Arrangement

Seeing Tsunade's expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and said, "Alright, Tsunade, you're Hokage now, so you need to be more careful in the future."

"Orochimaru obtained a lot of information from the Hyuga Clan. Hyuga Hiashi has seen it, and it's all related to the Caged Bird. Orochimaru probably wants to break the Caged Bird." Hiruzen Sarutobi simply comforted Tsunade with this one sentence before changing the subject.

Mitokado Homura said, "But why? Why would Orochimaru take a liking to the Byakugan?"

Mitokado Homura's doubts were also the doubts of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade, and also the doubts that Danzo before.

After hesitating for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Just recently, Danzo visited the Hyuga Clan and told Hyuga Hiashi about Orochimaru's coveting of the Byakugan."

"Danzo had reviewed the Hyuga Clan's secret documents back then." As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi produced a scroll. "This sentence, and this sentence— Danzo noticed something amiss in these."

"Distant Relative's Visit, Ninjutsu is extraordinary?" Tsunade murmured the two sentences that Hiruzen Sarutobi had drawn.

Utatane Koharu said, "So, the Byakugan might have some other abilities we don't know about?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, "The Byakugan's abilities are self-evident, and the Hyuga Clan's sense of belonging to the village is beyond question."

"I suspect the Byakugan might be able to evolve, just like the Sharingan."

Tsunade was startled and instinctively sat up straight. "Teacher, you mean the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Tsunade was very aware of the existence of the Mangekyō Sharingan, after all, her great-uncle Senju Tobirama had killed a Mangekyou Uchiha. Her own grandfather, Hashirama Senju, had been entangled with the Mangekyo Uchiha his entire life.

There's even a speculation in the materials left by Senju Tobirama that the Mangekyō Sharingan might not be the end, and that Madara Uchiha's final eye was Sharingan that surpassed the Mangekyo level.

"That's right. Every pair of Mangekyō Sharingan has special abilities. Perhaps the Byakugan can also evolve. The evolved Byakugan might possess incredible power, just like the Mangekyō Sharingan," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"So, Orochimaru must have gotten information about the Byakugan's ability to evolve from somewhere, which is why he took a liking to Byakugan?" Mitokado Homura asked.

Tsunade gently shook her head and said, "I'm afraid it's more than that. If Orochimaru only knew that the Byakugan could evolve, he probably wouldn't be so concerned."

"The evolution of the Byakugan is just a legend. No one has ever seen it in all these years, not even Hyuga Hiashi."

"But the Sharingan has been used by Madara Uchiha, so Orochimaru should logically be more concerned about the Sharingan."

"Now Orochimaru is going to take the long way around, abandoning the Sharingan which is easier to obtain, and choosing the Byakugan protected by the Caged Bird. I suspect he may have obtained the method for the Byakugan's evolution."

Hiss~

Everyone gasped.

"We can't let Orochimaru get the Byakugan, otherwise Konoha will produce another missing-nin like Madara Uchiha," Utatane Koharu said immediately.

Now that Konoha no longer has a second Hashirama Senju, who will suppress Orochimaru?

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples and said, "We can't do anything about Orochimaru right now, and even if he gets the method to evolve the Byakugan, breaking the Caged Bird won't be easy."

"Right now, the most important things are still the Cloud ninja and the Iwa ninja."

"Sigh!" More than one person in the Hokage's Office sighed.

Meanwhile, Yichen and Ōnoki encountered the Iwa ninja delegation on their way back.

Flying in mid-air, looking down at the delegation that was being heavily guarded by Konoha ninja and was slowly heading towards Konoha, Yichen suddenly had an idea.

After handing the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique to Ōnoki, Yichen quickly descended to the ground. Then, Yichen created a Shadow Clone and Shadow Clone in the uniform of Iwa Ninja Anbu.

A moment later, Inuzuka Tsume, Jonin who was ostensibly protecting the Iwa ninja delegation but was actually escorting Konoha, suddenly looked to his side and shouted, "Who goes there?"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the Konoha ninja became alert, but most of them were on guard against the Iwa ninja delegation.

News has arrived from Konoha that the Cloud Ninja envoy has placed the Hyuga Clan in a very awkward position through a near-suicidal method.

When this news reached the ears of the Konoha ninja, they immediately increased their vigilance against the Iwa ninja.

The Iwa ninja delegation was also very nervous. They were certain that their purpose in coming here was simple: to meet up with their own Tsuchikage, who loved to cause trouble everywhere.

For some reason, the Konoha ninja, who had been getting along well with them, suddenly started looking at them with very unfriendly eyes not long ago.

Has something happened to their Tsuchikage? Or has the Lord Tsuchikage betrayed Konoha again?

The Konoha ninja's sudden outburst filled the Iwa ninja delegation with unease.

A moment later, a figure dressed in the uniform of Iwa Ninja Anbu slowly emerged from the woods.

Inuzuka Tsume frowned upon seeing that the newcomer was Iwa Ninja Anbu. He asked, "Iwa ninja? How did you get in?"

This is the heart of the Land of Fire, not far from Konoha. How did this Iwa Ninja Anbu manage to infiltrate here?

"Hehe," Yichen let out a light laugh, then said, "How I got in is not important. Lord Tsuchikage is very dissatisfied to learn that our delegation has not yet arrived at Konoha, so he sent me to convey his orders."

Inuzuka Tsume looked incredulous. How could the Fourth Tsuchikage have received the news and dispatched the Anbu so quickly, given how far away this place was from Iwagakure?

Inuzuka Tsume guessed that this person might have been following them all the way here. But how could he have managed to evade my detection? Damn it.

However, Inuzuka Tsume didn't expose him. It was indeed Konoha's fault. A friendly delegation was sent by them, but they were delayed on the road for two days. It was indeed a lack of the demeanor of a great power.

Yichen said, "I need to convey Lord Tsuchikage's orders to them. Please, everyone from Konoha, excuse us."

Inuzuka Tsume naturally wouldn't agree to this request, but he also knew it was impossible for Yichen to convey the order in front of them.

Inuzuka Tsume then said, "Our mission is to protect the delegation. If you truly have orders from the Tsuchikage, you can speak with the delegation's leader privately."

Yichen nodded; he had expected this outcome. He then made a hand gesture to Hirubu Junichi, the leader of the Iwa ninja delegation.

Hirubu Junichi's eyes flashed. "Damn, isn't this the gesture that the Lord Tsuchikage would use when he personally contacts them?" Composing himself, he followed Yichen out of the delegation's group.

After the two arrived at a place out of sight of others, Yichen gave Hirubu Junichi and careful explanation.

When Hirubu Junichi returned to the mission, he was still somewhat dazed. Yichen didn't tell him about what had happened in Konoha these past few days, but only instructed him on how to deal with the changes in Konoha in the future.

He was completely confused. Was this some kind of twisted humor of the Lord Tsuchikage? Why didn't he just explain the whole story to him?

After explaining the situation, Yichen immediately dispelled his Shadow Clone in front of the Konoha ninja. Hirubu Junichi to his team without saying anything and continued leading them to Konoha.

After the Shadow Clone dissipated, Yichen, who had received the memories, was very satisfied. He then flew into the air again and headed towards Iwagakure with Ōnoki.

On the way, Ōnoki asked Yichen, "Could this thing be the base of the Cloud ninja's Heavenly Transfer Technique?"

Ōnoki was referring to the small, mound-like thing that Yichen had given him earlier. He had never seen it before, only vague descriptions in intelligence reports.

"Yes, the Cloud Ninja envoy wanted the Byakugan and planned to use it to send Byakugan back to Kumogakure. However, because I stole it beforehand, they failed."

Ōnoki nodded and didn't ask any more questions. Anyway, Yichen would have to tell them in detail about his trip to Konoha when they got back to the village.

A day later, Yichen and Ōnoki returned to Iwagakure, Yichen immediately convened High-Level Meeting.

Upon meeting Ikura, Yichen asked, "Is Danzo still at the border?"

Ikura nodded and said, "That's right. Danzo may have already discovered my double's identity, but he hasn't taken any action or withdrawn his troops. He seems unconcerned."

Yichen thought for a moment, still not understanding Danzo's thoughts, so he said, "Send more people to monitor Danzo's movements."

"What about the army we secretly mobilized?" Yichen asked again about the ninja army that had been deployed to mislead Konoha.

Ikura laughed and said, "It was disbanded a long time ago. I disbanded the army after the news was spread by Konoha's intelligence ninjas."

Yichen asked curiously, "Have you found out the identity of the Konoha intelligence ninja?"

Saka laughed and replied, "Don't worry, we've caught him. This must be a big fish. I reckon he's one of the top intelligence ninjas Konoha has planted in our village. Following his lead, we've also uncovered seven or eight Konoha intelligence ninjas."

Yichen nodded; this was an unexpected delight.

"Alright, now let me tell you about what happened during my trip to Konoha."

"On the night of Hinata Hyuga's birthday, the leader of the Hyuga Clan Cloud Ninja envoy infiltrated the Hyuga Clan's territory and successfully kidnapped Hinata Hyuga."

"The Hyuga Clan then pursued and killed almost the entire Cloud Ninja envoy."

"The last few Cloud ninja sacrificed themselves to break through Konoha's defenses and successfully brought Hinata Hyuga to their residence."

"The Cloud Ninja envoy originally planned to use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to send the Byakugan back to Kumogakure. But unfortunately, I stole it first." Yichen said, pointing to the base of the Heavenly Transfer Technique on the table.

"Afterwards, Konoha, S-rank Rogue Ninja Orochimaru Konoha, infiltrated the Hyuga Clan's secret chamber, but was subsequently cornered by Orochimaru. The master and disciple then engaged in a friendly Hiruzen Sarutobi session."

"At this time, the Hyuga Clan was also attacked by Sasori of the Red Sands."

"I wasn't very lucky. The Fifth Hokage Tsunade me to participate in the attack on Sasori of the Red Sands. Later, Sasori of the Red Sands abandoned a bunch of puppets and ran away. Seeing that no one cared about Sasori of the Red Sands's puppets, I put them away."

After saying that, Yichen took out a large pile of spoils he had obtained from the Sasori of the Red Sands. There were quite a few puppets, most of which were broken, but a dozen or so were intact.