On an ordinary dusk, in an unremarkable alley, the curtain of an old izakaya swayed gently in the wind.
Tsunade lifted the curtain and walked in. Behind her followed a young man with a completely plain face—so ordinary you'd lose him in a crowd. But his eyes were unusual: vertical slit pupils that made you look twice.
The owner looked up, recognized Tsunade-sama, and immediately greeted her with enthusiasm.
"Two jugs of sake, and some small dishes."
Tsunade waved a hand casually to order, then headed straight for a corner seat.
The moment she sat down, she looked at the man across from her. "I really didn't expect you'd dare come back here."
"Surprised? Honestly, I didn't expect to run into you here either." Orochimaru's voice returned to its original tone—low and hoarse, with that strange magnetic quality.
The owner brought over the sake and appetizers, carefully set them down, and tactfully withdrew.
Tsunade picked up the sake flask and poured herself a full cup—only for herself. "Maybe it's fate meddling."
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke. Only after laughing for a long while did he pour himself a cup, take a sip, and suppress the mirth.
"When did you start believing in that?"
"Then how do you explain this—" Tsunade drained her cup in one go, amber eyes narrowing. "I just stepped out to buy a bottle of sake and ran into you on the street. Don't forget—this is Konoha, and you're a missing-nin."
Orochimaru replied in an easy, leisurely tone, "Between you and me, the only difference is whether you wear the label of 'missing-nin.'"
Tsunade's eyes thinned further, as if she'd noticed something. "I've been back for over two years now. Where have you been hiding, in some backwater corner, that you didn't even know about what happened on the Land of Fire border? Or has your information network degraded to this level?"
"Ah, that…" Orochimaru's mouth curled in open mockery. "I assumed it was just the old man spreading rumors. You know— the weaker the insect, the more it bares its fangs, just to scare off predators."
Tsunade's expression grew complicated. She filled her cup again, gently swirling the amber liquid, and stayed silent for a long time.
"In your eyes, has 'Konoha' already become synonymous with 'weak'?"
Orochimaru set down his cup and looked out the window.
Night had deepened. Konoha's streetlights lit one after another, bathing the village in brightness. New buildings stood everywhere, shops were bustling, and it really did look more prosperous than years ago—like everything was "booming."
"Isn't that something you and I both know?" Orochimaru withdrew his gaze and drank again. "This great tree may be lush and thriving, more than ever—but inside it's already rotten, hollowed out by maggots. If you hadn't foreseen today, why did you leave back then?"
Tsunade gave a short, scornful laugh. "You used to run with those maggots yourself."
"The past is the past." Orochimaru raised his cup to his lips. "But that Danzo-sama… even now, he's still dreaming impossible dreams."
Tsunade's tone shifted again. "Since you're back, I thought you'd at least go see the old man first. Out of the three of us, you were always his favorite student."
"You've been probing me this whole time, Tsunade… You really have changed." Orochimaru leaned in slightly, blinking. "I'm curious—what changed you?"
"Hmm…" Tsunade picked up a piece of tempura. "If I have to say, I saw hope."
"I've satisfied your curiosity—now it's your turn. Why are you back?"
Orochimaru answered honestly. "I remembered a child with extraordinary talent. Leaving that talent in Konoha would be a waste."
Tsunade's heart sank. Today's luck really was "good," wasn't it?
"It's Yakushi Kabuto, isn't it."
She dropped the name casually, chopsticks still picking at the side dishes.
This time, Orochimaru was genuinely surprised. "Where did you learn about that child?"
"I valued Nonō's ability as a medical ninja and a teacher. I'm planning to reform Konoha's medical system—she's the deputy I chose." Tsunade took a sip, swallowing it down with the food, then looked at Orochimaru.
"If you're capable, then take Kabuto away. If he stays in Root, neither he nor Nonō will have a good ending. Of course— you've known me long enough to know where my tolerance lies. Don't do what you shouldn't."
"How could I?" Orochimaru's delight deepened. "I truly do like that child's talent."
If he followed the original plan—waiting until Danzo discarded Kabuto and then stepping in—it would take years. Tsunade had handed him the perfect opportunity, right on time.
Maybe one day, the child would return to his "mother." But Orochimaru didn't care. He had plenty of methods to make the boy stay willingly, until every last ounce of his value was squeezed out for him.
And unlike Danzo—
Orochimaru disdained being "Shimura Danzo."
"Now then—let's talk about the next matter. The moon."
Tsunade's hand holding her cup paused. "You heard about that from Danzo too?"
Orochimaru neither confirmed nor denied, but for Tsunade it was answer enough.
"I'm very interested in that 'evil god.'"
Tsunade glared at him. "Why do you think I'd tell you?"
"I heard you have a student—Hyuga branch family, right—" Before he could finish, an icy killing intent slammed down on Orochimaru.
This upgraded from surprise to outright astonishment. "You care about him that much?"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips, excitement hard to hide. "Relax. I won't do anything to him. I have no interest in people with no future."
Tsunade snorted. She knew what her old friend was like—Orochimaru might not "care" about Kiyonari himself, but he would never pass up a chance to use him as a piece.
"My expectations for him have never been about strength."
"Since our chat was pleasant enough today, I'll leave it at that." Orochimaru stood and left the izakaya.
…
Hyuga elder Hyuga Sōsuke sat cross-legged on tatami, seemingly meditating.
A faint sound came from behind.
He snapped his eyes open, Byakugan activating instantly, his view expanding to full 360 degrees. But the moment the intruder's form came into focus, his face went deathly pale.
"Orochimaru…"
"Good evening, Elder Sōsuke. Sorry to disturb your rest."
Unlike Sōsuke—who couldn't hide his fear—Orochimaru sounded casual, as if visiting an old friend.
Sōsuke forced himself to stay calm. But facing someone like Orochimaru, fear clung to him like a curse. Not only because of Orochimaru's power, but because of his cruelty and madness.
"What are you doing here?" Sōsuke asked in a low voice, secretly moving chakra, ready to attack or cry for help at any moment.
Orochimaru seemed to see right through him and chuckled. "I suggest you don't act rashly. Otherwise… I can't guarantee your grandson's safety."
At the mention of the child he treasured most, Sōsuke's body stiffened.
"There's no need to be so tense," Orochimaru continued unhurriedly. "I've developed a bit of interest in the Byakugan lately. So… I'd like to borrow your eyes."
Sōsuke's pupils shrank sharply. This lunatic—why is he suddenly targeting the Byakugan? Wait—does he know about the moon—
"You monster!" Sōsuke shouted.
"The Hyuga clan will never let you go! The Byakugan is our bloodline limit—and one of Konoha's most important strategic resources! Anyone who covets it will be hunted down by the entire Hyuga clan and Konoha!"
"Oh? Really?" Orochimaru tilted his head, almost thoughtfully, as if weighing the threat. "But, Elder Sōsuke… you seem to have forgotten something."
"What?" Sōsuke answered reflexively, nerves frayed.
"I'm already an S-rank missing-nin." Orochimaru's smile didn't change, but his voice dropped to ice. "What is the Hyuga clan worth to me?"
Despair seized Sōsuke. Against someone who had already abandoned everything, worldly threats were meaningless.
Orochimaru had been in a good mood tonight. Seeing Sōsuke so helpless brought out the predator's playfulness.
"Ah, I almost forgot. Konoha's different now. Tsunade is back, isn't she?"
At that name, Sōsuke grabbed at it like a lifeline. "Yes! Tsunade-sama is back—she'll soon be the Fifth Hokage! If you dare touch me, she won't let you off like the Third did!"
"Right. That's why I picked you." Orochimaru's grin widened into something vicious. "Elder Sōsuke… you didn't think I chose my target at random, did you?"
Sōsuke's heart missed a beat. A horrible premonition crawled up his spine like an ice spike.
"I remember—your son died in the Third Great Ninja War, didn't he?"
"And he even lost one Byakugan… to Ao of Kirigakure, if I recall. I hear his nickname now is 'Byakugan Killer.' Hah— the Hyuga's Byakugan, fallen into enemy hands. Your branch line was blamed for it; your standing plummeted."
Sōsuke's teeth ground together. Old shame and pain—scars that never healed—were ripped open by Orochimaru, bleeding fresh again.
Orochimaru went on, "So you see—if I take your eyes, how much reaction will the Hyuga and Konoha really have? Konoha has plenty of troubles right now. The border… the moon… where do you think your problem ranks?"
He paused on purpose, savoring Sōsuke's increasingly warped, terrified stare.
Then he smiled again, and the killing intent in the room seemed to fade in an instant.
"Of course, if you cooperate, I can let you die quickly. For you and me… that's a good thing."
"In your dreams!!"
Sōsuke's roar and movement exploded at once.
Chakra surged from the tenketsu across his body—yet before it could even spin up, Orochimaru was already behind him, dropping him with a casual chop.
Sōsuke's chakra scattered instantly. His body went slack like a puppet with its strings cut, sprawled on the floor.
"Too slow, Elder Sōsuke." Orochimaru's voice whispered by his ear.
Sōsuke knew he was outmatched, but he hadn't expected it to be over in a single instant. He refused to accept being taken without resistance.
Just then, a child's sleepy voice sounded outside the door.
"Grandpa?"
His grandson—Hyuga Sōta.
Whether from panic or old age, Sōsuke made the stupidest decision imaginable.
With all his strength, he shouted, "Sōta! Run! Go get help!"
The playfulness vanished from Orochimaru's eyes, replaced by weary annoyance. "Why force my hand?"
A silver flash.
A kunai cut across Sōsuke's throat. Hot blood burst out. His eyes went wide, as if trying to say something—yet no sound came.
Orochimaru crouched, smoothly producing a special container and a scalpel.
He pressed lightly around Sōsuke's eye sockets, found the right points, and in under ten seconds removed both Byakugan, placing them into the container filled with pale green solution.
Done, Orochimaru straightened and looked toward the closed sliding door.
The child must have been paralyzed by the killing intent. Orochimaru took one step forward—then a dull thump sounded from outside.
He opened the door and found Sōta collapsed in the hallway, twitching faintly, eyes shut—he'd been knocked out by fear alone.
The child had no signs of training. He wasn't even a ninja. Had the branch family protected him too well?
"Heh…"
Whether main house or branch, the Hyuga were a windmill with no future—one that wouldn't turn. Like Konoha… well, Konoha from two years ago.
Orochimaru stepped over the boy and prepared to leave—then stopped.
There were "unawakened" and "awakened" Byakugan states. An awakened Byakugan was more valuable for research, but an unawakened one might still have uses. This child was young—he likely hadn't awakened yet.
"…Might as well take it too. A sample set should be complete."
He returned, crouched beside the unconscious Sōta, and took out a fresh container.
After extracting the eyes, Orochimaru used medical ninjutsu to stop the bleeding. He avoided unnecessary killing when possible.
Just like how he never grabbed civilians for experiments—partly because ninja were more valuable materials, and partly because he still had a basic shinobi "bottom line."
He didn't do indiscriminate slaughter.
When he finished, his figure vanished into the night as silently as he'd arrived.
From infiltration to departure, the whole process took less than three minutes. The entire Hyuga clan noticed nothing.
…
The next morning, warm sunlight filtered through paper windows, bathing the estate.
A branch-family maid, as usual, carried a delicate breakfast tray and walked briskly through the courtyard toward Elder Sōsuke's quarters. She hummed a little tune, her mood as bright as the sun.
Then she slid the door open—
—and saw the floor awash in blood, and Hyuga Sōsuke's corpse.
"AAAAAAAHHHH!!"
A shriek—high, distorted—tore through the morning's calm.
Clang!
The tray fell from her hands. Fine bowls and plates shattered on the floor.
Her legs gave out and she collapsed, face white, body shaking violently like a sieve. Only broken sobs came from her throat.
Footsteps rushed in—more and more clan members arrived—and they too saw the horror.
"Elder Sōsuke is dead!"
"Where's young master Sōta?!"
"Elder Sōsuke's eyes—his eyes are gone!"
"Sōta-sama is here—ah! His eyes are gone too!"
"Go inform the clan head!"
Cries overlapped in a rising wave. For the Hyuga, losing the Byakugan was the worst nightmare imaginable.
Soon, Hyuga Hiashi arrived. The moment he saw Sōsuke's corpse and Sōta, also robbed of both eyes, his expression turned terrifyingly dark.
Not long after, panic spread through the Hyuga compound like a plague.
"They've come!"
"They really came!"
"The Byakugan has been taken!"