Interrogation

"You should know about his background, right?" Jiraiya asked, gesturing toward Naruto.

Hyuga Hiashi turned his head to look at Naruto, nodding as he said, "I know. That is also why I feel at ease with Hinata being with him. However, given the current state of Konoha, I dare not offer him any assistance."

Jiraiya shook his head and continued, "He has now fully mastered the Flying Thunder God."

Upon hearing the name of the technique, Hyuga Hiashi's face filled with shock. He thought of the ninja known as the Yellow Flash, who had used the Flying Thunder God to reap lives on the battlefield. He immediately asked, "Then, as for him now...?"

Although he did not finish his sentence, Jiraiya knew what he wanted to ask. "Are you wondering why he doesn't just leave Konoha?"

Hyuga Hiashi gave a slight nod, and Jiraiya continued, "If he were to flee directly, he would be branded a rogue ninja, which would be detrimental to future operations. The main reason I returned to Konoha this time is to take him away with the consent of the village's top brass."

"After I leave, you must ensure the Hyuga Clan keeps a low profile. No matter what happens in Konoha, do not get involved; you only need to be prepared."

Hyuga Hiashi asked, "Lord Jiraiya, what do you need me to prepare for?"

"Prepare to help the Fourth Hokage quickly regain control of the village once he returns," Jiraiya said slowly.

These words struck Hyuga Hiashi like a thunderbolt. He asked in shock, "How is that possible? Didn't the Fourth and his wife pass away?"

Six years ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had announced the news of their deaths, and their graves still stood in the Konoha cemetery to this day.

"Due to certain reasons, they had to fake their deaths after sealing the Nine-Tails, but they will return within a year at the latest," Jiraiya said.

As the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi's capacity to accept new information was quite strong. After processing his thoughts, he said, "But, what about Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

Hearing this, Jiraiya sighed helplessly and said, "You know Kushina Uzumaki's temper. Do you think she will do nothing once she learns of the life Naruto has lived all these years? As for Namikaze Minato, you should have seen the side of him that exists beyond his gentleness."

At this moment, images involuntarily surfaced in Hyuga Hiashi's mind, such as when they were still at the Ninja Academy and Kushina Uzumaki would beat people until they were black and blue.

Kushina Uzumaki was not born in Konoha; she was brought back after being found in the Land of Whirlpools.

When she first arrived at the Ninja Academy, she was often bullied because of her hair color and her boisterous personality.

Back then, she had not yet undergone training, so her strength was weak; even if she resisted, she could not defeat others. Namikaze Minato was the one who would always step forward to protect her whenever she was bullied.

After Kushina Uzumaki was brought to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi entrusted her to Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

As a fellow clansman and perhaps the last survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, Mito Uzumaki took Kushina Uzumaki as her disciple, teaching her all the ninjutsu, secret techniques, and sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan.

After awakening the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina Uzumaki rose to prominence. She beat up everyone who had ever bullied her, and it wasn't just a one-time thing; whenever she was in a bad mood, she would continue to beat them. This earned her the nickname "Bloody Habanero," which showed just how vengeful she could be.

As for Namikaze Minato, the mere thought of him made Hyuga Hiashi tremble slightly. The Minato at the Ninja Academy had not been particularly outstanding.

Perhaps due to his personality, he had only ever protected Kushina Uzumaki when she was bullied, never once throwing a punch himself.

His true strength was only revealed after Kushina Uzumaki was kidnapped by Kumogakure ninjas. He followed the clues she left behind, utilized his advantage in speed, and successfully killed three Kumogakure ninjas to rescue her.

This exposed his talent, and he was soon taken on as a disciple by Jiraiya.

But at that time, his strength was not yet formidable, and his face was always adorned with a warm smile.

Namikaze Minato's true rise occurred during the Third Great Ninja War, where he single-handedly rivaled the strongest duo of the era, the AB Duo (A, who was about to succeed as Raikage, and his sworn brother, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B).

Iwagakure launched an attack on Konoha, which had already diverted a large number of ninjas to various front lines. Iwagakure sent over a thousand ninjas to raid Konoha through Kusagakure.

They thought victory was certain, but they did not expect Namikaze Minato to arrive. He had the remaining capable ninjas help throw Kunai while he took charge of the instant kills. In the blink of an eye, fifty Iwagakure jonin were wiped out.

He then transformed into an Asura, continuously using the Flying Thunder God to reap heads across the battlefield.

Hyuga Hiashi had witnessed this with his own eyes. Once Namikaze Minato dropped his smile and his gentle side vanished, the killing intent he radiated was enough to send a chill down his spine.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded and said, "I understand. Lord Jiraiya, I will certainly keep my clansmen in check during this time and await the return of the Fourth Hokage."

"There is one more thing besides this," Jiraiya said.

Hyuga Hiashi quickly replied, "Please, Lord Jiraiya, instruct me."

Jiraiya gathered his thoughts and said, "If possible, the Fourth Hokage hopes the Hyuga Clan will abolish the Caged Bird Seal."

The Caged Bird Seal not only served to control the branch family, but it also ensured that those branded with it could only ever reach the level of a jonin; once they reached that level, their strength would not progress even a fraction further.

A look of difficulty appeared on Hyuga Hiashi's face. If he could, he would not want to place the Caged Bird Seal on anyone.

However, this was the clan rule of the Hyuga Clan, and the elders would never agree to it.

He could only say, "I can only do my best regarding this."

Jiraiya smiled and said, "There is no rush; we can take it slowly."

This proposal was a decision made jointly by Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya after Naruto spoke of the threat posed by the Otsutsuki Clan.

They hoped the Hyuga Clan would abolish the Caged Bird Seal because there were many geniuses within the branch family, such as Neji Hyuga. These individuals had the potential to evolve the Byakugan, but once the Caged Bird Seal was placed upon them, that possibility ceased to exist.

To confront the Otsutsuki Clan in the future, the more powerful individuals they had, the better. Once the Byakugan evolved, the individual's strength would also see a meteoric rise.

With that, everything that needed to be told to Hyuga Hiashi had been said; the rest was merely chatting about the past. At this point, Naruto dispelled the barrier.

After chatting for a long time, Jiraiya left with Naruto, telling Hyuga Hiashi to be prepared, as he would return in three days to take Hinata away.

Elsewhere.

In the Hokage Office Building, inside the council chamber, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, while the three advisors—Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu—sat opposite him.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, "I have called you here to discuss a very important matter."

The three listened without speaking, simply waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to continue.

Then, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shimura Danzō and said in a cold, stern tone, "Danzō, I told you a long time ago not to do anything unnecessary."

Shimura Danzō listened with a calm expression and said, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Seeing Shimura Danzō's demeanor, a surge of anger rose in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, and he demanded, "Years ago, did you collude with Hanzo to ambush and kill Jiraiya's disciples?"

At this moment, Shimura Danzō realized what Hiruzen Sarutobi was referring to; he had indeed done that.

Back then, after accidentally learning about the Rinnegan, he had made contact with Hanzo. After revealing the information about the Akatsuki to Hanzo, the two reached a deal.

Consequently, he dispatched Root ninjas to Amegakure to assist Hanzo in his operation, hoping to seize the Rinnegan.

Unfortunately, the operation failed; they only managed to kill a few members of the Akatsuki, while the person possessing the Rinnegan escaped.

Shimura Danzō did not expect that after so many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi would find out about this. He did not deny it, nodding as he said, "I did indeed arrange for Root ninjas to assist in Hanzo's operation."

Hearing him admit it, Hiruzen Sarutobi became even more convinced of what Jiraiya had said, and he then asked, "So, you also know about the situation regarding the Rinnegan?"

The two advisors beside them were shocked upon hearing "Rinnegan" and exclaimed, "The eyes that only the legendary Sage of Six Paths possessed?"

Shimura Danzō nodded to indicate he knew. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi was asking in this manner, it meant he already knew everything, so there was no need to hide it anymore.

"After your operation failed, the possessor of this Rinnegan escaped. After years of lying in wait, his strength has reached an incredibly formidable level," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after taking a puff of his pipe.

Shimura Danzō remained silent, while Utatane Koharu, standing beside him, asked Hiruzen Sarutobi in confusion, "Do you mean he might come to Konoha for revenge?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "According to the intelligence brought back by Jiraiya, that is indeed the case."

At this point, Shimura Danzō said, "He is just one person. If he comes, I will personally slay him."

"You? Hanzo has already died at his hands. Do you think you can win?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at Shimura Danzō with disdain.

Hanzo, once the strongest in Amegakure and known by the title of Demigod—everyone present knew this.

At this moment, Mitokado Homura, who had been silent until now, asked in disbelief, "Has this person's strength really reached such a level?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi could only nod helplessly and said, "That's right. Furthermore, he has re-established the Akatsuki and renamed himself Pain."

Hearing about the Akatsuki, Shimura Danzō recalled the two ninjas who had attacked the Root some time ago. He had not expected that the brat who escaped back then would have such powerful ninjas under his command.

He dared not say anything more, simply waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi to continue his account.

"The newly reorganized Akatsuki has begun recruiting rogue ninjas. We already know of six extremely powerful rogue ninjas among them. You should all be aware of the attack on the Root some time ago; based on Jiraiya's description, we can basically confirm the identities of those ninjas," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

He then revealed the identities of the Akatsuki rogue ninjas that Jiraiya had told him to the three of them, and upon hearing this, all three fell into deep thought.

A moment later, Utatane Koharu asked Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Then what should we do now?"

"For the time being, the Akatsuki will not attack Konoha, because they are occupied with other matters," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied.

You are reading Naruto: Starting with Asura Chakra by Ti Ta.