well, "Why are you only telling me this now?"
Sota shook his head, "Lord Koshin, we also don't know exactly what Hiashi is planning."
"But today I've already learned the content of the letter."
"This is a copied version."
Sota took out a transcribed sheet of paper, and Koshin picked it up to take a look.
The content revealed how much inheritance Kushina left behind, how Hiruzen used that inheritance, how much force he cultivated with it, and how many people came this time.
The rest were more official-sounding statements, but they all meant one thing.
The Sarutobi clan's ambition is not small. If the Uchiha clan falls, the other shinobi clans are next.
The remaining part was the real highlight, Hiashi expressed:
The Uchiha clan has served Konoha diligently for many years and suggested nominating Fugaku and Kairen as honorary elders.
Koshin put away the paper in his hand, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
'It seems that after the last incident, even the Main Family doesn't trust Hiruzen anymore.'
'So the first step now is to bring the Uchiha into Konoha's power structure.'
'But at present, that's still somewhat difficult.'
'Over all these years, Konoha has finally reduced the Uchiha Police Force to just a couple of kittens.'
'Unless Konoha is now at the point where it has no choice but to back down.'
Koshin glanced at Sota, "I understand. The number of people gathering outside is increasing. Make sure your vigilance is solid."
Then he gently patted Sota's shoulder, "Don't let the Main Family catch hold of any handle, or they'll make us scapegoats again."
Sota said seriously, "Lord Koshin, rest assured. Every step of our process is recorded."
Koshin smiled and nodded, his expression very gentle, "A Branch Family needs people like you for me to feel at ease."
"You go patrol now. Be careful."
Sota gave a slight bow, "Lord Koshin, please rest early."
Koshin watched Sota's departing back, his eyes a little reluctant. He muttered, "From now on, the Branch Family will have to rely on you."
Then his gaze gradually became resolute.
He then went into the study and started working busily.
About two hours later, Koshin, now in disguise, snuck out from the Branch Family.
Relying on the advantage of the Byakugan and his familiarity with the Branch Family's defenses, he successfully bypassed everyone.
Then, from a breach in the Uchiha clan's outer wall on the village's edge, he slipped into the Uchiha compound.
This kind of place looked like it had low walls and could be entered with a flip.
But precisely places like this had the most traps inside.
Koshin used the Byakugan to clearly see that they were all alarm traps.
So he flipped over and jumped in without worry.
As expected, Koshin immediately stepped on a trap.
It was a very special kind of wire, painted to blend into the darkness at night.
Ordinary people couldn't detect it at all.
After triggering it, Koshin stood still on the spot.
The Uchiha people quickly appeared and surrounded him.
Koshin directly tore off his face covering, "I'm Hyuga Koshin."
Kiyan looked a bit stunned, "Isn't this the Fourth Elder of the Hyuga?"
Koshin nodded and then gave a signal with his eyes.
With a wave of Kiyan's hand, the other Uchiha clansmen dispersed, "Lord Koshin, please come with me."
Hyuga Koshin was the only elder of the Branch Family, and basically, the whole Branch Family listened to him.
Him coming alone definitely meant there was something important.
After Koshin was brought to a room by Kiyan, Fugaku arrived immediately.
"Clan Head Fugaku."
Fugaku gave a slight nod, "Elder Koshin."
Koshin was slightly older than Fugaku, so Fugaku was still fairly respectful.
Moreover, Koshin sneaking over alone clearly meant it was something serious.
"I wonder, Elder Koshin, what brings you here at this time?"
Koshin took out the map of explosive tags' distribution he had previously examined, "Clan Head Fugaku should know that the current monitoring of Konoha is carried out by our Hyuga clan."
"We've discovered a large number of explosive tags in these locations."
"Although we don't know who placed them, they're quite old, but the quality is very high, over ninety percent can be triggered."
Fugaku looked surprised as he picked up the distribution map of explosive tags and stared blankly at the dense red dots all over the map.
"Elder Koshin, are these real?"
Koshin knew that anyone seeing this for the first time would be in disbelief.
After all, the coverage of these tags was too wide, and the number was huge.
Koshin nodded, indicating they were all real.
After holding the distribution map and looking at it for over ten seconds, Fugaku finally accepted this shocking truth.
Koshin pointed to a certain area, "Clan Head Fugaku."
"This place is an old district left over after demolitions. Hiruzen's men are stationed nearby."
Fugaku's expression changed, "Did Hiashi send you?"
Koshin waved his hand, "No, Clan Head Fugaku, please remember, this matter has nothing to do with the Main Family, it is solely my doing."
He then gave Fugaku a meaningful look.
Fugaku immediately understood, no wonder Koshin and Hiashi came separately.
So it turns out the Main Family didn't want to bear responsibility.
This kind of thing was all too normal. After all, they didn't know yet whether these explosive tags could inflict serious damage on the Sarutobi forces.
But once used, the Hyuga clan in charge of village surveillance would surely be blamed for dereliction of duty.
In that case, the Branch Family was perfectly suited to take the fall.
Fugaku's expression became complicated, 'If that's the case, then is Hyuga Koshin going to become the next sacrificial pawn after Hyuga Hizashi?'
But Koshin had no particular expression, as if he didn't know he was going to die.
'Or perhaps, he has long put life and death aside?'
Koshin, of course, understood what Fugaku's look meant, but he acted like he hadn't seen it.
"The clan head is already contacting other shinobi clans. If the Uchiha clan wants to gain power now…"
"We must make Hiruzen retreat out of necessity."
Koshin pointed at the explosive tags distribution map, "Hopefully these can deal a heavy blow and expose the Sarutobi forces."
If a large number of Sarutobi clansmen end up in the hospital, it won't be something that can be hidden.
Fugaku nodded, "Elder Koshin, rest assured. We Uchiha will definitely make good use of this."
Koshin stood up, "I can't stay here long, I must leave now."
Fugaku also stood up, "Then I'll have Kiyan escort the elder out."
———
"How could something like this exist?", Rengoku was also shocked when he took the explosive tags distribution map.
Fugaku had just finished explaining Koshin's visit.
Rengoku was very familiar with the origins of these explosive tags.
They were set up by Gengen of the Yoton Village during the Second Shinobi World War more than twenty years ago.
They wouldn't be discovered until at least another six years.
He'd thought before about using these to strike the Sarutobi clan hard.
But he had no idea where they were located.
Some were in eaves, others in walls, only the Byakugan could detect them.
He never expected the Hyuga clan to discover them early.
It's like someone delivered a pillow just as he was about to doze off.
In that case, this could seriously damage Konoha.
"I understand. Let me think how to make use of this."
"I'll go back to sleep first," Rengoku stashed the map on himself, yawned, and walked out.
Fugaku was a bit dumbfounded, 'Isn't this the time to discuss it? Besides, a fight is about to break out outside, how can he sleep?'
'Forget it, better go invite Elder Kairen. Elder Kairen probably can't sleep either.'
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