When Uchiha Fugaku was framed—framed by other village spies from the Anbu—the news spread widely. During this time, Fugaku visited an ancient clan.
This clan, like the Uchiha, had a long history: the Hyuga clan.
"Clan Leader Fugaku, please come in!"Upon hearing of Uchiha Fugaku's arrival, Hyuga Hizashi personally welcomed him and led him to a tatami room designated for receiving distinguished guests.
Pouring tea himself, Hyuga Hizashi said,"I have already heard about the slanderous accusations against you a few days ago. It is truly unimaginable that that person would stoop to such extremes just to suppress you."
"That is his usual method," Fugaku replied with a smile."Back when Hatake Sakumo's reputation was at its peak, he was condemned by the villagers for a single failed mission.""If no one was deliberately guiding the situation, I wouldn't believe it for a second."
"That's true," Hyuga Hizashi nodded.As Clan Leader Fugaku said, this wasn't the first time the Third Hokage had done such things.When Hatake Sakumo failed his mission, the extreme opinions circulating in the village were obviously manipulated by someone.
"Fortunately, you reacted quickly, or else the consequences would have been unthinkable.""With Sakumo's case as a precedent, I naturally had to be extra cautious. It turns out I was not overthinking," Fugaku said with a sip of tea and a smile.
"Although the Third Hokage is cunning, Clan Leader Fugaku, you still outsmarted him," Hyuga Hizashi also smiled."This time, not only did he fail to frame you, but his own reputation suffered."
Hyuga Hizashi harbored great dislike for the Third Hokage and was delighted to see him take a hit.
"Clan Leader Hizashi, I have come to ask a favor this time,"With the atmosphere eased, Uchiha Fugaku spoke his purpose.
"What favor?"Hyuga Hizashi asked, somewhat puzzled.Given the current strength and influence of the Uchiha clan, he doubted the Hyuga clan could be of much help.
"I hope Clan Leader Hizashi will help spread the word about a certain incident from the past,"Fugaku's eyes met Hizashi's as he said.
"That incident from the past?"Something seemed to stir in Hyuga Hizashi's mind, and he involuntarily recalled that event.
The representative from the Hidden Cloud Village had tried to kidnap Hinata to steal the Hyuga clan's kekkei genkai but failed and died at his hands.
What should have been a good thing was instead the start of a disaster.
The Hidden Cloud Village had arrogantly demanded that the Hyuga clan hand over the man who killed their representative. However, instead of protecting the Hyuga clan, the Third Hokage pressured them to account for it.
Under the Third Hokage's coercion, his younger brother Hyuga Hizashi took his place and died as a settlement to the Hidden Cloud Village.
His fingers clenched into flesh involuntarily, a wave of anger toward the Third Hokage spreading inside him.
"At that time, under the Third Hokage's faction's pressure, Hyuga Hizashi committed suicide as a settlement with the Hidden Cloud Village."
"I know this is a painful memory the Hyuga clan would rather not recall, but I hope the Hyuga clan will help spread this incident,"Uchiha Fugaku said, watching Hyuga Hizashi's expression closely.
"..."Hyuga Hizashi frowned.
That incident was a shameful chapter for the Hyuga clan, one they wished to forget.
Moreover, if the incident were publicized, the Hyuga clan would undoubtedly become a target of resentment from the Third Hokage.
Although he had some sympathy toward the Uchiha, openly opposing the Third Hokage like this gave him pause.
After pondering for a moment, he shook his head.
"Sorry, Clan Leader Fugaku, but your request is really—"
"Don't rush to refuse. Hear me out on my terms first,"Uchiha Fugaku interrupted before Hizashi could finish.
"My condition is that anyone involved in that incident, whether from the Hidden Cloud or Hidden Leaf, will be duly punished,"Fugaku stated firmly.
"Anyone from the Hidden Cloud or Hidden Leaf will be punished?"Hyuga Hizashi looked up in surprise at Uchiha Fugaku, not expecting such a promise.
"That's right. All will receive due punishment. As for how severe that punishment will be, you will decide,"Uchiha Fugaku said with a meaningful tone.
Putting aside the Hidden Cloud people for now, among those from Hidden Leaf must be the Third Hokage, the main instigator.
His words implied to Hizashi that if the Hyuga agreed to publicize the incident, Fugaku would make sure even the Third Hokage would face appropriate consequences.
"Please allow me to consider it..."Understanding the deeper meaning of Fugaku's words, Hizashi's breathing grew heavy.
Since the incident, he had often thought about taking revenge on the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Leaf parties involved.
But with the Hyuga clan's current strength, it was impossible, so he had abandoned those unrealistic thoughts.
Now, Fugaku's words reignited that desire.
And the thought grew stronger because he knew Fugaku possessed the power to make it happen.
If he agreed to let Fugaku publicize the matter, Fugaku would help accomplish what the Hyuga clan alone could not.
Taking a deep breath, he made his decision and looked at Fugaku.
"After years of investigation, the Hyuga clan discovered that the Hidden Cloud's advisor, Dodai, was the mastermind behind the incident."
"Clan Leader Fugaku, I can agree to your request, but before the Hyuga clan spreads this matter, I want to see this man dead,"Hyuga Hizashi said, his tone heavy with uncontainable hatred.
"Agreed, I accept!"Uchiha Fugaku agreed immediately.
After talking for a while longer, Fugaku stood up to take his leave and departed the Hyuga clan.
He did not send someone secretly to spread the news but instead made certain conditions and let the Hyuga clan do it, aiming to make it impossible for the Third Hokage to stop.
Since it was the Hyuga clan spreading a true event, even if the Third Hokage wanted to suppress it, he could not.
Back at the Uchiha clan, Fugaku quickly obtained detailed information on Dodai from the Hidden Cloud Village.
Dodai was an elite jonin, a key retainer of successive Raikage, and an examiner of the Raikage's signature lightning techniques.
He had served the Third and Fourth Raikage and currently held the position of advisor in the Hidden Cloud Village.
He possessed a kekkei genkai called "Yōton" (Magma Release), which allowed him to transform chakra into a rubber-like substance.
"A kekkei genkai user!"After reading about Dodai, Fugaku smiled faintly.
To get the Hyuga clan to publicize the past incident, Dodai had to be killed—he must die.
He had not expected Dodai to be a kekkei genkai user.
Although Dodai's kekkei genkai was not particularly strong, any help was better than none.
"Just an elite jonin. I don't need to handle this personally!"He went to an underground chamber near the Nanka Shrine and entered.
What he saw was a vast underground space.
Due to the increasing number of his clone spores, the chamber had been expanded to accommodate them.
"Infiltrate the Hidden Cloud Village and kill this man!"Summoning Clone Spore No. 1, Fugaku handed over Dodai's information.
He did not plan to assassinate Dodai himself but intended for the Clone Spore No. 1 to carry out the assassination.
Clone Spore No. 1 possessed shadow-level strength, along with the abilities of the Mayfly Technique and disguise technique, making assassinating an aging elite jonin no problem.
This was the advantage of having a shadow-level subordinate; such tasks no longer required his personal involvement.
"Yes."Clone Spore No. 1 responded, taking the information and carefully examining it.