Escape from Konoha.

What's the confusion?

Faced with Shiraishi's inexplicable question, Ayane frowned, a hint of wariness appearing in her pure white eyes.

"Do you already feel inferior to others?"

The moment Shiraishi uttered those words, Ayane's chest was filled with an intense killing intent.

These words have deeply offended her personality and self-esteem.

Overwhelmed by a flood of negative emotions, Ayane lost her composure in an instant. She rushed toward Shiraishi and forcefully swung her fist at his body.

Shiraishi smiled slightly. Ayane, who was dominated by anger and had lost her composure, had become weak and vulnerable in her attacks, lacking any rhyme or reason.

"There's absolutely no need to be on guard against an attack of this magnitude," Shiraishi thought to himself.

So, he caught Ayane's fist and then countered by pinning her entire body against a nearby tree, preventing her from moving an inch.

The situation was reversed in an instant.

Perhaps because the defeat was too sudden, Ayane was completely stunned.

This outcome was completely unexpected.

"Have you been hiding your strength all along? Why would you do that?"

Ayane, regaining her composure, asked the question.

"What exactly is it? But before we explore that question, how about we talk about your situation?"

Bai Shi spoke slowly and gently.

"Hmph, what do you, a commoner, know? Don't make me laugh."

Ayane spoke in a voice that sounded like she wanted to crush Shiraishi's throat.

What do ordinary people who are nobody know?

She was put in a "caged bird" situation, and everything in her life from now on would be controlled and planned by the powerful and influential head family.

So-called freedom and dignity have been ruthlessly stripped away from us from this moment on.

Whenever she saw the arrogant expressions on the faces of those members of the clan, she felt an urge to trample that haughty arrogance underfoot.

Let them experience firsthand what it feels like to have their dignity and freedom to be toyed with, and what that feels like to be humiliated and desperate.

Chapter Ten: The Self-Cultivation of the Mastermind (Part Two)

“Indeed, I don’t quite understand the pain you’re going through right now. Why does a loving family have to be divided into the main family and the branch family, and why does the main family have to enslave the life and death of the branch family members? And what’s worse, you are one of those enslaved people.”

"..."

Ayane bit her lip, stubbornly meeting Shiraishi's gaze without fear.

"So, thinking about it more deeply, what do you think of this village?"

"The village?"

"Simply put, do you think the village's current approach is correct? Is the Will of Fire the right thing to do?"

"Are you an idiot? The Will of Fire is of course correct. It is the seed of will passed down by the First Hokage."

Ayane answered decisively.

For the people who grew up in Konoha Village, the First Hokage was a very great and remarkable ninja.

He ended the chaos of the Warring States period and established a system of one village per state.

Konoha's current glory is inseparable from the outstanding contributions of the First Hokage.

Ayane's words prompted Shiraishi to clap his hands, seemingly applauding Ayane's answer.

"Is that so? That God of Shinobi is indeed an amazing man. But why does the Will of Fire mention protecting young children, yet now it's sending children under ten years old to the battlefield? Doesn't that seem very contradictory?"

"Of course..."

At this point, Ayane couldn't answer.

Instead, they were stunned.

Although I really wanted to refute it, what Shiraishi said didn't seem like sophistry.

Because this kind of thing is really happening in Konoha Village.

"Still haven't seen the truth? Let's look at it from another angle. You strive to make everything within your organization equal and filled with love and friendship—why does your Hyuga clan's tradition continue? Do you really think you can love anyone after being labeled a 'slave'? Do you really consider the main branch that enslaved you as family? You're quite remarkable. You're not so lowly as to be reduced to dust, are you?"

After listening to Shiraishi's unorthodox and detailed explanation of the "Will of Fire," Ayane's eyes became complicated. Leaning against the tree, she couldn't say a word and was caught in an internal struggle.

Upon closer examination, what Shiraishi said wasn't some crooked or heretical approach, but rather the truth that was plain for all to see.

That's right. He had been marked with the Caged Bird Seal by the main family and branded as a 'slave'. What in the Hyuga clan was there that he could still love?

The Hokage always promotes the Will of Fire, which emphasizes friendship and mutual assistance, and that everyone should be one family. However, he has indulged the cruel traditions of the Hyuga clan. Why doesn't the Hokage limit or abolish them?

Are those who separate from the main family destined to be slaves of the main family?

Are the lives and dignity of those who have separated from their family really so worthless?

What gives them the right to do this?

Is treating one's clansmen as 'slaves' what a family should do?

At this moment, Ayane only saw the cold-blooded and ruthless side of her family.

Ayane suddenly realized how hypocritical and ridiculous her 'Will of Fire' was.

Gradually, everything in the village began to feel incredibly dirty and disgusting to him.

"What...are you planning to do? I don't believe that someone who hides their strength at school wouldn't have some ulterior motive?"

Ayane hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice.

"I do have a purpose, but to say it's kept secret is a bit much. Do you really think I'm more hypocritical than the Hyuga clan and Konoha?"

Shiraishi chuckled and said.

He couldn't agree with Ayane's words.

He wasn't doing anything shady.

He simply explained the truth to Ayane, helping her to emerge from despair and regain her strength.

Ayane cannot refute this truth, nor does she need to.

Because everything Shiraishi said was based on the truth, no matter how much they tried to cover it up or smear it, it was still an undeniable fact.

Shiraishi stepped back, releasing Ayane's body. His calm smile contained an undeniable power that immediately stunned Ayane.

"I just find this village and this world rather boring. Whether it's the ongoing war outside or the Will of Fire practiced in the village, they're all utterly boring to me."

Shiraishi didn't think his attitude was arrogant; he was simply expressing his true feelings.

Although the Will of Fire was created by the god of ninjas, Shiraishi believed that anyone with sufficient understanding of society would disdain such an illusory and empty will.

There is nothing commendable about this kind of will.

It's not just that the content is vague, because even those who inherit this will cannot fully implement it.

This is the greatest tragedy.

Ultimately, it is the difference in the level of understanding and comprehension between Shiraishi and the residents of the ninja world that caused this ideological deviation.

"So, Ayane, entrust all the hatred and grievances in your heart to me. I will bear this pain with you, because we are now the ones who truly understand the truth of the Will of Fire."

As Shiraishi spoke in a gentle voice, he steadily extended his palm.

Ayane involuntarily reached out her hand. In that brief moment, she felt that her future days would be completely dominated by the boy in front of her.

But she felt no regret whatsoever.

She hated her family.

I also began to hate this village full of hypocrisy and emptiness.

I want to live a more authentic life, a life full of flesh and blood.

I don't want to be anyone's slave; I want to live happily and freely.

Shiraishi placed his other hand on Ayane's face and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"That's good. Let me wipe away your tears. Remember one thing: always show hatred for the main family in your eyes, because the more you hate them, the more they will trust you."

"...Yes, I understand, Shiraishi-kun. To be honest, I never imagined you were such a terrifying person..."

Ayane touched her long black hair, a wistful smile on her face, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"horrible?"

Upon hearing Ayane's assessment, Shiraishi shook his head and smiled.

"What are you talking about? I'm not even a ninja now, just an unknown nobody in the ninja world. Remember that, Ayane."

Shiraishi looked up at the moon that had already risen in the night sky. The moonlight was gentle and serene, and the radiance it cast added a touch of warmth to the dark forest.

"The moon is so beautiful tonight, it looks like tomorrow will be a clear day..."

"yes……"

Chapter Eleven: Learning Medical Ninjutsu

It didn't take much time or effort to subdue Ayane. After that, Shiraishi added another subject to his research—the Hyuga clan's secret Gentle Fist.

Ayane handed over to Shiraishi the scroll containing the training methods and theoretical knowledge of the Hyuga clan's secret Gentle Fist technique, without reservation.

If the Hyuga clan were to discover this act of betrayal, Ayane would undoubtedly be executed.

But what she fears more now than death is the endless darkness of the future.

Moreover, in her heart, she had already seen the light in her eyes.

In her eyes, her family and village had become unimportant, even dispensable.

Therefore, in Ayane's eyes, handing over the Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist to a complete stranger was not a betrayal, but a perfectly reasonable act of resistance.

Rather, the Hyuga clan was completely irrelevant to Ayane.