Who says the Hyuga clan can't use Lightning Style Armor?

"Luyan, what do you think Lord Orochimaru's intentions are for this mission?"

Akimichi Timon swallowed a Military Ration Pill, his gaze sweeping across the escort team guarding the Son of the Daimyo, as he lowered his voice to ask.

"Timon, keep it down..."

Yamanaka Santian hurriedly interrupted him, gesturing with his eyes toward Hyuga Qinglan, who was sitting alone by the riverbank washing up not far away.

"Although this mission was assigned to us by Lord Orochimaru, I'm worried about Captain Qinglan..."

Yamanaka Santian swallowed the rest of his words, but his meaning was already clear enough.

Their Ino-Shika-Cho team was among the few members of their respective clans who had chosen to support Orochimaru.

Every major clan secretly placed bets on one side or another when facing candidates for each generation of Hokage.

They did this both to support their preferred candidate in ascending to the position of Hokage and to secure further status for their own families.

However, the combat strength of their Ino-Shika-Cho team was clearly inferior to the Nara Shikaku team that had chosen Namikaze Minato.

"It seems Lord Orochimaru has reignited his fighting spirit..."

Yamanaka Santian couldn't help but recall the glorious days when he served under Orochimaru, executing missions in Amegakure.

"Santian, Timon."

Nara Luyan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

He maintained the Nara Clan's signature contemplative sitting posture, his fingertips gently rubbing the sparse stubble on his chin: "Captain Qinglan... might just be one of us."

"But isn't he from the branch family of the Hyuga Clan?"

Yamanaka Santian asked instinctively, but he paused when he saw the meaningful smile on Nara Luyan's face.

"Branch family or main family, at the end of the day, they are all the Hyuga Clan."

"And the true geniuses or top-tier powerhouses of the Hyuga Clan... to put it bluntly, are those two who hold the real power."

Nara Luyan explained unhurriedly: "Clan Head Hiashi does indeed support Lord Minato, but what about Lord Hizashi?"

"Although the branch family is controlled by the Caged Bird, every major clan leaves themselves two paths to walk. Just like us."

Nara Luyan looked toward Hyuga Qinglan, who had finished washing and was now standing up.

"Besides, you've both seen Captain Qinglan's strength throughout this journey, haven't you?"

Hearing this, the two couldn't help but recall every battle they had encountered along the way.

Basically, before the enemy could even show their heads, they were spotted by the Byakugan and followed up with an Air Palm.

If one palm didn't kill them, two would.

And they were only responsible for delivering the finishing blow and cleaning up the aftermath.

Such combat prowess was nothing like the Hyuga branch family members they had seen in the past.

Seeing the thoughtful expressions gradually appearing on his two companions' faces, Nara Luyan felt a secret sense of relief.

His deductions were all pieced together from the arrangements of this mission.

At present, the elite ninja of the village had mostly been transferred to the front lines, and those of them who were old subordinates of Orochimaru had been broken up and scattered to execute various missions.

When he received this mission, personally designated by Orochimaru, upon returning to the village, Nara Luyan had already understood.

Orochimaru had never backed down; he had only been enduring.

And the key to breaking the deadlock might just start with this mission.

As for why he suspected Hyuga Qinglan was also one of Orochimaru's men...

Nara Luyan frowned slightly, recalling how Hyuga Qinglan had frequently inquired about the local situation after approaching Yugakure, and would occasionally go off alone to eliminate enemies.

He reasonably suspected that Hyuga Qinglan was sending them a signal.

"Brother Qinglan, how is it? Are you finished washing up? After resting for the night, we'll be at Yugakure soon."

The Son of the Daimyo walked slowly down from his palanquin, hands behind his back, smiling as he walked toward Hyuga Qinglan.

Qinglan... brother?

Hyuga Qinglan looked with a subtle expression at this young man who appeared to be a few years older than himself.

"Your Highness, you can just call me Hyuga Qinglan."

"No, Brother Qinglan."

The Son of the Daimyo stopped in front of Hyuga Qinglan, his expression suddenly turning serious: "Your strength has been evident to all on this journey. How about you come with me to the capital in the future and become my personal bodyguard?"

"Your Highness, it is naturally my honor to be held in such high regard by you."

Hyuga Qinglan's expression was calm, his gaze sweeping over the Ino-Shika-Cho trio who were walking toward them.

"It's just that the village is currently in a time of crisis, and as Konoha ninja, we should prioritize the village."

"However... if Your Highness is truly short of hands, Luyan would be a good candidate."

"Oh?"

The Son of the Daimyo followed his gaze toward Nara Luyan. Before this, he had barely paid any attention to those three.

All of his attention had been focused on his captain, Hyuga Qinglan.

But now, looking closely...

A pineapple hairstyle, a small mustache, a composed face, a ninja of the Nara Clan...

Thoughts raced through the mind of the Son of the Daimyo.

If he couldn't recruit someone from the Hyuga Clan, inviting a strategist from the Nara Clan wouldn't be a bad alternative.

Perhaps this way, in the eyes of his father...

He narrowed his eyes slightly, then unfolded his fan and spoke with a beaming smile: "Luyan, that is truly a fine name. I am quite fond of this proposal."

"You flatter me, Your Highness. It is my honor to serve as your guard." Nara Luyan hurriedly bowed his head in salute, though his mind was already racing to decipher the intent behind Hyuga Qinglan's actions.

He hadn't guessed wrong, after all...

Hyuga Qinglan was indeed working for Orochimaru.

Furthermore, he also knew of the plan where Orochimaru intended to befriend the Son of the Daimyo to influence, or even control, the Daimyo himself...

That's right, controlling the Daimyo.

Nara Luyan recalled the scene when Orochimaru had mentioned this plan to him directly; it still felt utterly absurd, even impossible to achieve.

But when he saw that calm, unruffled face of Orochimaru, he knew.

Even if he wanted to stop it, he couldn't.

Moreover, as trusted confidants who had followed him for so long, they had no choice but to follow Orochimaru down this path to the very end.

"Very well..."

The Son of the Daimyo closed his fan, his smile growing even more satisfied. "In that case, I will inform the Third Hokage of this matter. As for now—"

He turned and walked slowly back toward the palanquin, raising his fan to point toward the direction of Yugakure in the distance.

"Let's enter the village first. I only wish to have a good bath now."

Before the words had even faded—

"Crackle, crackle!"

A piercing sound of electrical current suddenly exploded.

Blue-white arcs of electricity tore through the morning mist, catching the servants and samurai surrounding the Son of the Daimyo completely off guard.

Before their screams could even escape, they were swallowed by the high-voltage current, and the smell of charred flesh filled the air.

Four or five guards were instantly reduced to charcoal and fell over stiffly.

"Still thinking about a bath?"

A figure wrapped in Lightning Release Armor appeared without warning in front of the Son of the Daimyo, shrouded in blinding electric light, and reached out to grab him.

"Die, Konoha ninjas."

In the blink of an eye.

"Bang!"

A faster, purple figure slammed in from the side, kicking the attacker away with a single strike.

"Boom!"

A deep crater exploded in the ground, sending dust flying.

The attacker spat out a large mouthful of blood, rolling several times on the ground before barely coming to a stop. With no idea how many ribs he had broken, he felt his vision go black as the world spun around him.

"Cough, cough... you..."

The man struggled to ask the question he couldn't fathom.

"You... aren't you from the Hyuga Clan?"

"How could you... use the Lightning Release Armor?"

Hyuga Qinglan lowered his leg as the purple electric arcs gradually faded from his body.

"Who said that the Hyuga Clan couldn't use the Lightning Release Armor?"