The breeze was gentle and the sun shone brightly, yet the atmosphere inside the mission hall was icy, as if it divided the sunlight from the shadows.
"Rescue?"
His face full of surprise, Hua Yue wondered how anyone could talk of a rescue during wartime. Even if Mist Hidden had captured Konoha ninja, at most they would be interrogated for information or subjected to experiments. Why speak of rescuing them?
"The other party is the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura. We only got the chance to negotiate this time thanks to you."
Hua Yue noticed the relief in Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice. A guess formed in his mind, and he suddenly understood.
"Could their goal be the Ninja Blades of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? And aside from that, they may also be planning to seize this opportunity to keep me in Mist Hidden forever."
Seeing Hua Yue lower his head in thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen grew serious and spoke frankly.
"We understand how dangerous this mission is, but right now, you're the only one who can do it. The other party specifically named you as the only person allowed to go."
"Also, according to the ninja who escaped from their grasp to deliver the message, two survivors from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are still with the Fourth Mizukage..."
Only then did Uchiha Hanazuki show a trace of interest. He nodded.
"I understand. I'm curious how they managed to evade the Flying Thunder God Slash. How many ninja have been captured? Who should I prioritize rescuing?"
"There's no distinction between Konoha ninja. If you can, prioritize rescuing the children who are still just young sprouts, then Nara Shikaku. Do what you can."
He tapped the table lightly, and the matter was settled. Just as Hua Yue was about to leave, a knock at the door stopped him.
"Pardon the interruption, Lord Hokage."
As the newcomers entered the mission hall, pairs of Byakugan swept toward the center. Behind the figure in a black cloak, the Uchiha fan crest left the elder leading the group looking puzzled.
"The Hyuga Clan?"
Seeing that the visitors were from the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen was equally perplexed. Had another member of the Main Family fallen into Mist Hidden's hands?
"Yes. In fact, our Hyuga Clan would like to hire one of the village's experts to kill the Mist Hidden jōnin who stole our clan's precious Kekkei Genkai and bring back the Byakugan."
Hizashi Hiashi, standing behind the Hyuga Clan Elder, gave a slight nod. But the last of the three, Hizashi Hyuga, the current head of the Hyuga Branch Family, stood frozen in place.
The Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask, the black cloak, the utterly inconspicuous figure, and that almost illusory presence, as though he didn't exist.
There was no doubt: this was the mysterious ninja who had asked him that night what he wanted to become.
"Your timing is perfect. This is Uchiha Hanazuki, a Body Flicker ninja as skilled in the Flying Thunder God Technique as Minato."
"He's about to head to Mist Hidden on a rescue mission. Tell him all about the ninja who stole the Byakugan. He's the one who took all seven Ninja Blades from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
With that, Sarutobi Hiruzen ambled out. His gaze passed over Orochimaru, who was leaning against the wall, and his voice turned grave.
"Last night, Anbu found traces of some animal crawling across the ceiling of my study. I hope you have nothing to do with this, my student."
His back gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor. Orochimaru smiled without a word. The old man's drive and vigilance were far greater than he'd expected.
Meanwhile, inside the mission hall.
The Hyuga Elder gave a slight bow. The three wore complicated expressions, their minds full of doubts and suspicions.
Could this child really rescue the captured ninja from Mist Hidden? Even with the Third Hokage saying so himself, it was hard to believe.
The doubts in the eyes of the Hyuga Clan Elder and Hizashi Hiashi had yet to fade, while Hizashi Hyuga looked troubled, memories of that day stirring faintly in his mind.
After the Third Hokage left, the Hyuga Clan Elder turned to order Hua Yue around. Whether out of habit from a life of privilege or a taste for giving orders, he spoke with authority.
"Take the life of that Mist Hidden jōnin and reclaim the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. This is an order from our Hyuga Clan, and from the Third Hokage as well. You—"
Before the Hyuga Clan Elder could continue, Hua Yue smiled brightly.
"I refuse."
"Refuse? Why would you refuse? Isn't completing missions a ninja's duty?"
As if he'd heard an unbelievable answer, the Hyuga Elder's expression changed, and he rebuked Hua Yue sharply.
"The loss of a Kekkei Genkai is your Hyuga Clan's family matter. It has nothing to do with me. My mission is to rescue the Konoha ninja who fell into Mist Hidden's hands. Nothing else concerns me."
"First, I have the right to choose my missions and whether I join the battlefield. That's the Third Hokage's promise. Second, I'm a member of the Uchiha Clan. Your Hyuga Clan's orders mean nothing to me."
At that, Hua Yue sensed something. He frowned and called out,
"Since you're here, why hide in the shadows and watch? This is why I can't stand you, Sensei."
"Heh. I wasn't in the village recently. I just heard some interesting news. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan has fallen into Mist Hidden's hands?"
When the lean figure emerged from the shadows, the Hyuga Elder and the current clan head, Hizashi Hiashi, both nodded in greeting, wariness faint in their eyes.
"Lord Orochimaru, you're here to... Could this child be...?"
"He's my talented student—rude, but exceptionally gifted. I was going to ask if you wanted to train with me outside the village, but now it seems that won't be possible. What a shame. Heh."
Hua Yue's mouth twitched. He shot Orochimaru a deeply unimpressed look and mocked him without holding back.
"Thanks to you, I've lost even the little free time I had these past few days. Don't you think you've gone a bit too far, Orochimaru-sensei?"
"Even you noticed? Teacher Sarutobi seems to have as much energy as a young man. Since you have a mission, I can only take Anko with me to train instead. Want me to bring you back a gift?"
Orochimaru chuckled. If he brought Hua Yue a gift, it would probably be more trouble than anything else.
"Then I'll try to look forward to it without expecting anything. Please don't dump any more trouble on me. I'm off."
Just as Hua Yue's figure was about to disappear, Hizashi Hyuga stiffened, his confusion deepening.
What do you want to become? A lone bird with its wings clipped, caged? Or a star that tears open the night with fangs and blood, burning with bloodfire?
You don't have to answer me now. Once you've truly figured it out, come find me anytime.
At some point, the mysterious figure had vanished without a trace. The Hyuga Elder was left utterly astonished. He hadn't even stopped using his Byakugan, yet the boy had disappeared in an instant?
Could a child really master Body Flicker to this degree?
"Lord Orochimaru, is this Uchiha child really your student?"
At Hizashi Hiashi's question, Orochimaru smiled. The rigid lines of his face softened, a rare sight.
"This child is mysterious. Even I can't see the full extent of his talent. Perhaps... he's already surpassed me."
Before the others could voice their amazement, Orochimaru's figure, too, gradually receded into the distance. Hizashi lowered his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible hope rising in his heart.
At the gates of Konoha, Hua Yue looked up at the sky, then silently turned his gaze to his hands.
"Since I've got the chance, I might as well give it a try..."