12. Waiting by the Stump for a Rabbit

Waiting for the Hare by a Tree Stump

For most lonely people, compared to ordinary people, they craved recognition and understanding from others even more.

Yet environmental factors, unpleasant personal experiences, and withdrawn personalities were all far too unfriendly to people like them.

That made it difficult for them to change.

Kakuzu belonged to this kind of person.

To make someone like him change, he needed a reason that could convince himself.

Seeing that Kakuzu had taken his words to heart, Hyuga Shin said no more. The two stood facing each other on the narrow path, sinking into a long silence.

Before long, a breeze swept past, rustling the trees on either side of the road and stirring Kakuzu's troubled heart.

"But you don't have much time left. Even if you have lofty ideals and convictions, so what? Can a world like this truly be changed?" Kakuzu broke the silence first, his words filled with doubt.

"Isn't that why I came looking for you? Your existence makes you the best successor to carry on my ideals!" Hyuga Shin spoke with utter sincerity and trust.

Kakuzu knew what Hyuga Shin meant.

He was better at staying alive!

In this Shinobi World where strength reigned supreme, it wasn't other people playing mind games with you that you had to fear—it was the strong forming a heartfelt bond with you.

The trust and recognition of the strong could easily give these mentally warped ninjas immense spiritual satisfaction and a sense of honor!

That was also why Hiruzen Sarutobi later promoted himself as the strongest Hokage.

With that image backing him up, coupled with some brainwashing rhetoric, it was practically a direct blow to the hearts of ignorant small clans and civilian ninjas!

Hyuga Shin also felt that this move was rather underhanded, but he had to admit that it worked incredibly well!

He could tell from Kakuzu's eyes that his heart had been stirred.

Watching Kakuzu fall silent once more, Hyuga Shin was in no hurry.

"Give me some time to think it over!" Kakuzu ultimately failed to escape Hyuga Shin's clutches. He had been moved after all.

"Fine! But you don't have much time to consider it. I have many plans that need to be carried out, and I may need your help along the way."

"Take this ring and scroll. The ring will let you contact me promptly, and the scroll records how to use it." Hyuga Shin did not refuse. Instead, he took out a scroll and a ring and handed them to Kakuzu.

These were communication tools he had prepared for his seeds. They were similar to the Astral Projection Technique, yet also different, and they had taken him quite some time to create.

"I have other matters to handle. Contact me promptly once you've made up your mind!" Seeing Kakuzu accept the ring and scroll, Hyuga Shin left.

Compared to Kakuzu, Orochimaru was his highest priority—the seed of his dreams.

After Hyuga Shin left, Kakuzu held the scroll and ring in his hands, his feelings a tangled mess. He was also surprised to discover that his faith in money had not been as sincere as he had believed.

"Perfect World? Perhaps that would make a fine goal in life!"

Kakuzu pondered inwardly before vanishing at the end of the road.

He was destined to never escape Hyuga Shin's grasp and would inevitably walk the path that had already been laid out for him.

The flames of the Third Shinobi World War seemed to be burning ever hotter, as though someone kept feeding firewood onto this pile that had only just begun to blaze.

After parting ways with Kakuzu, Hyuga Shin continued toward the main camp at the Konoha Northern Border.

As commander of the Rock Front, Orochimaru had done quite well. He had effectively suppressed the arrogance of the Hidden Stone.

Today, you ambushed my supply line; tomorrow, I would wipe out your reconnaissance squad and assassinate your elite ninjas.

Although the war was being fought in scattered skirmishes, somewhat like children fighting—if you hit me once, I would definitely strike back—

that was indeed how things were before all-out war began.

Under normal circumstances, conflicts in the Shinobi World took the form of small-scale, frequent engagements across multiple battlefields.

Small-scale referred to clashes between reconnaissance, assassination, and raid squads. They generally struck once and left immediately, never lingering in battle to avoid being surrounded by the enemy.

Frequent meant that engagements occurred often, as both sides constantly probed each other and searched for all kinds of information.

Multiple battlefields meant that the fighting was spread out. Since missions differed, clashes could occur anywhere.

Thus, the demands placed upon a commander were quite high.

They needed exceptionally strong battlefield command, coordination, and decision-making abilities.

Orochimaru was undoubtedly outstanding in all these aspects.

But recently, Orochimaru had encountered a troubling matter. His most beloved disciple, the young master of the Senju clan and the younger brother of his teammate Tsunade Hime, Nawaki, had come to the battlefield!

Every day, he pestered Orochimaru about going to the battlefield! He went on about the Will of Fire, about becoming Hokage, about becoming someone like his grandfather.

It gave Orochimaru a splitting headache!

At this time, Orochimaru had not yet gone down the wrong path, and his way of thinking was still closer to that of an ordinary person.

Since Nawaki was not only the younger brother of his closest comrade-in-arms but also his own disciple, Orochimaru cared for him deeply.

Moreover, the child was truly warm, cheerful, hardworking, and highly respectful toward him!

It was precisely because of this that Orochimaru did not want him on the battlefield, because he knew all too well how cruel it was there!

Even the Sannin had experienced several life-or-death crises. He possessed a profound understanding of just how fragile life was.

After all, casualties were just a number, but those who died were living, breathing people!

For that reason, he had repeatedly refused Nawaki's requests to join the battle and sent word to Tsunade Hime, asking her to come and take Nawaki back.

In Orochimaru's eyes, Nawaki was still a child. Though his strength was decent, he lacked experience. As one of Leaf's tender shoots, he still needed time to grow.

When Tsunade learned that her little brother had secretly run off to the Rock Battlefield, she was furious. She immediately set aside her work at Leaf Hospital and rushed toward the Rock Front without even reporting to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After their father had fallen during the Second Shinobi World War, their mother had wasted away in grief, and the lover close to her heart had also died on the battlefield.

Nawaki was her last remaining family! He was also the hope of the Senju Clan! How could she not be anxious?

She wished she could fly over there at once.

It did not take Hyuga Shin long to reach the vicinity of the main camp, but this time, he did not rush in. He was considering how to approach Orochimaru.

Getting into the camp would be easy. At worst, he could do what he had done last time and have the Hyuga Clan come out to welcome him.

But this time, his target was different. He was looking for Orochimaru, not those quails from the Hyuga Clan.

Being too deliberate would easily arouse Orochimaru's suspicions, and it would also be beneath him.

Being too direct would not work either. Orochimaru had not yet become disappointed in the village and Hiruzen Sarutobi, nor had he embarked on the path of pursuing immortality and truth.

So what should he do? Even Hyuga Shin was getting a headache!

Should he wait a little longer?

Damn it, smart people really were hard to deal with!

Look at Hizashi! Then look at Kakuzu! What great people they were! They believed anything he said.

Hyuga Shin already had a detailed plan for how to guide Orochimaru, but the premise was finding a way to make Orochimaru take the initiative to grow close to him.

And he had forgotten that part while focusing on planning the guidance route! So now, he could only stand here and rack his brains for a solution.

More than an hour passed, yet Hyuga Shin still could not think of any good ideas.

That was enough time for him to fly back to the Sand Village battlefield. This old man's time was precious, all right!

"Damn it, if I'd known, I should've come around more when they were kids. Now I'm stuck being this passive," Hyuga Shin muttered irritably.

After all, back then, he had been obsessed with creating techniques and unable to pull himself away. He had not even bothered with the Hyuga Clan, so how could he have had the time to come out and play with children?

Just as Hyuga Shin was racking his brains for a good plan, a beautiful figure swiftly entered his perception!

It was Tsunade Hime, rushing over at top speed.

"Isn't the solution right here?" Hyuga Shin instantly perked up.

He immediately flew back one or two kilometers and waited along Tsunade Hime's path, strolling along at an unhurried pace.

At Tsunade Hime's speed, covering five kilometers would take less than ten minutes.