A New Mission

"We're here. This is the place."

Above the underground laboratory, Orochimaru, dressed in a black robe patterned with red clouds, approached alongside a middle-aged man.

He glanced around, then chuckled in a hoarse voice.

"This used to be one of my laboratories. I abandoned it after some idiot paid it a visit. The Anbu should have come through here by now as well. You'll be relatively safe here."

"Relatively safe?"

The middle-aged man's brow furrowed slightly at those words.

"Lord Orochimaru, I traded my forbidden body regeneration technique with you. What I wanted was not 'relative safety'..."

Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged. He merely gave the middle-aged man an indifferent glance.

"Are you planning to go back on your word, Shinno?"

This middle-aged man was none other than Shinno, one of the remnants of the Sky Ninja!

On the surface, he was a physician who traveled among the nations, healing the sick and saving the dying. In truth, however, he had always been stealing secret techniques from the major ninja villages.

During an operation in Kumogakure, he was accidentally exposed and hunted down. By chance, he was rescued by Orochimaru, who was also interested in Kumogakure's secret techniques.

Shinno, who had already intended to go to Konoha, immediately realized this was an opportunity.

Thus, he gritted his teeth and made a deal with Orochimaru, treating it as preparation for obtaining Konoha's intelligence in the future.

But now, it seemed Orochimaru was even less reliable than he had imagined...

"Of course not. Thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Though displeased inwardly, Shinno immediately backed down.

He feared that Orochimaru would silence him after the transaction. After all, this man's infamous reputation resounded throughout the ninja world!

"Don't worry. I have no intention of killing you."

Orochimaru naturally saw through Shinno's thoughts and gave a disdainful smile.

He had seen Shinno fight and naturally knew that the forbidden body regeneration technique had not yet been fully perfected.

Though that did not affect its use, he had no time to research and develop it himself.

But Shinno was different. This man would certainly keep refining, developing, and researching it. That was exactly what Orochimaru wanted.

Perhaps this technique might even prove useful to him someday!

"This is a long-term transaction. It benefits both of us."

"Yes, yes..."

Shinno nodded sheepishly, but Orochimaru suddenly paused.

For some reason, he looked toward the laboratory. Only after a moment did he reveal a smile.

"You still seem somewhat uneasy. Then I'll do you one more favor—but you'll need to demonstrate your value as well."

"Hm?"

Shinno was somewhat baffled, but in the next instant, he leaped backward.

Boom—

The ground churned violently, and several tree vines burst from the earth, sweeping toward them!

"Wood Release?"

Shinno's face filled with fear. He had not expected to witness that legendary power!

But Orochimaru remained calm. He formed hand seals with one hand, and a violent gale instantly surged forth, tearing the vines apart in an instant.

He licked his lips and looked at the three figures leaping out from underground, laughing hoarsely.

"I never expected it. The experimental subject from back then—and you too, Kakashi."

"Orochimaru..."

Kakashi and Tenzo fixed their eyes on Orochimaru. This man had had a tremendous impact on both of them!

Hyuga Makoto, however, merely glanced at Orochimaru's clothes before quickly turning his gaze toward Shinno, his expression becoming somewhat strange.

"So it's this guy. They were already connected at this point?"

Having seen the movie, he naturally remembered Shinno, and he found this man quite unpleasant as well.

"What the hell are you, calling him by that name?"

But unpleasant as Shinno was, Makoto was also rapidly considering what to do.

"Alright, the rats have come out."

Just then, Orochimaru licked his tongue and glanced at Shinno.

"I'll do you this final favor, but whether you remain safe afterward will depend on you."

As he spoke, an almost tangible killing intent erupted from his body along with Chakra.

This power set the surrounding trees swaying. The next instant, he suddenly burst forward and arrived before the three of them in the blink of an eye!

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Wall."

Tenzo instantly formed hand seals, raising a massive curved wooden wall before them. Kakashi quickly spoke as well.

"Makoto, find an opportunity to leave immediately."

"That's right. You need to take this information back."

Tenzo turned to look at him, his expression becoming incomparably solemn.

"Don't worry. We'll protect you."

BOOM—

The moment he finished speaking, Orochimaru shattered the Wood Golem Wall. His eyes brimmed with amusement.

"Trying to cover this brat's escape? As I recall, Kakashi, didn't you kill your teammate back then?"

"Go!"

Kakashi did not respond. He merely gave Hyuga Makoto a hard shove, then turned, intending to find Shinno.

Unfortunately, Orochimaru was too fast. In an instant, he intercepted both of them.

BOOM—

For a moment, thunderous blasts erupted one after another, and the leaking Chakra made everyone's hearts race.

"Brat, don't even think about leaving!"

Hyuga Makoto landed steadily, only to find Shinno already blocking his path.

Shinno had not actually wanted to fight, but Orochimaru was simply too unreliable.

He still needed to go to Konoha in the future. He could not expose his identity ahead of time!

Buzz—

With that thought, his Chakra surged. In an instant, his body began to change.

His originally pale hair turned jet-black, and his body became far more muscular.

His figure flashed, and he instantly charged before Hyuga Makoto.

"You're staying right here!"

Amid the howling wind, his thick fist shot forward with ferocious speed.

Yet Hyuga Makoto merely gave him a calm glance as the Chakra within his body suddenly stirred.

Bang—

The next instant, their fists collided heavily.

A visible blast of air turned into a shockwave and spread rapidly in all directions!

"You..."

Shinno's pupils narrowed slightly. This brat was actually so fast—and so strong?

The Chakra covering his fist, resembling a roaring lion, also made Shinno immediately realize something.

"Hyuga Clan?"

"Correct. And I never said I was leaving."

Hyuga Makoto's voice was calm. Then he sprang forward, instantly closing in on Shinno!

He truly had no intention of leaving. Setting aside how well Kakashi had looked after him lately, his personality would not allow him to abandon his teammates and run.

Even if Kakashi really did seem to have the misfortune of constantly running into powerful enemies whenever he accepted a mission.

As for why he kept accepting such missions, that was a matter best left unmentioned for now...

Most importantly, after seeing Orochimaru's actions and Shinno's transformation, he had figured out the key point!

"This guy is still useful to Orochimaru..."

Hyuga Makoto's gaze flickered. Recalling how Orochimaru had sent Sasuke to capture this man, he already knew what he needed to do.

And at that moment, his system suddenly flashed.

[New Side Quest Acquired]

[1. Turn your blade inward and help Orochimaru deal with Kakashi and Tenzo]

[2. Companions are the ones worth cherishing most. Assist Kakashi and Tenzo in overcoming this crisis]

"Now that's an unexpected gain..."

Hyuga Makoto found the new quest rather amusing.

Still, one more quest meant one more safeguard. Besides, he also wanted to test the Tenseigan's abilities.

Now was the perfect opportunity!

As he considered this, he fiercely attacked Shinno while secretly channeling Chakra into his eyes.

In an instant, he faintly sensed a force in the sky resonating with him.

This force felt so familiar, as if he could draw upon it at will!

"So that's how it works..."

As he sensed the power in the sky, a hint of excitement appeared in Hyuga Makoto's eyes.

But Shinno, who was fighting him, looked increasingly grim.

"What the hell is going on with this brat?"

Not only was Hyuga Makoto fast and powerful, but he also seemed able to see through every one of his attacks!

Whenever he was about to make a move, it had already been predicted in advance.

"How is that the Byakugan...?"

At this moment, Shinno felt the same way Ao had. Combined with that "utterly chaotic" Gentle Fist—

He felt as though he had run into a fake Hyuga!

The longer he fought, the more stifled and miserable he felt, and the more disheveled he became. Even his attacks started to grow disorderly.

"Is that all you've got?"

Just as irritation and confusion filled his mind, Hyuga Makoto suddenly spoke.

At the same time, the Eight Trigrams Palms broke through his defenses!

"Damn it!"

Shinno's expression changed. He immediately tried to block, but Hyuga Makoto had already struck his abdomen like a ghost!

Bang—

With a muffled thud, Shinno's eyes bulged. His entire body flew backward like a cannonball...