Naruto: Starting from the Reincarnation of the Otsutsuki.

Engraving?

A hint of doubt flashed through Hyuga Hizashi's mind, and he immediately activated his Byakugan to look at the mark.

Several marks of varying depths, resembling those carved by wind, were quietly etched on the ground and the edge of the bookshelf.

He pondered for a long time, searching through all the possibilities in his mind, but still couldn't come up with any clues.

"How is Elder Tianyun's body?"

"Hizashi-sama."

Hyuga Gakuto stepped forward and respectfully handed over a report sealed by the clan's physician.

The officer glanced at the report and, seeing that he hadn't opened it without permission, nodded slightly, took the report, and unfolded it before his eyes.

However, when the contents of the report came into view, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"The body was torn to pieces... killed instantly by Wind Release..."

"And it happened in an instant..."

Hyuga Hizashi murmured silently to himself.

"But Elder Tianyun's strength is clearly greater than mine..."

Hyuga Hizashi was always confident in his own strength, but precisely because of this, he was even more aware of Hyuga Tenun's importance.

"If one could kill Elder Tianyun's Wind Escape technique in an instant... just how powerful would that be?"

The past dynasties of Sunagakure unconsciously surfaced in his mind.

Even for the Kazekage, it's almost impossible to instantly kill Hyuga Tengu in a head-on confrontation. At the very least, he needs to hold out for a while to leave a message.

"No...maybe I'm overcomplicating things."

Hyuga Hizashi's eyes flashed, and another hypothesis surfaced in his mind.

If Elder Tianyun knew this intruder...

Was he killed because he froze for a moment?

Hyuga Hizashi was stunned by his own idea and couldn't help but look around.

Inside the secret vault, the guards of the branch family were still engrossed in their search, unaware of the turmoil he was unleashing.

That's right...

Only in this way can it make sense.

Elder Hyuga Ten'un's strength was undeniable; even an opponent far stronger than him couldn't possibly kill him before he could even react.

Unless... he wasn't on guard at all, or didn't have time to be on guard.

The only people who could make an elder of the Hyuga clan act in this way must be the people in the village.

And the most powerful wind-style technique in the village...

The answer is obvious.

"Shimura Danzo?!"

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Hyuga Hizashi felt a chill creep up his spine, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt.

He could no longer concern himself with the current search; he only wished he could immediately present this deduction to his brother.

The higher-ups in Konoha... something's fishy!

-

"Captain Qinglan, it's been so long!"

Mitarashi Anko crossed her arms and looked at Hinata Seiran with a beaming smile.

“Yes…” Hinata Seiran looked slightly surprised, then smiled and said, “I didn’t expect to see you here, and…”

He feigned confusion, looking at the bag of medicinal herbs in Hongdou's hand, and asked, "What's this...?"

"These are the medicinal herbs that Orochimaru-sensei asked me to buy,"

Red Bean leaned close to Hinata Seiran and whispered, "Actually, this time, it wasn't me who came to find you, it was Orochimaru-sensei who had something to ask you."

"Really?"

Hinata Seiran was slightly surprised. "Orochimaru-sama actually came to see me? That's quite an honor..."

“However… I’ve already guessed why Orochimaru-sensei is looking for you.” She suddenly turned her head and looked at Hyuga Aoran meaningfully.

"?"

Hinata Seiran paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "For example...?"

"That must be..."

"Orochimaru-sensei wants to take you as his disciple!"

Red Bean looked at Hinata Seiran with a grin, unable to hide her smugness.

"If Orochimaru-sensei really takes you as his disciple, then Captain Qinglan will have to call me Senior Sister Anko~"

She put her hands behind her head and skipped ahead, leading the way, radiating the liveliness and innocence unique to young girls.

"..."

Hinata Seiran twitched the corner of his mouth and followed Anko's steps.

Orochimaru's house is located on a secluded street near the Forest of Death.

It is a detached two-story house with gray and white walls covered with unknown vines and a spacious backyard.

The courtyard walls were tall, completely obscuring the view inside.

Mitarashi Anko led Hinata Seiran into the courtyard, through the rooms filled with various scrolls and experimental equipment, and all the way to the backyard.

In a meticulously manicured garden, they finally met Orochimaru.

He was dressed in a light-colored robe, his long hair casually hanging down his shoulders, and he looked lazy and composed.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly turned around. His effeminate face now showed a gentle expression, which was quite different from the cold and stern image of one of the legendary "Three Ninjas".

"Orochimaru-sensei, I've brought Captain Aoran with me!"

Mitarashi Anko ran up to Orochimaru with small steps, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes, like a child waiting for praise.

Orochimaru looked down at her, reached out and patted Anko's head, and said gently, "Well done."

He then took out five hundred taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to Hongdou: "Go buy some snacks and treat your former captain well."

Mitarashi Anko took the money, gave Orochimaru a sweet smile, then went to Hyuga Aoran, made a face at him, and finally gave him a thumbs up, saying in a low voice, "Good luck!"

They disappeared in a flash, their footsteps fading into the distance.

In the vast backyard, only the two of them remained, silently gazing at each other.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves.

"Hiss..."

Several small, venomous snakes slithered out of the grass and finally stopped at Orochimaru's feet.

"Qinglan-jun, you really have a lot of courage..."

"As a branch family member, it's astonishing that they dare to betray the main family."

Chapter 7 You need an ally...

A small snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve, coiled around his arm, and gently flicked its tongue towards Hyuga Aoran opposite him.

Then, a scroll slowly emerged from the snake's mouth.

"This scroll, is it something you... no. I should say the person behind you wanted to give me?"

"It took me quite a bit of effort to decipher its contents..."

Having said that, Orochimaru picked up the scroll and waved it in his hand, looking at the handsome black-haired boy in front of him with great interest.

I thought it was just a coincidence, that letter was just nonsense... but I never expected to actually gain something from it.

I wonder who wants to use him to overthrow the Hyuga clan?

"The origin of the white eye, or even the end of evolution... and records about caged birds."

"Let me guess, the person behind you... is it Hyuga Hizashi?"

Orochimaru stared intently into Hyuga Seiran's eyes, trying to find a flaw in those deep gazes.

In Orochimaru's view, Hyuga Seiran was at most a pawn used by the person behind the scenes to deliver messages.

The true core of the transaction lies hidden within this scroll.

As for what the other party wants in return, it depends on whether the offer is worth his effort.

Of course, if this young man really came alone, without anyone instructing him...

That would explain his inherent secrets and value.

Perhaps even more astonishing than this scroll.