Rebelling Against Konoha

Orochimaru led Hyuga Qinglan through the dark, winding underground corridor.

When they reached the end of the path, Orochimaru suddenly stopped and pulled a vial of pale green fluorescent reagent from his robes.

"This is a concoction I meticulously prepared... if taken while near death or severely injured, the rate of cellular regeneration will increase exponentially."

"Would you like to try it?"

"I appreciate the kind offer, but I think... I am not yet weak enough to require medicine."

Hyuga Qinglan politely declined.

Let him consume a drug concocted by Orochimaru?

That was impossible.

Although the effects of Orochimaru's forbidden drugs were indeed potent, they were essentially nothing more than poisoned apples that overtaxed one's life force or altered one's genes.

In the original story, Sasuke, who consumed forbidden drugs for three years, gained power in the short term but also nearly became a vessel for Orochimaru himself.

Power that does not belong to oneself is, in the end, nothing but Kyōka Suigetsu.

Hearing this, Orochimaru merely smiled meaningfully and did not press the issue, turning to push open the heavy door of the laboratory.

"Creeeak—"

The sound of the door hinges turning was exceptionally harsh in the silence.

Behind the door was a spacious and remarkably clean laboratory.

Complex medical equipment was scattered everywhere, and all sorts of ancient scrolls, manuscripts, and experimental records were piled up like mountains.

Hyuga Qinglan's gaze was drawn to the Byakugan from the Branch Family, which was soaking in pale green nutrient solution in the center of the laboratory.

At this moment, the originally pure pupils were covered in fine bloodshot lines, clearly having already been subjected to Orochimaru's ravages.

"Lord Qinglan, regarding that scroll... is it truly as you said, only one main and one secondary copy?"

"And the secrets hidden within... aside from the parts regarding the Caged Bird, there is nothing else?"

Orochimaru spoke without warning, his tone filled with a deep desire for inquiry.

"When I found the scroll, it was already like this,"

Hyuga Qinglan answered flawlessly, then immediately shifted the topic.

"However, perhaps if Lord Orochimaru investigates further, you might be able to find something?"

"Lord Qinglan, you know I am not joking."

Orochimaru leaned in abruptly, his narrow eyes staring fixedly at those pure white eyes, as if he wanted to drill directly into the depths of Hyuga Qinglan's soul.

"Lord Orochimaru, I am not joking either."

Hyuga Qinglan looked back calmly, his gaze as still as a deep well.

He really wasn't joking; the scroll did indeed contain some information.

And that information recorded the passage from the moon to the Earth, which he had specifically prepared for the Hyuga Clan.

It was just that now it had been turned over to Orochimaru...

If Orochimaru studied it carefully, he might truly be able to discover something.

"..."

The deathly silence of the standoff lasted for a moment; only the faint ticking of instruments could be heard in the laboratory.

"Heh heh..."

After a while, Orochimaru suddenly let out a soft laugh and casually tossed over a sterile sampling tube.

Hyuga Qinglan raised his hand and caught it steadily.

"Draw a tube of blood."

"To have survived such an impact without your body collapsing—this has led me to some truly wonderful associations regarding you."

Orochimaru observed Qinglan's reaction.

In his eyes, although the youth before him was ostensibly just a chunin, surviving an attack of that magnitude last night was, in itself, the greatest flaw in his facade.

More importantly...

He watched as Hyuga Qinglan calmly rolled up his sleeve and skillfully performed a venipuncture.

This young man had hidden too much from the very beginning.

And the mysterious man named "Blue" who appeared last night only served to corroborate his suspicions.

That scroll might not have been found in some ancient tomb at all, but rather stolen from somewhere or fabricated entirely.

He even had an absurd thought.

Could that "Blue" and Hyuga Qinglan be the same person?

But his reason quickly dismissed this idea.

According to descriptions, the man named "Blue" possessed a pair of pupils as azure and dreamlike as the sky.

The ability displayed in his every movement matched the description of the Tenseigan in the scroll perfectly.

Yet, for the Hyuga Qinglan before him, the Caged Bird seal on his forehead remained clearly visible.

As a member of the Branch Family, even if the power of the curse seal fluctuated, it was absolutely impossible for him to possess that kind of strength.

That's right, it was a fluctuation, not a removal.

Orochimaru keenly sensed that while the mark on his forehead was fading, it was different from the previous state of dissipation; instead, it was becoming increasingly complex and profound.

"Lord Orochimaru, is this sufficient?"

Hyuga Qinglan's face grew paler as he handed back the sample tube filled with blood.

"Of course."

Orochimaru put away the blood with satisfaction and tossed out a remark that sounded like a joke: "Get some rest. After all, since the owner of the scroll has appeared once, the second time... surely won't be far off."

"You and I are partners tied to the same boat, after all."

"Who knows, maybe that Qing will come knocking on your door one of these days~"

"..."

Hyuga Qinglan did not respond, his footsteps somewhat unsteady as he walked toward the door.

To play this role well, the wound on his abdomen and the depletion of his chakra were all genuine.

He doesn't care about my physical condition at all...

He gave a self-deprecating smile in his heart.

Just as he was about to step out of the gate, Orochimaru's cold, hoarse voice came from behind him once more.

"By the way, I have already recommended you to Sarutobi-sensei for promotion to Jonin. Barring any accidents, the appointment letter will be issued in the next few days."

"Although I would very much like to capture that madman who attacked the village myself..."

"But the current priority is to pacify that bloody front line."

"Good luck, Jonin Qinglan."

--

"Qing..."

"Who exactly is he?"

"Could it really be, as the information left by the Great Elder suggested, that he is the origin of the Hyuga Clan?"

"And that fellow Danzo..."

Hyuga Hiashi's thoughts surged, and he couldn't help but recall the scene from yesterday when Aburame Ryoma led the Root ninjas to surround the Main Branch residence.

The speed was so fast, and the timing was so precise.

They even knew exactly which route he would take to reach the Qinglan Residence.

If not for the mysterious person attacking the Hyuga compound, Hyuga Hiashi wouldn't have even realized that Danzo's infiltration and surveillance of the Hyuga Clan had reached such a degree.

"If the information the Great Elder left before he died is correct... that man named 'Qing' must be coming for that scroll."

He slowly raised his eyes, scanning the Main Branch members before him who were arguing incessantly due to Danzo's pressure and last night's tragedy.

"Three members of the Main Branch died in battle... even the Great Elder lost his life! Yet, on the Branch Family side, there were only injuries, not a single death!"

"Is that madman coveting the Byakugan of our Main Branch?"

"And that old thief Danzo! The scroll was clearly snatched by him, yet he has the audacity to use this as an excuse to turn around and demand an explanation from our Hyuga Clan!"

"If you ask me, the village never considered us partners at all!"

A hot-headed young Main Branch member stood up abruptly, his eyes bloodshot with rage.

"Clan Leader! Since Danzo cannot tolerate us, and that mysterious person is coming to retrieve the scroll, let's just go all the way and rebel against this Konoha!"