He was in Konoha, and his domineering aura was overflowing.

And isn't it a bit disrespectful of the Hyuga clan to do this right in front of our gates?

Thinking this, he remained silent.

Although the Hyuga clan's awkward position prevented them from receiving the latest information from the Hokage Building immediately, the strength that Igarashi displayed when he was rescued outside felt like yesterday.

He knew perfectly well how powerful this person, who was seven years younger than him, was.

Anyway, it's not like I'm dead or my white eyes have been gouged out. I still owe them a life-saving favor. Being blind for a while is good for maintaining my white eyes.

And what is called a ceremony is actually a drug, isn't it?

Hiashi Hyuga pondered the identity of Igarashi that he had discovered after returning.

Actually, there's no need for an investigation. During the year that Igarashi was in the hospital, he treated everyone equally. Anyone who fell into his hands basically couldn't escape. Hyuga clan ninjas are also human, and they still have to go to the hospital when they get sick.

Even Konoha Hospital doesn't have drugs that can affect human senses, so it must have been developed by themselves?

Hiashi Hyuga became interested.

Most ninjas rely on prior intelligence gathering in their battles. The more information they know, the stronger they are in combat, especially ninja clans like the Hyuga clan that specialize in close combat. They are no strangers to using drugs in battle.

This isn't Naruto, but it's very ninja-like.

Not everyone can unleash chakra like a Kage-level powerhouse and bombard the map.

Upon seeing the invention of the fifty-stringed instrument, he was itching to place an order, as for those two unlucky guys.

They won't die, so this is a good opportunity to train their vigilance. After all, they are members of the Hyuga clan, guarding the gate. If they are not strong enough and make a fool of themselves, it will be a blow to the reputation of the Hyuga clan.

Igarashi watched with great interest as Hyuga Hiashi waved for the two guards, whose names he couldn't even pronounce "Aba Aba," to be taken away. He simply waved and ignored them completely.

The performance was truly masterful, befitting someone with so many appearances on camera.

"As expected of the ninja world." Igogakure sighed.

Hiashi Hyuga harbored doubts, but did not show them on his face.

Suddenly, Igarashi noticed a young man standing under a pillar who looked very much like Hyuga Hiashi.

Hinata and day difference.

Hinata Hizashi looked expressionless.

In the original work, the ending for this character can only be described as tragic. The two brothers were childhood sweethearts, but a single blow shattered their lifelong brotherhood.

Later, he lost his life in an unexpected disaster, and his son's treatment in the family was not very good; he was still considered a dog by the main family.

He even sacrificed himself to protect the main family during later wars.

The true cessation of the incense offerings.

It's truly a disaster.

"What are you looking at, you little white-eyed idiot?"

So what if it's tragic? Everyone is equal before him.

Swish.

In the courtyard, on the walkway outside the gate, and in the courtyard, all sorts of people, big and small, turned their white eyes to look over.

It felt incredibly oppressive.

The fiftieth string was astonished, the next second.

"Do you donate your eyes? I heard that the Hyuga clan and the Uchiha clan don't get along very well, but you just can't beat them. I have an eye surgery procedure here with a high mortality rate, but the results are pretty good once it's successful. It'll be no problem to beat the Uchiha clan. How about you consider it?"

There's a saying that goes, "Don't hit someone in the face, and don't expose their shortcomings when you're scolding them."

The Hyuga clan has always been at odds with the Uchiha clan. However, while their Byakugan is indeed extremely valuable in war, they are basically annihilated in one-on-one battles. In addition, the Uchiha clan often produces geniuses, so there is no shortage of successors. The Hyuga clan is basically in a situation where they are severely suppressed by the Uchiha.

This wasn't just a heavy blow; it was like throwing half a bag of chili powder, half a bag of salt, and half a bag of cumin at Hyuga's wound.

Hiashi Hyuga was terrified.

Although he was the prospective head of the family, and most of the people present were from branch families, it was still unsettling to see so many emotionless eyes staring at him.

He now understood why some ninja clans in the village considered Igogakure to be someone they should avoid provoking if possible.

I initially thought it was a threat to the forces he represented, but after being rescued, I thought it was due to his strength and future potential. Now... the fact that you've survived this long with that mouth of yours is already a miracle from the Sage of Six Paths!

Ignoring everything else, he quickly led the 50-string away. The purchase could be discussed later; getting away now was the right thing to do. He was worried that if he stayed any longer and let the 50-string have a chance to perform freely, all the guests would beat him up as well.

What's wrong with splitting up the family? People who split up are still people, they have emotions.

Hiashi Hyuga was simply curious about the minor surgery that Isogen had performed.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After receiving Hyuga Mizuki, Isogen immediately went to rescue Yakushi Nonou, who was being nagged by Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The old house in the Thousand Hands area was bustling with activity again after a long time.

That night, after a hearty meal and plenty of wine, he fell asleep and dreamt of returning home.

Wu Xian pulled away from the bed.

The wind passes without a trace, then opens!

Under the desolate night sky, the figure of Wu Zixuan was like a ghost, bypassing the dark forces patrolling at night, crossing the streets, stepping over rooftops, and reaching the forest to arrive at his destination.

The Death Forest is a flat, unremarkable hill.

The longest point where the root ninja with the implanted mark stayed.

Chapter 55 Art is an Explosion, Orochimaru: A Dream of the Past

"No wonder we couldn't find it. One-Eyed Dragon really knows how to spend money." Leaning against the thick tree trunk, Fifty Strings looked down over the entire hill.

The wind gently penetrated deeper, transmitting the internal conditions to the brain, drawing a precise map in the mind that even Hiruzen Sarutobi was unaware of.

In Fifty Strings' eyes, there is no absolute privacy in any area where air circulates.

The wind is everywhere.

Upon closer inspection, he also discovered why he couldn't find the root base before.

Barrier, seal.

The entire base was protected by a powerful barrier, the method of which revealed traces of the Whirlpool Clan.

This is only natural. Not to mention that Uzumaki Village has been destroyed, just the fact that Mito Uzumaki married Hashirama Senju and then the Uzumaki clan made a considerable investment in Konoha when Konoha and Uzumaki formed an alliance.

His Wind Without a Trace technique is indeed powerful, but Konoha is also very large, and the Forest of Death, which serves as a barrier for Konoha, is so large that a Jinchūriki could dance inside it.

With the outer barrier protecting it, it's normal that Igarashi couldn't find the base due to multiple factors. After all, Danzo knew how many things he was hiding that he couldn't let his best friend know. If the base were located near Konoha, it would just be a waste of time and effort for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Previously, such tight defenses at the Root base would have been a major headache for Isogen, who couldn't find his target. But now...

That's right, privacy must be protected well. We absolutely cannot let some lecherous old man with a crystal ball who spends all his time investigating hot spring hotels find out.

call--

A gentle breeze blows, and explosive tags are deployed.

Even though explosive tags are regulated ninja tools, it cannot change the fact that, as ninja tools, explosive tags are essentially soft paper. At most, the paper used to make explosive tags is even rarer.

Even the most heavily fortified base still needs oxygen.

The evening wind tirelessly carries precious strategic supplies to the roots.

Time and time again, like ants moving house.

Based on the actual situation, he continuously simulated the situation of the personnel inside the base, bypassed the defenses, and delivered the explosive tags to the appropriate location.

Explosive tags have always been a key strategic resource that all parties have been stockpiling. Even Danzo, with his dual identity as the Dark Lord of the Ninja World and Hiruzen Sarutobi's best friend, didn't have much left over.

He'd probably be very happy to see so many explosive tags piled up in his base.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

root base.

A dark, cold world, seemingly isolated from the living.

"Lord Orochimaru, he asked me to tell you that he expects to see results in another half month."

A sneer.

"You should also tell Danzo that research is not about killing people, and that it's not about killing people and then everything is fine."

Orochimaru had no respect for his clients, even though Danzo was his nominal superior.

After the war, he joined Root and was nominally under Danzo's direct command, but the Sannin never obeyed his orders.

For Orochimaru, the advantage of being transferred to Danzo's command was that someone would actively cover for him when he conducted experiments that his teachers didn't want to see, and he could also get free access to Root's resources. Those sophisticated instruments were incredibly expensive, and even his family's wealth wouldn't last long.

Despite his numerous tasks and substantial savings, he was actually the most financially strapped among them.

Even Tsunade has more resources than him.

Jiraiya, needless to say, didn't have any extra large expenses; the mission rewards, after deducting necessary expenses, were all profits.

Orochimaru waved for the others to leave and then fell back into thought.

The research has reached a bottleneck, and there is no hope of a breakthrough in the short term.

He is considering whether to increase the output of human experiments.

The limited materials available at this stage are simply insufficient to meet the ever-growing research needs.

But the war is over. Where can we get more materials? We can't just take out the villagers, can we?

Although he vaguely guessed that Danzo's base wouldn't only target captured enemy ninjas, he still had reservations about targeting innocent villagers of Konoha.

His Will of Fire is protesting.

A stain like that on one's ambition to become Hokage is unacceptable.

but……

Orochimaru was undecided.

Hokage... that's a position every Konoha ninja has ever longed for, and he was no exception.

If he had never aspired to that position, he would not have earned the title of 'Cold Lord'.

But since that day, he has found that his longing for the Hokage is no longer so intense.

Instead, there is an endless exploration of the subject of life.

For this reason, he spent almost the entire year living in the laboratory and research institute, and occasionally went on missions in order to earn some research funding.

It's truly unfriendly to find out that the research project isn't your own.

"Danzo, huh."

Orochimaru, having presented Danzo with conditions based on his intelligence, turned and headed towards the laboratory.

Making the most of every spare moment to accomplish one's own goals while still enjoying the benefits provided by sponsors is a basic quality of every scientific researcher.

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, as if a nerve string in his mind was constantly throbbing.

Orochimaru slowly narrowed his eyes and silently released his senses.

The base was vast, and even he found it difficult to thoroughly investigate every corner in a short time. His senses were completely empty, just like any ordinary night.

But Orochimaru dared not slack off.

His intuition, honed over many years on the battlefield, made him particularly sensitive to danger.

This is a point that both teammates agree on.

I vaguely remember that Jiraiya, that idiot, mentioned it during a casual chat by the fire.

"If the three of us encounter danger, Orochimaru will definitely be the last one standing. Even though he's not good at medical ninjutsu, he has a higher survival rate than Tsunade."

Although Jiraiya was an idiot, Orochimaru agreed with this statement.

Only the living have a future; the dead must stay away.

Without hesitation, following the warning in his heart, Orochimaru quickly left along the fastest escape route he had set on the day he joined the company.