A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

152. Battles and Betrayals: Sunagakure’s Internal Strife

"Your new eyes are quite powerful, but please, don't push yourself like this in the future, Kiyomi...", Hikari said,

"Just now, it seemed like some type of Yin-like chakra was about to burst out of you, directed at the enemy, but it would have also burned your own eyes slightly and perhaps damaged them permanently a bit and worsened your eyesight in some way right away.

My Byakugan has captured everything. The costs associated with those upgraded eyes might be quite high over time."

Kiyomi, catching her breath atop her Susanoo, looked over at him, however, with 'double vision' problems and with pain in her eyes, and also sighed slightly, feeling relived that Hikari also seemingly discovered what had been her biggest worry recently, without her having to even say anything directly to him,

"I already knew about that, Hikari. So, is there a way to mitigate the damage? I can't afford to lose my vision, but I would also have been done for here had you not appeared on time, or I didn't use those powers further as I prepared..." She asked, her voice tense with the strain of battle and the fear of her own power.

Hikari nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon before returning to her, "I understand your concern. There's a research institution operating under my Third Estate back in the Hyuga clan. I'll set it up so we can look for a solution to this problem, allowing you to use your new powers without worry. I understand that giving up on those amazing advanced bloodline powers of your clan right away might be foolish...",

He then moved to stand beside her on top of her Susanoo, as she also moved them there, his presence reassuring, "For now, let's focus on here. We'll address your eyesight slowly in the future...", Hikari concluded, preparing them both for the next phase of the conflict here.

Hikari was familiar with the potential side effects of the Mangekyo Sharingan from his extensive knowledge of the original series, but he needed to approach the topic carefully, presenting his insights as new discoveries made possible by his Byakugan like just now.

He also already considered using Senju cells to mitigate the adverse effects on Kiyomi's eyes—a method that had seemingly proven quite effective for Obito in the original story.

The alternative of acquiring an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan "upgrade" was not currently viable for Kiyomi due to the absence of any close relatives with the potential to unlock the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Hikari, with his Byakugan still active, then meticulously observed Kiyomi's Susanoo, noting its current 'Humanoid Stage' completed with legs—a significant advancement since the war's onset months ago.

The rapid development intrigued him; Kiyomi was swiftly pushing the limits of her Mangekyo Sharingan's potential, just like Sasuke in the original series.

Fugaku also developed a similar level of Susanoo through continuous use by now. He wondered about the other advanced stages of Susanoo she might potentially achieve in the future if she follows his path.

In the next stage, the 'Armored Susanoo' would offer more robust protection with an additional layer of chakra armor, enhancing its already formidable strength.

Beyond that, the 'Perfect Susanoo' stood as the pinnacle, a titanic form complete with wings for flight, rivaling the might of a tailed beast and capable of decimating landscapes.

However, Hikari speculated that the Perfect Susanoo couldn't be unlocked by Fugaku or Kiyomi without his assistance of Senju cells, as EMS was out of the question for both of them.

They could reach the next Armored Stage at most, but it would take some time, and then, in his opinion, they would both be around the Late Kage level of strength shinobi when acquired.

As he considered these possibilities, Hikari also lingeringly considered the special Mangekyo Sharingan ability Kiyomi nearly used earlier.

While she hadn't disclosed its nature, Hikari understood the inherent strength of any Mangekyo technique—it was bound to be formidable.

Even without knowing the specifics, he knew the importance of such powers in the arsenal of a shinobi of Kiyomi's caliber.

"These abilities of yours...", Hikari finally said, his tone mixing curiosity with a strategic undertone, "They're crucial not just for our current battle but for the larger war. We should think about how to develop them safely. You're achieving remarkable progress with your Susanoo. It might not be long before you reach stages others only speculated about."

Meanwhile, just at that time, on the other side of the battlefield, Pakura finally also emerged after Hikari, her presence drawing immediate attention from everyone in the vicinity. Kiyomi's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and concern flitting across her face.

"Don't worry...", Hikari reassured, noticing her reaction, "Pakura is with us now. I've brokered a truce with her. She's agreed to back down peacefully and will even attempt to overthrow their current Kazekage. If she succeeds, our issues with Sunagakure might be resolved."

"What? But how did you manage that? Isn't she like their biggest hero?", Kiyomi asked, her voice laced with disbelief.

"The reason I was absent for a while," Hikari explained, "was because I was busy saving and persuading her. Right before this battle started, she was betrayed and ambushed by her own people—orders from the Kazekage, who saw her as a threat.",

"I saved her life, and in return, she's agreed to rally her followers from the Suna troops here. After sharing her story, she plans to use them to seize power in Sunagakure. We will support her by her deal with any Suna shinobi who refuse to join her cause."

Kiyomi nodded, processing the information. Such a move had vast and positive strategic implications, greatly altering the dynamics of their ongoing conflict with Sunagakure.

However, she still felt a little strange for some reason; she felt as if Hikari was still hiding something from him the entire time.

As Pakura's voice, amplified by chakra, echoed across the battlefield, aimed at the Sunagakure shinobi everywhere, her words carried the weight of betrayal and resolve.

She detailed the conspiracy against her, explaining how Sasori had poisoned her under Rasa's orders and how some other Sunagakure shinobi had been complicit.

Many Sunagakure shinobi gasped in shock and finally understood the entire backstory behind that contentious area from which Pakura disappeared and the true reason and explanation for that sudden disappearance. 

She also declared her intention to overthrow Rasa next to punish him and become the new, fairer Fifth Kazekage, one who would end the dominance of the crony noble families.

She also made it clear to her people that continuing the present fight there would only cause them more suffering and that Konoha's forces were gaining the upper hand.

Pakura revealed that she had negotiated peace with Konoha, promising that the Sunagakure shinobi could withdraw without any concessions and return to their village to challenge Rasa's regime right away.

The reaction among the Sunagakure shinobi was immediate and divided. Most of the civilian-origin shinobi, who already revered Pakura as a village hero, were incensed by the betrayal she described.

They rallied to her cause enthusiastically, fueled by anger towards Rasa and a desire for change quickly.

Conversely, the shinobi from Rasa's more direct circle and other noble families were skeptical and resistant.

They mostly viewed Pakura's sudden shift and her alliance with Konoha with suspicion and disdain, accusing her of betraying, not Rasa.

This rift quickly escalated into open conflict as the two factions within the Sunagakure troops began to clash violently, each side driven by starkly different visions for their village's future.

The battlefield became a microcosm of internal strife, with Pakura's impassioned plea turning into a catalyst for civil war within the ranks of the Sunagakure's own forces.

However, as Pakura's call for peace stirred turmoil among the Sunagakure forces, Jurota, the Jinchuriki of the One-Tail, took a stand, his face clearly enraged by the development. Amplifying his voice with chakra, he bellowed across the battlefield, rallying his comrades.

"Everyone, stop and think first! Are we truly going to believe this traitor? How does her sudden peace with Konoha justify her accusations against Sasori and the Kazekage?",n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"We can address these claims back in the village administratively and legally after we've completed our mission here.",

"Are we, the shinobi of Sunagakure, known to retreat in the face of adversity? Think of our fallen comrades, slain mere moments ago by Konoha's hand. Would they want us to give up our fight now?",

His voice grew louder and more impassioned, "We came here to deliver a decisive blow to Konoha, to end the cycle of suffering our village has endured.",

"We're here to claim their fertile lands, their wealth, to secure resources that have kept us at a disadvantage for so long, so we could also produce all those expensive and complicated chakra pills and shinobi equipment and finally level the playfield a little.",

"Are we ready to forsake all this because of a sudden call for peace? No! We must continue our fight, honor our fallen, and change our destiny. We will make Konoha pay and elevate Sunagakure from being the so-called poorest of the great nations!", 

Jurota's words rekindled the fighting spirit in many Sunagakure shinobi, temporarily stirring a fierce loyalty to their original mission and skepticism towards Pakura's sudden shift again.

The battlefield echoed with renewed cries of resolve as segments of the army rallied to his call, determined to see their initial mission through to the end.

Chiyo, still visibly shaken and coughing up blood, gathered her strength to also address the tumultuous crowd of Sunagakure shinobi at this time, seizing the opportunity to turn the situation fully once again against Pakura and Konoha. Her voice, though weakened, carried clearly across the battlefield,

"If what Pakura-san says is true, and my grandson Sasori has indeed committed all these heinous acts—turning the Third Kazekage into a grotesque puppet of his and attempting to poison and murder her—I swear to chase him to the ends of the earth. Death is the only fitting punishment for such crimes.",

She paused for breath, her experienced eyes scanning the immediate crowd, "However, is it wise to take Pakura's accusations at face value without further scrutiny now? Yes, some witnesses, who were there at that suspicious location, support her story since the onset of this battle, and yet, some also claimed she is a traitor with an entirely different narrative.",

"Pakura-san now suggests these dissenters are also part of the Kazekage's plot, who attempted to murder her earlier at that scene like those first group of witnesses also say; therefore, we must investigate thoroughly before taking such drastic action to reduce confusion and get to the gist of the matter.",

Chiyo sighed deeply, the weight of the situation evident in her posture, "Moreover, ceasing our current battle with Konoha based solely on these claims seems illogical. While I promise to pursue justice for any wrongdoing, including that by our current Kazekage, let's consider resolving this with minimal internal strife. It's not beyond our capability to press for Rasa's resignation or legal retribution through peaceful means rather than violent conflict later too."

She spoke one thing but already was fully aware internally that what Pakura said was true and concluded with a solemn nod as if to appear the most truthful as possible, "We need not tear ourselves apart in front of our enemies. Let us not act rashly. Pakura, step down.",

Chiyo and her brother Ebizo had been aware of Rasa's plan to assassinate Pakura. Bound by the Kazekage's considerable influence and the political realities of Sunagakure, they had reluctantly supported and even facilitated the scheme alongside Sasori and others involved.

In their view, Pakura's growing power and popularity posed a significant threat that needed to be curtailed to stabilize the village after their campaign against Konoha.

Yet Chiyo had not anticipated Sasori acting prematurely, Pakura's survival, or her newfound resolve, nor had she expected the shocking revelation that Sasori was responsible for the murder of the Third Kazekage.