[Diplomacy Evaluation]
[Compared to his relatively decent domestic governance, Sarutobi Hiruzen's performance in diplomacy fell far short. The core of his foreign policy can be summarized in one word: compromise.]
[A typical example occurred during the Third Great Ninja War. As the victor, he took the initiative to seek peace with the defeated Iwagakure, waiving a large amount of war reparations and territorial claims. This caused public outrage within Konoha and was one of the triggers for his first resignation.]
The visuals on the Sky Screen complemented the text, showing scenes from the later stages of the Third Great Ninja War.
Following the victory at the Kannabi Bridge, Konoha ninjas gained the upper hand on the battlefield, and Iwagakure's forces retreated in defeat.
But just as Konoha was about to achieve a decisive victory, an order from the Hokage office reached the front lines—halt the offensive and enter peace negotiations with Iwagakure.
The scene then shifted to Iwagakure. Ōnoki sat in the Tsuchikage office, reading the peace terms. His face first showed disbelief, then transformed into ecstatic joy.
---
[Konoha, Year 50]
Minato watched the images on the Sky Screen and listened to the evaluation of Hiruzen's diplomacy, his brows deeply furrowed.
As a shinobi who had lived through the Third Great Ninja War, Minato knew all too well how brutal that war had been.
Obito and Rin had died. Kakashi had been broken. Countless Konoha ninjas had bled and sacrificed themselves. And what had been gained in the end? The Third Hokage voluntarily waiving war reparations and territorial claims.
Although this had allowed Minato to rise to power quickly, he would have preferred to continue the war and make Iwagakure pay.
Still, as a member of a military organization, a shinobi's first duty was to obey orders. But that didn't mean they had no opinions. And indeed, the Third Hokage had subsequently resigned to take responsibility.
[The overly conservative diplomatic strategy, while avoiding the escalation of war, also caused Konoha to lose substantial practical benefits and, more critically, severely damaged morale. As the victorious nation, proactively conceding was instead perceived as a sign of weakness, indirectly fueling the war ambitions of other hidden villages.]
---
[Iwagakure · Tsuchikage's Office (during the Third Great Ninja War)]
Ōnoki watched the images playing on the Sky Screen. A complex smile, tinged with both sarcasm and relief, appeared on his aged face.
"Hahahahaha…!!"
"Hiruzen… so you really would make that choice." Ōnoki muttered to himself.
He thought of the current situation in reality. Right now, the Third Great Ninja War was at its most critical stalemate. Iwagakure and Konoha were locked in a standoff at the border of the Land of Grass, with heavy casualties on both sides.
Ōnoki had already prepared himself for the worst. If the war situation continued to deteriorate, Iwagakure might have to cede territory and pay massive reparations.
But now, the Sky Screen told him: don't worry. Sarutobi Hiruzen would proactively seek peace even while holding the advantage—and would waive most of the demands for concessions.
"Coward."
Ōnoki commented, but there was no contempt in his voice.
"No… not cowardice. It's excessive idealism. He thinks making concessions will bring peace. He thinks compromise will eliminate hatred. But he's wrong. The rule of the world has always been survival of the fittest. If you take one step back, others will take two steps forward."
He looked at the map in his office.
"So then…"
Ōnoki pondered.
"Now that I know the future's direction… can I be… more aggressive?"
What if he deliberately showed weakness now, lured Konoha deeper in, and before the timeline for peace negotiations predicted by the Sky Screen arrived, tried to secure greater gains on the battlefield?
Or… what if he simply broke the future predicted by the Sky Screen—not waiting for Konoha to proactively seek peace, but instead proposing peace terms even more favorable to Iwagakure ahead of schedule?
"No… I can't be too greedy."
Ōnoki quickly dismissed the idea.
"Although the future revealed by the Sky Screen may change, the general trend won't be wrong. Hiruzen's character determines that he tends toward compromise in diplomacy. Rather than risking change, it's better to go along with this trend and fight for more tangible benefits."
He pressed the bell on his desk, and Kitsuchi walked in.
"Notify the front line command to adjust our combat strategy."
"From today onward, adopt a defensive stance. Reduce active offenses. At the same time, make sure to hold our current defensive lines. Now, let's see who has more patience—Konoha or us."
"Yes, Father."
Kitsuchi said while taking notes.
"Also," Ōnoki added.
"Prepare a peace negotiation delegation. But don't send them out yet. Wait for my orders."
After Kitsuchi left, Ōnoki looked back at the Sky Screen. The images had already shifted to other content, but his mind was already set with a complete plan.
Since he knew the future, he had to make use of it.
---
The Sky Screen's scene shifted to a moonlit night.
[Konoha Village, the Hyūga clan grounds.]
A young Hyūga Hinata was sleeping soundly, but a pair of arms reached out from the shadows.
[The most criticized diplomatic incident occurred in the 54th year of Konoha. In an attempt to acquire the Byakugan, Kumogakure used the pretext of peace negotiations to attempt the kidnapping of the eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan head, Hyūga Hinata.]
The scene clearly showed the entire process: a sinister-looking Kumogakure shinobi, carrying an unconscious Hinata, preparing to flee, but was struck dead with a single palm strike by the head of the Hyūga clan, Hyūga Hiashi.
[However, after failing, Kumogakure turned the tables, falsely accusing Konoha of killing their peace envoy.]
The scene shifted to the Kumogakure delegation's lodging. Kumogakure shinobis, carrying the corpse of their comrade, angrily confronting Konoha's liaison personnel.
The camera pulled back to the conference room of the Hokage Building. Hiruzen sat in the main seat, flanked by Koharu and Homura, facing the aggressive Kumogakure representatives. Outside the window, Hiashi knelt in the hallway, head lowered, hands clenched into fists on his knees, his knuckles white.
[Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately chose to settle the matter peacefully, offering Hyūga Hizashi's life in place of Hiashi's as a concession to Kumogakure.]
[Although this took place in the aftermath of the Nine-Tails Rampage—when Konoha had lost its top combatant, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, a large number of Shinobis, and strategic control over the Nine-Tails—Hiruzen Sarutobi's move still disheartened many Konoha shinobis. This resentment accumulated over time to the point that during Orochimaru's 'Konoha Crush' plan, almost no one came to his aid.]
[After all, Konoha still possessed powerful figures like Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and Jiraiya at the time. Kumogakure had no absolute certainty of victory, and in the end, indeed took no action.]
[It can be said that the Hyūga Incident was the greatest stain on Sarutobi Hiruzen's diplomatic record, severely damaging the Hokage's authority and Konoha's cohesion.]
---
[Konoha, Year One]
Hashirama recalled the fleeting images of the Nine-Tails' Rampage he had seen earlier and said in a grave tone:
"It seems the Nine-Tails is truly dangerous. We must think of a way to control it!"
---
[Konoha, Year 54 · Hyūga Clan Grounds]
Hyūga Hiashi stood on the veranda of his courtyard, looking up at the Sky Screen.
When he saw the scene of young Hinata being kidnapped, his pupils constricted sharply, and his Byakugan activated involuntarily.
"Kumogakure…"
Hiashi squeezed the word out through gritted teeth, his voice icy.
Recently, a Kumogakure delegation was indeed about to visit, ostensibly to discuss post-war cooperation.
Everything matched.
"Father?"
A timid voice came from behind him. Hinata, nearly three years old, stood hesitantly at the door, looking at her father with unease.
Hiashi turned around, crouched down, and gently patted his daughter's head. His movements were tender, but deep in his eyes were suppressed rage and lingering fear.
If the Sky Screen hadn't warned him in advance, if he hadn't seen this future… Hinata might really have been kidnapped. And according to the Sky Screen, although he would save his daughter, it would lead to his younger brother Hizashi dying in his place.
"Hinata, from today on, don't go playing around by yourself anymore."
Hiashi said, keeping his voice as gentle as possible.
"If you want to play, make sure a guardian from the Main House accompanies you."
"Why?"
Hinata tilted her head.
"Because… there are bad people outside."
Hiashi hugged his daughter, then stood up.
"Go now. Find your mother."
Hinata nodded and turned to leave, escorted by her guards. Hiashi watched her small figure recede, his fists slowly tightening.
He turned and walked back inside, heading to the study.
His younger brother was there, organizing scrolls while watching the Sky Screen. Seeing his elder brother enter, Hizashi looked up and smiled.
"Brother, did you see the Sky Screen? I never imagined I'd be so heroic in the future—willing to die in your place."
Hizashi's tone was light, as if he was talking about something unrelated to himself. But the Caged Bird Seal mark on his forehead looked particularly stark in the candlelight.
"I won't let that happen."
"Neither Hinata being kidnapped nor you dying in my place—none of it will happen."
Hizashi's smile faded slightly. He put down his scroll and looked seriously at his brother.
"But what if it does happen? What if Kumogakure really comes demanding someone? What if the Hokage truly asks the Hyūga to provide a resolution? Brother, you are the head of the Main House. You cannot die. And I, as a member of the Branch House, exist precisely to protect the Main House."
"Shut up!"
Hiashi rarely lost his temper with his younger brother.
"You are not a tool. You are my brother."
The two brothers stared at each other, and the study fell into silence. Outside the window, the Sky Screen continued to play, but the images of the future now felt both distant and dangerously close.
"I'm going to see the Third Hokage," Hiashi finally said.
"I will request to strengthen the defenses of the Hyuga compound, especially the guards around Hinata. Also… I will apply for the Hyuga Clan not to participate in any reception activities during the Kumogakure delegation's visit."
"They'll think the Hyūga are being provocative," Hizashi reminded.
"That's still better than letting Hinata be kidnapped."
Hiashi turned and walked toward the door, stopping suddenly just before reaching it, though he didn't look back.
"Also… if the future truly comes to that point. I won't let you die in my place. If anyone is to die, it should be me, the clan head, personally giving an accounting to Kumogakure."
With that, he pushed the door open and left.
Hizashi stood in place, watching his elder brother's departing back, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
He touched the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead; the mark felt slightly warm, like an eternal shackle.
---
[Kumogakure · Raikage's Office]
The Fourth Raikage, A, sat in a large office chair, his thick arms crossed over his chest, watching the images on the Sky Screen.
When he saw the scenes of the Kumogakure shinobi failing to kidnap Hinata, then turning the blame around, his rugged face showed no change in expression.
"This Sky Screen…" A muttered to himself.
"Just went and exposed our plan like this?"
"Not that it matters. Kumogakure hasn't lost anything anyway."
Mabui, sitting across from him, asked cautiously:
"Raikage-sama, should we still proceed with the original plan?"
"The plan stays."
A interrupted her.
"But the details need adjustment. Since Konoha knows in advance, they'll definitely strengthen their defenses. So… we'll just switch to a different target."
"Who knows? This time, it might actually succeed."