Drip…
drop…
The sound of dripping water echoed in layers within the arched space, mixed with the sound of whining wind blowing from an unknown source.
The damp, musty smell, wrapped in a stale, rusty scent, hit one’s face.
A completely black cat crouched in the shadows, its paws playing with several half-dead white snakes.
Once the white snake stopped moving, the black cat would release its paw, and the snake’s body would struggle and twist, only to be firmly pinned down again by the paw pads, exuding a malicious sense of amusement.
But soon, as if noticing something, the black cat raised its head.
It was precisely because of this that its appearance could be seen clearly.
This completely black cat surprisingly had one white eye and one black eye.
Normal people would just think it was a cat blind in one eye.
No one knew that the white eye was the “Byakugan” that the other four great ninja villages dreamed of having.
One must know that Ao, a jonin of the Hidden Mist Village, was known as the “Byakugan Killer” just because he possessed a single Byakugan, and was even listed in Konoha’s bingo book because of it.
Absolutely no one would think that some lunatic would transplant such a precious Byakugan onto a cat.
Yet, someone had done exactly that.
The black cat lowered its head, picked up the corpse of the white snake in its mouth, and turned into a blur, leaping into the shadows of the intertwined pipes above, silent as if stepping on clouds.
Crouching at the corner of a drainage pipe, its white pupil dilated slightly, while the black eye narrowed into a slit, staring at the calm water surface in the distance.
The muddy sewage, deep enough to cover one’s knees, gleamed with an oily sheen, reflecting the intertwined, rust-covered pipes overhead.
Splash…
splash…
A moment later, ripples appeared on the calm water surface.
Three swift black shadows were seen stepping across the water, their reflections twisting into bizarre shapes in the ripples.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two Anbu members had indeed gone through quite some trouble.
Along the way, they encountered no shortage of traps and decoys set by Orochimaru, finally finding the correct path within the complex underground pipes.
This dark and damp environment was only favored by snakes and rats.
Orochimaru’s habits really seemed to be leaning toward snakes.
“…”
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking at the rust-covered door ahead.
His facial expression grew somewhat gloomy as he raised his hand, gesturing for the Anbu ninjas to step forward.
Bang!!
Following the muffled sound of the iron door being forcefully broken open, a pungent stench of rot, mixed with disinfectant and the sweet, fishy smell of decaying flesh, wrapped in cold wind, hit their faces, making them nauseous.
Dim yellow lights cast bright and dark shadows, but the scene before them caused Hiruzen Sarutobi’s pupils to shrink.
The laboratory walls were soaked with dark red bloodstains, looking like a mottled abstract painting.
The light bulb hanging from the ceiling flickered due to the vibration of the door breaking.
Layers upon layers of dark brown substance coagulated on the ground, like evidence of crimes that couldn’t be washed away no matter how many times it was scrubbed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly heard the suddenly rapid breathing of the two Anbu ninjas beside him.
They stared blankly at several cylindrical glass containers standing in the laboratory.
Curled up humanoid silhouettes were faintly visible in the pale green liquid.
Their skin showed a semi-transparent waxy luster from prolonged soaking, and sutures resembling maggots crawled over exposed muscle tissue.
From within those sliced open chest cavities, beating hearts could still be seen.
Organs resembling snakes were grafted and entwined in their abdominal cavities.
Cluttered wires extended out of the containers like jellyfish tentacles.
And shockingly, there were many more test subjects like this in the laboratory, with blood-red numbers like “32,” “42,” “65” visible.
The iron shelves around were also piled high with glass jars containing biological organs in different stages of development, twitching eerily and vividly in the liquid.
“This…” The pupils beneath the Anbu ninja’s mask trembled.
To be honest, although this scene was shocking enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi was actually mentally prepared.
After all, Orochimaru’s earliest involvement in human experimentation was essentially conducted with the tacit approval of him and all of Konoha’s higher-ups—the Hashirama cell transplantation experiments.
Even though those people volunteered to be test subjects solely to cultivate a Wood Style user and bring Wood Style back to the world, it also proved that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not some soft-hearted person.
Even upon seeing this scene right now, Hiruzen Sarutobi still harbored reluctance and guilt toward his disciple.
Until he saw the deepest part of the laboratory, two shadows overlapping each other…
Because Orochimaru had his back to the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi first saw the operating table, an immature face, and a sliced-open neck.
And where was the smile on Yun Chuan Hyuga’s face?
It had long been replaced by fear, and tears slowly slid down his youthful face.
It seemed he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He raised his hand toward him and opened his mouth, but couldn’t make any sound.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi distinctly read what the young man wanted to say.
“Grandpa Third…” he said.
At this moment, Orochimaru, hearing the noise, also turned around.
Bright and cold light reflected on his pale face, making the ferocity dyed in blood look even more evil and ugly.
The headless corpse at Orochimaru’s feet was still spewing blood, turning the laboratory into a blood-rain hell, combining with this scene to form a cruel and eccentric masterpiece.
The impact this scene had on Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly surpassed those experimental subjects.
Most importantly, he knew that young man and had a very deep impression of him.
As the honorary principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy, he would often make time to go to the academy to give speeches, shaping his image as an approachable elder while speaking about Konoha’s “Will of Fire.”
Once, he selected the class Yun Chuan Hyuga was in.
While speaking about the “Will of Fire,” he noticed the almost overflowing admiration on this child’s face.
Afterwards, as usual, the teacher asked the children to write down their thoughts.
Normally, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t have time to read those “reflections.” It was just by chance that he remembered that immature face full of admiration.
Moved by an impulse, he dug out that nearly dust-covered “reflection.”
Then, he was stunned.
[My home is like a deeply rooted, leafy tree.]
[Grandpa Third is the trunk.]
[Sometimes mediating within, sometimes supplying nutrients.]
[My honorable father is the branches and leaves.]
[Sometimes keeping out the cold and retaining warmth, sometimes sheltering from wind and rain.]
[Even though they are old and their abilities fall short of their wishes, even though they are riddled with holes from pests, they still firmly root themselves deep in the soil to support and shelter the entire family and its fruits.]
[And we are the fruits.]
[Our family rejoices because of our birth.
Often we suckle delicious nutrients, and often someone shelters us from wind and rain.]
[But we forget who supplies us with nutrients, and who shields us from the wind and rain.]
[I stand too high and mighty.]
[Perhaps, when I fall, am gnawed upon, and tossed on the ground,]
[As a seed, taking root and sprouting, I will understand.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi was tired of hearing the varied, fancy flattery of adults, and also tired of seeing the blind, ignorant love and adoration of children.
But this essay lacked any piling up of gorgeous rhetoric, yet paradoxically perfectly resonated with the “Will of Fire,” even implicitly pointing out the contradictions between ninja clans and the village.
The childish words revealed sincere and beautiful sentiments.
Especially the last three lines; it could be said that in an instant, they struck Hiruzen Sarutobi right in the heart, making his weary body feel a warm glow.
Yes, those ninja clans only taught children to protect the clan’s interests; they never taught those children to consider themselves a part of Konoha.
Yet those clan children could only see the “branches and leaves” sheltering them, completely unable to see him underneath, supporting the entire “tree” and all the “fruits.”
Without a doubt, this was a good child capable of jumping out of the limitations of ninja clans, focusing on the entirety of Konoha, and inheriting the pure Will of Fire!
If anyone came running to Hiruzen Sarutobi saying Yun Chuan Hyuga was a bad child, Hiruzen Sarutobi would summon Enma on the spot and beat their brains out.
However, such a good child, right now…
Watching that figure slowly collapse on the operating table, the complex emotions in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s heart toward Orochimaru quietly dissipated, and veins gradually crawled up his aged face.
“Orochimaru!” He stared fixedly at Orochimaru with extreme rage.
“What are you doing?!”
“What have you done?!”
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly incensed, Orochimaru, snapping back to reality, felt his heart skip a beat.
He simply hadn’t expected the other party to be this furious.
Based on his understanding of his increasingly indecisive teacher, even if the human experiments were exposed, the other party wouldn’t possibly attack him.
There was still a high chance of escaping Konoha.
But now, why would he…
Before Orochimaru could associate this with Yun Chuan Hyuga, the enraged Hiruzen Sarutobi had already clasped his hands into signs.
Boar—Dog—Bird—Monkey—Ram!
“Summoning Jutsu!”
Poof!
With a burst of white smoke, a muscular monkey wearing a fur coat and a Konoha forehead protector appeared beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.
“Hiruzen, ran into trouble?”
As soon as Enma appeared, he subconsciously asked.
But looking up, he saw Orochimaru.
He froze for a moment and said, “This…”
“Enma!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out an explosive shout, interrupting Enma’s thoughts.
With a “Poof” sound of white smoke bursting, Enma transformed into a pillar-thick staff.
Using Enma right off the bat?!
Seeing this, Orochimaru’s face instantly turned ugly.
He had no time to ponder why the old man was so fiery today, nor could he bother to think why his white snakes hadn’t given him any warning.
If he hesitated any longer, he might really die here today!
“Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!!”
Buzz!!
A gale mixed with dense wind blades erupted from Orochimaru’s mouth.
The shrieking air waves and wind pressure caused ripples in the very air.
The surrounding bottles and jars shattered instantly, sweeping toward Hiruzen Sarutobi’s trio and obscuring the vision of the two Anbu ninjas.
Even now, before escaping, Orochimaru still thought of taking Yun Chuan Hyuga with him.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn’t even look.
The staff in his hands elongated, smashing heavily toward Orochimaru in the distance.
“Pfft!”
Orochimaru, whose chakra was already exhausted due to the organ transplant surgery, was instantly sent flying by this strike in his attempt to grab Yun Chuan Hyuga.
Mid-air, he vomited a mouthful of thick, bloody phlegm mixed with organ fragments.
“Damn it!
Damn it!!”
Orochimaru glared resentfully at Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose expression was dark.
Seeing the other party immediately use the Body Flicker Jutsu to arrive beside Yun Chuan Hyuga, he knew that he probably couldn’t take Yun Chuan Hyuga away this time.
Realizing this, despite his reluctance to accept it, Orochimaru still calmed down.
“Earth Style: Earth Subterranean Voyage!”
Using that momentum, Orochimaru quickly formed hand signs mid-air.
His feet landed on the ceiling, the solid stone and sand beneath his feet turning into fluid, and his body dove into the earth like a fish entering water.
“Lord Third!”
The two Anbu ninjas stepped forward, looking up at Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose head was raised and expression cold.
Hiruzen Sarutobi retracted his gaze, the anger in his heart dissipating somewhat.
He looked at Yun Chuan Hyuga beside him and spoke, “You two immediately take this child to get medical treatment.
You must save his life.”
“Yes!” The two Anbu ninjas didn’t ask further.
Nodding in acknowledgment, they picked up Yun Chuan Hyuga and instantly vanished from the spot.
At this moment, Orochimaru, who was swiftly moving upwards through the earth, was clutching his chest, his face pale to the extreme.
Let alone the fact that the chakra in his body was almost completely depleted right now, even in his prime, he couldn’t possibly defeat Hiruzen Sarutobi.
So all he could do now was put forth his utmost effort to escape Konoha.
He could only temporarily leave Yun Chuan Hyuga in Konoha and plan again in the future.
Moreover, he had to ensure Yun Chuan Hyuga lived to keep his secret.
Thinking of this, for a moment, he felt overwhelmingly frustrated.
How could the development of events suddenly slip out of his control?
Right, it was all because of that damn brat!
But was all of this really done by that brat?
Not only spending years scheming against him, but also calculating the old man into it; everything that happened today was within the other party’s plans?
That brat is only fifteen years old.
Could he be a monster?!
Thoughts flowed through his mind.
Orochimaru broke out of the ground, only to be met by a figure.
Wearing an Anbu mask, carrying a short sword on his back, with signature silver hair.
Kakashi Hatake.
“Lightning Blade!”
Without a single word of nonsense, Kakashi charged over holding the Lightning Blade, instantly making Orochimaru laugh out of sheer anger.
Are these brats all so foolishly overestimating themselves?!
Just as killing intent arose in Orochimaru’s heart, a barely audible sound reached his ears.
Sizzle!
“This is…”
Orochimaru looked down at his feet, seeing a black cat dart away, finally looking up at him with a glance.
A human-like mockery surprisingly appeared on that cat’s face.
Most importantly…
“Byakugan?!”
Noticing that white eye on the black cat, Orochimaru’s narrow pupils instantly shrank.
The next moment, before he had time to react.
BOOM!!
The sound of multiple explosive tags detonating shattered the quiet night.
The entire experimental base was shaken and shattered by a terrifying force.
The flat ground sank like a collapsing mountain, and flesh and blood scattered and flew like rain under the impact of the explosion!
Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, feeling the loud noise coming from afar, the two Anbu ninjas leaping among the trees subconsciously stopped in their tracks.
“Is that Lord Third…” They looked toward the sound, inevitably feeling terrified.
And they completely missed the subtle smile that emerged on the face of Yun Chuan Hyuga in their arms at this moment.
“Still held back, did he?” he chuckled internally.
“I hope Orochimaru likes my final gift.”
He didn’t expect Hiruzen Sarutobi’s momentary anger to actually beat Orochimaru to death.
Emotional approval couldn’t possibly outweigh decades of master-disciple affection.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi completely calmed down, he might even regret hitting too hard.
But it didn’t matter.
What Yun Chuan Hyuga wanted was to clear himself of suspicion.
Whether Orochimaru lived or died wasn’t important.
Moreover, a useful pawn like Orochimaru couldn’t be found just anywhere.
It would feel like a waste if he died before being thoroughly squeezed dry.
Thinking of this, Yun Chuan Hyuga glanced at the sky.
The time had already reached 5:00 AM, and the morning glow was now reflecting on the horizon.
The sun is both a setting sun and a rising sun at every moment.
When it extinguishes itself walking down the mountain to gather the desolate twilight, it is also exactly when it burns, climbing to the mountain peak to scatter fierce morning radiance on the other side.
“Next up, is the Tenseigan,” Yun Chuan Hyuga closed his eyes and chuckled lightly in his heart.
Heh, Hyuga clan, Caged Bird.
Make the empty seem full, and the full seem empty; the strong show weakness, and the weak show strength.
From today onwards, the offensive and defensive positions are reversed.
(END CHAPTER)