After the light remark, his expression turned serious. "Yunchuan Hyuga, I hope you will join Kakashi Hatake's unit and move out with the troops, then proceed to the Land of Hot Water to investigate the so called Abyss. It is preliminarily judged as an S-rank mission. What do you think?"
The Abyss? Land of Hot Water? An S-rank mission?
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Yunchuan Hyuga thoughtfully, considering what this so called Abyss might be. It seemed that the failure and casualties of the escort team were far more than just an ambush from Kumogakure.
"I am willing," Yunchuan Hyuga agreed without hesitation. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi had not brought it up, he would have asked for it himself, and joining Kakashi Hatake's unit was an unexpected gain.
He knew very well who was in Kakashi Hatake's team. The current Tenzo, and the future Uchiha Itachi.
Even for the sake of Tenzo's Wood Release cells, Yunchuan Hyuga had to join Kakashi Hatake's unit.
After giving a few more instructions, Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the two of them. He still had many matters to attend to.
Before they left, Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Yunchuan Hyuga on the shoulder and whispered with a smile, "Before you depart with the troops, remember to make a trip to the Forbidden Technique vault."
Hearing this, Yunchuan Hyuga's eyes flickered slightly. He knew this was both compensation and an incentive to win his loyalty, because the Forbidden Technique vault and the Book of Seals were truly valuable. kacha.
A short while later, Yunchuan Hyuga walked out of the meeting room and saw Hizashi Hyuga standing by the door. The wounds on Hizashi Hyuga's face had almost healed, but the injury and humiliation were etched deep in his heart.
"Yunchuan Hyuga."
Seeing him come out, Hizashi Hyuga spoke in a cold, threatening tone. "Do you think that just because the Third Hokage values you, I cannot deal with you?"
Yunchuan Hyuga did not answer and did not even look at him. He brushed past Hizashi Hyuga and left, ignoring that dark stare.
If Hizashi Hyuga had activated the Curse Seal the moment Yunchuan Hyuga stepped out, perhaps Yunchuan Hyuga would have been surprised and even looked at him with new respect. Now, it was nothing more than the powerless barking of an old dog.
Hizashi Hyuga watched him leave, his whole body trembling, veins bulging on his forehead, yet he could do nothing. The moonlight outside the window shone on his temples, already white.
He truly did not dare to make a move. He truly was old.
Morning light shone into the Raikage's office in Kumogakure when a violent crash shattered the early calm. A heavy blow smashed the solid wooden desk, scattering papers across the room, and the floor cracked in a web of fissures.
"How dare Konoha?!" the Fourth Raikage roared, lightning wrapped around his body and his hair standing on end, his face filled with anger and shock.
Beside him, Mabui was equally serious as she looked at the declaration of war from Konoha in her hand. The Fourth Shinobi World War had begun.
The news spread quickly across the Ninja World, throwing the entire world into turmoil as open and hidden forces reacted in alarm. Many were shocked by how swiftly Hiruzen Sarutobi responded and how decisively he acted, and they immediately sent people to the Land of Hot Water to investigate and contacted their spies in Konoha to gather information.
An indecisive Hiruzen Sarutobi and a firm, resolute Hiruzen Sarutobi posed completely different levels of threat. They wanted to know what had happened between Konoha and Kumogakure that made Hiruzen Sarutobi decide so quickly and unite the village and the clans at such speed.
Aside from Kumogakure and Konoha, the only ones who knew part of the reason were the Akatsuki, still lurking in the Rain Village and not yet seizing power. In the dark curtain of rain, a hoarse and doubtful voice spoke, then quickly turned calm.
"By Hiruzen Sarutobi's nature, he should hesitate and waver in such a situation. Why has he suddenly become so decisive this time?"
"Nagato, it seems the plan must change. You must act immediately."
The atmosphere of the Hyuga Clan was heavy and oppressive. It was not only because of the news that war was approaching, but also because today was the funeral of Hizashi Hyuga. People moved quietly, keeping their voices low, as if any sound would break what little order remained.
In the courtyard, the thick smell of sandalwood mixed with the old scent of tatami mats. The air pressed against the nose and throat, making it hard to breathe. It felt close and stale, clinging to everyone who stood there.
"..."
Hizashi Hyuga looked at the photo surrounded by layers of white chrysanthemums. He looked at the image of himself and at the people kneeling in the room, and the whole scene felt unreal. It was as if the world had lost its sense of order.
Hinata Hyuga, who had only just turned three not long ago, hid behind him. She carefully held the corner of her "father's" clothes with her small hand and stared at everything in front of her without understanding. At her age, she did not know what death meant.
Her gaze stopped on Neji Hyuga kneeling before the photo. He looked stiff, like a forgotten clay statue left in the corner of a room. His back was straight, but there was no movement in him at all.
"Neji Hyuga, please accept our condolences."
A member of the Hyuga Branch Family gently patted Neji Hyuga on the shoulder and sighed. The normally calm and restrained Neji Hyuga trembled slightly, then lowered his head under Hinata Hyuga's gaze as a clear tear slid down his cheek. The pain that spilled out from him made Hinata Hyuga's chest tighten as well.
"All things are impermanent, arising and passing away... When birth and death cease, peace remains... May you leave suffering and be reborn in the Pure Land..."
The monk's chanting was long and flat, striking her ears again and again. Each sound felt heavy, then sharp, making her body tense without her realizing it. She suddenly remembered the strange looks from those older brothers and sisters of the Branch Family yesterday.
Only then did Hinata Hyuga begin to understand that the death of Lord Hizashi Hyuga might have something to do with her. Her fingers slowly loosened from the edge of her "father's" clothes. She turned and slipped out of the mourning hall with small, hurried steps.
At the front of the crowd, Yunchuan Hyuga seemed to sense something and turned his head to look back. He did not speak, but his eyes followed the movement behind him.
This was the first snow of the year in Konoha. Large flakes fell silently and densely, covering the trimmed pine branches in the yard and burying the stone path. The world was wrapped in a cold, pale stillness that swallowed sound.
Only the lanterns under the eaves swayed weakly in the wind and snow. They cast dim, shaking circles of light that barely reached the ground. Everything else seemed distant and quiet.
Before Hinata Hyuga's eyes, figures in solemn black clothes walked past. In the corner of her vision, they shifted like dark shapes, and the strange looks they threw at her scraped against her skin. Each glance made her shrink back a little more.
Guilt and fear rose inside her, and she instinctively chose to run. What started as walking quickly turned into a desperate dash. She only wanted to get away from that suffocating house.
Crunch. Crunch.